The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-09 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA

By the arrival of the Calcutta mail we'( Times) have
received our private correspondence and files of
papers from Calcutta to the sth of May, and from
Hong Kong to the 23d April.
The following is the letter of our Calcutta corre-
spondent :

CALCUTTA, MAY 5.

The monsoon is upon us, and this letter leaves,
therefore, on the sth inst. five days sooner than the
ordinary date. • During the week incessant reports
have been received of small skirmishes in the Trans-
Gogra districts of Oude and in Buxar. They may
all be referred to two great movements which the
rebels are obviously striving to accomplish. The
bands which fled into Nepaul are trying to cross
Oude into Bundelcund, and the straggling parties
in Bundelcund and Rewah are endeavouring to
reach their comrades in Nepaul. The Nana,
with a limited force, occupies the most easterly
position in the Oude Terai, being posted in a little
fort near Boohwal, just above Tirhoot. The Begum
is further west in Kyreegurh, and efforts are made
to induce her to surrender. The second movement
from Rewah eastward has produced no conse-
quences, but small bodies, seldom more than 50
strong, have traversed Buxar, Shahabad, and Go-
ruckpore, and contrived, by the last reports, to reach
the Serai. The rebels there, however, are still en-
closed. To escape they must either cross the Gun •
duck, which is carefully watched, or Gonda, which
Sir H. Grant holds himself, and then in either case
find a route across the Gogra not guarded by Sikhs
and irregulars. Such a feat would surpass any of
Tantia Tepee's famous marches, and the rebels in
Nepaul have hitherto shown no remarkable energy
or courage. Their desultory efforts keep a con-
siderable body of troops in the field ; but most of
the work is done by Sikhs, and I do not anticipate
the mortality which so frequently accompanies a
hot weather campaign. The work, however, is most
wearisome to all who are out, and I am assured, on
official authority, that the loss by deaths and in-
validing even now rises as high as 10 per cent. per
annum, a terrible average among men-each of whom
is brought some 16,000 miles.
There is a report that the Nana has just put out a
new proclamation, informing all Europeans that he
will never give in, and that the new native army
will turn upon us like the old ; but I mention it
only to express my disbelief.
Lord Clyde has arrived at Simla, and is
completing, it is said, a plan for the permanent
military occupation of Upper India. Its realisation
must depend, however, on the re-organisation of
the army, the delay of which is injurious in every
way.
The Five and a half per Cent. Loan was opened,
according to advertisements, on the Ist of May, and
an additional inducement offered, in the shape of a
guarantee against repayment for 20 years ; and the
Fives immediately sank to 871. This fall, however,
is believed to have been caused by large sales
ordered from England by persons anxious to convert
their Four per cent. paper into Five. As yet the loan
is not filling, but the pressure is temporary ; and
little doubt is entertained that the 5,000,000 de-
manded by. Lerd Canning will be obtained.
Orders, I am told, have been received here from
England to abolish the Churruek Poojah, and dis-
connect Government from all idol trusts. The first
order is creating some excitement among the
natives. The churruck is the barbarous poojah, at
which men torture themselves, swing with hooks
through their-flesh, run pins through their tongues,
and perform other disgusting ceremonies, often
followed by death. It is in no favour with the
educated, but• is considered incumbent on 'Zemin-
dars. They do not swing themselves, but compel
or bribe some unhappy ryot to suffer on their
behalf, the credit of the pain being transferred to
them. Its abolition is a public benefit ; but the
Hindoos, who thought the Queen's proclamation
gave them back all their privileges of cruelty, talk
of protesting.