The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-10 00:00:00

THE REBEL FORCE IN CENTRAL

INDIA.

The following is the statement of one of Holkar's
principal officers, who was taken prisoner by Tan-
tia Topee, and escaped after the Pertaubghiir
affair ;—" Dilshair Khan states that he was at
Khurgaon and shut the ghurree (fort) gate when the
rebels approached; that Abdool Sootar Khan, the
pretended Nawab of Jourah, came to the gate and
had friendly .conversation with him, saying they
had no intention to do him any injury, and want-
ing him to come to them; this Dilshair Khan de-
clined. At night he opened the gate and looked
about, but saw no one near. Some time after dark
a person came to the ghurree and said he had been
sent by Sootar Khan, and entered into conversation
with him in front of the gate, while he was talking
to Koondoo Bh ow, the Kotwal of Khurgaon. Sud-
denly the Kotwal was pushed aside, and he was
surrounded by some men who had been concealed
and had crept up by the wall. He found himself a
prisoner, and that the person who had taken him
was Pertaub Singh, Soubandar (poorbea, a mu-
tineer.) He was kept a close prisoner in the
" Teelungah" guard ; the Rao Sahib sent for him,
and asked about Indore, how many troops, and who
were there. I told him there were 1,200 Europeans
at Mhow and 200 at Indore, with some guns, and
that the Burra Sahib (great gentleman) was at
Indore. He said the Burra Sahib Hamilton (Sir
R. Hamilton) had ruined them at Jhansi, Calpee,
and Gwalior. Rao Sahib asked many questions ;
his tent is pitched by itself. Tantia Tepee is also
separate rate from the others ; he is the manager of every-
thing, but all orders are in Rao Sahib's name as
Peishwah. I was sent back to the guard, and after-
wards I heard that I was to be shot or hung. A
buniah (trader) came and told Rao Sahib that the
foj (troops) at Indore had mutinied. I was sent for
and said I did not believe it; the buniah was asked
many questions. I asked him who was the leader,
and he mentioned the names of a Rissildar and
another officer of infantry. I remained.silent ; but,
as I knew there was no Rissildar or officer of the
names he gave, I was sure it was a false report.
From Khurgaon the rebels moved to Rajpoor, and
were attacked there by our troops, and lost their
General Teeka Singh, who was reported to have
been taken prisoner ; he had a great deal of wealth
on his pony, but neither the horse nor Teeka Singh
were ever seen again. Teeka Singh issued all orders
for executions and punishments; he was known as
the " phanseewnllah" (executioner or hangman).
The rebels were quite discomfited, and had the
pursuit been continued a little further, he (Dilshair
Khan) would have made his escape; he was marched
along between four sowars in front and as many in
the rear. Crossing the Nerbudda the rebels were
opposed by 60 sowars and some infantry ; this
halted them, and the mutineer sepoys were formed
into a column to take the ford, while others went by
different ways. One Mahwut and another man were
wounded, but no one killed. The rebels went into
Chikulde and plundered it ; they then went by
Kooksee to Choteh Oodepoor, where they were
' again attacked. They had not the slightest notion
of the approach of the Sirkaree foj ; some were
asleep, and all were " ghaful " (unprepared). They
lost a great many men and were terrified. One
European killed 13, and, on one of the rebels firing
a pistol at him, said, What can you do ? and killed
him ! The Rao Sahib was separated from the main
body after this fight for some days. All fled in
different directions ; he (llilshair Khan) heard the
mutineers had got four camels and an elephant
from the Sirkar's baggage. After four days all re-
united and proceeded to Banswarra,h, which was
plundered, and they carried off two principal men
as prisoners ; then they went to Salomba, but no
chief would join them, and the Bheels, wherever
they could, killed and plundered them ; they then
went to Bhendur, and, hearing the troops were in
their front, turned back and tried a pass which was
occupied by Showers Sahib; they then went near
Pertaubghur. Here they heard that Hutchinson
Sahib and foj were near; they then went on, but,
after a long march, they paid some money to the
Bheels to show a road, and turned short back to
Pertaubghur, which they found occupied, and were
obliged to fight. They then ran away in every
direction, and he (Dilshair Khan) went off with
them and effected his escape near Mundisore,
where he heard the troops were after them.
There are two of the late sth Irregulars with
them who know the country, Imam Ali Khan,
now a general, and Hugdad Khan Rissildar.
He saw only one man of the Malwa Contingent,
by name Goolam Mahomed Khan (Major among
the rebels), and one of those who went off
from Indore, a Soubandar. The rebels keep all
their prisoners apart; Kamer Dcen Khan, Jema..
dar of the Paegah, a prisoner, was shot by the Sir-
kar for trying to escape. There are some 1,500
women and children, and some 4,000 or 5,000 men;
all are dispirited, and, daily, numbers drop off.
They know of the proclamation, but Rao Sahib
publicly told them it was only to get them in, and
that a year hence, when all is quiet, they would be
hung ; they therefore have no confidence in its pro-
mises. Their ready money is nearly gone; they have
plenty of jewels, and pay in gold whenever neces-
sary. All have gold armlets, bangles, &c. The
treasure is on an elephant and 25 or 30 camels, and
pitched always away from the main body, under a
Mahratta guard. Whenever there is a fight some
one takes it off at once with all the camp followers,
while a few men are left to make, a stand. They
have not more than four or five rounds of ammuni-
tion left, and are crippled in every way. The Rao
Sahib and Tantia Topee have had a difference ; Rao
Sahib is for going to Hindostan. Tantia Topee
wanted him to go to the Deccan. The mutineers
are with Rao Sahib and will not hear of going to
tin Deccan, and will go across the Jumna to Oude.
The rebels will not go where there are Europeans ;
they said publicly and openly that Hamilton, Sahib
would never let them go, that he had ruined them,
than
and knew everything, and they dread 1m
any one. Ten Europeans P e_
renhim what was
prevent their coming
to any place ; they repeatedly asked
the force at Indore; they
&dal-cd:hey meant to serve
Holkar as they had Gwalior and Patun. They had
no knowledge of Feroze Shah, or
any having
crossed the Jumna; in fact, their information
is
are without any plan, except to
very bad, and they
get back to llindostan, where the Rao says he
get a fresh army
and attack the Deccan." will