The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-02 00:00:00

LAHORE.

No sooner has one scene of blood and strife been con-
cluded on the theatre of this miserable country than ano-
ther presents itself to view. More blood has been spilt,
more insurrections have taken place, more money has been
squandered on the vacillating troops of the State, to se-
cure their services for the nonce, and each circumstance
has weakened the present Government, and reduced it
to a point below which it cannot well descend. In our
last we mentioned that further troubles might be ex-
pected, and they have indeed burst on us with
a violence which we did not expect. To proceed,
however, with a narrative of events as best illustrating
our position of the necessity of interference. It may be re-
membered that an influential member of the Sindhanwallah
family, Ittur Singh, uncle of Ajeet Singh, the murderer of
Maharajah Shere Singh, succeeded in effecting his escape
from the Punjaub into our territory, and thus preserving
a life which would have been forfeited to the oath
of Raja Ileera Singh to put every member of the family
who might fall into his hands to death, for the act of Ajeet
Singh in murdering Dhyan Singh, and which was kept, ex-
cept as regarding a lad of about nine years old, who was
spared at the urgent intercession of one of the Sirdars. The
family residence of the Sindhanwallahs, at Raja Sansee,
near Umritser, had been destroyed, and the whole of their
lamed property seized or resumed. Ittur Single continued,
therefore, with a son and some nephews who had also
managed to escape, to reside within the British territory,
first at Patteealah, or Umballah, and lately at Thanesur, a
holy city near Kernal. It is supposed, but not ascertained
for a fact, that when Sirdar Lena Singh, one of the most
powerful and influential chiefs in the Punjaub, left the
country on a pilgrimage to Hurdwar (in April), he entered
into communication with Sirdar Ittur Singh (probably had
an interview with bins), and kept up the same until his return
northwards from the great gathering to which he had been at-
tended by a retinue of upwards of 5,000 men. On Sirdar Lena
Singh leaving Hurdwar, and before anything was surmised
of the movements of Ittur Sigh, it was generally asserted
that he had no immediate intention of returning to Lahore—
a declaration equivalent in any native state to one of dis-
affection to the existing Government, and he spent his time
in visiting the valley of Dhera and its neighbouring settle-
ments. Shortly after his arriving in the vicinity of the
residence of Itturpeogh, it became known that that
chief entertained an intention of re-crossing the Sutlej,
in the hope of creating a diversion in his favour
amongst the troops, who it is said, had, as in the case
of Raja Suchet Singh, made overtures of a favour •
able nature to him, and in default of any heirs to the throne,
Ittur Singh was the next claimant through a descent from a
mutual ancestor with Runjeet Singh. He consequently
assembled a number of men (about 700, chiefly horsemen),
and with them (who must, we apprehend, have been a part of
Lena Singh's retinue) crossed the Sutlej about the 30th of
April, but where was not exactly known to us, though it
must have been in the neighbourhood of Loodhenah. Indeed
subsequent accounts have it that be crossed out of the terri-
tories of the Raja of Lodwa. It cannot further have been for-
gotten that a Sikh priest of great influence, named Bhace
Beer Singh, had assembled a number of followers, with
whom he had attended the great bathing ceremony at Urn- ,
ritser, and subsequently taken u a position on the banks of
the Beeali (a tributary of the Sutlej, which it joins at or
near Hurreekeputtun). This party of Bhaee Beer Singh's
bad for some time past been strengthened by the coalition
of the two Princes Kashmeera Singh and Peshoura
Singh, illegitimate sons of Runjeet Singh, who having been
driven out of Seealkot, which they had defended for some
time with spirit, took refuge with the Bhaee Beer Singh as
a holy character, under whose protection they would be safe
from the machinations of Raja lleera Singh. The number
of followers of Bhahee Bheer Singh and of the Princes has
been variously estimated at from 5,000 to 7,000. The former
probably the true number. The first step of Sirdar Ittur
Singh, after.crossing the frontier river, was to join this party,
and he did so within two days, when the whole body moved
slowly down the right bank of the Beeah in the direction of
Hurreekeputtan. The intelligence of the invasion of Sirdar
Ittur Singh became only known at Lahore on the afternoon of
the 3d May, and we will give an account of the transaction at
the capital from the notes of our correspondent there,which may
be depended on, as we have concomitant testimony of their
accuracy In the evening important news arrived that
Sirdar Ittur Single had recrossed the Sutlej, and was on his
way to join Bhaee Bheer Singh and the Princes. Raja
Heera Singh was greatly concerned on hearing this intelli-
gence, 'and immediately summoned a council of those
who were his . friends,. and , having consulted them, repre-
sented that Ittur Singh had no doubt crossed the Sutlej
with some bad intentions. The officers of the different
battalions were summoned tip the durbar, and directed
to bring with them two sepoys of each battalion, brigade,
or rissallah. They accordingly assembled, and were ad•
dressed by Raja- They
Singh, as follows :—' That he
heard on good authority that Ittur Singh had given to the
British authcrities a promise in writing to divide the revenue
of the Punjaub, their share to be six annas on every rupee ;
that he was now with Bhaee Beer Singh, and was doing his
utmost to unite the whole of the Sikh troops, when, with the
assistance of the British, he would take possession of all the
territory of the Punjaub. He, the Minister, was only a ser-
vant of the Sirdar Rhalsajee, and was prepared to attend any
orders the Sirdar Khalsa might communicate to him, but he
must ask them where they (the troops) were to get their pre-
sent high rate of pay from, if Ittur Singh should succeed and
give up six annas on the rupee to the British authorities He,
therefore, should desire them to think over the subject, and by
their answer enable him to make such arrangements as should
overcome all opposition. As for Bhaee Beer Singh he did
not know why be was opposed to him, as he could get every-
thing he required from the Sirdar, and his aiding in destroy-
ing the country was wicked.' On this the officers and sepoys
said they would take the night to consult, and give a posi-
tive reply on the following morning; they then took their
leave, but Heera Singh kept the chiefs for a long while in
cc/malt-Mien. Purlyeanalls were ordered to 1e addressed to

the officers in charge of the ferries.of Sutlej and other places,
reproving them for their gross neglect of duty, in having
allowed Ittur Singh to cross the river and join the Bhaee. If
they wished to avoid punishment they must now do their
utmost to seize him on his flight from before the troops who.
were about to oppose him ; but should Ittur Singh escape,
the officer whose ghat he should cross at might depend on
being punished. Other purwannahs to a similar effect were
written to Sheikh Emam-ood-doon and Nehal Singh Aloo-
wallah.

" May 4.—This morning the officers and sepoys who
had been present on the previous evening, again attended
and informed the Minister that they were the servants of
the Sirdar, and were ready to march any moment they
were ordered by. the Sirdar ; they would certainly punish
Ittur Singh, and not spare even the Gooroo if .he should
join the Sindanwallash. In regard to. Ittur Singh being a
friend to the British, and having promised them six annas
in the rupee, they did not care one- bit, and if -he should
happen to escape and cross the Sutlej, they were fully
prepared. to follow him into the British territory, and never
stop till they had seized him. The Minister was highly de-
lighted at this declaration, and praised them much. They
further declared that in case of Ittur Singh crossing the Sut-
lej and their wishing to follow, they were in no way to
be checked by the Minister. He, however, remarked that it
was necessary to be very particular, as the territory on the
other side the Sutlej was the property of the British and
was defended by numerous troops. It was then ordered
that 2,000 suwars should march in the evening, and make all
haste to reach the Hurreeke Puttun ghaut, from whence
they were to spread in small 'detachments right and left to
prevent Ittur Singh from recrossing the river. At the same
time four battalions of Lauret (?) Saheb, and others were
ordered to move direct on the camp of Bhaee Beer Singh to
seize the Sindanwallah. Gen. Mehtab Singh was directel
by letter to leave Umritser immediately, and proceed in
the same direction. Two Kohistanee battalions were
directed to follow. It was generally said in the town that
the Princes, as well as Ittur Singh, would certainly be
seized if they remained with the Bhaee. The troops which
left Cashmeer in a state of mutiny have reached Lahore."
The troops marched, accordingly on, the morning of the
sth ; their numbers have been variously estimated ; but we
believe there were about twenty-four regiments of infantry,
a large body of irregular cavalry, and 120 guns, of which 24
were heavy pieces of ordnance. On the evening of the 6th
they encountered the enemy, who, however, averse to a
battle so late in the day, retreated and took up a strong
position at a village named Nourangabad, some distance
from the right bank of the Beeah. In the meanwhile
Prince Peshora Singh seeing, it is supposed, the desperate
state of his party, leftlhe camp of Bhaee Bheer Singh, and
reaching Lahore off the evening of the 6th, gave himself up
to the Minister, and was well received by him. On the
morning of the 7th the troops of the State advanced, and the
insurgents being drawn out in line a cannonade was com-
menced, and such was the fear entertained by the troops of
coming to close quarters, that they absolutely maintained
the same distance during the whole conflict, mowing down
the followers of the Gooroo in large numbers. The Gooroo
Bheer Sing having been mortally wounded by a cannon
ball, which crushed both his legs, and received besides a
sabre cut across the shoulder, one of the Generals of the
army of Heera Sing asked leave to go and see him. This
officer, named Golab Sing, was on his way met by Ittur
Singh, by whom, after an altercation, he was shot; his fol-
lowers immediately fell on Ittur Singh, and put him to death,
and his head having been struck off, was forthwith sent to
Lahore. Kashmeera Singh also fell in the conflict,
having first offered to surrender, but afterwards re-
sented an endeavour to make a prisoner of him ; and the
soldiers, being deprived of their leaders, fled. Many of
them were drowned in the Beeah in attempting to cross;
and two hundred women belonging to a-regiment which had
followed the fortunes of the Princes after the fall of Seeal-
kote, fell victims to their zeal in the cause. The heavy
cannonade, which lasted for upwards of three hours, was
distinctly heard at the station of Ferozepore. The
news of the victory, and the head of Ittur Singh, reached
Lahore almost simultaneously between ten and eleven at
night, and a. salute was immediately ordered to be fired in
commemoration of the great victory obtained at Nourungabad
by some forty. thousand men, with one hundred and twenty
guns, over not seven thousand insurgents. At Lahore it
was said that the loss on both sides was one thousand men
killed. The wounded were not taaken into account. In the
meanwhile events were occurring in the Sikh camp likely to
lead to the very threatened destruction of such relations as
exist between the Government of Lahore and that of
British India. The, occasion of the heavy firing heard
during the morning of the 7th was communicated
by the political to the military authorities, and it
was at the same time intimated that such was the bad
feeling of the Sikh troops towards us, from the idea that we
had assisted and intended following up Ittur Singh's hostile
views, that they had come to the determination, before they
quitted Lahore, of crossing over, and " even of marching to.
Delhi !" Indeed, matters had come to such a head in the
Sikh camp towards the afternoon of the 9th, that it was
communicated to the political :agent, on good authority,
that 12,000 irregular cavalry, and 8,000 infantry were
fully prepared to cross the river during the following
night, with 60 guns, and had collected a sufficient number
of-boats to ferry over at least half that number, at a ghat
about seven koss -north of Ferozepore (probably Hurree
Keghat). The information seems to have been- of such a
nature that it would have been the height of imprudence to
have doubted it, and suwars were consequently sent out
in all directions to procure authentic information, and all
the troops. in the station held in readiness to assemble on
the first sound of alarm, and which they actually did in a
very few minutes, in consequence of a bugler on the right
sounding without orders. The night, however, passed off
quietly; and in the morning it was ascertained that a dis-
patch from Hera Singh (who had heard from his Vakeel at
Ferozepore that we bad nothing to do with Ittur Singh's
mad attempt), had been received in the Sikh camp ordering
the troops to return to Lahore, there to receive the rewards
he had prepared for them for their gallant behaviour against
the rebel forces. The videttes sent by Major General Vin-
cent, commanding the station, during the night to see how
the land lay across the river, reported that the drums of the
Sikhs beat at a very early hour in the morning, and that by
sunrise scarcely a vestige of the camp was to be seen.
Since the above transactions, everything bas been in a
state of utter confusion. The troops returning to Lahore
have increased in their demands, and Heera Singh, quite
tired out with the proceedings of this unmanageable
rabble, was actually preparing to leave the capital when
the troops heard of his intention, and placed guards not
only round the city to prevent his egress, but even round
the Minister's house to watch his movements, while Heera
Singh brought to his assistance in case of an attack on him,
as many of his own particular troops as were in the neigh-
bourhood of Lahore, consirting chiefly of hill men. The
artillery seem also inclined, heingchiefly Hindoostanees from
the Company's territories, to stand by him in his emergency,
fbeing
thein relgreatigionm
ao
jpopno
ts
ye dotfo
tthhee true
aSrikthr
oso
posr
ofS itnhgeh
Ls, a
hwohroe
army. These troops are now greatly exasperated at
the death of one of their most celebrated Gooroos, or
religious instructors, Bhaee Beer. Singh, which they lay at
the door of Heera Singh, maintaining that they would
never have fought against him, had the Minister not incited
them to do so by representing that Ittur. Singh and Beer
Singh, were supported in their rebellion against the Khalsa
by the British. They also pretended that Hera Singh bad
put Peshora Singh to death when he surrendered, and de-
manded that he should be given up to them. The Prince
had in reality gone to his own district, and when a deputa-
tion of the troops waited on him to see him and request his
returning to the capital, he honestly told them he feared to
become the victim of their wiles, as had been the case with
Suchet Singh and Ittur Singh, and after declining to ac-
company them lie fled, it is not yet known in what direction.
The troops of Goolab Singh are in a general ferment. Se-
veral regiments have left their posts at Cashmeer, at
Peshawur, -and elsewhere, and returned to Lahore and fresh
disturbances have broken out in the Derajat on the western
bank of the Government, leaving the army all powerful.
Sirdar Lena Singh having considered it unadvisable to
return to Lahore in the present state of affairs, has proceeded
on a pilgrimage to the holy shrines at Muttra.—Delhi Gazette
Overland, June 7.
GWALIOR.—We noticed in our last the occupation of
Boorhanpoor by detachments of Bombay troops from Mhow
and Asseerghur. The particulars were as follow :—On the
17th of May, Major Morris, with a detachment of 400 men,
proceeded from Asseerghur to Boorhanpoor, arrangements hav-
ing been made by Col. Sherriff for the evacuation of the Mali-
rata troops on the approach of our detachment. The town was
peacefully surrendered to us and the force sent from Mhow
on the 13th, as formerly enumerated, was countermanded
when four marches from their destination. The Agra
Mbar affirms, that the city is to be returned again to the
Mahrabtas, it having been seized upon by mistake of the
Governor-General, and the measure, which had occasioned
the greatest sensation at the Gwalior Court, had been re-
scinded, and the troops desired to retire, upon the remon-
strances of Colonel Sleeman and Sir Richmond Shaksper,e.
Intrigues proceed amongst the Council of Regency.

Extract from general order by his Excellency Major-General C
Sir C. Napier, G.C.8., Governor of Sinde.
Head-quarters, Kurrachee, May 3, 1844.
No. L Lieutenant-Colonel Derinzy is to make the follow-
ing arrangements on the 23d of May, or sooner, if the assem-
bling of the Beloochee chiefs begins earlier :-
1. The 13th Native Infantry are to be so divided between
Meerpore and Aly-yar-ka Tanda as may be necessary to de-
fend these posts.
2. The detachment of the Bth Regiment at Fort Kotree is
to remain there and be on the alert.
3. The steamers to be so anchored as to assist the detach-
ment if necessary.
4. The Captain of Police to send men to Kotree and the
Fullalie to prevent armed men crossing, unless they are
chiefs, and these are to be allowed one follower each, that
follower to be unarmed. If any suspicious circumstances
arise, immediate notice is to be sent to the Captain of Police.
The police, if they see any armed bodies crossing either
river, are civilly to warn them back, and at the same time to
send to the Captain of Police.
5. The 6th Regiment to be withdrawn from Mahomed
Khan's Tanda, and encamped at the entrenched camp, and a
few police to take charge of the Tanda.
6. The Company of Artillery to be withdrawn from the
same post, marched to the entrenched camp, and guns placed
in battery.
7. The 17th, 12th, and Bth Native Infantry remain where
they are ; but in the event of any disturbance, the Bth and
17th are to close on the 12th, under the guns of the fortress.
8. The'Sinde Horse'to remain in their lines, and in case of
alarm retire upon the entrenched camp, and join the 2d Light
Cavalry, which, with the troop of Horse Artillery, is to ad-
vance as far towards Hyderabad as possible without compro-
mising their retreat to the entrenched camp.
0. The hospitals of the 6th Sinde Horse, and the battery at
Mahomed Khan's Tanda, are to be removed into the fort.
10. No Englishwoman is under any pretence whatever to
be out of the fortress or the entrenched camp while the Belo-
chees are assembled.

11. Provisions to be in Hyderabad, the entrenched camp,
Aly-yar-ka Tanda, and Meerpore, for a month's consumption.
Lieutenant-Colonel Derinzy will be so good as to pay parti-
cular attention to these two last paragraphs.
C. J. NAPIER, Major-General, Governor of. Sinde.
EDW. GREEN, Major, Assistant-Adjutant-General.