The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-07 00:00:00

DEPOSITION OF BOWIE SINGH.

Sir Alexai;lerßarnes—wa:lLliinfOrmed by his
Affghan servants the day previous to his murder, that
there was a stir in the city, and that, if he remained in
it, his life would he in danger ; they told him he had
better go to the cantonments. This he declined doing,
giving, as his reason, that the Afthans never received
any injury from him, but, on the contrary, he had done
much for them, and that he was quite sure they would
never injure him.
On the day of the murder, as early as three o'cleek.
in the morning, a co sid (Wuflee Mahumed) came to tr e!
I was on duty outside ; he said, " Go and inform yo ar
master immediately, that there is a tumult in the cit 3-,
and that the merchants are removing their goods a ad
valuables from the shops." I knew what my master I Ad
said on this ' subject the day before, so did not I Ike
awakening him, but put on my chupras and ',Alt i inc
the char chouk. Here I met the \Vuzeer Num) Mut
Dowlah going towards my master house. I jir sr.:2,-
diately returned with him, and, on ou rrival, awoke h'im,
fr,
when my master dressed quickly, an went to the Wt-t; ,eer
and talked with him sometime ; the WuzeOr ende&vot meal
to induce him to go smmodiately into egntonment,4 , as-
suring him it was not see to remain in the city' ; he
however persisted in remaining, saying, "if I go, tho Af-
ghans will say I was afraid, and ran away ;" he Iniw ever
sent a note to Sir W. M`Naghten by Wulleg ~31ah-
omed. A Chobdar came from the King to call the
' \Vuzeer, who asked and obtained permission ,to , go ;
at rte door the \Vuzeer said to Sir Ale3o-ider
Burnes, " Why, you see already that some of Aeleer
Oolah Khan's people have collected to att tek:
you ; if you will allow me, I shall disperse AIPM ;" he-
(Sir A. Burnes) said, " No, the kicg has sent for you, go•
to him without -delay." The Witzecr accordingly mounted_
his horse, and went away. The house :gates were then
closed, and were in a little while surrounded by Ameer
Oollah Khan and his people. Ifydur Khan, the late Kotwal
of the city, whom Sir Alexarler Burnes had turned out
of office, brought fuel from the huma.m on the opposite,
side of the street, and set lire to the gates. The Witscer-
shortly returned from the Bala hisser with one .of
the King's pultuns ; on eeing the gates on tire, sad
the immense crowd about, he took it apparently for
grtnted that Sir A. Burnes hs-id either eiliiped, or been
destroyed, and withdrew the regiment. At this tine
the whole mob of the city i.'as collected and th'e
house in flames. The Jemidalt of chuprassees told.
Sir Alexander Burnes that there was a report of a
regiment having come to assist hlen ; he was going.
up to the top of the house to look-, And had got half
way when he met an Affg,han, who said he 'had
' been looking about, and that there was rot the least
sign of a regiment ; my master then turned back,
and remarked there was no chance of assi.laneet
coming either from cantonments or the King. A
Mussulman, a Cashmecree, came forward and, said,

•
if your brother and chuprassees cease firing • on the
mob, I swear by the Koran that I will take you
safe through the kirkee of the garden to the chan-
doul, the fort of the Kuzzilbashes ; the firing ceased,.
and Sir A. Burnes agreed to accompany him,
and for sake of disguise put on a chogt and loon-
gee. The moment he came out of the door a few
paces with the Cashmeeree, this wretch called out
this is Sikundur Burnes ! He was rushed on by hun-
dreds, and cut to pieces with their knives. His
brother, Captain Burnes, went out with kim, and
was killed before Sir Alexander. Captain Bnoad-
foot was shot sometime before in the house, and expired in
half an hour. There was a guard of one Havildar, one Ns*
and 12 Sepahis: they were all killed early in the affair; all
the Hindoostanees except myself were killed; his Sirdar
Bearer, who is now with me, escaped, as he was at
home ; I got away by having an Afighan dress ; all the
I Affghan servants deserted ; got into cantonments after
being hid two days in a shop. Sir Alexander forbid the
sepoys and others to fire on the people until they set fire
to the gates.