Star.
London, England, 1818-09-16 00:00:00

' i

EAST INDIA INTELLIGENCE.

(FROM THE 110,1014 T COURIER OF APRIL 18.)
OPEItATIVS OF .41;N. PItITZLER'S
On the ;SOth March, after the surrender of the
forts of Cisundun, Witinluit, Vs'rytuntithur, Naus
gooree, Pandoogliur, lienzelghur, and•Cumulghurg
the division Marched from Sattarah to .Tambai, ar
the foot of the Kolghutty Gaut, 13 miles N.W. of
Sattarah; Wallah' being distant 16 miles S. E. from
Tamb ti. The further advance of the division with
the park and stores not. being practicable, a light
dot nent, under Colonel Hewitt, C. 11. was pushed
on to, within four miles of the fort of Wassota on the
31st, • the detachment having been dreadfully ha-
rassed during eleven hours march in forcing its way
through jungle. The following day, the Ist of April,
posts• were secured round the fort, which completely
cut off the retreat of the garrison. From the Tambai
camp, the pioneers were actively employed in cut-•
ting a road over the Kolghutty Ghaut, to enable the
elephants to carry over on their backs two mortars
and two howitzers. The rapidity with which this
arduous undertaking was effected testifies the zeal,
and ability of those employed in it: and Icy the 4th
the pioneers had completed a road for elephants to
the fJot of Old Wassota-hill, a distance of 17 miles,
and had also cut a foot-path through the forest trees
and jungle to the summit; the path in its circuit up
the hill extending at least a mile and a half. Up
this foot-path, which in many parts was so perpendi—
cular as to render steps cut in the hill necessary, two
mortars and two howitzers were carried on men's
shoulders ; and by seven o'clock on the morning of
the sth, the indefatigable exertions of the artillery
.had completed a mortar and howitzer battery.
The fort of Wassota is situate at the end of an ex-
tremely narrow valley. Jo figure it is a triangle,'
the base being to the east; the other two sides run
down into the Konkun, a perpendicular sheet of rock
of two or three thousand feet. Old Wassota is a
mountain higher than the New Wassota, connected
at its base with the latter, its summit •being distant
about 1000 yards. Of course it commands and com-
pletely enfilades the eastern face of Vs'assiita, but it
is over a chasm of the depth of 1.500 feet.
On the 4th, the Rajah of Sattarah, escorted by a
wing of the auxiliary battalion, joined Mr. Elphin-
stone in the camp before IVassota, and his presence
being insufficient to ensure the submission of the Kil-
ledar, lihasker Punt, and the surrender of the Ra,
jah's family, who were confined in the fort, the last.
argument was had recourse to ; and the batteries
opened on the sth, at the risk of sacrificing the lives
of the families of the Satarrah Princes, and also the
lives of Messrs. Ilunter and Morrison, confined in the
fort. From the elevated situAtion of the battery,
almost looking down into Wassota, the effect of
every shell could be observed, and it was a received
opinion that the place would not be tenable two
hours ; shell was thrown after shell, and the day
passed away ; and from the cool manner in which
some of the garrison continued to walk about thei
fort, the surrender of the place was despaired of
.without the assistance of the 12-pounders (and to
have got them would have required eight days more.)
It must have been with some satisfaction, therefore,
the Authorities in camp received a tender of sub;
mission in the night of the .sth, and on the morning
of the 6th the fort was in our hands.

The consequences of this surrender were of grew
'moment. Mcisrs. Hunter and Morrison were re-
leased from a captivity of five months. The wives
of the Sattarah Princes were released and restored to
their hu-bands, and the Rajah of Sattarah recovered
family jewels to the amount of three lacs. The prize
property amounted to about two lacs.
The garrison had honourable terms. It consisted
of about four hundred men ; two men killed, and
fifteen wounded. Our loss during the siege was six
or seven wounded.

Two women of the Ranee's household were wound-
ed by the explosion of shells ; but the ladies them- ,
selves fortunately escaped, as well as Messrs. hunter •
and Morrison, unhurt ; although several burst very
near them. Messrs. Hunter and Morrison had ex-
perienced very good treatment from the Killedar in
regard to diet and comforts ; but so close had been '
their confinement, that till the moment a shell burst '
over the roof of their prison, they were ignorant of
the neighbourhood of an English force : nor did they
know, till the Killedar had decided on surrendering,
the name of the place they were confined in. Before
we took possession, they were permitted to shew
themselves on the walls, and were greeted by the
Europeans of the mortar battery with three cheers.
It was a moment of feeling and interest to both parties.
On the 10th of April, the division reached Satta- '
rah : and on the afternoon of the same day, the Ra-
jah was formally seated in the gadee of his ancestors
in the crumbling palace of Sewajee's descendants,
under royal salutes from the camp, the city, and the
fort. Scwajee himself never made a more splendid
entrance into his capital.
On the 12th, General Pritzler, with the Madras
division, and the Ist battalion of the 7th regiment of
native infantry, separated from the Bombay brigade,
and marched south. On the separation of the bri-
gades, General Pritzler issued the following D. O.:
" C.imp Sattarah, April 11.
6 Brigadier-General Pritzler cannot suffer the
Bombay troops and the auxiliary corps, horse and
foot, to leave the reserve division, without expressing
the high opinion he entertains of their order, regula-
rity, and discipline: and he requests that Lieutenant-
Colonel Fitzsimons, the Officers commanding corps,
and the Staff, will accept his best thanks for the
prompt obedience they have paid to his orders, and
cordial assistance they have afforded him, upon every
occasion during the period of the troops of the two
Presidencies being together."
The scenery in the neighbourhood of Wassota ex-
hibits features of grandeur and romantic beauty
which can scarcely be rivalled in India. Most of the
mountains, whose bases run into the Konkun, present
faces of nearly perpendicular sheeted rock of from I
500 to 2000 feet. The view to the east from the fort
forms a striking contrast to the bareness of the wes-
tern descent. Mountain after mountain appears to
rse from the foot of its neighbour in rapid succes-
sion. The narrow vallies and the slopes of the hills
art. covered with forest trees and thick underwood.
The summits even have beautiful patches of flower-
ing shrubs ; while along the bottoms of the vallies
yu.. catch as ozcasional glimpse through the trees

of a dear rivulet. The productions of the soil even
appear to be different from-all you meet with in the
range to the north of Wassota. Tlle forests abound
with the pepper'-vine growing in the utmost luxu-
riance; the Nlalacc# cane) of which walking-sticks
are made, was very-Jabundant, and several trees of
the bastard nutmeg were seen with the fruit on them.
...Here also is seen the wild lime; and the ;numerous
varieties of flowering shrubs and aromatic plants per-
. fume the air. In snort, the neighbourhood of Was-
sota presents an inexhaustible field to the inquiries of
the botanist, and ample gratification to the admirers
of nature.

---
N. B. Hunter and Morrison are tso Officers taken
prisoners in the beginning of the war, and were sup-
posed to have been put to death by the Peishwa.

PROCLAMATION,
By his gxceUency Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Broanrigg,
Baronet and Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable
Military Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-
Chief in and over the British settlements and territories ia the
Island of Ceylon with the dependencies thereof.
" ROBERT BROWNRIGIG,
" Whereas rebellion has broken out in several of the Candian
Provinces and Districts belonging and owing allegiance to cur
Lord the King, and martial law has been proclaimed and or-
dered to be executed therein ; and whereas the plots and endea-
vours of evil disposed and disaffected persons are daily exerted
to seduce front their allegiance the Inhabitants of the Provinces
hitherto in tranquillity, and hostile incursions have been made
into the same from the Provinces already declared In rebellion,
and it is therefore necessary to provide more effectually for the
maintenance of his Majesty's Government, and the protection of
his loyal subjects against sack evil disposed traitors and rebels,
who either have or may withdraw themselves from their lawful
allegiance.
" We have therefore thought proper, in pursuance of the
power and authority vested in us by his Majesty, to proclaim
and command, and we do hereby proclaim and command, that
martial law shall forthwith be administered and ikecuted
throughout the whole of the Candian Provinces against all per-
sons within the same, who shall at any time after the publication
of this our Proclamation commit wry treason, treasonable or ks
,ditious practices, robbery, or other outrage or misdemeanour
whatever ; and we do hereby authorize the Officers commanding
his Majesty's forces in the resp.ictive Provinces, to proceed
against all and every such person or persons; and to punish the
same Ity death or otherwise, as to them shall seem tight and ex-
pedient for the sippreuion of the present rebellionotthe mainte-
nance of his Majesty's authority, and the restoration of good or-
der in these Provinces.

" Provided that this our Proclamation shall not be construed
to suspend or destroy the authority of the ordinary Magistrates
and Jurisdictions, where the same can be peaceably exercised,
restraining the same, however, to civil actions only.
" Given at Candy, this 81st day of February; 1818, by his
Excellency's command. (Signed) " GEO. LUSI G NAN,
Sec. for Cand. Provs.

" Gon-ave the King."
SECOND PROCLAMATION.

" Roars: Baownatoo,
" Whereas Ellepolla, formerly Adikar, has by Lis flight from
the town of Candy, without our permission, and by joining the
rebels in arms against our Lord the King, incurred the penalties
of treason.

" Now it is hereby ordered, that all the lands and other pro.
perty of the said Ellepolia, wheresoever the same may be, and the
same are, confiscated to his Majesty's use, and he, the said Elle-
polls, is declared out of the protection of the law and his life for-
feited; and a reward of 1000 rix-dollars is offered to any person
or persons who shall bring and deliver him to any Uticer in com-
mand of his Majesty's troops.
" Given at Candy, this 2d day of March, 1818.
" By his Excellency's command,
(Signed) "G. LUSIGNAN, Sec. Card. !"roes.

" Gon save the King."

' It appears also, that it had been deemed expedient
to remove for a time from Candy to Columbo, Ehey-
lapola, Maha Nilame ; this had been done at his own
request, and because the Government considers his
presence at Candy as detrimental to the public good;
the chiefs of the Rebels giving out, that they are in
constant correspondence with him, that he is favour-
able to their cause, and calling upon the people in
his name to join them. The .Dessave of the seven
Corks, whom the Government knew had been in se-
cret correspondence with the rebels and Pretender,
had also fled and openly joined them, having previ-
ously understood measures were taking kr his re-
moval to Columbo : it was not intended, however,
either to put him to death, or to confiscate his pro-
perty ; and on account of his wife being the sister of
the first Adikar, his life would still be spared, it ap-1
pears, should he give himself up within twenty days. 11
The.Moormen resident in the Candian Provinces
having, on various occasions, shewn their fidelity and
attachment to the British Government, certain privi-
leges have been granted them by a proclamation is-
sued by his Excellency General Sir Robert Brownrigg
on the 2tl inst. This proclamation also assures them
of the fullest compensation, for any injury they may
sustain, by their adherence to the Government.

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