, 1894-10-03

" t"C ubAALI VIII
which the officials managed the food, there
was no loss of lite. England has, by means
OF the telegraph, watched the lake form and
overflow, az if it were a unique manifestation
OF the forces of Nature; but in reality suck
events are not uncommO in the mountain
barrier OF India. A fine story connected with
such an event is still told III the Puniab.
When Runjeet Singh was ruler of the Puns
Jab, the bed Of the Indus, at q point near the
mountains, became half dry owing to the
stopping of the water supply abov A tribe
OF Pathan freebooters IN the frontier seized
the opportunity to cross the river and harry
the plalns beyond. Runjeet Singh seirt
loops under one Of his European officers to
dlsperSe the maraudrrs. Tney found the
Pathans Oh the left bank Of the river and
We're about to attack them, when a
white flag WAS displayed. A confer
rnce took place. and tho r0bber chief
asked to be allowed to go back. Under other
circumstances, he would have been glad
enough to fight, but, said he, "A mighticr
Power than either of us forbids." News
which had travelled in the subtle and myste.
nous way Of the East, had come to the Chief
that a lake had broken in u vaAey above
and that soon the river would be a
raging flood. AS the Sikhs and Pa.
thans fous ht, they would be swept away.
Let us, tn Ell, ave ourselves while we can
We will cross the river, and do Won 90 to the
high ground above the plain" The European
officer, perhaps half-douoting. agreed: but
almost before thu cumbatants had semrated
and reached safe ground, down came the
water, bearing everything before it, covering
the field of battle and sweeping away a bat
terry OF guns which the Sikhs Ind not time to
drag to a place of safety.
The Dutch have Suffered a considerable
rev erse in the East Indies. An expedition
under Colonel Vet ter was lately despatched
from Batavia to the island Of Lembok in order
to snbdue the rebellious Raia. The island
is a large one, but at first the troops met with
no great difficulty, the Raja gave in his sub
mission and divisions of the expeditionary force
occupied various important points in the island.
Suddenly iIo yever, and apparently simUltame7
ously, they were ATTACKED by the natives, ana
suffered great losses, one column being almost
annlliIlated. Ultimately the Dutch had to
retreat to the coast at Ampenan, where thov
could be supported by their meu-ot- war.
The total loss, especially in officers. seems to
nave been very heavy, and two mountain
guns, as well as a great deal of baggage. had
to be Abandoned. The Council of the Indies.
which has ample forces at its command, Wilt
no Doubt take prompt action; but the military
position In the Dutch Colonies can hardly be
called satisfactory. The AohineSe war has
now las ted more than twenty years.
NJ. Stambouloff is full of revelations con-
corning his Sovereign. he has informed a
correspo ndent of the FrGmkfarter Zeitund
that the present policy pursued by the Bull
garian Government is entirely that of the
Prince. 1t is an exact reversal Of NJ. SIAM
bouloff's own, which favoured a good under
standing with Turkey and the Triple Arli-
ance. The Princes policy is all directed
towards obtaining recognition from Russia.
To obtain this lie is seeking The election of a
RussophiI Chamber, which VIII endorse his
overturos to Rus ,ia, and 50 damp down dis
content in the Army. The Prince has actu-
ally gone SO far as to appoint as Commission
ers Of Police men who helped to kidnap Prince
Alexander. And with all that he will never
get recognised by Russia. ''Tfe Gar is a
type of the Russian mujik, honest, orthodox,
narrow-minded, and las obstinate as an OK"
The Prince is a clever man, but w&sres his
cleverness on petty matters. He reads
everything that iawritteif about him, per-
haps someuifty newspapers a day, and tears
one inb pieces if it Contains disparaging re-
marks. II have often told hifn, Do not read
so many papers, but study public affairs. Get