The Express. — 1855-08-30 (London, England)

INSURRECTION OF THE SANTALS. ( Prom tba Cakulta Emplielaseass.) We have at last a little news of our own. While the British nation is carrying on • great war in the Baltic and the Black Sea, the East India Company's, Lieut.-Governor of Bengal has got up a little war of his own in the Raimahal hills. 'these hills overhang the Ganges at their northern extremity, but till very lately were unexplored by Europeans. There are two I distinct tribes, the Hill men, and a wandering race called Santals. These last were permitted by the British authorities to occupy the valleys, and as the immigration became considerable, government placed an officer in charge of the district in 1838, when the population was about 3,000. In 18.52 it had increased to about eighty thousand, and till within the last few weeks, a more orderly and contented set of people was not to be found in Bengal. All at once they have taken arms, vowing destruction to their neighbours, and descending into the neighbouring country—at first it was said with 6,000 men, which report has since swelled to ten, fitteeo, and lastly to 80,000—stating that the insurrection has extended to Sooree, and even to Remeegunge, about a hundred miles from the place where it broke out. It is too soon to speculate on the causes of this outbreak ; various reasons are assigned, as will be seen from the lollowing letters. The most probable is, that diecou' teat has prevailed among them for some time, on account of increased taxation, and that soma real or imaginary wrong has sufficed to rouse to arms people already discontented.  The following reports of the &Intel insurrection are from various correspondents: The Ssntals or Hill tribes of litjunhal are up in arms to upset the Company's sway. They allege a divine revelation for their attempt, and their first step was to call on the hill darcwah to runtish supplies, and, on his refusal to do so, they deliberately see- d and murdered him. This I had from en eye-witness, who also saw the bodies of others who had bees murdered.  The following is from Berhampore, dated the 12th instant :  Various scot:meta are given of the origin of the rising, but it behoves the government to institute the strictest inquiry into the matter, and it is feared that some of the people on the railway will be found nailed up with it, by having carried off and refused to restore • Santa! lady. Certainly some atrone insult or injury must have provoked there re• claimers of the waste land, for they are not predatory hill tribes, but peaceful cultivator,, who are accomplishing what the savageness of the " paharias " and the inertness and want of energy of the Bengali have not attempted. There are evidently two, if not more, large partite of insurgents, sad the lowest reports make each consist of nearly ten thousand men. Any one as with the habits of the Smash is perfectly aware that the sound of the drums in the hills will, without previous warning or concert, assemble three or four thousand men, with their bows and poisoned arrows and battle saes. Commissariat they require none, as they teed on worms, caterpillars, grubs, ree rythimg, and they appear and disappear in the low sal jangles in an instant. Troops cannot there follow them, and it is only in the plains that they can be held in check. A determined front, and a faithful pro Iwise of the government, wisest:aced by Mr. Pootet (whom they know and can trust), that their wrongs shall be immediately Inquired into and redressed, say save • year's', foray and twenty 'skim of rupees uselessly expended.