INDIA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 72, 5 December 1857, Page 2

INDIA.

In confirmation of the view which we have taken of the cause of the revolt in India, and as containing much useful information and some original views on the question, we lay before our readers the following letter from an Indian officer of many years standing, which has been kindly placed at our disposal : —

My Dear A few words on the direct cause of the outbreak. The cartridges prepared as stated, (namely, with lard) would have affected the caste of every man that touched them. The manufacturers received the order for their preparation from the Secretary of the India House ; and prepared them precisely as for the Queen's service. On their reaching India, the Commander-in-Cbief directs their distribution.

Barrackpore, the nearest station, receives them first. The Sepoys, detecting the grease, and alway3 most sensitively alive to loss of caste — which is loss of honour — refuse to receive them ; though well aware that by such, refusal they subject themselves to death or dismissal from the service. Here, then, if not before, the evil should have been stayed ; for the cartridges were directed for distribution to the whole army ; therefore the refusal of the first corps to receive them was a certain indication that the army at large would act in the same manner. But, no —

" Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat." The authorities foolishly fancied that, by disbanding those regiments, the rest of the army, fearing such a result to themselves, would receive the tainted articles j yet every Indian officer well knows, or ought to know, that every native of India, women as well as men, would never hesitate between the loss even of life and the loss of caste. Taking this view, it will be seen that the Sepoys were forced into revolt by an act of the most oppressive and cruel description ; and the worse, that in all its relations with the Sepoy army, the Government had bound itself to observe and respect the feelings of caste. It will be equally perceptible that the whole affair was a blunder, which might and ought to have been detected and remedied at the first intimation of its character, received from the Sepoys themselves. The blame appears to me to rest with the authorities by whose order the first regiments were disbanded; whereas they should have instituted an enquiry into the force and character of the objections raised by the troops. Now these authorities were the Governor-General in Council and the Commander-in-Chief. These functionaries are men of no practical experience in the views or feelings of the people of India ; being selected, the GovernorGeneral from among the English nobility from a fancy of the power of the "prestige" of his title; the Commander-in-Chief from "the Queen's service. v No reformation in the affairs of India would

be more to the purpose than selecting for the Governorship the ablest and most experienced man in the civil service, and for the command of the army the fittest man among its senior field officers.

The army of India has consisted hitherto of regiments of the line and irregular corps. The Former officered by a Colonel, LieutenantColonel, Major, six Captains, fifteen Subalterns, Surgeon, and assistant Surgeon — the iatter by a Commandant (usually a Captain in rank), a second in command, an Adjutant, and one subaltern, with assistant Surgeon. Now I would have the European, increased, and kept with all care at the healthiest stations, chiefly in the mountains, and reserved for war and great emergencies; for our Indian Empire must ever be maintained by the power of the sword. The native portion of the army should consist of irregulars only ; their officers being carefully selected, and required to pass a strict examination in the languages of the country, and as to their ability not, merely to converse in them, but to read and write in them with fluency and propriety. They should be dressed like their men in native costume, and adopt as far as possible all the Eastern habits and customs. These would be stationed anywhere and everywhere, moving to and fro' as their services might be required, to keep in awe and order refractory chiefs or tribes, escort treasure, collect and protect revenue, &c. The Goorkahs and Sikhs are all officered in this manner ; and the Goorkahs have always proved themselves as efficient in action as the best of our regiments of the line ; with an European officer at the head of each company. By this means disaffection would be best guarded against, whilst the main strength and power of the military force would be with the Europeans, including the horse and foot artillery. Irregular cavalry is the only cavalry required in Indian wars.