PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE ENGLISH IN INDIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 324, 16 October 1858, Page 4

PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE ENGLISH IN INDIA.

The following extraordinary proclamation was issued by Prince Mirzfti Mahomed Ferozc Shah on the 3rd of Rujub 1274', corresponding with the 17th of February, 1858 : Be it known to all the Indian and Mahomedan inhabitants of India that to rule over a country js one of the greatest blessings from Heaven, and it is denied to a tyrant or an oppressor. Within the last few years the British commenced to oppress the people in India under different pleas, and contrived to eradicate Hindooism and Mahomedanism, and to make all the people embrace Christianity. The Almighty power observing this diverted the hearts of the people to a different course, and now every one has turned to annihilate the English, and they have nearly done so. Through avarice and ambition the British have shown some resistance, though in vain. Through Divine mercy that will in a short time be reduced to nothing. Let this also be known to all Hindoos and Mussulmen, that the English bear the bitterest enmity towards them. Should they again become predominant in this country — which God forbid— they will destroy religion, property, and even the life of everyone. A brief sketch of the views and intentions of the Supreme Court and Parliament is hereby given, in order to warn the people that they should get rid of the habits of negligence and strife in unity to destroy the infidels when the _ Indian troops mutinied to save their religion, and killed all infidels in several places, the wise men of England were of opinion that had the British authorities in India kept the following things in view the mutiny would never have broken out : 1. They should have destroyed the race of the foimer kings and nobles. 2. They should have burnt all books of every other religion. * 3. They should not have left even a biswa of ground to any of the native rulers. 4. They should have intermarried among the natives, so that after a short time all would have become one race. 5. They should not have taught the use of artillery to the natives. 6. They should not have left arms among the natives. 7. They should not have employed any native until he consented to eat and drink with Europeans. 8. The mosques and Hindoo temples should not have been allowed to stand. 9. Neither Moulvies nor Brahmins should have been allowed to pieach. 10. The several cases brought into the courts should have been decided according to English laws. 11. English priests should have performed all nuptial ceremonies of the natives according to their English customs. 12. All prescriptions of the Hindoo and Mussulmen physicians should have been prohibited, and English medicines furnished instead. 13. Neither Hindoo nor Mussulman fakeers should have been allowed to convert people without the permission of English missionaries. 14. European doctors only should have been allowed to assist native women in childbed. But the authorities did not take means to introduce these measures. On the contrary, they always encouraged the people, so much so that they at last broke out. Had the authorities kept in view the maxims above alluded to the native would have remained quiet for thousands of years. These are now the real intentions of the English, but all of us must conjointly exert ourselves for the protection of our lives, propeity, and religion, and to root out the English from this country. Thus we shall indeed, through Divine mercy, gain great victory over them. I (the Prince) now draw a brief sketch of my travels, and I hope the people will pay attention to what I say. Before the destruction of the English I went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, and on my return I observed that the English were in a bad and hazardous position. I therefore offered thanks to God because it is in my nature to follow the principles of my religion and to promulgate justice. I persuaded many at Delhi to raise a religious war ; I then hastened towards Gwalior, where the majority of the military officeis promised to kill the English and take up my cause, A small portion of the Gwalior army accompanied me. I had not the least intention to announce war before I had everything in order, but the army became very enthusiastic, and commenced fighting with the enemy (the English). Though our army was then but a handful, and that of the enemy very large in numbers, still we fought manfully, and, though apparently we were defeated, in reality we were victorious over our enemy, for we killed 1000 of them. Since then I have been collecting as well as exhorting the people. I have exerted, myself in procuring ammunition up to this day, now four months sinbe the commencement. Thank God, an army of 150,000 old and new men are now bound by a solemn oath to embrace my cause. I have collected considerable treasury and munitions of war in many places, and in a short time I shall clear the country of all infidels. Since the real purpose of this war is to save religion, let every Hindoo and Mussulman render assistance to the utmost. Those that are old should offer their prayers. The rich, but old should assist our sacred warriors with money. Those in peifect health, as well as young, should attend in person. But all those who are in the service of either Mirza Birjish Kadur Bahadur in Lucknow and of Khan Bahadoor Khan at Bareilly should not venture out to join us, for these rulers are themselves using their best endeavours to clear the country of all infidels, All who join us should do so solely with a view of promulgating their leligion, not with that of worldly avarice. Thus victoiy will certainly smile upon us ; then distinguished posts will be conferred on the people at large. The delay in defeating the English has been caused by people killing innocent children and women without any permission whatever from the leaders, whose commands were not obeyed. Let us all avoid such practices, and then proclaim a sacred war. Lastly. The great and small in this campaign will be equal, for we are waging a religious war. I (the Prince do now proclaim a sacred war, and exhort all, according to the tenets of their religion, to exert themselves. The rest I leave to God. We shall certainly conquer the English, consequently I invite the people again to my_ assistance. Printed at Bareilly, by Shaict Nisar Ally, under the supervision of Moolvie Mahomed Kootub Shah.

Don Miguel, in a recent manifesto, asserts " his right to the throne of Portugal."