INDIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 343, 26 February 1859, Page 2 (Supplement)

INDIA.

We have papers to the 28th of December from Bombay ; to the same date from Madras ; and from Calcutta to the 22nd.

The Overland Atlienaum, of the 28th, supplies the following summary of general items : —

Feroz Shah, Gholab Shah, Kullun Shah, Khan Ali Khan, NazimofOudo, Fuzl Huk, andMoulvie, and another person, all of whom were rebel leaders in Oude, have escaped from that province, and, after crossing and le. crossing several rivers, have been defeated by Major-General Napier at Ranode, a town in the native state of Gwalior, en route from Calpec to Goona. This engagement took place on the 17th instant. The rebels were charged by H. M. 14th Diagoons, and pursued for eight miles over a plain. Six elephants were captured, and Captain Prettyjohn of the Dragoons, as well as eight or ten men, were wounded. Gieat slaughter it is said by the telegram was inflicted on the insurgents. Before this action the rebels had tlueatened our faithful ally the Nawab of Rampore at his capital, and had besieged Etawah, but were, apparently, obliged to abandon both places without having effected their puiposo. The object which Feroz Shah, (who is the leader of the other chiefs named above) had in view in escaping fiom Oude, was to join his forces to those of Tantia Topee, but whether he will be able to effect his purpose is extremely doubtful, seeing that he has been defeated by Major-General Napier and that there are in addition to that gallant general, Brigadiers Showers, M'Duff, and M'Causland, out after him.

We have news by electric telegiaph, from Oude to the 15th instant. The Commander-in-Chief was then within a short distance of Byraitch, in which place, it has for some time been supposed, the Nana Sahib lies concealed. Sir Hope Giant and Brigadier Rowcroft weie also co-operating in Lord Clyde's movement. This is the only news of the progress of the wai we have fiom Oude, there having been no engagements since those reported in our last issue. In other respects the intelligence is very satisfactory. Almost all the rebel Talookdars in the Baiswarra District have surrendered, and the disarming of the people as well as the dismantling of the forts are being rapidly proceeded with. But that Lord Clyde has still an undertaking of immense magnitude before him is shewn by the fact that the rebels on the 31st November still mustered 24,170 cavalry, 116,100 infantry, and 142 artillery. Large as these numbers are they do not represent the total strength of the enemy, for we are assured that they do not include several bodies of rebels under 3000 who are in the Khyrbad district. These bodies line the river Gogra" and are computed to amount to about 18,000 cavalry and infantry, with 14 guns. To ensure the future tranquility of this province and safety of our officials in the event of another revolt it is reported, that small mud forts, or at least fortified places are to be ereoted. at every place of im. portance. They are to be of simple yet strong construction) and are to bo capable of being easily de-

fended. It is added that many of these forts are now in course of erection and that some of them are nearly, completed. Since Tantia Topee's defeat at Chota Oodeypore he has roamed at will through the country, eluding all attempts to capture him. Wherever he appears consternation is spread. His proximity to Candeish and the Deccan was sufficient to stop the seed and cotton trade, and his inroad into Guzerat stopped the supplies of produce to the Bombay market. We ha^e nothing new to report with reference to this erratic chief's movements, except that it is rumoured he has sustained another defeat at Chota Oodoypore. After this battle the Brigadier issued the following order : — " Brigadier Parke congratulates the troops under his command, on the successful result of yesterday's engagement with the rebel army under Tantia Topee and the Rao Sahib. The troops not only displayed great gallantry and steadiness when exposed to the enemy, but during the fatigue of the late forced marches, their discipline, perseverance, and cheerfulness have been most conspicuous. In the last seven days, between the morning of the 23rd November and day-light of the Ist December, they have marched upwards of two hundred miles, in part through the densest jungles ; effected the passage of the Nerbudda river ; and without the cooperation or assistance of other troops in front or flank, have outmarched in pursuit, and defeated an enemy notorious for the rapidity of his movements. The Brigadier's thanks are due to all officers and men, but particularly to Lieutenant Heathorn, of the Bombay Artillery, whose whole conduct and exertion in overcoming every difficulty during the late laborious operations, shall be brought to the notice of the Commander-in-Chief."

In order to show how extended is the influence exercised by Tantia Topee it may be mentioned that numerous persons in Gualior have been detected in keeping up communications with him. Six hundred and seventy- five persons have been arrested by order of the Maharajah, and the matter is to be enquired into.

The rebellion in the district of Shahabad, it' is officially stated, may now be considered at an end. The various rebel leaders have been scattered in all directions, and their followers are " nowhere." The only quarter from which any danger is apprehended is from Palatnow, where a few sepoys under Sceda Sing have taken refuge. One of the principal leaders, Mcgha Row, has, according to a correspondent of a Calcutta contemporary, been captured by some of H.M.s 84th. The clearing of the jungle at Judgespore is going on rapidly ; two thousand men are engaged on the work, and in the first twenty-five days one twelfth part of the jungle, or 2500 acres, was cut down. Mr Buriows, of the firm of Burn, and Co., railway contractors, who has undertaken the work of cutting down the jungle, has engaged to do so at his own expense, the Government of India on its part granting to him for ninetynine years, the whole of the land so cleared rent free.

The leaders of the petty rebellion at Twantay, near Rangoon (alluded to in our last) have been tried. The inspired fisherman King of the Tailing country, and nine of his companions are to be hanged ; the remainder are to be tried for dacoity. The cause of the rising is as yet unknown to the public, but it would appear fromfthe statement of the Rangoon correspondent of a Calcutta contemporary that the evidence taken at the trial has disclosed some kind of mismanagement on the part of the Extra Assistant Commissioner, Mr Lewis, and that he is to be removed to another district.

Tht ex-king of Delhi and family have been deposited at Rangoon by H.M.S. Megaera. According to an address of Sir George Grey to the Cape Parliament, arrangements had been made for sending his ex-majesty to British Kaffraria, so that some change in this plan must have taken pUce or the residence at Rangoon of the last of the Moguls is only to be temporary. Possibly it is in contemplation to send him to the Andatnans where the sepoy mutineers are busily engaged in making themselves comfortable, and where he may be cheered by the sight of former adherents. The last accounts from these penal settlements states that 'the convicts for the most part are behaving themselves well, working hard, and earning their bread by the sweat of their brows.

Several persons have been rewarded for their loyalty by the Government of India. Conspicuous among them and singular to relate is an Englishman, this being the first instance in which the authorities have recognised the services of one of their own country-men of the non-official class. The gentlemen referred to is Mr Boyle, one of the engineers of the East India Railway Company, who it will be recollected fortified the house at Arrah, and was one of its most gallant defenders against the repeated attacks of thousands of rebel sepoys. The reward bestowed on Mr Boyle is a very appropriate and munificent one, being an estate in the district of Shahabad (in which Arrah is situated) of the yearly value of one thousand pounds. Mr Boyle •» himself to choose the estate, which will be granted to him and his heirs for ever ; during his life time it will be rent free, and at his death Ms heirs are to take only half of the revenue, Government taking the other as a tax on the property. All the other* who have been rewarded are natives.