I. 1842. Dec. be Meerpoor, the fortified capital of Shere Mohamed. There are several Meerpoors, but this capital stands at the very edge of the desert, at the distance of forty miles on a right line drawn from Hyderabad eastward; and this line prolonged for fifty miles more would fall on Omercote of the desert, a strongly fortified town forming a post of connection between Meerpoor and the Bombay frontier. It will now be understood, that by occupying Roree and Alore, his left resting on the desert, Sir Charles Napier barred the Ameers of Kyrpoor from Subzulcote and Bhoong-Bharra while his Bengal troops seized those narrow districts behind his position; thus he obtained the object of the treaty with Roostum, without quitting the defensive or provoking a war, and exactly fulfilled the GovernorGeneral's orders. The Beloochees dared not attack him in a position which could be reinforced by the Bengal troops; they could not pass his flank save by the desert, and by a short movement on that side he could intercept them. They were indeed strong at Larkaana on the right of the Indus, and might assail Sukkur which was hemmed in with jungle; but he had strengthened his lines there as a pivot of movements, and now relying on their force, he sought to reduce the Ameers to quietude by reason. Lord Ellenborough had permitted him to name his own commissioner for conducting the details of the new treaties, and with a generous impulse he. asked for Major Outram, thus risking the Governor-General's displeasure. Lord Ellenborough, discarding personal feelings, acceded, and Major VI. 1842. Dec. Outram was thus recalled to Scinde. This disinte- CHAP. rested act of kindness was seized by the newspapers in Major Outram's interest, as an occasion for extolling that officer's superior genius and capacity, and abasing the reputations of Lord Ellenborough and Sir C. Napier. The first was described as having basely driven a remarkable man from his former political duties in Scinde; the second, as presumptuously and ignorantly undertaking those duties without ability for the task; both, as having plunged headlong into difficulties which they could no way escape from save by recalling their able victim. This absurd insolence, characteristic of Indian newspapers, is answered by the following letter from the General to Lord Ellenborough on the occasion ; but as Major Outram's friends in England, as well as in the East, have forced a comparison between him and Sir C. Napier, their respective merits shall be tested in the course of this work by reference to their exploits. tary papers, pier to the "I have no intention of waiting for Major Parliamen"Outram's arrival, because till we get into the Sir C. Na"details of the treaty I do not want assistance; Governor"and as your Lordship has been so good as not to Nov. 30, give me a colleague, I mean to consult no one. "I see my way clearly." 66 Soon after this letter was written Major Outram arrived, with the newspaper reputation of having consummate knowledge of men and of affairs in Scinde; knowledge acquired by long experience in the country, and sustained by great natural capacity; yet he committed error upon error. With a dull or a perverted perception of character, his experience did not prevent him from becoming a dupe to the Ameers' gross diplomacy; M General, 1842. I. 1842. Dec. PART he displayed no capacity for war beyond the hardy daring of a partisan; his pertinacity of opinion led to deplorable results which shall be noticed hereafter; and it would have caused the entire destruction of the army, but for the keener penetration, superior intellect, and firm resolution of his General, to whom he has ever since acted inimically but that is human nature. During the operation of crossing the Indus, Sir Charles Napier discovered that the vakeels of Roostum had received money to corrupt the soldiers, had delayed delivering their letters, and gave the Ameer false hopes. He checked this mischief with a prompt hand, writing thus to the Ameer: The men you sent to Roree are rob 66 66 bing you. They will tell you that they are bribing my soldiers, and they extract money "from your Highness, under that pretext. If they "were really bribing my soldiers to desert, I would punish them, but they are doing no such thing; your Highness is robbed by your servants. How"ever, if you are not robbed, and that, as they "pretend, they were bribing my soldiers, it was 66 66 ❝ war. high time to turn them out of Roree, which I "have done; and if I find them attempting to dis"turb the loyalty of my troops, it will be worse for "them. Ameer, I have received my orders, and "will obey them. I laugh at your preparations for I want to prevent blood being shed listen "to my words,-consult with your brother, his "Highness Ali Moorad. Your own blood will not "deceive you your servants will. These men "were four days in Roree, and did not deliver your "letters to me; had I not sent for them, they "would still have kept them from me to gain "time, that they might rob you. Eight days have 66 66 VI. 1842. Dec. "passed, and I have not heard that your Highness CHAP. "has nominated a commissioner of rank to arrange "the details of the treaty. I expect to have in writing your full acceptance of the draft thereof, "by the return of the bearer. Your Highness is collecting troops in all directions, I must there"fore have your acceptance of the treaty immediately,—yea or nay. I will not lose the cold "weather. You Highness must be prompt, or I "shall act without consulting your Highness; my "time is measured, and I cannot waste it in long "negotiations. 66 66 "Your Highness' letter is full of discussion; but "as there are two sides of your river, so are there two sides to your Highness' arguments. Now the "Governor-General has occupied both sides of 'your Highness' river, because he has considered "both sides of your Highness' arguments. Many "of your Highness' family have taken the same "view of the case that the Governor-General has; "and the respect which they have shewn to the "British Government is repaid to them by the “Governor-General. But I cannot go into the "argument, I am not Governor-General; I am only one of his commanders. I will forward your letter to him, if you wish me to do so; but, "in the mean time, I will occupy the territories "which he has commanded me to occupy. You "think I am your enemy,-why should I be so? "I gain nothing for myself; I take no gifts; I re"ceive no Jagheers. What is it to me whether your Highness, or any other person, occupies the "land? The Governor-General has given to you "his reasons, and to me his orders; they shall be "obeyed." 66 66 - PART I. 1842. Dec. This drew from Roostum an unmeaning public reply, but covering a secret message, to the effect, that being eighty-five years old he was oppressed by the younger members of his family and desired to take refuge in the British camp. It was an embarrassing proposition. Too favourable for a peaceful termination of the disputes to be rejected, it had however this drawback, that every proceeding of the Ameer would be imputed to coercion. The General prevailed on Ali Moorad, who was then with him, to carry back the following written response:"Your Highness is, I believe, personally a friend, "but you are helpless amongst your ill-judging 'family. I send this by your brother. Listen to "his advice, trust to his care: you are too old for war, and if battle begin, how can I protect you? If you go with your brother, you may either remain with him, or I will send an escort to bring 66 66 66 66 you to my camp where you will be safe. Follow "my advice, it is that of a friend. Why should I "be your enemy ? If I was, why should I take this trouble to save you? I think you will believe "me, but do as you please." It is plain the Ameer was left by this letter master of his movements though invited to a step promising peace, and that was the only wish of the General. But the British "dawks" had been intercepted, and there were two parties to deal with in the same house, namely, Roostum and his sons: wherefore, resolute to suffer no secret hostility, while he soothed the old man in private, he publicly menaced through him, as chief, the more insolent members of his turbulent family. My letters," he wrote to Roostum, "have been stopped near Kyrpoor. This has been done 66 |