INDIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 341, 6 February 1856, Page 6

INDIA.

The overland mail brings us intelligence for which we were not prepared by any telegraphic warning. There has been a rising in the Presidency of Bengal, which promises to be of serious import. The advance of the railway to the base of the Rajmahal Hills, distant some two hundred miles from Calcutta, has brought us into contact with the Santals, or " Southalls,'' an industrious, pastoral race, of whom, from their generally acknowledged quiet habits, little appears to be known, but that little decidedly rather favourable to their character than otherwise. The *'advance of civilization" having invaded the Samal territory, some offence has been given to the inhabitants, of a character sufficient to produce an insurrection. According to one account the Government officers have been grinding them for Government rent, according to another the railivny navvies have carried off a Santal female, whom they refuse to restore; whilst a third would give the rising a religious character. The real origin we shall not ascertain till the next mail. In the meantime, whatever it is, the Santals have murdered two European ladies, Mrs. Thomas and Miss Pell, whilst travelling dak, and J7of the native p»lice;haviiig made, it is said, a sudden descent upon Rajmahal, Bhaugulporeand Beevbhoonv By the latest accounts, one or two stations on the line of railway, where the engineers had tried to make a stand had been forced ; and the few Europeans on the line had assembled at Kudnusha, deep amongst the hills. Troops should be sent from Barrackpore by rail to Burdwau, wlieueu two days' forced marching would enable them to reach any point of the Beerbhoom district which may be threatened ; and the only chance of putting an end to the disturbance will be the rapid concentration of troops from Dinapore, &a, by water on Rajmahal and Sikreegully, and from Barrackpore by rail or by steamer, or both, to Beerhhooin and Jungypove. There aTe evidently 2 if uot more huge parties of insurgents, and the lowest reports makes each consist of nearly ten thousand men. Any one acquainted with the habits of the Santals'is perfectly aware that 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 buttle axes. Commissariat they require none,as they feed on worms,caterpillars, grubs—everything; and they appear and disappear in the low sal jungles in a minute. Troops cannot there follow them, and it is only in the plains thatthey can he held in check. The "Times" Calcutta correspondent is of opinion that the outbreak has long been in preparation, and that it has arisen from fanaticism as Air. Pomet, the Superintendent of the district is a man remarkable lor administrative ability and the mildness of his rule. The Santals, who are always understood to be one of the aboriginal races of India, were invited by o u r Gont' v yeaJ" S H' eii UlHler tlie superintendence of !& V-TV 111 l un.c«'e»«nted '"fliccr, a man Li 1 A , "fminisiraiive ability and the most benevolent d lH umi{o n .~GuaJia tl ,