INDIAN AND CHINESE NEWS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue I, 30 July 1842, Page 84

INDIAN AND CHINESE NEWS.

By the Colonial Gazette of February 9, we perceive that the overland mail had brought intelligence of the outbreak in Cabul, of which we published some account on the 23rd of April. The following additional particulars will be read with interest : — The outbreak was so wholly unexpected, that letters written on the preceding day by the Envoy and Minister (Sir William Macnaghten) speak of affairs being in a prosperous condition, and every thing quiet and peaceful at the capital. He him--self was about to leave Cabul at that very time, to proceed with all haste to Bombay to assume the governorship of that presidency. The occupation of the Koord Cabul pass by insurgents assembled to vindicate their right to a sort of toll, or blackmail, and the subsequent opposition which Gene- j ral Sale had met with, had ceased to cause any anxiety,.as it was supposed that the insurgents to the eastward had been effectually put down. But in the midst of this supposed security the storm broke over Cabul with terrific fury. As far as can be gathered from the disjointed accounts which had yet been received (for the communication between Cabul and India was still cut off), the first manifestation of the popular anger consisted in a murderous assault on a party of British officers, who were then leaving the Durbar. Sir Alexander Burnes, his brother Lieutenant C. Burnes, and Lieutenant Broadfoot, of the European Regiment, were massacred, and another officer, Lieutenant ■ Sturt, of the Engineers, cut down, in the presence r of Shah Soojah himself. Sir Alexander was shot ' as he was about to mount his horse, by a treachl erous Armenian in his own service. Soon the i whole city was up in arms; the bazaars were 1 plundered; the houses of the British officers were [ ransacked and their property destroyed ; the trea- ; sury was pillaged, and other depredations were ' committed in the town ; whilst another large party, , chiefly Kurzilbaahes, it is said, attacked the British cantonments, which are situated 'about two I miles from the town. The rebels are said to have declared King one of the sons of Shah Zemaun, a 1 blind elder brother of Shah Soojah, who was long ' known to have been intriguing. Whether the » outbreak originated in the intrigues of this party, • or whether it was a religious movement having for J its end the extermination of the British, is not • very clearly known ; but the rebellion was of the most alarming character, for the whole population

were up in arms, and the British troops being di- j vided — a portion of them in cantonments, a portion of them in the Balah Hissar — and the enemy holding the town, which lies between two positions, but little stand could be made against the heavy onset of the insurgents. The enemy, unfortunately, at an early stage got possession of the commissariat godowns ; two horse artillery guns had been sent to their defence, but, the ammunition failing, the stores were captured. Two of the Shah's guns were also taken by the enemy and turned against the British, and one of our magazines was destroyed. On the l-Bth, the insurrection, in spite of a partial victory achieved l>y our troops a few days before, was at its height, and though there seemed at one time some little hope of the Ghilzie portion of the confederacy being bought over to our side, at the date of the last intelligence affairs were still wearing an adverse aspect. The British also sustained severe assaults elsewhere — While these events occurred at the capital, the principal British outposts were being attacked by the enemy. Charekur, which is to the north of Cabul, was besieged, and the single corps there posted, the Shah's Fourth Regiment, after a gallant defence, cut to pieces. All the officers attached to it, with the exception 'of one who escaped severely wounded, were killed; and Lieutenant Rattray, the political agont at Kolristnn, fell there also. About this same time, Captain Woodburn, with a party of 120 men, was proceeding from Ghuznee to Cabul, when he fell in with a large body of the insurgents, and the whole of his little band were massacred. At Peshboolak, Captain Ferris's detachment of 250 men held out in a weak fort for some days against repented attacks of from 2,000 to 3,000 men. At last*, having only twentyfive rounds of ammunition in poucli, he, with six other officers and the men, being refused terms by the Affghans, came to the resolution of cutting their way through the enemy, and, having placed the two ladies within their square (Mrs. Ferrlffrafi "her sister), effected their retreat, providentially unharmed, through some severe fighting, to the stronghold of a friendly chief, who sent them to Peshawur by mountain-paths before unknown, disguised a* natives, the ladies riding mounted on ponies as Affghan women. Ali Musjid, which lies with Peshboolak on the eastern front of Affghanistan, between Peshawur and Jellcllabad, was attacked also, but with no calamitous result And Ghuznee, only garrisoned by a single regiment, had been beleaguered by the enemy ; but, although evil reports are rife concerning it, it is hoped that it is yet secure. General Sale, who, as we formerly stated, was shut up in Jellellabad, still maintained his position, and as he is known to be well supplied with stores, there is no reason to doubt his perfect security. The Government of Lahore had shown the most friendly disposition to the British, having, immediately on .■ hearing of the outbreak, sent a reinforcement to General Sale, and also, it is said, despatched troops to co-operate with Colonel Wild's brigade. | In Upper Scinde, the different tribes appeared to be peaceably inclined, and several chiefs^had tendered their submission to the young Khan of Khelat. But feelings of hatred towards the British still seemed to pervade the breasts of the | people. An officer (Lieutenant Halswell, of the I 6th Native Infantry) had been murdered near Lebee, and two more were missing. The imprudence of officers in proceeding to any considerable distance from the camp without an escort is strongly censured. | There is Indian news of a more recent date in ] the New Zealand Gazette of July 2, which we cannot find room for this week. The accounts from the northern expedition in China under Sir Henry Pottinger relate a series of successes. The squadron did not leave Amoy till the sth September, in consequence of adverse weather ; .and on the same account Chusan was chosen as the next point of attack instead of Chinhae. The force assembled at the little island of Just-in-the-vray by the 25th. They found that the Chinese had been indefatigable in strengthening the defences of Chusan. The troops were landed to the westward of the sea defences beyond the joss-house ; and) contending against very rapid tides, the war-ships were placed in position to coyer the land force. The engagement commenced at half-past ten in the morning, and by two o'clock the British colours were flying in every direction. On the British side, one ensign, one private soldier, and one seaman were killed, and twenty-four private soldiers and two sailors were wounded. In a circular to British subjects in China, dated the 2d October, Sir Henry Pottinger says — " Arrangements will be made immediately for establishing a Provisional Government ; and her Majesty's Plenipotentiary deems it advisable, after what has already happened, to intimate to her Majesty's subjects and all others, that under no circumstances will Tinghae and its dependencies be restored to the Chinese Government until the whole of the demands of England are not only complied with but carried into full effect." On the 7th the troops reembarked, and the squadron regained the anchorage off Just-in-the-way. And General Gough and Admiral Parker, accompanied by Sir Henry, proceeded to reconnoitre Chinhae. This city was strongly fortified, and contained a large number of trocjps ; nevertheless, after a few hours fighting, the British were completely victorious. A circular issued by Sir Henry Pottinger on the 15th October says — " The Imperial Commissioner is stated to have attempted to drown himself immediately after the battle, and to have since died a short distance inland from, the effects of that attempt, or some other unexplained cause. About one hundred and fifty pieces of brass ordnance, exclusive of iron cannon, many hundred ginjalls and wall pieces of various calibre, and some thousand matchlocks and other warlike weapons, were captured; besides which, several exteusive magazines of gunpowder have bten blown up, or otherwise destroyed." Of all the British forces about five were killed and thirty wounded. The capture of Ningpo is thus concisely tola by Sir Henry — . " The necessary arrangements having beer

made, and recon'noissanecs had during the 11th and 12th instant,' the squadron named below, carrying the troops, marines, and extra seamen frcug the ships left behind, moved on the iSth up tlP* river to Ningpo; which was found undefended, the Chinese soldiers having positively refused to face our troops again ; in consequence of which J the civil mandarins and all the military officers fled from the city about two hours before the squadron reached it. The city was, therefore, . peaceably occupied by the troops under his Excellency Sir Hugh Gough, K.C.H., and the ships moored in the river within one hundred yards of the wall." These successes, however, had not as yet, it is believed, drawn any pacific overtures from the Chinese. It is understood that Sir Henry had sent to India for further reinforcements, to pr<fc ceed to Teen-sin and Pekin next season, as tfcfe season was too far advanced to do so at once. It would appear that preparations were making for the reception of the British in the province of Peking. It is stated in the Peking Gazette that the Governor of that province had represented to the Emperor that substantial and well-constructed forts have been erected at Teen-sin, near the mouth of the Peiho, and that they are all mounted with superior cannon, and in a complete state of preparation. He also assures the Emperor that at the same place there was then collected a very large force of well-disciplined and able-bodied troops, both foot and horse, highly skilled in the use of the sabre, musketry, cannon, and the bow and arrow, all ready to commence a campaign of certain and glorious victory. There was no*intimation that these preparations have been made in view of the probable invasion by the English.