INDIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 114, 2 September 1846, Page 4

INDIAN NEWS.

The Eastern Star of the Bth March, contains interesting details quite unknown to the present time, of what took place before and during the invasion of the Punjaub by our army. The particulars are thus given by the Mauricien : — It appears that early in January, affcer the first battle which was fought at Ferozepore, the Seikh leaders endeavoured to open negotiations with the Governor-General. It was said at the time that the Governor had answered, that he would only treat with them under the walls of Lahore. But the real truth seems to have been that the credentials that were offered proceeded from no authority, and that nothing could be considered as such unless emanating from the Maharajah, or from Goolab Singh. The eyes of all were turned naturally, on Goolab Singh ; those who were peaceably disposed, as well as the soldiers,

who accused their chief of incapacity and I treason, and requested him to place himself at their head. Certain of the auspicious moment, Goolab Singh, whom neither entreaties nor threats had before prevailed on to stir from < the security of his mountain home, moved forward to the capital at the head of 15,000 of his choicest troops ostensibly to contribute his quota to the war, and to serve against the common foe. Arrived at five miles from Lahore he notified his proximity to the Ranee, and was desired to order on his troops to Fhulloor in aid of Runjoor Singh, and to enter Lahore himself unattended, to leside there in the Havilles of his slaughered brother Dhyan Singh. The Rajah did not hesitate. He presented himself at the Durbar, but the suite remained in the camp. Certain of their fidelity he entered into diplomacy, and he had no trouble to influence the Ranee after the battle of Allewal. The day after the intelligence of that disastrous conflict reached Lahore, Goolab Singh was formally created Vizier. He next proceeded to deal with the army, and without being alarmed by the clamours of the soldiers, he manifested his open desire to enter into pacific relations with the English, and besides, he refused the money, ammunition, and artillery, which were asked from the Durbar for the continuation of the war. The last battle placed Goolab Singh in a situation to be able to execute his plans. As soon as the news of its loss reached him, he moved forward himself to meet the British authorities, then just crossing the Sutledge. On the 15tb, he entered Kussor, after the publication of the proclamation of the Go-vernor-General. It is well known how matters were arranged in the two conferences which took place on the 17th. The Maharajah was sent for by the Vizier, and presented himself to the British authorities to ask pardon for the misdeeds of j his army, and to solicit the clemency of the Governor General in the name of the ancient friendship that existed between the English and Runjeet Singh. On the 21st, Mr. Corrie escorted the Maharajah back and installed him in the palace, a portion of which was at the same time put in the military occupation of our forces, the English army encamping without the walls of the plain of Major Meer. On the arrival of the Governor- General, the Maharajah was enthroned with great pomp. On the 22nd, the Governor-General published a final proclamation, summing up the proceedings, and disclosing as two particulars of the treaty, that every gun which had been pointed agaicst our army during the war, should be surrendered to the English, and that the Seikh army should be totally disbanded. Another paragraph of the proclamation announced that the gratuity of 12 months' batta, was granted to the whole corps of the array of the Sutledge. The administration of the ceded territory is confided to Mr. J. Lawrence, and it is currently reported that Sir Charles Napier, who was called to the Governor-General's camp, and had left his troops to the command of General Simpson, is- to have the superintendence, political and military, of the Punjaub, with the title of Lieut.-Governor. The Seikh army, dispirited and scattered, was between Lahore and Unritzer, its leaders Tej Singh and Lall Singh having submitted. The Bengal Hurkaru, of the 11th March, containing news from Delhi of the 4th March, and from Lahore to the 26th February, says the intelligence from Lahore shows that a troubled spirit is still afloat ; its heavings are so perceptible, that notwithstanding the present state of affairs, we are afraid the Seikhs will some day or other break out again. Sirdar Tej Singh and his followers had surrendered, Rajah Lall Singh continued in the British camp. It appears the latter was wounded in the battle of Sunbraen in two places, by the bursting of a sharpnell shell close to him. The first instalment was to be paid that day (26th) ; on the payment of the second instalment the army was to break ground, and the third was to be liquidated at the convenience of the Durbar. The announcement of the great twelve months' batta was received with much satisfaction by the army. The Lahore state is to have an army of 20,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. The latest intelligence is contained in the Bengal Hurkaru of the 16th and 17th March, which gives the following news from the Punjaub to 7th of that month : — " Sir Charles Napier had arrived in time to witness the signature of the treaty, and was at Scjndewhen our troops moved, 12th March. The lerms demanded by us were in progress of completion. The army is disbanded, having delivered up their arms to their own Government — 38 lacs of the 150 demanded have been positively paid,- and 26 of the 36 guns we have demanded, as having been pointed against us, are in our camp. Goolab Singh is to be independent, and to have Cashmere. Jullendur, our newly-acquired territory, is said to be the garden of the Punjaub — and its

revenue, after paying for collection, amounts to 20 lacs. It is said the confiscated territory on this side of the river will yield 10 lacs more. A review of our troops took .place on the 6th March ; the Governor- General was accompanied by Sir Charles Napier and Staff all the time it lasted. The review was followed by a banquet given by the Governor- General; 150 of the most distinguished officers were present, and many healths and toasts were drank.

The French in Tahiti. — We regret to learn that " the war" in Tahiti still continues ; that the unfortunate natives, whose only fault is attachment to their Queen and their own simple hut sufficient form of Government, are subject to the continued attacks of a powerful nation, whose ostensible purpose is said to be their protection. The Tahitians have displayed a bravery and determination which must earn for them the sympathy of all who are acquainted with the circumstances under which they are fighting for their lives, their altars, and their homes. It does not appear that the French have yet obtained a single victory. After a three years' occupation of the island, no Frenchman dare go, without military protection, beyond the reach of the guns of the forts on the shores, or of the ships at anchor in the bay. In the last attack made by the French, their loss was very severe ; M. Brea or Brier, the senior military officer, was killed ; and the total killed was estimated at thirty, and the wounded (including several officers) at twenty-five. The Tahitian loss is not known, but as they were protected by the fastnesses to which they retired, it is not supposed to have been above one-third that of the French. Thousands of the bread fruit, and other trees bearing edible seed, have been destroyed by the French ; whole sections of country, which were like fertile gardens when the French advanced, were left by them without a single tree bearing fruit for the use of man. This has been done for the purpose of rendering it impossible for the natives to obtain food, and thus starving them into submission. There was a time when Great Britain had the right, according to the law of nations, to have interfered and prevented the occupation of the island by France ; but having let that time j pass by, she cannot do so now, even if she had the inclination. But surely if the real state of the case were known by the French people, they would not allow the unjust and unholy war in which their nation is engaged in Tahiti, to be proceeded with for the century which, at the present rate of progress, must elapse before the Tahitians are thoroughly subdued. The French in Oceania. — The Presse publishes a letter from a French naval officer serving in the Pacific Ocean, which it recommends to the attention of its readers as a demonstrative proof of the embarrassment which the French Government has created by the conquest of the Marquesas and the Society Islands. The following is an extract : — " The idea of occupying the Marquesas is devoid of j common sense. In an agricultural point of view these Islands are without resources. St. Helena, in the part in which it is beaten by the | south-east winds, offers a delightful aspect in comparison with that which Vahitahu and Nuhiva present, as well as the other islands which compose this Archipelago. Nor can I conceive the advantages in a maritime or military point of view. First, Vahitahu is an open bay which does not offer even the resource of a good anchoring ground. For this reason it is a useless and expensive position. The harbour of Nuhiva is large and capable of defence, but it can be of no service in a geographical point of view, as it does not lie in any frequented track. I believe firmly, that, in case of war, those establishments would be a great embarrassment to our navy rather than a protection. I may compare them to a pontoon anchored in a deep sea, which would require a supply of provisions every day." The French corvette La Seine had been wrecked on the 4th Jujy, on a sunken reefnear Balade, on the coast of New Caledonia. The whole of the crew and officers were saved, also a portion of the provisions* Three officers and fifty men had been taken to Sydney in the Marian Watson, and it was expected that the French Consul would charter a vessel to proceed to Balade harbour, in New Caledonia, for the purpose of bringing the remainder of the crew and officers on to Sydney. They were remaining at the Mission Station.