INDIA. [From the Mauritius Sentinel.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 376, 10 March 1849, Page 2

INDIA. [From the Mauritius Sentinel.]

We have received Calcutta papers up to the 3rd October. The siege of Mooltan is I raised ; General Whish had retired. The " I following are the latest particulars :—: — We ha*€ reason to believe that everything was progressing most favourably . during the 13th, when a heavy battery was completed at 600, yards from the .>Khoonee Boorj (or Bloody Bastion} of the town, and that another day at the furthest would have placed i |he besiegers in possession of the town, when inhere Singh's treachery? caused, as correctly represented by our. Bahawulpoox correspondent, by letters from his father, necessarily put an end to the siege operations. The," raj ah had been ordered to cause a diversion by an attack on his side, on the morning of ' the 14th, but be converted the move into a dastardly desertion, joining the mutinous Sikh party that had long existed in his own camp, and which with him on their side bore down all opposition from those who were well inclined. . Our correspondent gave a correct list of those who would not join in the movement, and who 'escaped without their tents or followers to the camp of Lieutenant Edwardes, who was woke up early on the morning by old Utter Sing himself, with the intimation of what had taken place. Shumshere Singh,. Sindan Wallagh, also tried to follow 'the others, but was prevented by Shere Singh. - He, however, escaped the next morning on

f odt, '• and •• came into General Cortlandt's camp, so tha'f of the three Sikh leaders, two appear to have been really opposed to the reyolt. It is quite correct also, that Moolraj suspected a trap, and at first opposed the approach of the Sikhs, hut subsequently told them* to encamp under the fire of the fort, until he was satisfied of their honesty (in jwhich case they will probably be there a long time.) - As we announced in our extra of Thursday, the siege of Mooltan ha*, been raised in consequence of the 'defection of Rajah Shere Singh. The engineers declared the siege j impracticable, an opinion which all the military men whose opinion was worth having coincided. Letters^from Mooltan direct, dated the 16th instant, informs us that General Whish, .considering that we are no longer engaged with a mere rebellious chief, but launched into a Punjaub war, had resolved on taking, a position to the westward of the town, on the banks of the Chenab, and waiting the development of the Government plans with reference to the country at large. Never was a force more successful so far as it has gone, and the suspension of operations is a voluntary act of military and political wisdom. Since, then we are in the receipt of the annexed from Mooltan :—: — " Mooltan, 15th September. "Last night all our heavy guns were brought back, and the siege for the present discontinued, this force being found quite in- ! adequate to carry on operations against so vecy -strong a fort. Even in carrying a position for our second parallel, we lost some goud officers, and 200 of our men killed and and wounded. — From the time the work commenced, half the force was in the trenches for some time (three hours) without being relieved — horse artillery, light cavalry, and irregular, just the same, on duty at the trenches. Shere Singh, with 1000 men and 8 guns, joined Moolraj yesterday. — One would suppose the Kabul business was a lesson ; but it appears the Governor-General and the Com-mander-in-Chief have again been gulled by the politicals. lam sorry to say Napier was wounded in the leg the day before yesterday with a matchlock, but not severely. We certainly require two if not three brigades of infantry, some nine-pounders, and another brigade of cavalry. It will be hard work getting the city (the city which a brigade might walk in, and occupy on their arrival.) and then the fort has to come after that. This is a nice business ! And who is to blame? I suppose, as usual, no one !" The following is from our pßahawulpoor p Bahawulpoor correspondent, dated the 18th instant, and was received- yesterday morning. From it we learn that Shere Singh was looked upon with suspicion by the Dewan, that Lieut. Edwardes had changed his ground to Soorujkoond, that formerly occupied by the Rajah (with the camp of General Whish, we presume), and was fired upon at a distance without suffering any loss, and, which is the most agreeable part of the information, that numbers had escaped from Shere Singh's camp to that of General Whish :—: — "Bahawulpoore, 18th September, 1848. " I have already communicated to you all that I had heard of the treachery of Rajah Shere Singh in joining Moolraj with his troops ; since then I have ascertained the following facts :— The Dewan has appointed the Hazaree Bagh, outside Mooltan, for the place of encampment of the Rajah, and will not permit any of his men to enter the fort, as he does not yet trust them, being afraid they might after all deceive him. The Dewan said to the Rajah he had now fought a long while alone ; the ShereSingh was welcome if he came to fight for his religion, but that it would be better he should remain quiet until he was perfectly assured of the fidelity of his men. As Captain Edwardes Sahib was marching from his former post, the Kutta Argree Garden towards Soorm Coond, with his men, he was fired upon from a distance by order of Rajah 'Shere Singh. The only damage done was that some camels were wounded. In consequence of the evident distrust manifested by the Dewan,, the Rajah repents of his defection. There were three Sirdars of consequence in the Sahib's camp, viz., Rajah Shere Siugh himself, Sirdar Ittar Singh, and Sirdar Shumshere Singh. When Shere Singh was about to march into town, and had made all his preparations, Sirdar Ittar Singh escaped to the British, being unwilling to join Moolraj. Subsequently about 200 of suwars managed to follow him, but Shumshere Singh and the son of Ittar Singh were made prisoners. The former, however, managed to get away in company with a Khitmurgar, and reached the British camp on foot. More troops of Ittar Singh, and of Shumshere Singh, many of them Mahomedans, who had been compelled by the overwhelming number of the Sikh soldiery to accompany Sphere Singh, are only waiting an opportunity to rejoin the British camp ; and have already heard that up to the last moment a large number,

some say nearly one thousand, had managed to get away. This would leave about 4000 men to Rajah Shere Singh, but even of these many men will forsake his cause. In consequence of the desertion of the Sikh forces the Bri^sh General has thought proper to suspend the siege operations, as it is now clear that a new arrangement for the whole of the Punjaub must be made. This -resolution has been taken in conjunction with the advices of all the Sahebsj, ,and the General has encamped about here, where he will wait the arrival of more troops, which will, in all probability, be pushed onwards from Sinde and Bombay, towards Mooltan and Hindostan, towards the Punjaub, when the whole of the Sikh tribe will be punished as they deserve. The troops of General Whish would have been enough to take Mooltao, but the treachery of Shere Singh has changed the face of affairs, as it is impossible to say whether more Sikh chiefs may not follow the bad example of Chetter Singh and his son. Moolraj is a Hindoo and a Khutree and no Sikh, therefore the latter have been thinking long about joining him. But now their own chiefs are in rebellion, many of them will join their standards. Many officers having now nothing to do, are amusing themselves with sports of the field. The leg of Christopher Sahib has been cut off; Brown Sahib is better, and is gone to the camp of Edwardes Sahib."