INDIA. [From the Friend of India, Feb. 22.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 408, 30 June 1849, Page 3

INDIA. [From the Friend of India, Feb. 22.]

The news of this week received from the Punjab is not of much importance, except as tending towards another great battle which will, we are determined to hope, finish the campaign. The Mooltan force, which left the city on the 29th ult., has been steadily progressing towards the camp of the Com-mander-in-chief, and the first Brigade under Brigadier Markham arrived thereon the 10th. Meanwhile the Sikhs have not been idle ; a detachment of twenty thousand men has occupied a pass above Russool, on the right flank of the Biitish forces, and another body have formed entrenchments at Dinghee almost directly in the rear. A debate was held as to the propriety of dislodging the latter, but tile plan was negatived, wherefore, is difficult to say, as the Commander-in-chief now runs the risk of being attacked in front, flank, and rear, that Lord Gough trusts to General Whish to destroy the Sikhs in his rear, which he will be able to effect after the passage of the Chenab. The decisive battle may be expected on the 14th or 15th. On his march General Whish attacked and captured Chinouf, a fort held by Narayun Singh, one of the minor rebels who are still in arms against us. It was attacked on the Bth, and surrendered on the 9th, though garrisoned by two •thousand men, who are now prisoners of war. It is rumoured tint Ran Singh is about to make another incursion into the Jullundur with a larger force, but there have been too many reports about this individual for us to place any confidence in them. No movements on tlie part of Dost Mahomed are reported, though his son is said to be in the Sikh camp. The first division of General Whish's force had arrived within a day's march of the Chenab, on the 4th instant. The whole of the Mooltan army, it is supposed, will reach the Commander-in-chief about the 15th or 16th instant. The Mofussilite states that Colonel Lafont is not in command of Shere Singh's army, as stated in the columns of the Englishman, but in Meerut on his road to Calcutta, and consequently has never been in arms against the British. Seven thousand Siklis belonging to Chutter Singh's force are said to have taken up a position on the right flank of the British army, and a force of about a thousand men has posted itself near Dinghee. Akram AH, son of MahomeJ Ali, is near the Sikh camp, but not allowed to enter. The Affghans are suspected ! of treachery by the Sikhs ; at the same time they are openly committed against our power, so that they will gain but little under any circumstances. The Sikhs ate estimated at about 60,000 men of all kinds, with a great number of guns. Brigadier Markham with the Mooltan force was expected to join the grand army on the 13th, and the battle would probably take place about the 18th or 20th. The amount of treasure in the fort is estimated at a crore of rupees. But for the variety and authentic nature of the letters from Mooltan we should still continue to doubt this amount of treasure, as it is difficult to conceive whence Moolraj could have obtained it ; assuredly not from Mooltan. The trade that could give him such wealth must be of immense value, and will make Mooltan one of our most important possessions. It is reported that the Sihks have moved their camp towards Dinghee, nearly five miles to the re*r of the British forces, and thereby intercepted the communications. We are inclined to think that this is but one of the thousand and one rumours current in the Punjab. It is scarcely possible that the army of Shere Singh should have moved to the rear without the knowledge of the Comman-der-in-chief, and equally incredible that he should permit such a movement to take place with his cognizance. It is ' said that a body of Sikh Cavalry has seized upon sojne two thousand camels, and it is probable that this exploit, sufficiently annoying, has been magnified into something of much greater inapor- j tance. The Sikhs are in high spirits and it is expected that they will attack our forces before General Whish can effect the junction, j

The Englishman famishes as with the following items of intelligence from the camp on JheSum. A detachment of the Sikhs, about 20,000 strong, ),»<• takfi up aposition near a pa>-s above Rus <>01, ami strong body are entrenching tin in«elx'- s at Kooree wi.h !en guvs, direcily in the rear of ihe Commnnder-in-chief. Should -therefoie, an atfacK in front be decided' upon by Lord Gough, the enemy will be enabled to assail him at once in front, flank, and rear, and probably to §dd many more names to the already long list of -killed and wounded.