INDIA

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 106, 26 October 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

INDIA

(From the Bombay Gazette-) The English mail of the 3rd of August arrived in Bombay early on the 23rd idem, having accomplished the distance frcm London to Bombay in nineteen days eight hours—^-the quickest passage by three hours on record* The Governor-General will leave Simla on the 2.5. h September. His Excellency will first Visit the Kangra Valley, to see the progress of tea planting there. He will then proceed to Peshawar. From Pestawar lie will return to Lahore, and open the Punjab Exhibition. The Rifle Brigade from Delhi "will form his Excellency's escort through the Punjab. A large military force is to assemble at Lahore in December next. It will consist of four troops of lloyal Horse Artillery-,, four battalions of Field Artillery, two Regiments of British Cavalry (Hussars), four regiments of Native Cavalry, five regiments of Biilish Infantry, six regiments of Native infantry, head quarters and four companies of Sappers and Miners. Probable strength, 11,020 men in all, with 3320 horses and fortv-.«even guns — the largest force ever assembled in Upper India in times of peace. It has been intimated in strong terms to the Rajah of Cashmere, and to the sons of the Jate Dost Mahomed, that their presence is desired in Lahore to meet the Viceroy, when matters of an important nature will be discussed. Mahomed Afzul, ruler of Balkh, has dispatched 5000 men to assist his brother, Mahomed Azirn, at Zoodmut, close to the city of Cabul, where Shere Ali has not yet arrived from Herat. Mahomed Afzul is the eldest legitimate son and true heir of the late Dost Mahomed ; Azim is the second son by the same mother ; Shore Ali is by another wife of the Dost, and is milch younger than his step-brothers. Afzul is the most popular with the people, and Shere AH with the chiefs. The reputed Nana Sahib, captured at Ajmere, arrived at Cawnpore on the 32nd August, whether he was sent by Government for examination, The Cawnpore authorities, after hearing and sifting all the evidence and testimony that could be obtained at Cawnpore and Bhitoor, have definitively pronounced that the prisoner is not the Nana Sahib. The health of the town and island of Bombay has slightly improved -during the past fortnight. The mortality, however, is still above the average of the last decade of year?.