INDIA.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 42, 12 February 1864, Page 5

INDIA.

(From the Bomla>/ Gazette, December 14.) The hostile tribes on the frontier attacked General Chamberlain's left picket in great force on the 18th ult., and again on the 20th, on which occasion Lieutenant Sanderson and Dr. Pyle of the 101 st Regiment were killed and five officers wounded, including General Chamberlain and Colonel Hope. 128 men, British and native, were killed and wounded, while the loss of the tribes Avas much greater. On the 21st, Captain Aldridge of the 71st Regiment, and some men, were killed. General Chamberlain has been compelled, on account of his wound, to resign the command of the field force, which has been assumed by MajorGeneral Garvock. Major James, the commissioner, continues in correspondence with the Bonair tribe, and there are signs that the confederacy is disheartened, and it was unable to attack on the 27th November, as was expected. Peace and quiet reign undisturbed in the Peshawur district and border, notwithstanding which undoubted fact; the most absurdly false rumours are afloat. Umbexla, 25th. — The Mofussilite has the following on the revolt on the frontier : — " On the morning of the 20th there was a heavy fire. The long picket Avas as usual attacked in great force, and by some misconception or fault on the part of one of the officers commanding a company of the 101 st, it was defended only by the other company under Delafosse. This company was overpowered, and actually hurled out of the Sungah. General Chamberlain brought up some or all of the 7lst, and it was a glorious thing to see it retaken in such style. The General and Colonel Hope were wounded, also Major Delafosse and Lieutenant Anderson, besides Lieutenant Sanderson and Dr. Pyle killed. The total casualties about 100. The enemy seemed by the time that ±he Sungah was retaken to have had enough of it." / , .: The: British Government has, it appears, interfered in the matter of the four Italian gentlemen detained as prisoners by the Khan of Bokhara. The Ameer of Affghanistan has been requested to send an ambassador demanding their release. Meer Ullum Jan has been sent, although ostensibly for another purpose. Sirdar Mahomed Auzim Khan has sought British protection, which was, of course, refused. The Candaharies threaten an appeal • ••• the British Government to be released from the rule of Sirdar Mahomed Amoen Khan! (From the Times of India. Doc. 14.) Reinforcements have been rapidly pushed on to the seat of war. The Eusufzyes succeeded in talcing the arms and ammunition of our dead and wounded, and have made good use , of them against us. Peshawur, 150 miles from the scene of, conflict, remains perfectly quiet. , A camp of x'eserve has been formed

iusteadvbf the cain^ at^lj^ore.;^ : : ■^'r'Gjqjeiftt^eiciteinent prevails in Raj« pootana^' imt "there are no ajpprehen« sions of a^ Qiite^sJ:. .... , ; Peroze Shah is reported to be atasnj* the frontier tribes who a? 8 now-afnWip with us, urging them on. The JUneei' of Oaboolhas forbidden his 9iibj©ot^: fi?om hiving anything to do with tlte : Sfoda, of .Swat, and ordered ih©m i'Q l?eep wiftity f 'tlwsP own territories. ' : Tirdar Mahomed Au?Jm f 3£h&s (tHf - rebellious brother . of tliq Aiiie^i Babool) ~ sought:- British pyoteetioSf' AV'hioh Wag fflfUSQdi . ' .;., :: . t *;- ' to)-'' BsaijijS.^Q'endi'al " dHambor^ lain waived a shot In tlie wi?ist. ": Thq fsneral wp notln robugt health when c taelr b^Mfo&ud 5 ynm and tear of mind ; he "Mm endured toe, added to caused by hk svotmd, ha?e.; effected a good. deal of mischief in his already severely tried Constitution. There is no cimymg thes^^jGusU^e, Pathans 'figlit .well —■well as the Swiss for their mountain homes/,' This was to be expected, for they are a peculiarly aristocratic, race of warriors and about the proudest and . most bigotted Mussulmans in the East. Each man, or family, has his : own dependants, and no Eusufzye ever condescends to work, to till, or sow, or do artisan's labor, in his own land. They are the proprietors of the: soil, which is parcelled out amongst them after a . very patriarchal fashion, the distribubution of the land being revised periodically, '; .after . a term of. years, by easting of ' lots for privilege; of reselection. Their dependants they style .fequeers. They are generally Hindoos' and others who. have migrated to the hills because they had good legal reasons for considering the climate of the plains too hot for further sojourn'there. They canholdno. land, are not considered members of the commonwealth, and cannot take part in the jeergahs or punehayets. of the tribes. The faqueer, styles ; the Eusufyze •on whose land he resides, master .or kwaliund, does certain labor for him gratis, and pays him a tax foi v protection. He may follow, any ,■ trade he chooses, or as a ryot , rent land from his master, and though the; latter will beat him, lie takes care, that others do not attempt to do so ; in short:, comparing big things : with" little, the Eusufyze is a feudal: .lord, .and the faqueers his villeins or serfs.. In this fight a sad exhibition was made by a Native Infantry regiment, showing how little dependence can. be placed on native troops in an emergency and critical juncture. The 14th Jfative Infantry actually .turned back arid ran' oil' the field. It is true that the corps was hard pushed by the enemy, and was losing a good many men, but even this affords no palliation for such cowardice. There has been no fighting since the 20th November. The situation is/ much improved, There are signs tnatthe confederacy of tribes is disheartened. In his last report, written on the 20th November, G-en-eral Chamberlain spoke confidently of final success.