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Leader (1850-1860), 13th November 1858, Edition 2 of 2, Page 22, THE KEPAUI; QUESTION. What may well be c...

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    • INDIA AND INDIAN PROGRESS
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      1230 The Leader. [No. 451, November Is, ...

      1230 THE LEADER . [ No . 451 , November IS , 1858 .

      India And Indian Progress

      INDIA AND INDIAN PROGRESS .

      The Kepaui; Question. What May Well Be C...

      THE KEPAUI ; QUESTION . What may well be called an ugly rumour is brought by the last mail , which , though not authenticated , has that conformability with the usual course of events which is well calculated to excite anxiety till positive information is received one way or another . It is stated that a letter of the ISth September was received at Calcutta from DarjeeHng , which affirms that Jung Bahadoor was marching down on that

      place with 12 , 000 or 18 , 000 men , and had forces within twenty or thirty miles of Punchem . It is further alleged as a confirmatory circumstance that stores are being sent on to the depot at I > arjeeling by the Government , that orders have been transmitted to send down the women and children , four hundred in number , to Diriajepore , and that sailors from the lower rivers and troops from Purneah and Jelpigoree have been marched upon Darjeeling .

      It is impossible at the present moment to affirm that this is untrue , though there are many circumstances to cause us to distrust it . It is certainly too well known that Jung Bahadoor is not now on the best terms with us , and his course of policy has been sufficiently declared to leave it without question that he would march on Sikkim , Darjeeling , or Bhotan , if he could make an opportunity . The many persons who have attended to the subject know the Ghoorkha ambition and the views of Jung Bahadoor . Sikkim , consisting of native and Darjeeling Sikkinv lies on the eastern frontier of

      Nepaul , and presents a barrier between Nepaul and Bhotan , which latter country is in a weak and disturbed state ; in fact , " sick , " and it has been the constant desire of Nepaul to traverse Sikkim with an army and enter Bhotan . Many feelers have been sent out to attain tin ' s , and it has been stated that Bhotan being in a disorganised condition , its occupation by Nepaul will secure the English frontiers from disturbance . The English Government have constantly resisted these advances , but the desirof sucli concession has not

      e obtaining unlikely been one motive which prompted Jung Bahadoor to offer the service of a Ghoorkha , army for the suppression of the revolt , and the acceptance of which was , in the first instance , resisted by Lord Canning , but afterwards forced upon him . Of all the impolitic acts whicli have attended the revolt this acceptance of the Ghoorkha alliance has been one of the worst ; for it lias presented the Nepaulese in Bengal with the prestige of their ancient military prowess , and has created cousternation in Thibet , Sikkim , Darjeelingj and Bhotan , which have now for some months Deen under alarm .

      3 ? or his services Jung Bahadoor has received the Grand Cross of the Bath , but what he most covets is an accession of territory , and from this he is debarred on the west by the English territory of Kumaon , on the south by that of Qu . de , and on the east by that of Sikkim , while Thibet presents few temptations . What Jung Bahadoor wanted was an extension b y the way of Bhotan , and what steps he has taken tor this purpose are not publicly known . The contests between him and the English resident , b y whom he was firmly restrained , nave irritated ham and excited the apprehensions of the neighbouring districts , and his success in obtaining the recal oF the Resident is regarded as another unfavourable circumstance .

      The state of affairs iu Sikkim and Darjeeling is not encouraging . The Sikkim Durbar has boon constantly ill-disposed towards the English . Dr . Campbell and Dr . Hooker were unwarrantably seized by the late Rajah , which led to the cession of a large part of his territory , and the present Rajah , notwithstanding repeated applications , has not conceded free access to liis territory to Thibet to English merohants and settlers . The Rajah is in a

      very distressed state , and lms made offers through the Darj Doling authorities to the Government of Bengal to afford limited facilities of access to his district on receiving pecuniary assistance . Of courso no reliance can' bo placed on . tho Sikkim Durbar for exhibiting a disposition favourable to ouv Government , nor unfavourable to Nepaul , for although Sikkim was brought under tho yoko of Nepaul . in 1788 , and only liberated by the English in 1815 , their necessities inuke thorn a ready instrument for Nopauleso intrigues . Jung Bnh ' adpor is perfeotly aware of tho Elijah's situation , aud it

      will be very extraordinary if no correspondence lias taken place between the parties . It may be observed that Guy raj Thanpa , a captain in the Nepaulese army , was a resident in Darjeeling down to a late periocj , and the country swarms with Ghoorkhas , many of them favourable to Nepaul . Hundreds of Ghoorkas have been enlisted by the Darjeeling superintendent since the revolt as recruits for the new Bengal regiments . The Bhooteas scattered through Nepaul , and Sikkim likewise , afford instruments for intrigue in Bhotan . The situation of the important station of Darjeeling is so exposed that it has been brought jeeling is so exposed that it has been brought

      under the notice of the Bengal Government , with a view of strengthening its garrison , which at a late date consisted only of about two hundred English invalid soldiers , iu the convalescent depot , and the Sebiuidy corps of Sappers and Miners , natives , about two hundred strong . The European community in the whole district , although there are so many ' women aud school children , could not probably turn out more than a weak company of volunteers . The settlement is full of native immigrants , and is in no state to resist the considerable Nepaulese force , which would be directed against it in case of war . The Government has constructed cantonments for one thousand English

      soldiers , whicli are completed , though not occupied , so that there is accommodation for reinforcements . It is sincerely to be hoped that , whether this rumour be true or false , the Bengal Government will lose no time--in- carrying out their determination , and placing a large ' English force . 'in Darjeeling as a preventive measure . Even if no demonstration should be made against Darjeeling , yet , iu the state of our relations . with the Sikkim Rajah , some intrigue might be hatched to pass a Nepaulese force through Sikkim into Bhotan , which at this time we have no means of preventing , and for which purpose alone it would be desirable to have an adequate English force at Darjeeling .

      Bhotan is in no state to resist a large Nepaulese army , and it is most undesirable to countenance the Nepaulese in that country , for it now forms the northern frontier of our " valuable provinces _ of Assam , and is within easy reach of the navigation of the Burrampooter . In Assam there is serious disaffection , aud we have had much trouble during the revolt ; aud it would be no impossible contingency to find ourselves in hostilities with the whole of the hill tribes from Kumaon round to the southern banks of the Upper Burrampooter , iu which latter neighbourhood we have found even lately some troublesome opponents , aud our troops have retreated before the savages .

      Now that the revolt is over , Durjeeling has become of the greater importance , because it is the key of East Nepaul , Sikkim , East Thibet , and Bhotan , which will be the scenes of the next operations . The Government have provided for its advancement from an invalid depot to a military station , but the arrangements have proceeded too slowly . Although the new road from tho Ganges has been decided upon , and Mr . Thomas Login has been put in charge of it , the appropriation is too small to allow him to push on with it , and although the Northern Bengal Railway has boon for two years before tho Government , and it is understood ; ho local authorities and local interests have given

      it thoir approbation , it remains without a guarantee , and no step has consequently been taken to proceed with the works . This has partly arisen from the state of the East Indian Railway , which , in consequence of tno revolt , has not readied Rajnmhal , nor will it reach Rajmahal so early as was expeotod . It is now seen , day by day , how essential it is to have railway communication . Passengors aro clays in getting to Durjcoling from Caloutta , and luggngo and goods weeks , and to oarry goods over a few miles of tho routo somotiinoa takes days . This is a most serious impediment to tho progress of Purjoaliiifr , for tho settlors feel that it ia almost useless to invite , immigration , when tlio difficulties and oxponso of transit aro so considerable .

      What communications thoI-IomoGovornmontliavo rooeived as to tho rumoured invasion of Dnrjceling havo not transpired , but tho most rooont private communications iuivo no rol ' oronoo to any indications of immediate alarm , though , as wo have

      already said , the most uneasy feeling prevails mih regard to the intentions and movements of Nepaul and these have been long expressed . The . Darjeeling people know very well " that a stron <» Nepaulese force may be suddenly concentrated on their frontier , when the greater part of the natives would leave the settlement , and noiic , either Ghoorkhas or Bhooteas , could be safely enlisted as recruits , the stations would be hampered with women and children , the Scbundy Sappers could not be relied on , and the small boilv of Jino-lish

      in-¦ *¦ ¦ . I J ' . 111 *~ 4 J valids and voluuteers , with three small pieces of artillery , would be all the available force , anil would have to occupy the station and the Jillapaliar , which , they could hardly hope to hold till a sufficient force could arrive from the lower stations for their-relief . This the state of the . communications forbids . The consequences of such an attack would be very serious , for hundreds of our countrypeoplc would fall into the hands of Jung Bahadoor , a savage as bloodthirsty and treacherous as Nana Sahib .

      Some circumstances which seem to weaken the rumour now spread arc , that it is hardly likely iiic authorities iu the Lower Provinces could , since the previous mail , have received advices from Darjeelilig so as . to move reinforcements ¦ from Dinajepore , Maldab , or Purneali , or to send on the : S '; r .-al Brigade . In ( net , the rumour may originate , iu the proceedings of the Bengal Government in respectto the new station . The cantonments are now

      ready ; it is . understood a considerable body of invalids is to be sent oil to ¦ Dai jeeling , ami the despatch of stores for tln-ir use may . have given rise to the rumour ; si ill it i . s so serious that it is worthy of notice , if only to . call the attention of the public here to the perilous sit vial ion of Da . rjeeling and the necessity of providing for it . The sooner a strong European force , is put there and communications provided the better ; and the lesa danger will there be for ; iu outbreak of Nepaul .

      Berar And Eastern Coasi Jl.Ulway. A New ...

      BERAR AND EASTERN COASI Jl . ULWAY . A new company has been brought forward to occupy a portion of territory untouched by the three great railway companies of the Presidencies . On- examining the map it . will be soon that the country between Madras and Calcutta is as yet unprovided for , though a coast line Io connect Madras and Calcutta has been talked of . Under these circumstances a good li .-hl is left open for enterprise in that district , of which advantage has been taken

      with much judgment , for , as is pretty well k"O \ yi > , the region of Berar is n great cotton producing country , and the export of its produce is consuluroa a matter of great importance by those couuecteu with the trade . Lying as it docs iu tho heart of < ho IJoccni . Berar has been proposed to be reached hy a bnmc from the Great Indian Peninsular ltnilway , > ihitli starting from its north-eastern lino near bind to would reach Nagporc by way ot Oommwiitty . li » s will , by a short additional iengt h of milwy , plncj that part of Berar in connexion with Wonilmy , nnti open for it a port of shipment , a matter ° S ™ imporlmice . Now what the Groat Indian l "'"" "" Company proposes to effect by a western route ft new comnanv proposes by an eastern rout c . J-

      company is styled the Berar and Eastern i . o » bnj India Railway Company , and its lino will p ooec down the valley of tlio Godavory , by CImhhIni im < J Chinoor , to Connga , n port now rising into mpo tnnoo on tho cast coast , because it is llio best poi between Madras and Calcutta , and hns tho ai ' » tngo ovor tho former of beingiess ox nosed w »! Thus , tho now line would be a trunk | k > iii Ooi »»» 'j to Central India , and on reaching- Nnm > ori ' , it « " « form a junction with the Nutfnoro uhiKKhiihiw ¦ ¦ lino , bringing trulllo upon it , mul KiviHtf «> s ° > ' part of tGo district an ulteriuitivci lino U > - ^ m * In timo another short lino will council . * M nnd Jubbulporo on tho main Culoutlu ami I » " ¦> lino , and thereby wilh Upper and bower In ' ¦ From tho main lino of tlm JM '" 1 { n U y U

      brauoh i . s proposed conneoling Hy dcmDru , ' Niaiun'u dominions , with Curinpn , urn «* « J of timo Hyderabad will bo muted wllli N ; J on the Bombay and Madras grand » 'o ; i « , y ' » will bo brought into oommuulOttUou vitli » " '<

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 13, 1858, page 22, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_13111858/page/22/