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Leader (1850-1860), 13th November 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1230, Untitled Article

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    • INDIA AND INDIAN PROGRESS.
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      Untitled Article

      THE OTJPATXL QUESTION . What may "well be called an ugly rumour is brought by the last mail , which , though not authenticated , has that conform ability 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 18 th September was received at Calcutta from Darjeeling , which affirms that Jung Bahadoor was inarching 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 Darjeeling by the Government , that orders have been transmitted to send down the women and children , four hundred in number , to Dinajepore , 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 its 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 inany persons ¦ who have attended to the subject know the Ghoorkha ambition and the views of Jung Bahadoor . Sikkim , consisting of native and Darjeeling Sikkim , 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 lias been the constant desire of Nepaul to traverse Sikkim with an army and enter Bhotan . Many feelers have been sent out to attain this , 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 constantl y resisted these advances , but the desire of obtaining such concession has not unlikely been one motive which prompted Jung Bahadoor to offer the service of a Ghoorklia 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 which have attended the revolt this acceptance of the Ghoorkha alliance has been one of the worst j for it has presented the Nepaulese in Bengal with the prestige of their ancient military prowess , and has created consternation in Thibet , Sikkim , Darjeeling , and Bliotan , wliich have now for some months oeen under alarm .

      Por 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 Oude , and on the east by that of Sikkira , while Thibet presents few temptations . What Jung Bahadoor wanted was an extension by the way of Bhotan , and what steps lie has taken for this purpose are notpublicly known . The contests between him and the English resident , b y whom lie was firmly restrained , nave irritated him and excited the apprehensions of the neighbouring districts , and his success in obtaining the reoal of the Resident is regarded as another unfavourable circumstance .

      The state of affairs in Sikkim and Darjeeling is not encouraging . The * Sikkim Durbar lias been constantly ill-diaposed towards the English . Dr . Campbell and Dr . Hooker wete unwarrantably seized by the tote Rajah , which led to the cession of a large part of Wia territory , and the present Rajah , notwithstanding- repeated applications , has not conceded free access to his territory to Thibet to English merchants and settlers . The Rajah is in a very distressed state , and has made olFors throucrli

      the Darjeeling authorities to the Government of Bengal to afford limited facilities of access to his distrjiot on receiving pecuniary assistance . Of courso 119 roliauoo can bo placed on the Sikkim Durbar for exhibiting a disposition favourable to our Government , nor unfavourable to Nepaul , for although Sikkim was brought under the yoke of Nepaul in 1788 , and only liberated by the English in 1815 , their necessities make them a ready instrument for Nepnuleao intrigues . Jung Bahadoor is perfectly aware of the Elijah ' s situation , and it

      will be very extraordinary if no correspondence has taken place between the parties . It may be observed that Guy raj Thappa , a captain in the Nepaulese army , was a resident in Darjeeling down to a late period , 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 under the notice of the Bengal Government , with a view of strengthening 1 its garrison , which at a late date consisted only of about two hundred English invalid soldiers , in the convalescent depot , and the Sebundy corps of Sappers and Miners , natives , about two hundred strong . The European community in the whole district , although there are so many women and 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 ¦ ¦ ' 1 ¦ - ¦—»¦ 1

      O _ ... » . » . * constructed . cantonments for one thousand English soldiers , which 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 , in the state of our relations with the Sikkim Itajah , 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 ail adequate 'English force at Darjeeiing .

      ready said , the most uneasy feeling prevails with regard to the intentions and movements of Ncpaul and these have been long expressed . The Bar ' jeeling people know very well * that a strong Nepaulese force may be suddenly concentrated on their frontier , when the greater part of the natives would leave the settlement , and none , either Ghoorkhas or Bhooteas , could be safely enlisted as recruits , the stations would be hampered with women and children , the Scbuudy Suppers could not be relied on , and the small body of English invalids and volunteers , with three small pieces of artillery , would be all the available force , and would have to occupy the station and the Jillapahar , 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 cojnnmuicaf ions forbids . The consequences of such an attack would be vcrv serious , for hundreds of our country people would fall into the hands of Jung Bahudoor , a savage as bloodthirsty and treacherous as Nana Sahib . Some circumstances ¦ which seem to weaken the rumour now spread are , that it is hardly likely 1 he authorities in the Lower Provinces could , since the previous mail , have received advices from Darjeeling so as to move reinforcements from Dinajopw , Maldab , or Purneah , or to send on the Naval Brigade . In fact , the rumour may originate in tlie proceedings of the Bengal . Government in respect to the new station . The cantonments arc now ready ; it is understood a considerable body of invalids is to be sent cm to Darjeeling ,. and the despatch of stores for ' their use may have given rise to the ¦ rumour ; si ill it h so serious 'that it is

      worthy of notice , it only to call the attention ot the public here to the perilous situation of Darjeeling and the necessity of'providing for it . The sooner a ' strong European , force ; 'is put there and communications provided the better , and the kss danger will there be for tin outbreak of Nepaul .

      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 , and we have had much trouble during the revolt ; and 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 , in which latter neighbourhood we have found even lately some troublesome opponents , and our troops have retreated before the savages .

      Now that the revolt is over , Darjeeling has become of the greater importance , because it is the key of East Nepaul , Sikkim , East Thibet , and Bliotan , 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 the 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 bocu for two years before the Government , and it is understood the local authorities and local interests have given

      it their 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 the revolt , has not reached Rnjinahal , nor will it reach Rajmahal so early as waa expected . It is now seen , day by day , how essential it is to have railway communication . Pusscngora are days in gotting to Darjcoling from Calcutta , and luggage and goods weeks , and to carry goods over a few miles of the routo sometimes takes days . This is a most sorious impediment to the progress of Darjoclinjr , for tlio settlors feel that it is almost useloss to invite immigration , when tho difficulties and expense of transit are so considerable

      "What communications the Home Government have received as to tho rumoured invasion of Darjopling havo not transpired , but the most rooont private communications havo no rol ' orcmoo ^ p any indications of immediate alarm , though , m wo havo al-

      Untitled Article

      BERAR AND EASTERN" COAST RAILWAY . A new company has been brought ; forward fo occupy a portion of territory . untouched by the three great railway companies of the Presidencies . On examining the map it will be seen that tho country between Madras and Calcutta is as yot unprovided for , though a coast line to connect Mndras and Calcutta has been talked of . Under these ! circumstances a good field is left open for enterprise in that district , of which advantage has been taken with much judgment , for , as is pretty well known , the region of Bcrar is u jrrcat cotton produemff country , and the export of its produce is cousulcrcct a matter of great importance by those connected with tho trade

      . . .. „ Lying as it docs in the heart of tlio Docean , Bcrar has been proposed to be reached by a bnincU from the Great Indian Peninsular ltuilwny , which starting from its norl . h-cnst . crn line near bimhvii would reach Nasporc by way of Oommwutty . lius will , by a short ' additional leng th of railway , place that part of Bcrar in connoxipn with Hoinlmy , aim open for it a port of shipment , a matter 0 ! § grcnt importance . Now what tho Great Indian Peninsula Company proposes to effect by a western routo , 1 new cornnanv m-onoscs by nn eastern route , i" *

      company is styled tho Bornr and Eastern u > n * « India Railway Company , nud its line will i > roe <*< down the valley of tho Gotlavery , by Clmmjn nmi Chinoor , to Connga , a port now riftinff into lnipoitanoo on tho cast coast , boonuso it is tho best i > o u between Madras and Calcutta , and has tho mlvnntugo over tho formor of being less exposed l » &i ' Thus , tho now lino would be a trunk JroniCorinfe to Central India , and on reaching Nuprpnro , > t- wolllt . form a junction with tho Niigporo and p »» ul | iw " ' ? lino , bringing troffio upon it , and wvwts ° T , part of tho district an nltomiitivo line <<> ¦"" " 2 In time another short lino will connect ISiiwl ° ° and Juhbulporo on the main Culcuttn and Jjoniuny 1 *¦ iii it ir * tiii * iiiiii

      • * , * * - _ . .- ««» < . lino , mid , thereby with Upper nml Jjowur ... .. From tho main lino of tho Ucrar ^/ 'V ^ , ' branch is proposed conuenl ing Hy derabad , ' »¦ }" Nizam ' s dominions , will . Coring , and as ' » J' « 'JJ of time Hyderabad will bo milled with bl ol 1 o » o on tho Bombay and Madras pnuid routo , £ «> mfP will bo brought into communication with JJoiiiuk ) *

      India And Indian Progress.

      INDIA AND INDIAN PROGRESS .

      Untitled Article

      1230 THE LEADER . [ No . 451 , November 13 , 1858 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 13, 1858, page 1230, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2268/page/22/