the Bengal division, and some inconvenience was occasioned to individuals by their Clashees and sweepers enlisting. The pay of a Madras sepoy in the field is nine rupees.

All Europe articles in that quarter fetch very high prices.-Port wine 71 rupees per dozen, beer 37, brandy 80, a square of pickles 35, two pine cheeses 85. Such were the outcry prices at a late sale at Hussingabad.

We are happy in being enabled to state that the sickness so prevalent at Allahabad a short time ago, particularly in the flank battalion of Europeans, has in a great measure disappeared. Nearly all the officers had recovered, and the sick of flank battalions had been reduced under ninety. Orders, we understand, have been issued to the commandants of battalions of N. I. directing that the strength of each company be augmented to 90.

Holkar's camp, on the 4th July, was at Bhagee. Guffoor Khawn and the mutinous army had moved towards Kotah. Ameer Khawn continued to write consolatory letters to the Bhaee, respecting Guffoor Khawn and the disaffected troops.

The Amretsir Ukhbars to the 21st June state, that Runjeet Singh was then at Lahore. It was reported that Bhowanee Doss had withdrawn his army from Muzulfer Nagore, after having settled the tribute of that place. Runjeet was much displeased at the conduct of Bhowanny Doss, and threatened punishment; but Khurz Sinz, the son of Runjeet, dissuaded him from using severity against such a brave officer.

Accounts from Moltan to the 11th June state, that the Seik army, commanded by Bhowauee Doss, had made an unsuccessful attack in the Fort of Muzulfer Nagore; and that the commandant had declared to the Seik army, that every man in the fortress was resolved to perish rather than surrender. They however demanded an armistice for a few days to write to the Nabob Suferaz Khawn, and it was granted. The commandant had written in urgent terms to the Nabob, to affect a settlement of the tribute.

Accounts from Bokharah state, that the merchants of Bokharah and of other places had assembled at Mackergea, for the purpose of devising the best means of obtaining protection against the chief of Aderguenge. Ameer Hyder had ordered Rajeh Reg to proceed to Aderguenge with a hundred horsemen to protect the merchants.

The state of Jaypoor is as before, except that Ameer Khawn has now expressed an inclination to meet the wishes of the Jaypoor court.

In the Belaah Ukbar of the 25th July, it is mentioned that Scindia had directed all the Pindaree chiefs to assemble after the Dassarah, with their adherents, at a fort in his country not far from Narwar. Burkh Khan, one of the chiefs, had sent a rich present to the Maha Raj, a splendid saddle set with gems, together with five lacks of rupees and an elephant. Our letters from the Dukhin mention that the Pindaree chiefs are sending off their families for the Seekh country, and making great preparations to enable them to take the field early; that they are buying up every matchlock all over the country. His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir T. Hislop, with the general staff of the Madras army, had arrived at Jaulnah. Letters from officers in that quarter mention, it was expected they would take the field by the 1st September. In the Madras army it was understood that a division of their force would proceed to Nagpore to relieve the Bengal division. Throughout Barar the temperature is said to be very mo derate during the rainy season, the thermometer ranging from 76 to 82.

The Rev. Dr. John Allan, of this Presidency, and John Shoolbred, Esq. sur➡ geon, late of Calcutta, have been chosen to represent the church of Scotland in India, at the next general assembly to meet in Edinburgh, in May, 1818.

The Hon. Archibald Seton, one of the members of the supreme government, is compelled by ill health to return to Eu

rope.

Mr. F. Nepean has been removed from the College of Calcutta in consequence of having married in violation of the Col lege Statutes.

Sept. 4.-In one of the Ukhbars we observe that Runjeet Sing had received dispatches from Doulat Rao Scindeah, and in reply informed him, that he had something of great importance to communicate to him. For this purpose he requested that Scindeah's confidential Vakeel, Bheem Rao Pundit, might be im mediately sent to Lahore.

News had reached Caubul of the army of the King of Persia having laid siege to Heraut. Shah-zadu Feeroz-oo den, the governor of that place, had requested as! sistance from his father, Shah Mahmood, in consequence of which Vizier Futtih Khan had been ordered to proceed towards Heraut with a strong force, via Candahar, and to take with him the disposable troops under the Shahzadu Kamran. The vizier had been attacked on his route by a powerful band of robbers from the Kheiber mountains, which he succeeded in dispersing.

Last week, information was received of the death of Gooroo Gujraj Missir, the Envoy from the Rajah of Nepaul, who was recently introduced to the governorgeneral at Patna. He was suddenly attacked with a fever, which carried him off in a a few days.

We submit to our readers the following interesting document as to the Pindarees, a tribe which we trust will soon be known

only from the history of their depreda

tions it is the examination of Kundoo Pindaree, taken prisoner by the Mysore Horse, under Beem Row Buckshee.

What is your name ?-Kundoo. Who is the chief of the party to which you were immediately attached ?-Beekah Syed.

What was the strength of the party?Upwards of three hundred.

What was the amount of the whole Luhbur?-Ten thousand horse of various descriptions.

Of whose Dhurras was it composed? Seven thousand of Seetoo's; fifteen hundred of the Udhur Shahees, a thousand of Hurriam Khan's, and five hundred of Dost Mahommed's.

Narrative. We were all collected at Nimawur to the amount of ten thousand, and crossed the Nerbudda at the Buglatni Ghaut; we proceeded by the Muchree Ghaut, Maul, Maisdee, Ashtee, Amnair, and crossed the river Wurdu below Chandu, proceeded by Eldlabad; passed the Godavery leaving Dhurwunporee about ten coss to the left; crossed the Kistnah near Umrawuttee, plundered the outskirts of the town, moved on towards Guntoor, plundered some places whose names I do not recollect. Guntoor was plundered by the advanced party, who might be a hundred horse, who obtained some booty, but not much; perhaps the whole did not exceed two or three thousand rupees. On being fired upon by some sepoys we quitted Guntoor with precipitation for Mungulgurry, which we were prevented from plundering, by having armed men in it; thence, we moved to Kummum, forty or fifty pushed on to the place, but got entangled in the paddy fields, where one of their horses stuck fast, and the remainder being fired on by some troops galloped back and joined the main body. We halted at a village about half a coss from Kummum, but having understood from a Brinjairy whom we met with at a small village on our way, that the principal fords of the Kistnah were occupied by troops, and who pro mised to conduct us across, the river by an unfrequented Ghaut, we followed the road pointed out by him, and had scarcely crossed the Kistnah and were dressing our victuals, when a re giment of cavalry made its appearance:

in consequence we moved off immediately from thence in the direction of Hydrabad, and when we had arrived within twelve coss of the city, we separated into two bodies: the one to which I belonged under Eekah Syed proceeded, leaving Hydrabad four coss on the right, plundered Chundapett, and taking only by-paths, and plundering all the small villages in our route, recrossed the Godavery in the neighbour hood of Beer, advanced leaving Julnah twelve coss to our left, ascended a small Ghaut near Sondkhair, from whence we made two marches and halted near Godree, about a coss from Chicklee, and three coss from the British camp among the hills; at this period, some of our people who were looking about for fo rage and fire-wood, found a camel and brought it to Beekah Syed, who said, "there must be a camp somewhere in the vicinity," and accordingly we were all on the alert; seeing a light at a distance, Beekah Syed with teu horsemen went towards it, and about an hour afterwards returned with the intelligence that the force had marched in an opposite direc tion, we then moved two coss further, and again halted for the remainder of the night. At day break we mounted, and had gone about a coss when we were overtaken by the Mysore Siliehdar horse: of the movement of the larger body after our separation I am perfectly ignorant.

After you separated from the large bo dy, was no place fixed on for rejoining?— Yes. In the vicinity of Punderpore, but however it did not take place.

Who was the principal chief of the Luhbur?-Hussein Buksh, commonly called Bukroo.

For what purpose did you commence your expedition ?-To cross the Kistnah and go into Tippoo Sultan's country.

Did you know at the same time there was no such country?-No it was reported in camp, that we are going to Tippoo Sultaun's, but after we had crossed the Kistnah, we learned the country belonged to the English.

What were the arrangements made previous to the collection of the Luhbur?We all assembled at the command of Se too and departed on the Luhbur, according to his instructions.

What is your mode of life during the rains?-On our return from an expedition we all repair to Setoo, and give him an account of our operations, then we dise perse to our different homes, which are situated near the Nerbuddah, and in the Bopal country at the distance of ten or twenty coss.

Do you remain together in cantonments during the monsoon in the different vil lages ?We remain in cantonments during the rains;those belonging to Seetoo's Dhurrah at Nimawar-those of

Kurreem's at Raiseen, Dust Mahommed's Dhurrah, in the neighbourhood of Bhilsa at Gurraspour. The Holkar Shahee Dhurrahs are stationed as follows, Gordeekhun at Kurmode, Kadir Buksh at Katapoor, Sahib Khan and Bahadur Khan at Eklorah.

What preparations do you make before you proceed on a Luhbur?-As long as we continue in Scindeah's country we purchase every thing, afterwards we depend entirely on plunder.

Since you carry no provisions along with you, how did so large a body as the late Luhbur contrive to subsist?-We mutually assist each other, depending entirely on what we can procure in the villages on our route, or any convoys we may meet, but are often exposed to temporary privations.

Under whose authority do you consider yourselves?-Under Scindiah and Holkar, but the majority under the former.

To what length is it considered the authority of Scindiah and Holkar extends? -Our proceedings are considered to be regulated by the orders of their chiefs, and we plunder and spare the country according to their instructions; whenever they require our services we always join them.

For what reason do you submit to their authority? Because our families find refuge in their dominions, and in the event of our being attacked, we should fly there for shelter.

Then do you never plunder under any circumstances the territories of Scindiah and Holkar?-Never except by stealth. We have been in the habit for the last twelve years of plundering the Nagpore territories, but of late the Dhurrahs of Seetoo and Kurréem have not done so, in consequence of an agreement.

In the event of a pursuit after the Pindarees, what is the best mode of overtaking them?-On their return from an expedition when laden with plunder, because then they are incapable of making such rapid marches as at first, their horses being fatigued by the journey and encumbered with loads. Should we be pursued across the Nerbudda we could disperse to our several cantonmens and take refuge in Scindeah's territories.

In what manner are the marches of the Pindarees conducted?-When we set out and have no apprehension we march generally seven or eight coss, but if we have reason to fear a pursuit, we can move twenty or twenty-five coss, and can continue at this rate for twenty days if necessary. We proceed at first at easy stages, as we wish to reserve ourselves for occasions when it may be necessary to make any exertion.

On your return from an expedition when laden with plunder, what is your usual rate of marching?About twenty

coss a day. We start at daylight, and continue marching till twelve o'clock, when we halt in the jungle, till about three or four o'clock in the evening, and we resume our march till midnight. In all our marches both in going and coming, we avoid the high roads and proceed by the most unfrequented paths.

How are you generally armed?-With spears and swords, and but few matchlocks, at an average about five to every hundred men; some of the principal Sirdars may have pistols.

What may be the strength of the Pindarees? About ten thousand good horse and of various other descriptions five or six thousand.

In what manner do you feed your horses that they can stand such an extraordinary fatigue? We generally feed them on Chenna Jouree, Tooree, in short whatever we can get, besides we have a preparation of opium, arsenic, blue stone, and other ingredients which I cannot particularize, which we sometimes administer to them, and we accustom them when young to bear fatigue; out of fifty horses we obtained at Chaudapett, only five were able to keep up.

When you conceive you are liable to be overtaken by a body of horse in pursuit of your party, what do you on such an oc casion?-We march off in a body and continue so, as long as we can: those who fall in the rear are left to their fate, we never stop to defend them.

When you proceed on an expedition are you under the orders of any particular chief, or is every party only subject to its own commander?-We are nominally under the orders of a particular chief termed Luhbureu, but if any person chooses to separate from the main body, no notice is taken of it.

How do you procure intelligence?-We never send out persons for that purpose, but straggling parties bring all the information they may obtain on their route; and in case of our own people missing the main body, we set fire to a village or a stock of forage, as points for them to proceed on.

In what manner do you dispose of your booty? Every man retains what he gets, with the exception of elephants, which are given usually to Setoo, who in return makes presents.

From the Government Gazette, Sept. 4th, 1817. "Our letters just received from Persia are full of suspicions regarding the views of the Russians in that quarter. According to those letters the French, with a Colonel Mercier at their head, appear to be the first in influence with the Prince Royal. An anecdote has been communicated to us which shews the incongruous and clashing materials of which

his army is composed, since the new accession of European officers to his court, and the want of that degree of subordination and cordiality which is so necessary to the efficiency of a military force. A Sicilian officer, amongst others, had offered his services to the Prince Royal, and was employed. His merits were above the common scale, and he was decorated with an order which had been conferred upon him by his sovereign for some conspicuous display of his skill and valor. The insignia of this order he continued to wear, and very justly considered it the proudest record of his fame and pretensions. An adventurer, of another country, becoming' jealous of the good fortune of the Sicilian officer, represented to the Prince that at his court he ought to deem it little less than insult to the presence than any individual in his employ should presume to appear decorated with a badge of honor, conferred by any other potentate. The Prince was easily moved by this representation, and hinted to the Sicilian the propriety of laying aside the offensive decoration. The officer however refused, even on pain of dismissal, trusting that his Royal Highness would consider it rather as affording a greater claim to consideration and favor, as it was a proof of his merits superior to any that his enemy could produce. The Prince notwithstanding, adhered to his resolution, and the Sicilian was compelled to submit, but not without resenting the injury that had been offered to him, and obliging the author of his disgrace, who kappened to be a Frenchman, to relinquish his designs against him. Similar squabbles are constantly occurring, and the Prince Royal is thus surrounded by intriguing, ambitions, and enterprizing foreigners, eager for service and distinction, and heedless with what state the empire may be embroiled. In addition to the military officers that have reached Persia from the Continent of Europe, the Prince has been joined by a number of medical practitioners. He is now well supplied with engineer, artillery, cavalry, and infantry officers, at a light expence, and independent of the saving, these officers, of almost every country except England, engage to lead his troops against any enemy he may wish to oppose. From Russia he has the most to fear, and political obligagations at present prevent British officers from acting against the armies of that nation. He has little interest, therefore, in retaining them, excepting such as arises from personal esteem.

"We are now informed that the court of St. Petersburgh intend to demand the Aras or Araxes, as their boundary, and that all the Persian ports in that sea shall be delivered into the hands of Russia. This extension of territory will include Asiatic Journ.-No. 27.

the whole of the south-east portion of Armenia, and will throw the line of boundary, in one part, to within about fifty miles of Tabreez. At present, we believe, they have no possessions to the southward of the Cyrus or Kur. They have already a good caravan route northwest of the Caspian to Bokhara. These meditated advances of Russia, whether by artful negociation, or ultimately by fighting, cannot be looked upon by the British Cabinet with too much jealousy. It appears that the Russian ambassador had three times successively appointed a time for passing the frontier, and had as often disappointed the Persians, and at the date of the last advices, it is said that he was waiting the result of a reference he had made to St. Petersburgh. This and the ruinous extent of the cessions that are about to be demanded, may, it is supposed, lead to the interruption of friendly relations between the two countries.

"Ruheem Khan Uzbeg, at the head of sixty thousand men is encamped on the banks of the Goorgan or Koorgan river, and as soon as he has brought to a close his arrangements regarding the hostages to be delivered to him from the tribes of the Toorkomans, he is expected to advance against Khorassan. The loss of the fortress of Aserabad on the Caspian has been deeply felt at the court of Persia. It was considered a sort of Palladium of the state.

"Daood Pasha, the new Viceroy of Bagdad, is employed, secundum artem, establishing his seat on the musnud by removing rich and obnoxious individuals. Among the rest Abdullah Agha, a famous character in the Gulpb, who had formerly for fifteen years been Musseleem of Bussarah, has been decapitated, and his property, to the amount of fifteen lack of piasters, confiscated.

"It is said that strict orders have been issued by the king of Persia to the Arab Sheikhs, and recommendations to the Imam of Muscat, not to admit of the infidels seizing on Bahrein until his Majesty can act in the reduction of that island.

"The political importance of this position may be understood from an original communication on the subject which we have now the pleasure to publish. It is thus described in Kinnier's Geographical Memoir of the Persian Empire." The Island of Bahrein, on the Arabian shore, is one of the finest in the Gulf. It is covered with villages and date-gardens : and the town and fort of Medina, which contains about eight or nine hundred houses, carries on a considerable trade with Bussora and the other ports in the Gulf. The harbour will admit vessels not exceeding two hundred tons burthen, and a fair wind will carry them in fourteen hours from VOL. V. 2 Q