QUESTION. (Hansard, 11 February 1864)

§ SIR CHARLES WOOD,

in reply, said, he observed on the paper that day a notice for the production of papers on the subject, and he should have no objection to have those papers laid on the table. He quite concurred with his hon. Friend in thinking the subject of the utmost importance, and he might perhaps be allowed to make a brief statement with respect to it. Those who were acquainted with India were doubtless aware, that several years ago a Mahomedan adventurer named Syud Ahmed, who claimed to be a descendant of the Prophet, raised an insurrection against Runjeet Singh, and that after some severe fighting he was killed and his followers dispersed. Those who remained took refuge in the hill districts among the Eusufzaie tribes, and became a source of perpetual trouble not only to Runjeet Singh but to the English Government. They established themselves in a place called Sittana, across the Indus, whence they made expeditions into our territory, and continued to rob, plunder, and burn villages, and to be a source of the greatest trouble to us for many years. These Sittana fanatics were reinforced at the time of the mutiny by deserters from the Sepoy regiments. In 1858 it was found necessary to destroy their stronghold, and an expedition for the purpose was sent under Major General Sir Sydney Cotton. They were expelled from the place, and the tribes among whom they had located themselves entered into an engagement not to permit them to resettle there. That engagement had been for a certain time respected, but in 1861 their inroads recommenced, and we remonstrated with the tribes against permitting these people to renew their incursions on our territory; but our remonstrances failed, the tribes stating that they had no power to prevent the fanatics passing through their territory. In 1862 the Governor of the Punjaub applied to the Indian Government to send an expedition to prevent them from plundering our possessions. The Government of India declined, in 1862, to sanction any expedition; but as the Lieut.-Governor of the Punjaub represented strongly, in 1863, that the attacks on our territory were continued, an expedition against the fanatics was sanctioned and undertaken last autumn. In order to reach their new stronghold at Mulkah, it was thought advisable to proceed by the Umbeylah Pass, which leads into a district not belonging to, but close to the territory of a powerful tribe, called the Bo- 464 nairs, who were not unfriendly to the British, but believed that from our troops coming so near their district, it was intended to attack them. No assurance on our part could convince them that this was not the case, and they consequently attacked our forces. They were joined by the fanatics and by several of their Mahometan neighbours, and a series of well-sustained attacks were made for some weeks on the British position. Major James, Commissioner at Peshawur, who had been absent on leave in this country, arrived there at the time, and entered into communication with the Bonairs, in order to assure them that we had no intention of attacking them. They were however over-persuaded by the other tribes. General Lawrence was therefore obliged to attack their positions, and carried them most successfully, inflicting severe loss on the tribes. On this, the Bonairs came in, and sent a body of men to destroy Mulhah, and, finding it deserted, destroyed it in the presence of our officers. The whole affair, therefore, in reality arose out of an attack made by those tribes under a misapprehension as to the intentions of our proceedings. All hostilities had now ceased; the troops had returned to their quarters; and he trusted no further operations of any kind would be found to be necessary. The gallantry of our troops and the skill of our officers, he might add, had been displayed to great advantage throughout these transactions.