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126
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JULY, 1926
4. On the night of the 4th the mutineers from Mhow, accompanied by some troops of the Maharaja, marched from Indore towards Dewass, having carried off nine lacs of treasure from the Indore treasury. The two parties quarrelled with each other, and Holkar's troops returned to Indore on the 6th current. No portion of the treasure had been made over to them, I believe; and they were so enraged that they requested permission to follow up the Mhow mutineers and recover the treasure from them.
5. Thinking that an attack on the mutineers by the Raja's troops would be advantageous in every way, I wrote the accompanying letter to the Maharaja (marked E, ante), and forward his reply.
6. The accompanying letters were received yesterday from the Bhao Ramchunder Rao and Captain Fenwick, an individual in the service of the Raja.
7. Yesterday evening also the remainder of the treasure from Indore was sent here by the Raja, consisting of four or five lace of rupees in cash and twenty-four laos in Government notes, which I have ordered Captain Elliot, Assistant Thuggee Superintendent, now in the Mhow Fort, to take charge of.
8. A Naik of my lascar company was brought in prisoner yesterday morning who had deserted and joined the mutineers; and, having been tried by oourt-martial and condemned to death, was hanged in front of the Fort yesterday by my orders.
9. The country around Mhow appears to be in a settled stato and I am doing what I can to keep communication open both by Dak and electric telegraph. The electric telegraph wire has been cut near Indore, but a signaller is now bringing in the wires to this Fort; and as instruments will be here in the course of to-morrow, I hope soon to be able to communicate more rapidly any intelligence it may be necessary to send, than by letter Dak.
I have etc., To the Secretary to Government, Bombay. (Signed) T. Hungerford, Captain
Commanding at Mhow. - F. From Lord Elphinstone to Captain Hungerford.
Telegraph Message, July 8th, 1867. I have received your message of the 2nd. Captain Orr, with 3rd Nizam's Cavalry, is on his way to Mundlaysir, and will endeavour to communicate with you and assist you. I hope you will be able to send away in safety the ladies, women, and children under his escort. Unforeseen difficulties have prevented the advance of General Woodburn's forces. A second column is now being despatched for your relief, comprising European infantry and cavalry, and a half troop horse artillery. It will be pushed on as fast as possible, but it will be at least three weeks before it can reach you, as the infantry are going from Bombay. If you can hold out at Mhow for a month, I think you should remain until relieved; but if you are unable to do this, you must fall back on Mundlaysir, covered by Orr's horse and any of the Bhopal Sikhs or Bhools who may be at hand. Send the names of the ladies and officers at Mundlaysir, and inform me what they intend doing.
To Lord Elphinstone, from Captain Hungerford - Telegraph Message, July 9th.
I request that your Lordship will not send any native troops for our relief. We will hold our own as long as we can. Hurry the European troope; cavalry, if possible. Holkar has shown by his actions that he is friendly to our Government; but he has been forced against his own inclinations to give way in some degree to his own mutinous troops and mutineers from Mhow. The whole of the mutineers have marched from Indore towards Delhi; but Holkar's troops are still doubtful, and we are threatened with an attack by the Mehidpore Contingent. The whole country is in such a state of excitement that I think any native
