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128
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JULY, 1926
been marked by the most earnest desire to assist to the utmost of his means in the tranquilli. sation of his country. Some of His Highness' troops (Mahomedans) are still in an excited and insubordinate state, and he is anxiously looking forward to the arrival of Europeans at. Mhow, as the support it would afford him would enable him at once to disarm the disaffected and give him the control of his army.
5. Yesterday evening the Maharaja sent in two prisoners (Mahomedans), Sepoys of the 23rd Regiment N. I., who were tried by drum-head court-martial, sentenced to death, and hanged at once. The Bhao Rao Ramchunder, who paid me a visit last evening, reported that the giving up of these prisoners had caused great excitement amongst the Maharaja's troops, and that he had only been enabled to leave Indore under the protection of a strong guard.
6. The advance of Captain Orr's detachment was reported to me this morning, and I have written to that officer. I trust the circumstances will be considered sufficiently urgent to authorise my having written as I have done.
7. I have reported all that has occurred to yourself, and trust that what I have done will meet with support from the Government under which I serve. I am placed in a difficult position. The political authorities are all absent. Besides maintaining this post, now almost the only one left in Central India, I have been compelled to take upon myself some political authority to enable me to correspond with the Maharaja of Indore, and, through him, to prevent disorder from spreading throughout his territory. Should the Mehid pore troops march on Delhi, it will only add to the difficulties of our troops; and, therefore, if, with the Raja's assistance, the Malwah Contingent can be kept subordinate and faithful, I trust the Government will feel satisfied with the duty performed, though done in an informal manner. I feel assured that the Raja's feelings are loyal and staunch to the British Government, and that a sense of his own interests even, if gratitude were out of the question, would keep him faithful to his duties as their ally. I have received assistance from him, and am convinced that a small European force here would restore tranquillity to the whole country; if it were quickly sent, Malwah would be saved from any further disorder. I have, etc.,
(Signed). T. Hungerford, Captain, The Secretary to Government, Bombay.
Commanding at Mhow. To Captain Hungerford, Commanding at Mhow-Indore, 8th July 1857. Sir,
The circumstances of Major Timmin's departure from Mehidpore have already been reported to you. The whole of the infantry and the remaining cavalry with guns form a complete brigade, and is provided with ammunition. They told the Koomawisdar at Mehid - pore that they had not mutinied, and that, after the misconduct of the Sowars under Captains Brodie and Hunt, the loyalty of the infantry had been praised by Colonel Durand, and an increase of pay and rank offered ; also, that they had not misbehaved even now; and, as they were paid by the Durbar through the British authorities, they must now continue to draw their pay, without which they cannot remain. Should it be the intention of the Durbar to dismiss them, they must receive a decisive answer. Koomawiadar, having no force to coerce such a large body of disciplined troops, and fearing they would plunder Mehidpur and march on to Indore, which would play the mischief under the present state of things, addressed them a consolatory Purwannah ' in the Durbar's name, which has stopped them there for the present. He has, in the meanwhile, requested instructions from the Durbar, and is afraid of great disorders, should a delay take place in the receipt of orders calculated to give them some confidence. His Highness has therefore directed me to ask your advice, as to what should be done in this emergent case keeping up, and the sooner you give it the better, for the sake of order.
I remain, etc., (To be continued.) (Signed.) Ramchunder Rao, Minister.
