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174
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[SEPTEMBER, 1920
20. An express was sent on the morning of the 7th to Colonel Durand. Captain Hutchinson, Assistant to the Resident, was reported on the morning of this day to have been taken prisoner by the Amjheera Raja. Captain Elliot was written to by the Durbar on the subject, and the correspondence is annexed (marked D.). The Maharaja was written to this day; and a request made that he would follow up and attack the mutineers from Mhow and Indore (letter marked E.). Another gun lascar was brought in this morning, tried by court martial for mutiny and desertion, sentenced to death, and hanged by my orders in front of the northern gate of the Fort at 6 p.m. Whilst the execution was taking place, the whole of the treasure remaining in the Residency treasury, sent in by the Maharaja, arrived in the Fort, and Captain Elliot was ordered to receive charge of it. The amount of treasure is Rs. 4,16,690, besides nearly 23 lacs in Company's paper. The country round Mhow perfectly tranquil.
21. On the morning of the 8th a letter (No. 428) was forwarded to the Secretary, Bombay Government, detailing what had occurred, forwarding correspondence with the Durbar, and reporting receipt of treasure. A memo. was also forwarded of the persons murdered at Indore (this letter is attached). On the 8th July a correspondence took place with the Durbar regarding the Malwah Contingent, and it will be found attached to letter 431. A telegraph message was received this day from the Governor of Bombay (attached, Marked F.).
22. On the 9th two messages were despatched to Bombay regarding the troops marching on Mundlaysir under Captain Orr (marked G.). Two prisoners, Sepoys of the 23rd Regiment N. I. (Mahomedians), were sent in by the Maharaja of Indore. They were tried by drumhead court martial on arrival at Mhow, sentenced to death, and hanged in front of the northern gate of the Fort. Much excitement had prevailed amongst the Maharaja's troops on his giving over these prisoners, and an anonymous letter was found in his Durbar Hall, accusing him of not being a Hindoo, and being under the influence of ministers who were Christians.
23. Letter No. 431 (attached) written to Secretary, Bombay Government, on the 10th. Everything perfectly tranquil at Mhow and its neighbourhood. Telegraph message received from Bombay regarding Captain Orr's detachment (Marked H).
24. Oomed Sing and Ganesh Shastree came in from the Maharaja, to say that the latter was in great alarm about the two columns advancing from Bombay: he feared that his actions had been misconstrued, and an erroneous impression of them conveyed to Government. It was with great difficulty that they had prevented the Maharaja from starting immediately for Bombay to offer in person an explanation of the disturbances at Indore. Wrote to the Maharaja a letter (annexed, marked I). Breastworks were completed in front of both heavy batteries this day, and the Fort so much strengthened that it would take a native army to attack it.
25. On the 12th an express was again forwarded to Colonel Durand (marked K). On the 13th the telegraph wire was brought into the Fort at Mhow, an office established, and communication opened with Bombay. Dak communications to Bombay, and all places to the southward, open; also to Neemuch; but the road to Sehore and Saugor has been and continues closed from the 27th ultimo. The Durbar report that their troops are still mutinous and excited, and they look with anxiety for the arrival of European troops, to enable them to disarm the disaffected. On the 13th a telegraph message was received from Lord Elphinstone, for delivery to Holkar (marked L), and an answer returned on the 14th (marked M). A report also was forwarded to Bombay on the 14th.
26. I have, in the foregoing, brought up my report of everything that has taken place at Mhow to this date (15th July). Troops are marching to our relief, whom we expect to see on the 26th instant. Colonel Durand has been written to, and may probably return to Mhow immediately. The country is perfectly quiet, the Maharaja of Indore most anxious for opportunities to prove his friendship and fidelity to the Government. This Fort is strengthened and provisioned in such manner as to enable us to hold it for any length of time
