be the limit of the sovereignty which we seem destined to exercise over the few remaining independent states of India. AFFGHANISTAN. Before dis missing the subject of Affghanistan from our notice as a country from which we have withdrawn our interference, and beyond the scope of our policy, we may mention that after the British troops had retired beyond the Sutlej, Shahpoor the youthful prince, who had been elevated to the musnud (or throne) at Cabul, succeeded for a short time in retaining the nominal sovereignty, and was supported by the powerful chief Ameenoollah Khan, whose daughter he espoused. This enterprising Khan was, as will be remembered, one of our most active enemies, and is supposed to have been the principal agent in fomenting the insurrection which burst out in November, 1841. Shahpoor, however, did not long remain the ruler of this distracted kingdom, for Akbar Khan soon succeeded in making himself master of Cabuland after Shahpoor had fled to Pesháwur,-Nawab Zeman Khan gained possession of the musnud early in the present year. But Dost Mahomed who, as well as all the other Affghans in the power of the British Government had been permitted to leave our territories when we finally evacuated Affghanistan, reached Peshawur in the month of March in the present year-having remained, or perhaps we should rather say having been detained, for some time at Lahore at the Court of the Maharajah Shere Singh. Dost Mahomed soon afterwards joined Akbar Khan at Jellalabad and advanced to Cabul, where he was enabled

power in his own hands, and became in effect the ruler, although Zeman Khan endeavoured to induce the other chiefs to oppose him by force.

SINDE. Before we enter upon the narrative of our annexation of this territory to our dominions in the East, it may be useful to give a short account of its geographical position and previous history.

Sinde or Sindh, lies between the 23° and 29o of N. latitude and the 67° and 70° of E. longitude. It is bounded on the S. and S. E. by the Indian Ocean and Cutch, on the W. by Beloochistan, on the N. by the southern portion of Affghanistan and the Punjab, and on the E. by a sandy desert that separates it from the extensive district called Ajmeer. The river Indus flows nearly in the centre of the country through its whole extent from North to South, and a little below the city of Tatta is divided into two great branches, between which lies a Delta through which smaller channels force their way-and thus the river Indus possesses in reality eleven mouths, some of which however by the formation of sand banks have become inaccessible to navigation.

Sinde has always been divided into two portions Upper and Lower, distinguished by the natives as Lar and Sirra-each division having its particular climate and various productions.

The original Ameers of Sinde were four chiefs of the Beloochee tribe, called Talpoor, who established themselves toward the end of the last century as rulers of the country by the expulsion of the dynasty of the Caloras, which had held the government for nearly a

first to the Mogul emperors, then to Nadir Shah, and afterwards to Ahmed Shah the founder of the Affghan monarchy and his successors. The name of the eldest of these Talpoor chiefs was Futteh Ali Khan, and as he had by his bravery and energetic conduct been chiefly instrumental in effect ing the revolution, he was allowed to have the principal direction of affairs, and his supremacy as ruler of Sinde was soon afterwards confirmed by Timour Shah the king of Cabul.

This prince admitted his three younger brothers Gholam Ali, Kurm Ali, and Moorad Ali to a share in his government, and the four Ameers enjoyed a joint sovereignty over Sinde. Their mutual attachment was so strong, that they were known by the name of the Char Yar or the "Four Friends."

Futteh Ali died in 1801,-Gholam Ali in 1811, Kurm Ali in 1828, and Moorad Ali in 1833. They all left male issue except Kurm Ali. After the death of Moorad Ali a civil war arose between the sons of the three deceased Ameers; but at its close the territory was distributed amongst them-and they were distinguished respectively as Ameers of Hyderabad, Khyrpore, and Meerpore at the beginning of the present year the "Ameers of Sinde" consisted of the following persons:-At Hyderabad, Nussecr Khan, Shahdad Khan, Hussein Ali Khan, Mahomed Khan, and Sobhdar Khan:-at Khyrpore, Rustum Khan and Nusseer Khan, Ali Moorad Khan and Chakur Khan at Meerpore, Shere Mahomed Khan--all of the Talpoor tribe of Beloochees. Several of

been associated also in the govern ment.*

When the revolution took place at Cabul in 1809, whereby Shah Shoojah was dispossessed of the throne-the Ameers of Sinde freed themselves from the yearly tribute which they had hitherto paid to the Affghan monarchs, and were able to extend their dominions until they comprised an area of about 100,000 square miles. All accounts of this country represent it as deplorably ill-governed. The soil is described as fertile, and the facilities for commerce and agriculture are great. The noble river the Indus, which flows through the whole length of the territory, would afford to enterprising rulers the means of benefiting the inhabitants to an incalculable extent. But the Ameers who were passionately devoted to the chase, valued it chiefly on account of their Shikargahs or hunting grounds, which are thick jungles overhanging the water's edge, enclosed to preserve the game for their amusement. The following account is given by Sir Alexander Burnes of the way in which these rulers oppressed the people.t

"The chiefs of the country live entirely for themselves; they wallow in wealth while their people are wretched: professing an enthusiastic attachment to the religion of Mahomet, they have not even a substantial mosque in their territories, and at Hyderabad, and indeed everywhere they pray in temples of mud, and scorn elegance or comfort in all that concerns domestic arrangement."

See Postans's Personal observations on Sindh, page 227. + See his "Rough Notes on Sinde

And again, "It would be difficult to conceive a more unpopular rule with all classes of their subjects than that of the Ameers of Sinde; nor is this feeling disguised; many a fervant hope did we hear expressed in every part of the country, that we were the fore runners of conquest,-the advance guard of a conquering army." The population of the country has been estimated at a million and was coerced under the rule of the Ameers by an army of fierce and rapacious Beloochees.

In 1832, when Lord William Bentinck was Governor-General of India, a mission was despatched to Sinde under the general direction of Colonel (now Sir Henry) Pottinger, with the view of entering, if possible, into a treaty with Meer Moorad Ali, who at that time was the principal Ameer of Sinde, and, in fact, the ostensible ruler of the country. This mission was successful, and a Treaty bearing date the 20th of April, 1832, was executed, containing the following arti

cles

Art. I. That the friendship provided for in former Treaties between the British Government and that of Sinde, remain unimpaired and binding; and that this stipulation has received additional efficacy through the medium of Lieut.-Colonel Pottinger, Envoy, &c., so that the firm connexion and close alliance now formed be tween the said States shall descend to the children and successors of the house of the above-named Meer Moorad Ali Khan, principal after principal, from generation to generation.

II. That the two contracting Powers bind themselves never to

ness on the possessions of each other.

III. That the British Government has requested a passage for the merchants and traders of Hindoostan by the river and roads of Sinde, by which they may transport their goods and merchandize from one country to another; and the said government of Hyderabad hereby acquiesces in the same request, on the three following conditions:

1. That no person shall bring any description of military stores by the above river or roads.

2. That no armed vessels or boats shall come by the said river.

3. That no English merchants shall be allowed to settle in Sinde, but shall come as occasion requires, and, having stopped to transact their business, shall return to India.

Art. IV. When merchants shall determine on visiting Sinde, they shall obtain a passport to do so from the British Government; and due intimation of the granting of such passport shall be made to the said Government of Hyderabad by the Resident in Cutch, or other officer of the said British Government.

V. That the Government of Hyderabad, having fixed certain proper and moderate duties to be levied on merchandize and goods proceeding by the aforesaid routes, shall adhere to that scale, and not arbitrarily and despotically either increase or lessen the same, so that the affairs of merchants and traders may be carried on without stop or interruption; and the Custom-house officers and farmers of revenue of the Sinde government are to be specially directed to see that they do not delay the said

first to the Mogul emperors, then to Nadir Shah, and afterwards to Ahmed Shah the founder of the Affghan monarchy and his successors. The name of the eldest of these Talpoor chiefs was Futteh Ali Khan, and as he had by his bravery and energetic conduct been chiefly instrumental in effect ing the revolution, he was allowed to have the principal direction of affairs, and his supremacy as ruler of Sinde was soon afterwards confirmed by Timour Shah the king of Cabul.

This prince admitted his three younger brothers Gholam Ali, Kurm Ali, and Moorad Ali to a share in his government, and the four Ameers enjoyed a joint sovereignty over Sinde. Their mutual attachment was so strong, that they were known by the name of the Char Yar or the Four Friends.'

66

Futteh Ali died in 1801,-Gholam Ali in 1811, Kurm Ali in 1828, and Moorad Ali in 1833. They all left male issue except Kurm Ali. After the death of Moorad Ali a civil war arose between the sons of the three deceased Ameers; but at its close the territory was distributed amongst them-and they were distinguished respectively as Ameers of Hyderabad, Khyrpore, and Meerpore-at the beginning of the present year the "Ameers of Sinde" consisted of the following persons:-At Hyderabad, Nussecr Khan, Shahdad Khan, Hussein Ali Khan, Mahomed Khan, and Sobhdar Khan at Khyrpore, Rustum Khan and Nusseer Khan, Ali Moorad Khan and Chakur Khan: at Meerpore, Shere Mahomed Khan--all of the Talpoor tribe of Beloochees. Several of

been associated also in the government.*

When the revolution took place at Cabul in 1809, whereby Shah Shoojah was dispossessed of the throne the Ameers of Sinde freed themselves from the yearly tribute which they had hitherto paid to the Affghan monarchs, and were able to extend their dominions until they comprised an area of about 100,000 square miles. All accounts of this country represent it as deplorably ill-governed. The soil is described as fertile, and the facilities for commerce and agriculture are great. The noble river the Indus, which flows through the whole length of the territory, would afford to enterprising rulers the means of benefiting the inhabitants to an incalculable extent. But the Ameers who were passionately devoted to the chase, valued it chiefly on account of their Shikargahs or hunting grounds, which are thick jungles overhanging the water's edge, enclosed to preserve the game for their amusement. The following account is given by Sir Alexander Burnes of the way in which these rulers oppressed the people.t

"The chiefs of the country live entirely for themselves; they wallow in wealth while their people are wretched: professing an enthusiastic attachment to the religion of Mahomet, they have not even a substantial mosque in their territories, and at Hyderabad, and indeed everywhere they pray in temples of mud, and scorn elegance or comfort in all that concerns domestic arrangement."

*See Postans's Personal observations on Sindh, page 227.

+ See his "Rough Notes on Sinde