'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎499] (518/622)

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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
499
In the suppression of this Mutiny the greatest assistance was
rendered by the Indian Navy. In the months of July and
August, though in the height of the south-west monsoon, the
4 Berenice,' Lieutenant Chitty, and 'Victoria,' Lieutenant
Sweny, were engaged carrying troops from Bombay and
Kurrachee, and landing them on that open and storm-beaten
coast, at Viziadroog, Kalbadeir Bay, sixteen miles below Jyghur
near Eutnagheri, and at Goa, for which permission was given
by the Portuguese Governor-General, the Viscount de Torres
Novas* These officers made several voyages with troops,
including portions of the 33rd and 86th Regiments and the
2nd Bombay Europeans, and showed what gallant and skilful
seamen can do when inspired by a sense of duty. Lord
Elphinstone, in his Minute of the 18th of August, 1859, spe
cially thanked Lieutenants Chitty and Sweny for the " good
services they rendered in carrying the different detachments of
European troops down the coast at the height of the monsoon,
by which movement, under Providence, the peace of the
Southern Mahratta country and of the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. was
preserved."
The first detachment of European troops was only just
landed in time, as his lordship says, to preserve the peace of
the Southern Mahratta country and of the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. ," as the
routineers of the 27th Native Infantry, on the 1st of August,
the day after they broke out into revolt, marched off from
Kolapore to join their comrades at Rutnagheri, but on descend
ing the Ghauts, found the road blocked by the European de-
reached Kolapore on the 14th of August. Speaking of the persistent attempts of
some authorities, and a portion of the Press, to deny the existence of any dis
affection in the Western Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , he writes to us :—" The £ Saturday Review,'
in reviewing a work on India in 1872, made out that Kolapore had since 1844.
remained quiet during the mutinies, barring a local outbreak or two, and the
Rajah was rewarded for his fidelity with the Star of India, the said Rajah having
been spared by me because he was only imbecile, while his brother, by another
mother, also Rajah (for we treated them both alike) was at the head of the
rebellion, and stirred the regiments in the Southern Mahratta country to mutiny,
especially the 27th Native Infantry at Kolapore; him I deported and spared the
other, but he had no weight or influence in the country and never rendered me
the slightest assistance."
The 2l8t and 27th Regiments of Bombay Native Infantry were disarmed, and,
by Order of the Governor in Council, No. 612 of 1858, it was ordered that " the
numbers borne by the 21st and 27th Regiments Native Infantry are to be struck
out of the Army List, and the regiments, when reconstituted, are to bear the
numbers 30 and 31."
# Of this act of " cordial and friendly co-operation," as Lord Elphinstone de
scribed it, his Lordship writes in his Minute on the services of civil officers during
the Mutiny:—" I believe it is not generally known that, in permitting British
troops to land at Groa during the monsoon of 1857, his Excellency was acting in
opposition to his Council, and in violation of the Portuguese laws. He did not
tell me so at the time, but in a private letter which I received from him some
months ago, he mentioned that his conduct had been approved by the King's
Grovernment, and that a Bill of Indemnity had been passed absolving him from
any penalties he might have incurred."
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