"تاريخ البحرية الهندية. (١٦١٣- ١٨٦٣)." [‎١‎٠‎٢] (٦٢٢/١٢١)

102
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYT.
The town also surrendered, when the 40th Eegiment and 2nd
Bombay Native Infantry occupied the place; and thus, on the
3rd of February, 1839, the British Government obtained blood
less possession of the second finest port in India, as Kurrachee
harbour can, doubtless, be made when the engineering works
and the Hon. Company's sloop 4 Constance,' stood in, and covered tlie landing
of M.H.'s 40th Eegiment on the western side of the fort, and between it and tlie
town. When they had taken up a good position, the light company in advance,
and protected by some small mounds, I was again ordered by his Excellency
Admiral Maitland to summon the fort to surrender, under the flag of truce. The
Killadar received me from the ramparts. I entreated him to save the shedding
of blood by a timely surrender, telling him that, in case of his reftisal, the
< Wellesley' would pour in her broadside, and the smaller vessels batter his
towers from both sides, and that the artillery and infantry were placed between
him and the town, thus rendering escape hopeless. He calmly thanked us for
twice sending the flag of truce, and again signified his determination to abide
the fortune of war. As further argument was useless, the firing commenced
at eleven a.m., and before noon, a practicable breach was effected in the
southern face of the fort, when, accompanied by a bugler and guard of three, to
protect the white flag, I planted it on the tower. From the determined cool
ness and calmness of the Killadar, and those surrounding him, we naturally
expected that no quarter would be taken, and in anticipation we deeply regretted
the necessity we should be under of butchering these brave fellows j but
imagine our contemptuous surprise on learning that these brave men
had deserted the fort after the fifth shot, making their escape to holes and
crevices in the rocks, where they w T ere subsequently found and made
prisoners!
"At one p.m., accompanied by Captain Grrey, I left in the gig, to demand an
interview with Meer Mahomed, the G-overnor. Owing to incorrect information,
we proceeded by one of the shallow creeks, and did not arrive at the appointed
rendezvous, a mosque, until five p.m. Here we were joined by Haji Ali Eackah,
the Governor's agent, and the Killadar, who went with us to the Government
House. We were also met by Pittendoss Sett, a man who, from the strong
attachment he has ever evinced towards our interests, has been appointed the
Company's agent at Kurrachee. Meer Mahomed, the Hakim, received us with
every respect and attention. We requested him to deliver over to the British
naval and military force instant possession of Kurrachee. After a reference to the
bombardment, he demurred, and named two of his followers to treat with Sir
Frederick Maitland, one of whom, he said, should proceed with us on board.
To this we agreed, but informed the Governor of our unalterable determination
to land troops and garrison the town the following day, and in case of resistance,
he was warned that he would be held responsible for all the casualties occurring
on both sides. On Sunday, the 3rd, followed by a company of the 2nd Grenadiers,
we proceeded to the residence of the Ameer's agents, who have the civil juris
diction and the collection of the revenues, and who informed us they were ordered
by their Highnesses the Ameers to receive us as friends. On Friday, the 8th,
his Excellency Sir Frederick, accompanied by Captain Maitland, his secretary,
flag-lieutenant, and myself, fulfilled an engagement to dine with Pittendoss Sett,
the Company's agent, whose brother, Newal Settee, had rendered important
services to Colonel Pottinger, the Eesident at Hyderabad. We were received by
the Ameer's agents, the principal inhabitants, and a deputation of merchants.
It was reported that in the official report made of the capture of Kurrachee to
the Ameers, it was represented as having been bravely defended for two hours,
and only succumbing to the irresistible rush made by seven thousand British
soldiers and sailors; those numbers were of course grievously reduced by the
unheard-of bravery of the Scindees and Beloochees. Kurrachee contains about
twenty-five thousand souls, of whom two-fifths are Hindaa. The town is chiefly
composed of mud-built houses. The citadel is surrounded by a mud wall, in a
most dilapidated state; such, indeed, is the state of the wall, that there are already
breaches of sufficient size to admit a good large storming party."