INDIA.—A letter was received in town on the 9th inst., from Captain J. Hoppe, of the 16th Bengal Native Infantry, and Adjutant of the 2nd regiment of Infantry of Shah Soojah. Captain Hoppe led the storming party, and was wounded in the attack of Kelali Ghilzie. His letter is dated Candahar, February 14: the gallant officer writes to his father thus :—” We are, thank God, all safe at this place, although in the daily expectation of the people in the town rising against us, and the enemy, only twenty-five miles off, are threatening to attack us. Our communication with Cabul and the provinces is cut off, and report says that Sir W. M’Naghten, the envoy and minister, is murdered, with several other officers. It is to be hoped, in the spring, troops will be pushed up from India—for we can do nothing at this season—when, please God, we will give them a lesson they little think of. General Nott, with a large force, went against the rebels, collected only eight miles from Candahar, and killed and wounded 700 or 800 of them, but they are increasing in numbers every day, and one of Shah Soojah’s sons (Satter Jung) at their head. It is said they dined in their shrouds the other day, and swore upon the Koran that they would either murder us all, or be killed in the attempt. At present we are all safe and well.”
A correspondent of the Times, who appears quite satisfied with the last intelligence from India, writing of two officers who are now in England from Afghanistan, says—” I rejoice to see that the officers to whom I refer, consider the ladies and other prisoners in the custody of Akhbar Khan as secure from all indignity, though a ransom may probably be demanded for their release; and that they believe that the assassination of Sir W. M’Naghten will prove not to have been the act of Akhbar Khan, but to have been perpetrated, like that of Sir A. Burnes, by the uncontrollable fanaticism of the Ghazees.”
It is but justice to General Elphinstone to notice the fact, that, in a despatch from Major Pottinger, dated January 30, he says, that so far from blaming General Elphinstone for what had occurred, he entirely exonerated him. This shows, at all events, the impropriety of those hasty condemnations which have been pronounced in some quarters. We apprehend that no newspaper-writer in this country has yet had altogether such good opportunities of appreciating General Elphinstone’s conduct as Major Pottinger, and by that officer he has been altogether exonerated.
Our illustrations of the chief points of interest at the seat of war in the East, are this week limited to views of the city of Cabul and the fortress of Ghuznee, which we shall accompany with the following notice:—
CITY OF CABUL.—Cabul, the chief city of the province of the same name, is the capital of Afghanistan; it is situated on the river Cabul, in a large well-watered plain, filled with villages: low hills surround it on three sides, on one of which, to the north, is the King’s palace. Also, on another hill near the city, is the tomb of the Emperor Baber, surrounded by large beds of flowers, and commanding a noble prospect. Many beautiful gardens surround the town, which is celebrated for its fine climate, though the proximity of the mountains causes great variety of temperature. The town itself is not large, but handsome and compact, and the houses, to avoid the consequences of the frequent earthquakes, are mostly built of wood. Cabul lies in latitude 31 deg. 10 min. east, lon. 71 deg. 43 min.
This city is about 6000 feet above the level of the sea, and lies in a triangular gorge. The hills which encompass it on three sides are steep, bare, and rocky, and are crowned with a long line of wall, which is carried up their sides, summits, and across the narrow entrance which lies between them. This wall was intended as a defence against the Ghilzies, but it has fallen into ruin. The city itself is surrounded by a high but weak wall, and has no ditch. Above the fortress, upon an eminence, is the citadel, and within this fort a brother of Dost Mahomed built a palace, which he called Koolah-i-Feringhee, or the European Hat, and which very curiously became, during the British occupation in 1839, the hospital of the 13th Light Infantry. Around Cabul, and indeed throughout the Affghan country, are scattered castled houses, the seats of the principal men of the country, who, from the insecurity in which they live, have all their dwellings strongly fortified.
GHUZNEE.—On the 1st of July, 1839, the British army under the command of Sir John Keane, arrived before Ghuznee, and early in the morning of the 23rd began its operations. The Cabul gate was blown in; the tremendous fire of our artillery paralysed the enemy, and the English advanced guard, after a short but desperate struggle, won their way into the place. Prince Mahomed Hyder, after having made submission to the Shah, who spared his life at the intercession of the Commander-in-Chief, was retained prisoner of war in the British camp. The British lost in this engagement only 200 men, 18 being killed, whilst 500 dead of the enemy were buried by them two hours after the capture. At this period, the fortress, one of the strongest in Western Asia, and whose capture was undoubtedly one of the most brilliant that British troops could achieve, was in possession of Mahomed Hyder Khan, son of the Ameer of Cabul, and the garrison which he commanded amounted to the number of between 3000 or 4000, about 1500 of which were well-mounted cavalry. Lord Keane’s plan of attack was brilliant, and its execution daring. The attack at the gates was vehemently severe, and the resistance of the Affghans great. In two hours it fell; the whole of the British troops employed on the service amounted to about 4400. Of the enemy upwards of 800 were slain, and near 1500 made prisoners. Numerous horses, camels, and mules, were captured, but no valuable booty obtained. The great gun of Ghuznee, which was captured, was an unwieldy piece of ordnance, to which the Affghans attached much importance, but which was very disproportionate to the injury it was capable of inflicting. Its great weight, and the badness of the roads to the Indus, have prevented its being sent to England.
The Illustrated London News, London, England, Week Ending May 14, 1842