Page:The Earl of Auckland.djvu/85

Rh Aware of these movements, the Amírs reopened negotiations with Pottinger, who had now the game in his own hands. On the 1st of February they yielded at discretion, even to his revived demand for tribute to Sháh Shujá. Keane now crossed the Indus and marched up the left bank to Kotri, opposite Haidarábád.

By that time the reserve brigade from Bombay had landed at Karáchi. As the squadron conveying the troops drew near the harbour, a shot from the fort on Manora Point was answered by a broadside from the Wellesley man-of-war. Within an hour her guns had battered down the southern face of the fort, and the 40th Foot were soon inside the place. Pottinger told the Amírs that a shake of their lips would bring upon Haidarábád the same fate which had befallen Karáchi. But the Amírs were already cowed. On the 6th of February they signed the treaty which bound them not only to pay their share of the tribute-money — 20 lakhs — but also three lakhs a year towards the maintenance of a British garrison in Sind. Meanwhile Cotton was marching back with all speed to Rohri, where a strong bridge of boats secured for his troops and guns an easy passage across both branches of the broad and rapid stream. On the 15th of February the Bengal column, leaving one regiment to garrison Bakhar, was in full march from Sakhar to Shikárpur. By that time Keane also had quitted Kotri on his way towards the same goal.