Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 5.djvu/84

KURRAL. The British Government were not, however, to enjoy a very long continuation of peace. The fanatical bands of Sittana and Mulka, recruited from various portions of India, again assembled, and the holy war, and revenge for defeat, were preached by the missionary Wahabees, not only among the tribes, but in Bengal and other parts of India, with, perhaps, a greater virulence than before. It was hoped, at first, that the lesson of 1863, and the agreements of the clans, would prevent any coalition of the tribes, and aggressions upon British subjects. These hopes, however, were unfounded; for, in 1868, British outposts in the Agror valley were attacked, and finding remonstrance to be of no avail, immediate steps were taken for the assembling of a force on the scene of the former campaign. On this occasion there was no hesitation; troops and their supports poured through the Punjab in overwhelming numbers, and, in November, 1868, a position was taken up on the Black Mountain, which completely awed the surrounding tribes, and prevented coalition. The Hindostanee fanatics were not, however, surrendered or driven out of the hills, and remained, as before, under the evident protection and sympathy of the tribal population. The danger, therefore, is what it has always been, and only waits a fitting opportunity to declare itself Subscriptions for the support of the rebels still pour in from many parts of India, and the "holy war" is abandoned only till a convenient period.

In the year 1857, the Dhoonds, Kurrals, Tanaolees, and their neighbours in Hazara, collected a force for the attack of the hill sanatorium of Murree. The garrison of the place, English soldiers and invalids, had news of the gathering, and on the night of the 2nd of September when the clans advanced to the attack, they were driven back with heavy loss. When reinforcements arrived, the British troops advanced into the rebel country, and burnt fifteen villages, taking also fifteen of the ringleaders, who were executed; a severe lesson, but one which has been of permanent benefit.