Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/17

INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF SIND. peace. In 1832, Lieut, (now Colonel) Pottinger was dispatched to Sind to conclude a new treaty, and his mission following so closely on that of Lieut. Burnes naturally excited further suspicions; the mission was, however, a friendly one, the Indus was opened for trade, and it was provided that no vessel of war, or warlike stores, were to be sent by it. This treaty was for commercial purposes only, and though British merchants might settle in Sind, they could not traverse it as they pleased. The treaty was revised in 1834, and a tariff of tolls and dues decided. Colonel Pottinger now became political agent in Sind for the protection of British interests, political and commercial; but he resided in the adjoining province of Cutch.

In 1836, a new phase of connection with Sind began. Punjeet Sing had threatened an invasion of the province on the ground of punishing one of its Afghan tribes on the northern frontier for various acts of predatory aggression; and the opportunity was seized by Lord Auckland, as well to prevent the Sikh attack, as to constitute the Ameers one of the powers to be opposed to Russian intrigue or invasion. Colonel Pottinger was now again dispatched to Sind, to assure the Ameers of the good-will and protection of the British Government. If possible, he was to induce them to accept a British subsidiary force, and to allow of a survey of the river from its mouth to the Punjab. It is impossible in this sketch to follow the course and the difficulties of this negotiation. The Talpoor authority was divided; what one of the four brothers might agree to was declined by another, and without unanimous consent no treaty could be binding upon all. Nevertheless, in 1838, a modified treaty was accepted by the Talpoor Ameers. Meanwhile the invasion of Afghanistan having been decided upon under the tripartite treaty between the British, Shah Shoojah, and Kunjeet Sing, it was unpleasant news to the Ameers to learn that the ex-King of Kabool, supported by a British army, would arrive on the confines of Sind in November, and would demand of the Ameers arrear of tribute, failing payment of which he would take possession of the northern Sind district of Shikarpoor.

The Ameers could not recognize this obsolete demand on the part of the ex-King, and believed it to be that of the British; and now the plot thickened fast. A Bengal force was on its march for Afghanistan by way of Upper Sind and the Bolan pass, and an army from Bombay, commanded by Sir John Keane, arrived in the Indus. Menaced simultaneously both from the north and the south, the Ameers lost heart, and the treaty offered by Colonel Pottinger was executed. They were to receive a subsidiary force to be located in Sind, and to pay a proportion of its cost: to control the Belochees, to enter into no correspondence with foreign countries, and to abolish all tolls on the Indus, which involved a serious loss of revenue. On the other hand, the British declared entire non-interference in the local government, and the future protection of Sind from foreign