Memoir on Thar and

2nd.—Specific engagements were demanded for the future prevention of any act
of atrocity of the like nature.
3rd.—The third demand had reference to some insult offered to the British agent
by the Bhooj authorities, but has no reference to our present subject.
46. These demands not having been complied with, or replied to within a reasonable
time, a force * was dispatched to Kutch, which, after the attainment of the objects for
which it was dispatched, marched into Wagur, on which the banditti separated; and the
force was subsequently withdrawn.
47. As the British influence increased in Kutch, and was brought to bear on the disturbed
state of Wagur, the banditti appear to have made Parkur their head quarters, though then,
as previously, the inhabitants from both sides of the Runn joined in all the larger forays.
48. The arrival of the British force in Kutch temporarily restored tranquility to the
province; the excited passions of the parties contending for power in the state, the
conflicting interests of the chiefs and principal men of the province, and the insatiable
love of plunder of the Wagur and Parkur banditti, appear to have been paralyzed as it
were for the time, by the appearance in the field of a new power, of which so much had
been heard. The effect, however, was of short duration, while the troubles in which the
Court of Bhooj was rapidly becoming entangled again caused a relaxation of authority,
which enabled the Wagur and Parkur † banditti to renew their plundering excursions, with
less fear of interruption or chance of opposition than ever.
49. In course of time (in 1819), further negotiation was rendered indispensable in the
affairs of Kutch, though the British Government was much opposed to any direct
interposition. At the same time, it was impossible to allow the banditti to continue
devastating the northern part of Kuttywar, where they had laid waste numbers of villages,
and committed depredations estimated at several lacs of Rupees, while the only mode of
bringing our influence or power to bear upon them, was by establishing a preponderating
influence at Bhooj. This object had been attempted in A.D 1816. As previously stated,
however, the result, though immediately satisfactory, was but transitory. On the present
occasion, therefore, and with the concurrence of some of the leading feudal chiefs in
Kutch, the British Government interfered to restore law and order in that province, which
being speedily effected, the attention of the executive was turned towards Wagur, where,
* On the 14th December 1815, Colonel East crossed the Runn at Venasir, with 4,000 fighting men.
† In May 1819, a party of 800 men, chiefly mounted on camels and horses, attacked Butchow, situated on
the southern side of Wagur, close to the Gulf. They were driven off by the guns of the fort, not, however,
till they had secured 200 head of cattle. From thence they moved to Vond, a fine flourishing village about
two miles from Butchow, the gates of which they shut, and then plundered it, carrying off all the cattle
belonging to the place, except some 20 or 30, the estimated damage occasioned by this one foray alone
being not less than 35 or 40,000 Rupees. Shortly before this, 500 head of cattle were carried off from
Bapore, also in Wagur,—Rapore and Butchow being the principal durbar towns in the district.
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