Memoir on Thar and

undaunted courage. His name was Meer Abbas Ally. The plunderers, seeing the
hesitation of their pursuers, made their camels sit down and form a breastwork, from
behind which they kept up a distant fire with their matchlocks: eventually, however,
finding that active support was not to be expected from the Durbar Horse, the Jemedar
(Abbas Ally) formed his men into two divisions, and repeatedly charged the plunderers.
Unfortunately, he fell wounded in several places, while one-third of his gallant
detachment were put hors de combat; and the Duffadar, on whom devolved the
command, was consequently obliged to desist from further attack. Had the Durbar Horse
assisted, the plunderers must have been cut up to a man: as it was, they escaped, but were
disappointed in getting water, as the wells for which they were making when overtaken,
were previously occupied by our troops; and thus they had to proceed towards the Desert,
some 40 miles further, exhausted with a long march and sharp skirmish, dying of thirst,
sixteen having expired of thirst before reaching the Desert.
55. The regret for the loss of the gallant Jemedar was universal, both in the Irregular
Horse and the province; his remains were interred in the Runn, and subsequently
removed to Bhooj, and deposited in front of the lines of the Irregular Horse, where a
handsome tomb was built, and now stands to commemorate the glorious death of a brave
man.
56. The infamous behavior of the durbar horsemen was followed by their being
disbanded, and by a body of two hundred men being organized, and associated with the
Poona Auxiliary Horse under Captain Roberts, for the defense of Wagur against the
Parkur banditti. The high expectations entertained by the Resident in Kutch of the
advantages of this arrangement were fully realized, and to the Irregular Horse thus
constituted, under able guidance, was Kutch subsequently indebted for the security
enjoyed by her inhabitants. In the meantime, however, the banditti plundered as
heretofore; remonstrance followed remonstrance to Hydrabad (Parkur being in Sind, or
under Sind), calling forth empty compliments and promises from the rulers of that
province, which appear only to have been made to be forgotten or broken. At length,
Government addressed a stern letter * to His Highness Ali Moorad at Hydrabad,
observing—
“For many years, the country of our ally, the Rao of Kutch, has been continually
entered by plunderers from Parkur. The lawless conduct of these plunderers has
found protection in the chiefs of that country, dependents of your Highness, and
this Government has in vain applied for redress for the injuries committed by
them. The chiefs of Parkur have refused to give them up, and have openly
permitted the cattle to be sold, with other property, and shared the spoil. They
have also let disaffected dependents of the British Government find refuge in their
country, and there plot incursions into the territories of our allies. The late
excesses of the Parkur robbers under Pittoojee Wagela are known to your
Highness, and you have been in vain called on to punish your subjects, who have
thus dared to insult the British Government, and have committed aggressions still
* Vide Enclosure, dated 6th September 1831, received with letter No. 109, of 17th September 1831.
<strong>Memoir</strong> on the Thurr and Parkur Districts of Sind. Copyright © www.panhwar.com
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