Memoir on Thar and

of the leading men were apprehended, and more would probably have been taken, and the
moral effect of the invasion been more decided and lasting, if the instructions of the
Resident in Kutch had been more strictly adhered to by the officer commanding.
However, the result was, on the whole, satisfactory. His Highness the Ameer promised to
assist arid actively support the English detachment with a force from Hydrabad, but none
came till too late to be of use; and when they did arrive, their appearance and bearing led
to the inference that they would not, under any circumstances, have been of much use in
forwarding the objects for which the expedition had been organized. His Highness
pompously informed the Resident at Bhooj that he had sent 2,500 horse of the choicest
description, under a number of commanders of approved talent and valour, to cooperate
with our troops, while the British officers in Parkur at the same time wrote that the
number did not exceed 500 horse, miserable in size and condition; nor could the
commander be induced to move beyond Guddra, which formed the Sind frontier, though
the object of the expedition was to punish the freebooters, who (as was anticipated) had
retired to the Neyur district (between the Thurr and Parkur and Balmeer) on the approach
of the force.
63. The impression which had prevailed for years; that the plunderers in their haunts were
beyond our reach, now gave way to one of wholesome awe and alarm; and it was
therefore not deemed necessary by the Resident in Kutch, * in whom was vested full
authority on the subject, to continue any longer the expense to the public of keeping the
force in the field. It was therefore ordered back to cantonments, with the exception of the
following troops, to be placed under the orders of Captain Roberts in Parkur:—
• One complete squadron of native cavalry. †
• One hundred native infantry.
• Captain Roberts’ irregular horse.
• One hundred Pahlunpoor horse.
• Fifty Jareja Kutch horse.
64. In placing this detachment under Captain Roberts’ orders, the Resident observes:—
“Your perfect and long acquaintance with my views and plans renders it quite
unnecessary that I should give you any detailed instructions.” He then alludes to the
great objects of the expedition having been attained, but adds that it would be desirable, if
possible, to apprehend Barra Khosa, ‡ a renowned leader and chieftain amongst the
banditti. At the same time, the Sind authorities were apprized of the Resident’s full
determination not to withdraw the detachment from Parkur, until such arrangements
should have been made, as to prevent the possibility of our having any further trouble
from that quarter.
* Vide letter No. 390, of 24th December 1832, to Lieutenant Colonel Litchfield, Commanding Field Force.
† It would, however, appear that only a small portion of this force actually occupied Parkur.
‡ Was afterwards employed in the Mounted Police, in A, D. 1844.
<strong>Memoir</strong> on the Thurr and Parkur Districts of Sind. Copyright © www.panhwar.com
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