49+ OUDH. Singh of Ahrori, and Mirzí Akbar Beg of Dzoris; and they were fast closing in upon the party, and might have destroyed it, when Girwar Singh, tumandír, came up with a detachment of the special police of the thagi and dakiiti department. At this time, the three companies were altogether disorganized and disheartened, as the firing and pursuit had lasted from midnight to daybreak; but on seeing the special police come up and join with spirit in the defence, they rallied, and the assail. ants, thinking the reinforcement more formidable than it really was, lost confidence and held back. Captain Hollings mounted the fresh horse of the tumandár, and led his detachment, without further loss or molestation, back to Ninkhar. His loss had been i subuh tár, 1 harildár, and 3 sipáhis killed ; i subahdir, 2 havildárs, i riik, and 14 sipális wounded and missing Captain Hollings' groom was shot dead, and one of his palanquin-bearers was wounded. His horse, palanquin, desk, clothes, and all the superfluous clothing and utensils which the sipális had thrown off preparatory to the attack, fell into the hands of the assailants. Attempts were made to take up and carry off the killed and wounded, but the detachment was so sorely pressed that they were obliged to leave both on the ground. The loss would have been mucin greater than it was, but for the darkness of the night, which prevented the assailants from taking good aim; and the detachment would in all probability have been cut to pieces, but for the timely arrival of the special police under Girwar Singh. Such attacks are usually made upon robber bands about the first dawn of the day, and this attack at midnight was a great error. Had they not been assailed by the auxiliaries, they could not, in the darkness, have secured one of the gang. It was known that at the first shot from either the assailing or defending party in that District, all the villages around concentrate their quotas on the spot, to fight to the death against the King's troops, whatever might be their object; and the detachment ought to have been prepared for such concentration when the firing began, and returned as quickly as possible from the place when they saw that they could not succeed.'—(Sleeman's Tour, ii. pp. 11-18.) Before 1855, the chronic anarchy and oppression had reduced the people of Oudh to extreme misery. Reform by its native ruler had long been hopeless. The only remaining remedy was deemed to be annexation, with a liberal provision for the reigning house. A treaty was proposed to the King in 1856, which provided that the sole civil and military government of Oudh should be vested in the British Government for ever; that the title of King of Oudh should be continued to his Majesty, and the lawful heirs male of his body; that the King should be treated with all due attention, respect, and honour, and should have exclusive jurisdiction within the palace at Lucknow
