35.
thought themselves perfectly justified. The fact of their having reported the occurrence immediately without having tried to conceal any of the circumstances connected with the sad event is to me, from my knowledge of their habits, a sufficient proof of the correctness of their statement.
It is very horrible to contemplate the number of wounds inflicted upon the deceased, but I trust that Your Lordship will take into consideration the nature and habits of the Tribes from which these men are chiefly recruited, and remember also that they, in dealing with a supposed thief, were not unmindful of the serious injuries recently received by a favourite native officer.
This is the first occasion on which these Troops have been employed beyond the seas. They volunteered readily for the Service, and out of the 5000 who arrived in China, a large number still remain in the Country, and are now holding one of the principal Ports.
In conclusion, I must again apologize for the liberty I have taken in thus addressing Your Lordship, but the position which I hold in connection with the Punjab Force renders it an act of duty to lay the foregoing before Your Lordship.