It will be desirable to have at least the wing of a regiment sent as soon as possible to Jhansee.  Bukhut Sing, who was allowed to escape after having been surrendered to Ellis at Kyrma, has been since allowed to get too much a-head.  He is aided by the Khereecha people openly; and secretly, I fear, by some of the Powar Thakoors of Gigree under the rose.  There are four small fortified places between thirty and forty miles west of Jhansee, and not far from the Sinde, held by Powar Thakoors, who are a shade higher in caste than the Bondeylas; and, in consequence, all the principal chiefs take their daughters in marriage.  They are needy, and as proud as Lucifer, and will always eke out their means by robbery if they can.  The Jhansee chief cannot keep them in order without our aid.  While I was there, they did not venture to rob after the surrender of the Jylpoor man in September, 1844; and the Hareecha and Hyrwa people ventured only to send a few highwaymen into the Gwalior state west of the Sinde river.

The Powar places I mean are Jignee, Odgow, and Belchree.  There was a fourth near them just as bad, called Nowneer; but the Thakoors of that place are all well disposed towards the Jbansee chief, and are obedient.  All are in the Jhansee state.  If the marauders are pressed with energy and sagacity, they will be soon put down; and you may rely upon the native chiefs not supporting them, though, from their marriage connection, they may afford them an asylum secretly when fugitives.

Who the Gwalior men are that are plundering I know not; but they are men of no note, and, if pressed skilfully and rigorously in time, will soon be put down.  The chiefs may all be relied upon, I believe.  They are mere gangs of robbers; and you know how easily a fanatic or successful robber may collect a body for plunder in any part of India, where the danger of pursuit is small.  Had they been dealt with properly at first, they would never have got a-head so far:  time has been lost, and they will now give trouble, particularly at such a season.  The evil will be confined to the tract west of Jhansee occupied by these Powars.  The chiefs are to the east, north, and south of Jhansee; and the marauders would be allowed to enter their estates.  The Governor-General need not feel uneasy about them.  The Nurwar chief was always needy, and disposed to keep and shelter robbers.  His few villages were resumed on his death last year, and his widows pensioned; but some of his relations are, I conclude, among the marauders.  There is a wild tract west of the Sinde in the Gwalior territory, to which the marauders will fly when hard pressed in the Jhansee state.

Yours sincerely,
(Signed) W. H. SLEEMAN.

To H. M. Elliot, Esq.,
     &c. &c.

___________________________________

Lucknow, 18th June, 1849.

My Dear Elliot,