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NAPIER'S CONQUEST OF SIND
405

thus prevent us from interposing for the general good of the Sind people. "Is it possible," he asked, "that such a state of things can long continue?" and "if this reasoning is correct, would it not be better to come to results at once," by annexing the places which we now hold temporarily? Proceeding to consider "how we might go to work in a matter so critical," he enclosed a memorandum of five cases in which the Amirs "seemed to have departed from the terms or spirit of their engagements," and he urged that it would not be harsh, but on the contrary humane, to coerce them into ceding the places required.

SIR CHARLES NAPIER.

Accordingly, Sir Charles Napier was empowered by Lord Ellenborough to press upon the Sind rulers a new treaty, framed on the basis of exchanging tribute for territory. The Amirs signed it, but mustered their troops and attacked the British Residency at their capital; whereupon Sir Charles Napier marched into their country and gained a decisive victory over their army at Miani in February, 1843. The results were the deposition of the Sind Amirs, and the transfer of the lower Indus valley to the British dominion, whereby we obtained possession of Karachi and the Indus estu-