1 ( xiv)
2 No. 217 or 1855.
3 From
4 . Taz COMMISSIONER ww SIND,
5 To
6 Tus RIGHT HON. LORD ELPHINSTONE, G.C. H.,
7 Governor and President in Council,. Bombay.
8 Dated the 28th May 1855.
9 Pouivi¢aL DEPARTMENT. —
10 My Lorp,
11 Euave the honor to forward a letter from Major Jacob as
12 No. 198 of 28th July Pe margin, bringing to notice that his proceedings
13 1854, complaining against on the Frontier have been misrepresented in the first
14 area facet soe - printed Report of the Punjab Board of ‘Administration,
15 No. I. and requesting that the erroneous impression conveyed
16 by the Board’s remarks may be corrected.
17 2: I greatly regret that, partly through an oversight and partly from a
18 wish to explain the system followed by Major Jacob more in detail, than
19 leisure from current duty has hitherto permitted, the present commu-
20 nication of Major Jacob has lain by me for several months without being
21 forwarded.
22 8. Without pretending to do justice to the whole subject, which would
23 require much more leisure than I have at command, it may be useful and of
24 interest to your Lordship in Council, if I briefly state some of the principal
25 characteristics of the system which Major Jacob has followed with such
26 complete sucéess.
27 4. One of the most prominent features of that system is, that the men
28 under him act entirely on the offensive, not that they ever meddle with those
29 who show no inclination to attack them, but that they never wait to be
30 assailed, and the men are never allowed to suppose that they may stand on
31 the defensive and await attack. There can be no mistake as to the intentions
32 of any body of armed men suddenly quitting the hills and moving upon any
33 part of Sind, and directly such a movement is known to be in contem-
34 plation, the Frontier Posts are instructed to meet it offensively. No Forts or
35 other defensive works whatever are any where allowed. Such as existed at
36 the time Major Jacob was placed in charge of the Frontier, were at once des-
37 troyed or abandoned. The Troops have been always freely exposed as in the
38 field, and taught to rely upon their superior vigilance and celerity of move-