atrocities against local inhabitants. p. 530 

On March 3, 1858, Lord Canning, the Governor-General of India, issued a 
proclamation on the confiscation of land in the province of Oudh in favour of 
the British Government. The confiscated property included the landed estates 
of big local feudal lords who had joined the Indian uprising. Canning’s point 
of view was not shared by a number of prominent colonial officials and MPs 
who favoured a more flexible policy towards the Indian feudal lords and hoped 
to win them over by promises to leave their domains intact. Marx criticised the 
proclamation in the articles “The Annexation of Oudh” and “Lord Canning’s 
Proclamation and Land Tenure in India” (see this volume, pp. 533-38 and 
546-49). p. 531 

Engels is referring to the battles fought during the first Anglo-Sikh war of 
1845-46. Despite the well-organised army and strong artillery the Sikhs were 
defeated by the British at Moodka (near Lahore) on December 18, at Ferozeshah 
(near Ferozepore) on December 21, 1845 and at Aliwal (near the Sutlej) on 
January 28, 1846 and lost the war. The main cause of their defeat was the 
treachery on the part of their supreme command. p. 532 

692 | . Notes