ABSTRACT
Within days Napier was securely in possession of Hyderabad, although he kept his men encamped outside the walls so they would remain confident about defending themselves without the need of a fort. Soon word came of the danger elsewhere. Before word of Miani could have reached the coast, threats had been made against the British forces at Karachi. The Hindu merchants began retreating onto ships in the harbour. A certain Captain Preedy then took control of the city, declaring it British territory (which technically in the British view it already was, according to one of the treaties from the period of the Afghan War). He put the Talpur officials into a camp, cut down the Talpur flag (alternating stripes of red and white), and hoisted the Union Jack. 1 So it seemed there indeed had been a coordinated plan to attack and drive out the British.
