COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 269 



to point out the ground that had been agreed upon 

 for their encampment. Colonel Walker was to 

 accompany us for this purpose, and Mr. Thompson 

 of the commissariat was also to go, to obtain supplies 

 for the army. 



" On the morning of the 17th September, an hour 

 before daylight, we started for Yung-chow. The 

 party consisted of Colonel Walker, Mr. Thompson, 

 Mr. Anderson (who commanded the escort), Mr. 

 B. (?), Mr. de Norman, six men of the K. D. 

 Guards and 20 sowars. It was a fine cool morning 

 and we went off in great spirits ; the distance to 

 Yung-chow was about twenty-five miles. We did 

 not see a soldier until we arrived at Mootoo. The 

 country we rode through was highly cultivated, with 

 villages every three-quarters of a mile, each'surrounded 

 with its clump of trees. Clumps of trees were also 

 scattered about the country, which gave a very 

 picturesque appearance to the scenery. At Mootoo 

 we saw a picquet of some thirty cavalry, who slowly 

 retired as we advanced. The town was nearly 

 deserted (it has since been burned). After this we 

 passed various other picquets, but they took no 

 notice of us, except by quietly retiring as we 

 advanced. Before arriving at a town called Chang- 

 kia-wang, which is about six miles from Yung-chow, 

 we passed the ground on which it was settled our 

 army should halt the following morning. From 

 this point it was understood only 1,000 men were 

 to accompany Lord Elgin as an escort. As we 

 passed over this ground there was no appearance 



