ADVENTUKES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE-. 219 



practicability or otherwise of various roads ; and to arrange for 

 the advance of such money as might be required for the 

 troops ; also to collect the requisite supply of food of all kinds. 

 The latter was a work of considerable anxiety, and could 

 not have been carried out without the hearty co-operation of 

 the native chiefs in whose territories we were engaged ; for we 

 were in pursuit of a flying enemy, the carrying powers of the 

 commissariat department were very limited, and it was im- 

 possible to say on one day where we might be the next. 



On receiving intelligence of the advance of our force from 

 Mhow, Tantia moved eastward, and reached Eajghur, a fort 

 about 120 miles north of Indore, and ten miles west of the 

 Bombay and Agra trunk-road. General Michel advanced in 

 a north-easterly direction, and on the 14th of September, 

 about 3 P.M., came in sight of the rebel force. We had been 

 marching since an early hour, and our men had suffered 

 greatly from the intense heat, at no season more oppressive 

 than during the months of September and October. On arriv- 

 ing at a spot whence the country fell away towards the river 

 Neewuj, we saw the enemy about two miles off, encamped on 

 the far side of the stream. A portion of their force had 

 crossed to this side of the river, and had taken possession of 

 the fort of Eajghur, which stands on the left bank. Conscious 

 of the exhausted condition of his men, and aware that little 

 could be done during the few hours of daylight which re- 

 mained, General Michel halted his column for the night. 



Before daybreak, on the 15th September, we were under 

 arms, and moving down the narrow track descending to 

 Eajghur. Oh either side the country was covered with 

 thorny scrub, and intersected with ravines. As far as we 

 could see from left to right, in the low ground, were the 

 camp-fires of the enemy. A halt was ordered, and we lay 



