228 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



Tantia Topee had in the meantime reached the Nerbudda, 

 which he crossed to the eastward of Hoosungabad. Descending 

 the Vindyah by a rugged pass, we also crossed and advanced 

 on Baitool. Tantia was on our left front heading for Ellich- 

 poor, but hearing that a force would oppose his progress he 

 turned west along the valley of the Taptee, crossing that 

 river at Meil Ghat, and so passed through a large tract of 

 heavy forest into Nimar, emerging at Khundwah. General 

 Michel also moved west from Baitool through a wild and 

 desolate country, in which supplies were not procurable. 

 While in this jungle, the Banda Nawaub, who had hitherto 

 been with Tantia, left the rebels, and, coming into our camp 

 with his family and personal servants, surrendered himself a 

 prisoner. 



From Khundwah, Tantia passed through Niinar towards 

 Burwanee, and the running was now taken up by Colonel 

 Parke, with his column, then in the field south of the Ner- 

 budda. The rebels crossed the Nerbudda near Burwanee, and 

 headed for Baroda, in the Guicowar's dominions. Colonel 

 Parke followed in close pursuit, overtaking them at Chota 

 Odeypoor, where he attacked them and slew many. Tantia 

 then fled north through the Banswarra jungle, emerging into 

 the plains of Malwa near Pertabghur, where he was met and 

 again smitten by a flying column under Colonel Benson, 17th 

 Lancers. Colonel Somerset, with another column, then cut 

 in, attacking and driving him north through the Kotah and 

 Jeypoor territories, whence he was driven into Marwar by a 

 force from Nusserabad. 



Meanwhile General Michel, having arrived at Mhow via, 

 Mundlaisir, rested his men, and then marched north to Kotah, 

 where we halted a few days. At this place Major Burton, 

 the political agent, and his family, had been murdered early 



