266 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



Tytler had ordered the cavalry to surround the offend- 

 ing forts ; one of them, was somewhat in advance 

 of the other. Probably encouraged by seeing only 

 cavalry on the ground, the Shinwarrees immediately 

 opened fire on them ; and as the infantry reached 

 the scene, they discovered one party dismounted and 

 keeping off the Shinwarrees with their .carbines. 

 Gradually, but surely, these were closing in on them 

 with drawn knives, when the Martinis in a minute 

 changed the face of affairs. 



The Shinwarrees started off in bodies of fifty to a 

 hundred, one taking an open line over a neighbour- 

 ing plateau. Instantly the cavalry were in pursuit. 

 As they neared this body it halted, and, with great 

 coolness, waited till the cavalry were within a dozen 

 yards, then gave them a volley, emptying a few sad- 

 dles. But in another moment the Lancers, headed 

 by the British officers, were into and through them, 

 and, in less time than it takes to write it, every man 

 of them lay dead on the plain. Then one fort after 

 another was cleared, many individual Shinwarrees 

 standing firm to the last with great pertinacity. 



The village cleared, the troops now commenced 

 the mining of the doomed towers. While this was 

 doing hours passed, and we could see dense masses of 

 the enemy gathering from all sides on our front and 

 flanks. Behind us were some two thousand " friendly " 

 spectators. Clustered round one of the forts of Deh 

 Sarak was a party of men, women, and children. 



