﻿fROM CHUNARGIIU-R TO YERTN AGOODUM. 159 



The Rajalis people now retired to the village, 

 where they took up their abode for the night. As 

 foon as they were gone, I ordered the camp to be 

 llruck, the cattle to be pickctted, and the baggage to 

 be piled up around them; and then diltributed my 

 people in iour parties, fo as to form nearly a fquare. 

 I had chofen on our arrival a commanding fituaiion ; 

 and we had a well of fine water within twenty-five 

 yards, which would have been completely under our 

 fire. Thus fituated, and having with us grain for five 

 days, the Rajalis people would not have found it an 

 eaiy matter to make any ferious imprcflion on the 

 party. But our greated want was ammunition, having 

 not more than fifty rounds each man ; which, had 

 hollilities commenced, would in all probability have 

 been expended in the firfl conteft. My followers 

 were irnpreffed with a confiderable degree of alarm at 

 our fituation, and the women let up a moft difmal la- 

 mentation. To put a (lop to the panic was abfolutely 

 neceffary ; but it was not till every conciliatory mea- 

 fure had been exhauiled, and threats ufed, that I could 

 oblige them to keep their fears to themfelves, and 

 weep in filence. The fej}oys, however, feemed to take 

 the matter very coolly, which enabled me, after giv- 

 ing them directions to wake me on the firfl; alarm, to 

 lay down to reft M'iih fome confidence. Their alert- 

 nefs, 1 found, difl not a little diflurb the Rajah's 

 people who were encry.pcd in the village; but the 

 ' whole night pafl'ed without any ferious occurrence. 



May i6ih. Early this morning I fent notice to the 

 Rajah's people that we Vv'ere ready to attend them to 

 Paloon/Jiah ; and foon after we all moved off in fcpa- 

 ■rate parties. The road for the firil: fix miles was 

 through a thick forefl; and fo narrow, that our cattle 

 travelled with much difficulty: We then fell into a 

 high road, and moved on pretty briflvly. Duiing the 

 march, Mortizally frequently came up to me, and 

 feemed to be greatly taken with mv horfe; an account 

 of which, I afterwards found, had been communicated 

 $ to 



