122 



scene of woe; the train of artillery was sunk several feet into the - 

 earth, and covered by the water. To convey them and the heavy 

 stores to Dhuboy required the utmost exertion, and, with the assist- 

 ance of elephants, could not be accomplished in less than seven 

 days, although only a distance of six miles. 



On the 15th we made our first attempt, and proceeded one 

 mile from Thain-Thelow to Vurrage, the next village. The plain, 

 covered with carcases of horses, camels, and oxen, some at their 

 last gasp, suffocated in the mud, others in a state of putrefaction, 

 presented a shocking spectacle. The groans of a dying camel are 

 dreadful; biit the mind of feeling was more distressed by the 

 sight of infirm men and expiring women; of parents, unable to 

 support their helpless offspring, or in agonizing grief carrying them 

 dead in their arms for sepulture or cremation. 



Had I attempted to walk over this Golgotha, I might have 



shared their fate: my bearers could not carry me in a palanquin. 



With some difficulty I effected it on horseback, for no road could 



be traced through the waters, and the ravines were dangerous. 



We remained at Vurrage until the artillery and ammunition were 



transported from Thain-Thelow, which, although only the distance 



of one mile, was a work of five days. This being accomplished, 



we employed two more in finishing our journey of five miles to 



Dhuboy, occasioned by the Herculean labour of dragging the 



artillery. I made this second attempt on an elephant, and from 



such an eminence had an extensive view of the country, which 



presented a boundless sheet of water, encompassing the rising 



grounds, covered with trees and villages, like so many islands. 



The officers and privates in the English detachment were soon 



