1849.] the Busannee and Cheannee Garrows. 55 



miles or more, when the leading Garrows shewed symptoms of uneasi- 

 ness, and one by one gave up the post of honor, and at last they all 

 came to a dead stand, and refused to advance any further. I then drew 

 them up on the side of the hill, and the detachment stepped to the 

 front, and commenced picking its way through the " Panjees" to the 

 bottom of a deep ravine into which the road dived, and no sooner did 

 the leading files commence the ascent on the opposite side than we were 

 saluted with a shower of darts and stones thrown by a party of Gar- 

 rows from behind a barricade across the road. The descent and ascent 

 into and out of the ravine was through dense jungle, and we had no 

 opportunity of getting a fair view of our enemies, but a couple of well 

 directed volleys right and left made the place too hot for them, and the 

 leading files having demolished the palisade we rushed through in pur- 

 suit, but the enemy had vanished. We then proceeded on to the vil- 

 lage, which was distant from this spot about ^ a mile, where we expected 

 to meet with serious opposition, but whether the Garrows had been 

 more severely handled than they expected and had lost some of their 

 leaders in our carrying their outpost, I know not, but on entering the 

 village we found it deserted, although every preparation had been made 

 for resistance. The village itself was stockaded and the only approach 

 to it along the precipitous banks of the Rungi had been blocked up 

 with felled trees, and the path planted with " Panjees" for a distance of 

 200 yards, and the side of the road inland for upwards of 40 or 50 paces. 

 The "Panjees" we were compelled to shave off even with the ground, 

 as they had been planted so deep that we could not extract them, and 

 the trees we were obliged to cut to pieces and remove. I would suggest 

 to any person who may go in command of a similar expedition, to take 

 a small band of coolies to act as pioneers, equipped with " Doas" and 

 " Kodals." In the present instance the sepoys had some Rookeries 

 (Nepaul knives) and the party had been furnished with " Kodals," but 

 if we had not been so provided we might have been detained some con- 

 siderable time in gettting to the village, as it was, we were an hour and 

 a half getting over 200 yards of road. Every company of light infantry 

 in this jungle country should be equipped with " Kookeries," which 

 should be served out to them from Government. 



As there was no hopes of inducing the people to surrender after the 

 numerous proclamations I had issued to them, oifering pardon and for- 



