164 



Diaoded by Captain whilst W. T. Lewii 



Esq., Deputy Retsidentof Malacca, was appoint- 

 ed Commissioner with tiie force. There being 

 no gain bullocks, buffaloes were, per force, substi- 

 tuted as catie for the artillery. 



This force was considered disproportionntely 

 large with reference to the service on which it 

 was to he employed. So little wa^ known of 

 the state of the mterior that the strength of the 

 detachment became a matter of jest amongst 

 those, who were not " to peril their lives in this 

 cause and, whilst some hinted at the snfficien* 

 cy of a Havildar s guard, others more roundly 

 asserted that a red jacket auiongst the bushes, 

 would scare every Malay out of the country — 

 the expedition was termed a picnic. Lieutenant 

 Milnes, w ho formed one of the body proceeding 

 in advance, was formally appointed Resident of 

 Nanning. before it was conquered, and plans for 

 a redoubt at Taboo w ere called for, e re the troops 

 had stirred from Malacca. A Depot was to be 

 formed at the Government bungalow at Soongei 

 Pattye,* thirteen miles from Malacca, whither 

 it was intended that the provisions for the troops 

 should be sent by means of ihe Malacca river, 

 which runs within half a mile of it. The plan 

 was excellent, or at least conceived to be such, 

 and the boats, having accordingly started from 

 Malacca on the 6th August, ran aground at 

 Ching, six miles higher up, there not bein^ suffi- 

 cient depth of water to admit of their proceeding 

 farther on their destination. In detailing the 

 confident presumption which prevailed in Malac* 



• CoKipoiind6d of SoflHgrt, a mw, vtd Pflfj#, a tree vt-hteb prndocei 

 « ffUd b^au, eiiten by the Mtby^^ and whtcli growi here m great Jibim* 



