175 



one. which had been thus fiaciificed, commanded 

 either the road » or the encampiog ground, md 

 was thus mjtirlous to the safety ot the detachment ; 

 but the stem mea.^ure. dictated by pplicy, was 

 more calculated to exasperate, than conciliate, 

 the population, it must also be confessed that 

 disappointment aud per|>lexity prevailed in cou- 

 sequence of the mauner in which the troops, 

 V Ito were marching to deliver the people from the 

 oppression of their chiefs, had been met They 

 had hctn informed that the villagers would receive 

 them with open armsj whereas they fled at their 

 approach, or. hovering on their flanks, poured un- 

 seen shots upon them from the jungle— tlie Cora- 

 manding officer, in reply to his repeated requisi- 

 tions on Malacca for supplies, was infoi'med that 

 such was the prevalent panic, not a copiy, fur 

 the transport of the lice, could be procured on 

 any terms, and was recoramended to forage on 

 the country. Paddy there certainly was in 

 abundance, but troops, which never took off their 

 accoutrements for an instant, ubviously could not 

 husk it into rice; and, it wa^ therefore destroyed, 

 wherever it was met with. 



Another reason, for applying the flames to the 

 house of Oattoo Malaki. was that he was con- 

 ceived to be one of th ? ^fr<>ns^c'^t ribettors of the 

 Panghooloo. 



During the whole of this day the force was 

 kept on the qui vive by shots from the different 

 eminences surrounding the small plain on which 

 it was encamped, and its situation had become 

 extremely critical —The provisions were totally 

 expended, and the enemy were swarming around 

 in greater numbers, and with increased audacity, 



