1S4 



ed Trom the jungle, before they were driven 

 back by a well directed fire of artillery and small 

 arras. The jinjals which were fixed in high trees 

 proved the most harassing, as no defence could 

 be thrown up a^^ainst them, and the roof of the 

 bungsilow exhibited upwards of si:cty shot holes. 



Since the departure of Captain Wyllie, no op- 

 portunity had offered for the officer command- 

 ing the troops to communicate his situation to 

 Malacca, which was daily getting more critical. 

 Ah long as the enemy contented himself with 

 firing, and the ammuniiion and provisions held 

 out, the post of SoODgei Patty e was tenable ; but 

 the case was widely difterent when he resorted 

 to the discharge of fire — arrows against the roof, 

 which it required the utmost vigilance to prevent 

 being wrapped in flames. 



On the 20th the harassed detachment was re- 

 duced to one barrel of spare ammunition; and 

 heard, at mid-day, with emotions of thankfulness, 

 the sound of English musquetry between Soongei 

 Pallye and Roombiyah, 



It was at once conjectured that it was a party 

 escorting ammunition of which the detachment 

 stood so much in need ; the enemy, in the vici- 

 nity of the stockade also heard it, and opened a 

 fire upin three of the four faces of the stockade. 

 At 1 p. M, the rolling of the musketry still con- 

 tinuing unabated, Lieutenant Milnes despatched 

 a havildar's party to assist it by taking the enemy 

 in rear, and another of the same strength half an 

 hour afterwards, with some coolies to assist ja 

 bringing on the supplies » 



Shortly after the departure of the last detail. 



