221 



biyali. At 7 p. m. a few shots were fired on the 

 front of the camp, but no attack was made. 

 This night four of the Malay contingent, who 

 had been posted as sentries, deserted with their 

 arms and ammunition. As this was not ihe first 

 instance of the kind, and the occurrence left the 

 camp exposed in the quarter which «hc Malays 

 were destined to protect, the practice of poj^t- 

 ing thetii as independent sentries was discon- 

 tinued. 



8th and 9th. The sappers and miners employ- 

 ed in cutting down the jungle in advance towards 

 Taboo. Covering^ party on the 9th C. company, 

 5th N, I. Ensign Wright. 



iOth. Covering party, F. company of the 5th, 

 Ensign Thoms^on. Lieutenant Begbie was de- 

 spatched to Malacca with seven carts and a havil- 

 dar s party to bring up the 18 pr. carronades with 

 a proportion of ammunition. This party was re- 

 lieved at Soongei Fattyeby one of similar strength 

 from Roonibiyah. and. whilst halting there aJ^er 

 the relief, was attacked by about fifty of the ene- 

 my, wht>m it drove off with the reported loss of 

 two killed and two wounded. The enemy this 

 day coiuraenced tiring on the tappal bearers and 

 guard. 



nth. Light company of tlie 5th, covering par- 

 ty. , . . 

 12th. At 7 A. M. the covermg party, wtjicn 



consisted of the rifle company, was exposed to a 

 sharp fire from a stockade on the right, just as it 

 was reaching its ground, at about Jof amile from 

 camp. This stockade wa-? situated on a tongue 

 of juugle. which jutted into ihe paddy field skirt^ 



