242 



• adequate for the defence of that post, and tn un- 

 Bucce?isful attack upoo Pwr- LiDg might have com- 

 pfomised the seci^rity of the former, and ewh^r- 

 rassed the future operations of the force » a«the 

 main body was unable to afford any re-in(orcements. 

 If, on the other hand^Pur-Lirig fell, and the post 

 could be mamtained, a most considerabie advan- 

 taj^e would be obtained, as this position was the 

 key of Taboo, . 



Captain Wallace put it to the hazard, and 

 Syed Sabban.witli forty of his own people, the 

 party of the Malay Contingent attached to Bukit 

 Sebposa, and twelve sepoys of the 46th I, 

 \inder the command of a Jemidar, started for 

 Pur-Ling with instructions to take it and keep 

 it.'^ 



This little band, on neanng the hill, found the 

 regular road obstructed with felled trees, but, 

 striking off to the left, and pur»uiag a narrow 

 pathway, soon came upon three stockades, 

 which crowned the hill in €chcih/i. These 

 being empty, a part of t\ie detachment was 

 thrown into them', whilst the remainder proceed* 

 ed down the steep declivity which leads to Tan- 

 . jong Pur-Ling, On the other side of the paddy 

 .field, which runs at the foot of the hill, tliey ob- 

 served a large breastwork, which crossed the 

 road, and was subsequently found to be 46 paces 

 in length. This was flanked on its right by a 

 smaller one. As the enemy who were some way 

 beyond it, ran to occupy it, the British party 

 made a push for it, and both entered nearly at 

 the same moment. The only casualty was aNan- 

 ningite who was krissed by Syed Sabban's head 

 warrior (Panglimah Praiig B alia Che Low), and 



