243 



carried off by tlie retreating party. The breast- 

 works were, burnt, and the stockades on Bukit 

 Pur-Urig occupied by Syed Sabbau s Malays, 

 and the Contingent, whilst that chief returned 

 with the sepoys to Bukit Seboosa. This step, 

 so daringly planned, and so successfully execu- 

 ted, completely altered the prospect of affairs, 

 ind there was now every prospect that the troops, 

 which had been so long cooped up/ wuld spee- 

 dily be in possession of Taboo. Advices of ihia 

 event and ii& issue were despatched to Colonel 

 Herbert. The stockades were visited iu the af- 

 ternoon by Lieutenants Minlo aud Begbie, and 

 the position found to be remarkajily strong, the 

 jungle being so dense that the stockades were 

 DGt visible until within a few paces of them. The 

 paddy field at the foot was 96 paces across, and* 

 had the breast works on the other side been oc- 

 cupied, the loss of the Britisih would have been 

 severe. At the extremity of the paddy field to the 

 fight, as they advanced, was seen the house of 

 the guide, Billal Munji, with a stockade thrown 

 up around it. The enemy attacked the stockades 

 at night, but were driven off. 



28ih. In the morning a son of Malalu SuUhann 

 entered the post of Bukit Seboosa, bearing a tiies- 

 sage from his father that he would actively em- 

 ploy himself in favor of the British, if he could, 

 by any meana recover those members of his fami- 

 ly who were ha^tages at Taboo, Ue was permit 

 ted to depart, with assurances of ample prol^e- 

 4ion both of person and property. 



At 10 A. M. Captains Wallace and Justice, 

 Lieutenant Minto, Syed Sabban, and a party of 

 sepoys started for Pur-Ling, and, having thrown 



7a/ fs 



