y arm f tip of the last outbreak 



No. %\ 



most confidence, and on this side was stationed Major Shep- 

 pard with his corps as a flanking column. Our equipments 

 and baggage were an enormous mass, and would have 

 afforded much temptation to a more enterprising enemy. At 

 sunset we reached our ground, and found the large town of 

 Sherevail in general conflagration. 



Colonel Agnew entertained a sanguine belief that the 

 opening for the force of an entire new road to Caliarcovil, 

 would be a far more eligible operation than assaulting strong 

 and numerous barriers that were known to be constructed 

 with all the care and ingenuity the Poligars show in such 

 defences, and which at that moment would certainly have cost 

 us very dear. The work of opening this road commenced 

 with considerable alacrity, though it indeed proved through- 

 out a most laborious undertaking. The line that was to be 

 opened, was estimated at not less than 5 or 6 miles from the 

 skirts of the jungle opposite the encampment, to the Pagoda 

 of Caliarcovil, and by far the larger part of this was accom- 

 plished when sickness spread over our camp and much yet 

 remained to be done The enemy too had now for some 

 time, learnt to carry on under secure cover, a very harrassing 

 resistance to our parties, as they moved up each successive 

 morning, exposed in trie open space or avenue they had made 

 for themselves, to pursue the work of approach to Caliar- 

 covil. It turned out a very irksome and dispiriting warfare, 

 as the hand that dealt the blow was rarely seen, and to re- 

 turn it on our part with any effect, was next to impossible. 

 Our supplies too from the extreme closeness of the country, 

 and the crowds of peons about, became very precarious, and 

 at last they could be brought up only by the movement of 

 whole corps at a time for their protection. — Colonel Agnew 

 now seeing the necessity of abandoning this plan of opera- 

 tions, moved early in September to a fine open plain, running 

 at some distance parallel to the Caliarcovil jungle on the west, 

 which proved a mo^t acceptable contrast to the unpleasant 

 spot we had quitted, and here the force soon recovered its 

 wonted health and all its accustomed animation. 



