CHILOW. 321 
through the whole night. They rested themselves for two hours 
at Maville, distant eight miles frora the river. 
January 16. — By eight o'clock in the morning we got to Chi- 
low, distant from Maville twelve miles. The village was across 
a small river, the banks of which were ornamented with a very 
beautiful shrub, which I at first took for holly^ till I found it had 
a large purple ringent blossom. The fort itself is the most trifling 
thing I ever beheld under that name. It consists of a ditch, in some 
parts three feet deep ; with a rampart of earth that slopes equally 
both ways, and is about ten feet high, on the top of which is a row 
of hedge-stakes driven in, close to each other. In the front of this, 
on the edge of the ditch, is a range of trees with their branches 
placed outwards. This is a late addition ; yet without this it stood 
a siege against the second Adigaar, and three thousand Cingalese. 
They carried on their approaches very regularly, and at length 
brought their batteries so near the fort that they conversed with 
the garrison. Mr. Campbell, who commanded, though a civil 
servant, had with him but sixty sepoys and Malays ; yet the 
enemy, who could see every thing, never attempted to storm the 
place. He had no shot, and only a barrel and a half of powder. 
He was obliged to use pice, * of which he had six thousand rix- 
dollars in the place, and to manage his fire sparingly, as he did not 
know when he might be relieved. He had no great occasion to fear in 
other respects, for not a man was killed on his side. His havildar 
told him there was no use in loading with ball : " put in powder 
enough," said he, " and the noise will be sufficient to keep them off." 
Repeated offers of reward were made to the garrison, if they would 
* A small copper coin. 
