12 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
extent. This fortification, with the exception 
of the river face, was surrounded by a ditch of 
tolerable depth, and about twenty feet broad. 
The river face was protected by a deep abattis , 
which constituted the strongest part of the 
works. Within, there were dug numerous 
pits, covered over with trunks of trees, to pro¬ 
tect the besieged from the effects of our shells 
and rockets. A chain of redoubts, extending 
for half a mile below the fort, connected it 
with a group of seven or eight temples. The 
force which defended these works was esti¬ 
mated at twenty thousand men. Our com¬ 
manders, unacquainted at the time with the 
nature of the country, as well as with the 
movements of the enemy, considered Dona- 
bew only as a petty post. Sir A. Campbell 
had consequently passed it with the main co¬ 
lumn, and proceeded two marches beyond Sar- 
wab, when he received news of our repulse. 
The capture of Donabew had been left to Bri¬ 
gadier-general Cotton, with the water-column 
of the force. On the 7th of March, he at¬ 
tacked the place with about seven hundred 
men. The group of pagodas was captured ; 
but the European troops, who were less steady 
than usual, were repulsed in attempting to pe¬ 
netrate the abattis , and lost their two com- 
