138 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
Orders were given for Bissen Singh to be placed in a defensible state for 
the occupation of 200 of the 44th Begiment (Native Infantry); accord¬ 
ingly the jungle was cleared round about, walls levelled, and stockading 
erected, a work of considerable time; but the position was so strong that, 
when once completed, it could, with such a garrison, have held out against 
2000 men. The only question of difficulty was that of water, but this was 
to be had about 80 yards below the position, and a protected path was finally 
constructed to enable the garrison to draw water safely at all times. 
In levelling one wall only, over 100 scorpions were destroyed, so an idea 
may be formed of the number of these venomous insects, and the well-known 
filth of the Bhootea made the occupation of the two-storied house a matter 
of doubtful expediency, as it had the appearance of being numerously 
inhabited. 
Close by this house was a group of magnificent trees, a level earthen plat¬ 
form under it had been formed for the convenience of loungers; the view 
around was truly beautiful, waves upon waves of wooded mountains to the 
north-east, north, and west, and the wide stretching plains, unbroken by a 
single hill, running towards the horizon to the south, the yellow winding strip 
of grass marking the line of the Surrinbundee river, a thread as of silver, 
in the centre of this strip, shewing the river itself; the air was fresh and cold, 
and after the toil of the ascent, the view and sensation were equally delightful. 
We found out that this place was simply the winter palace of the Cherung 
Jungpen, who, when at Bissen Singh, employed himself in fishing in the 
stream below, at Pokeehaga, where our camp was pitched, Pokeehaga being 
the name of a large rock in the river bank. 
While the force remained here, waiting the completion of the stockading 
round Bissen Singh, many of the officers went out shooting, and often met 
with wild animals. I paid attention to the river, which literally swarmed with 
fish, and my success was considerable: the first day I caught 37, which 
together weighed 8J lbs., the following day I caught 26, which weighed 
3 74 lbs., and as I began to learn the pools where the larger fish lay, I landed 
bigger ones, often two at a time, weighing together 5 lbs., this, as the tackle 
was light, scarce, and very weak, satisfied me; the largest was one of 4 lbs. 
In thirteen days I killed 208 fish, weighing 115 lbs., adding an agreeable 
item to our indifferent diet. 
When fishing, it was always necessary to go well armed, as the sudden 
appearance of an enemy was not an impossible contingency, this put one in 
mind of the old campaigning days during the mutiny, when snipe shooting, 
we would walk the jheels or bogs with revolvers and swords on, and not 
unwisely, as more than once we came in sight of the Sepoys. 
Twice I tried for larger fish by trolling, and had the satisfaction of losing 
all my tackle when a monster of the deep took the bait. 
On the 111h,Maj.-Gen. Mulcaster and his staff left the column, and, with the 
escort of the 43rd Assam Light Infantry returned towards the east for the 
general superintendence of the frontier posts, which at this date were all in our 
hands, after a few days operations and an almost bloodless resistance. Those 
who had upheld the policy of' annexing and holding this tract of country 
with but a small force, could now triumphantly point to the ease with which 
the result had been gained, and indeed deride the increase of the force which 
had been made solely on the representation of high military authorities. 
