150 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OF 
the whole ascent. There were the marks of the old stockades which had 
been erected to stop onr advance, which most certainly they would have 
done, had thirty men made a determined stand. But the Bhootea defenders 
were few and undecided, the Ghoorkas who attacked bold and active, and 
this dangerous pass was forced with but little opposition. The possession 
of Buxar and the heights immediately around, closes the pass totally. 
On turning a corner, I came suddenly in sight of the tents and house 
of Buxar, placed on a plateau, on a hill, in the centre of a hollow, the heights 
around rising to a considerable altitude; all these, with the exception of 
one, being out of range of musketry fire. This one, however, completely 
commands the plateau on which our camp stands, and the possession of it 
is, therefore, indispensable; a strong work of ours is placed on this height, 
which lies to the right as you ascend. Another stockade commands 
the height on the left,_ while a third work closes the road up the pass. 
The occupation of these heights necessitates a stronger garrison than 
would otherwise be necessary, and the neglect of this at one time, was 
on the point of obliging our force to retire from this post also, so greatly 
had the strength of the garrison been reduced, and Buxar was once all but 
evacuated. On a height, by which the road led into the interior, high 
above our position, and looming immense against the sky, rose the Bhootea 
stockade, built against steep rock-work, and in a position peculiarly strong 
by nature; it rose in tiers one above the other in strange irregularity, flags 
being conspicuously placed all over it, and the face of the rocks* made 
still more inaccessible by being boarded. They are busy at work up there 
now, and the enemy can be seen carrying planks and beams, as if they had 
made up their minds we should go no further. 
This stockade of theirs must be one thousand feet above Buxar, a steep 
pull before beginning work; it seems a place, too, not easily reached 
by artillery fire, except at a long range and firing at a great elevation. 
But this is a matter which may improve on acquaintance. The whole scene 
looked business-like. 
At Buxar were stationed the 3rd Ghoorkas, under Major Saunders. An 
attempt had been made, about a fortnight before, to drive the Bhooteas from 
the stockade, or, perhaps, to be more exact, a reconnoitring party, had gone 
up, who were, if it was found practicable, to destroy the work. Two 
officers. Lieutenants Gregory and Kingscote, were wounded, and also several 
men. The work was found in a very inaccessible situation, and the Bhooteas 
resisted determinedly, so with the paucity of numbers at their service, the 
Ghoorkas had to be withdrawn. The arrows shot by the Bhooteas were 
discharged with great force ; in one instance the head had to be withdrawn 
from the shoulder of the wounded man by the iron being screwed into a vice 
and literally torn out, the thin soft arrow-head had turned round and round 
the shoulder blade of the unfortunate man, who, however, soon became con¬ 
valescent. Our own troops were busy strengthening the three outposts, that 
which immediately commanded the plateau and position of Buxar, was 
especially being cared for. 
Buxar itself consisted of a large two-storied stone house, substantially built, 
with carved verandahs on the upper story—this was now used for a hospital 
and as officers* quarters—the troops were encamped in tents on the plateau. 
Great difficulty was found in providing grass for the horses and commissariat 
