THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
151 
cattle. With reference to the latter, I might mention that a deputation of 
the Ghoorkas, who are high caste Hindoos, attended upon the Commanding 
Officer with a request that he would prohibit the killing of cattle, as such 
was hurtful to the prejudices of their caste. It is perhaps needless to say 
that their request was unattended to, as the health and comfort of the 
English gunners of the force had likewise to be considered. Of course 
sanitary precautions recommended that no slaughtering of animals should 
take place within the lines of the encampment. 
Einding that General Tytler was shortly to arrive at Bala Pass, I left for 
that post the next day to receive orders from him, and so descended from 
Buxar in company with Lieutenant Stead, of the 11th Native Infantry. We 
obtained an escort of some of the Bajah of Cooch Behar’s troops, and amid 
a torrent of rain, turned westward from Mynagong, and after fourteen miles 
from the latter place, through forest and grass jungle, arrived at a post called 
Nuttoobaree, where a relay of irregular cavalry was placed for the purpose 
of carrying the post and despatches backwards and forwards. There were 
only three men here at this time, and the severe duties imposed upon them, 
and scrupulously carried out, reflected the highest credit upon them. They 
were all Sikhs of the Rajah of Cooch Behar’s force, men who had served the 
English government in Rattray’s Corps. One of these three men was pros¬ 
trate with fever, indeed, in a highly dangerous state; I gave him quinine and 
reported the case on arrival at camp, when he was brought in. I only 
mention the fact to do honour to these uncomplaining soldiers, upon whom 
fell the hardest of all the hard work in this campaign. 
The fact of these men living thus by themselves many miles from any other 
post, and within easy access of a night’s raid from the hills, struck me as 
making their quarters more exciting than agreeable. We had passed on this 
day’s march the place where the letter-carrying orderly had been attacked the 
day before, indeed, it was evident that a party of Bhootea’s were “ out.” 
The mosquitoes here were numerous and hungry, my companion and I 
fought against them savagely all night, and had but little rest. 
At seven o’clock the next morning we were again on our way through a 
jungle-covered country, which presently showed signs of cultivation, and 
at a village called Malingee, we found a strong detachment of cavalry. 
Two more villages, both deserted, we passed on our way. At Malingee, 
some 9 or 10 miles from the Bala Pass, Lieutenant Stead pointed out to 
me the white cliff or landslip which marked the enemy’s position in the first 
range of hills at the entrance to a valley. Presently an imposing looking 
structure became clearly visible on the summit of a hill, and this we found 
was a high two-storied fort which the Bhooteas had lately built, com¬ 
manding the village of Tassagong, the post from which our force had 
been driven a month before. 
Our force consisted of about 200 of the 11th Native Infantry, about 350 
of the 30th Native Infantry, 4 Armstrong guns, and 2 small mortars, with 
English gunners, also a squadron of Irregular Cavalry. These were 
encamped in the stony dry bed of a river (the Torsha), about a mile from 
the mouth of the pass; the whole right side of which (facing us), on 
which face lay Tassagong and the road into the interior, was covered 
with stockades, which I will hereafter describe. The hill-sides were covered 
by dense masses of forest, almost impervious, and altogether the natural and 
