bove their woody mountains. They are more savage in
their nature than the hungry tiger that prowls through their dreary
glens; cruel as the vulture; cold-hearted as their snowy mountains;
subtle and cunning as the fiend of night; powerful as the rocks on which
they live; and active as the goat upon the mountain's brow.

We were obliged to proceed with caution, and with our eyes open, step by
step. We had intended to have remained here the whole of this day, to
enable our supplies to come up; but these having arrived early we
commenced our march in continuation of the same bed of the river. We had
not been in motion an hour, before the enemy's fires were lighted, as
signals that we were again on the move. Our march was difficult, as we
were obliged to cut our way through underwood, and pass through several
rivers, which much impeded our progress. These streams are fed and
nourished from the tremendous cataracts from the high hills before us.
We found that the enemy had strictly watched our movements during the
night; for, every quarter of a mile we advanced, we found fires still
burning, and some earthen cooking-vessels in which they had boiled their
rice. Having proceeded about a mile, we came to a sudden and abrupt
turning in the river. Here we halted, and the light company was sent on
to reconnoitre. We then moved on again, and when we had rounded the
turning of the river, which swept round the bottom of a little hill, a
small plain opened to our view. It was fertile with a kind of yellow
grass, that perfumed the air with its odour, something like sandalwood.
This grass, we were informed afterwards, was a deadly poison. Here we
came to another halt, our spies having returned, and informed us that we
were not far from a very strong post of the enemy. This news flew
through the ranks like wildfire; the flints were adjusted--bayonets
firmly fixed on--cartridges arranged--and every eye beamed delight. I
did not much like my present situation, in the centre of the regiment;
it was not what I had been used to; but being one of the youngest
ensigns, I was obliged to comply. I thought it strange that the colours
should be in the centre, and would, if I had dared to make such a
proposition, have suggested that they might be moved to the front; but
my commanding officer, good and kind as he was, would, I am sure, have
rode me down for my impudence; so I contented myself by getting on the
toes of my lower extremities, and peeping