dellah, to which we had to march some
two or three hundred miles, over hill and dale, cutting down mountains
and filling up rivers. Our march was, therefore, of course very tedious.
The government political agent, Major O'Brien, joined us at Jubblepore,
and we proceeded slowly towards the place of our destination. In some
parts of this country we were obliged to cut nearly our whole day's
march through underwood and ravines; and, in some places, such was the
impossibility of ascent over many of the hills, that it took a whole day
to cut a road so as to accomplish the next day's march through this wild
and desolate country; but some of the views in the openings were truly
splendid and beautiful. Everything that could please the eye or delight
the senses was to be found in this spot--the haunt of beasts of prey.
One of these little valleys reminded me of a scene in the "Arabian
Nights' Entertainments;" it was indeed a fairy land, to describe which I
am quite incompetent.

In this valley I arose about the hour of midnight, to view the
enchanting scene. The moon was of unclouded brightness, and far on its
western journey. Close beneath my tent was a clear and sweetly murmuring
stream, in which the moon dipped its silver wings, and its brilliant
rays shed so clear a light through the trees that I could see every
white tent around. Their inmates were all slumbering, lulled by the
gentle moaning of the lofty pine. Hushed was every tongue, calm was
every bosom, save those of one solitary mendicant priest at his midnight
prostrations. His little tinkling bell disturbed the serenity of the
night, and grated on my ear with discordance.

In three days more, after most tedious marches, we began to inhale the
same atmosphere as our enemy, and we were obliged to approach the
several ghauts with caution. The country that surrounded the large town
and fort against which we were advancing was terrifically wild; and, in
some parts, deep-sunk dells and excavations in the earth told us that
caution alone would insure success. In this fort, we had been given to
understand, a considerable body of the flying Pindarees had been
enlisted, to assist in defending the fort against the English, their
hated enemies. These we were resolved to make an example of;
consequently, a strict investment of the fort was our primary object, to
prevent their escape. For this purpose, Brigadier-General Watson, C.B.,
was dispatched with the cavalry and some few i