ly dashed the animal down the descent, followed by Lieutenant
Janvrin, the quarter-master of the regiment, and with a couple of hog
spears, which they happened to have with them they dispatched several of
the party. The others made their escape by plunging deeper into the
recesses of the quarry.

The night now setting in, the Belochees took advantage of the obscurity
to steal out of their lair and creep through our lines one by one. They
did not get off, however, without further loss. Hearing a rustling noise
within a few feet of me, whilst on the watch, I listened attentively and
felt convinced that some of them were endeavouring to effect their
escape by crawling along the ground on their hands and knees. I plunged
my spurs in my horse and clearing the distance at a bound, just as I
observed two men rising from the ground, I cut them both down,
notwithstanding a most determined resistance, in the course of which
they fired twice at me. Several others were disposed of in like manner,
but no prisoners were made. We returned to camp about nine o'clock, well
satisfied with the issue of our adventure.

The grass cutters who had been made prisoners, and who were abandoned
when it was found that our pursuit was likely to prove successful, had
received no other injury at the hands of the enemy, than a severe
thrashing with a bamboo. The poor fellows were terribly frightened, and
felt most grateful for their deliverance.

Major Daly and two privates were severely wounded in this affair. Beside
a thrust of a sabre in the chest the Major received a musket ball in the
left foot, which disabled him for some time from active service. We also
found that several of the horses had been injured, it being a favourite
trick of the enemy to hamstring them, or rip their bellies open,
whenever they could get within reach of the animals.

A treacherous trick played us by one of the neighbouring chiefs, the
Khan of Khelat, added in no small degree to the difficulties we had to
encounter. The Khan had promised allegiance to Shah Soojah, and
undertook to facilitate the progress of the British troops through his
territories. Instead of fulfilling the friendly professions he had made
towards us, he interdicted the villagers from bringing supplies to the
camp, and cut off almost all the mountain streams. Several of the camp
followers who ventured out in search of water, were either carried off
or murdered, and our situation became distressing i