'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎273] (292/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
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On the 26th the boats again proceeded at daylight in tow
of the 4 Nemesis/ through the Dagga creek, and up the Bassein
river, till five p.m., when they anchored for the night at Pyagee,
and,'at daylight of the 27th, proceeded on to Na Thoung
Groung, a large town, beyond which there was not sufficient
water for the steam vessel; there Commander Rennie obtained
information that the Menghee had quitted his encampment two
days before, and had retired to Lamena, and that the force
which had been driven from Eugma, amounting to twelve hun
dred men, had passed on to join him. The two officers having
determined on attacking the Menghee, started in the boats at
five a.m. of the 28th, and reached Lamena in thirteen hours.
On their arrival the people, if not hostile, appeared very luke
warm, and they could obtain no authentic information of the
enemy's movements.
A careful watch was kept, the boats being placed in position
and the guns loaded. At midnight, intelligence was received
that the Menghee's force, amounting to three thousand fighting-
men, was posted in a position not more than eight miles off. As
they feared he might escape, Captain Fytche sent forward all the
natives in whom any reliance could be placed, in order that, by
a forced march and making a circuit to the right, they might be
able to head the Menghee's troops and stop their retreat. To
give confidence to these natives, and insure his directions being
followed out. Commander Rennie detached Mr. Baker, first
officer of the 'Nemesis,' who left at half-past five a.m. on the
29th, with three hundred picked men, accompanied by the
Commissioner's Sheristadar (or magistrate's chief clerk) to act
as interpreter. To allow him time to reach his post, the sea
men waited until seven a.m. before moving for Lamena, when
they marched with the four guns, fastened to the axletrees of
carts drawn by bullocks. On arriving at the spot indicated as
the Menghee's position, it was discovered that he had moved at
two a.m. and w 7 as then encamped eight miles in advance. The
seamen being much knocked up by a march of about twelve
miles in the heat of the day, and Mr. Baker's force having
failed in the object for which they had been sent forward. Com
mander Rennie encamped, and Captain Fytche sent out scouts,
who reported that the Menghee was unconscious of the proxi
mity of an enemy, and that he certainly would not move before
sunrise. A little before one a.m., favoured by the light of a
and consequently some fifty of them, men and women, collected, and bringing a
quantity of their goods and chattels from the jungle, were en rcmfe looted by some
of our gallant friends. The poor people lodged their complaint before the Com
missioner, and in the dark he compelled the assemblage of every native. They
crouched down to the amount of about two thousand; he then with torches
picked out the offenders, who admitted their crime, and though one of them was
a chief commanding three hundred armed men, he then and there tied them up
to posts and flogged them by a boatswain An officer responsible for the equipment on a ship and overseeing the work of the ship's crew. 's mate, whilst they were by the doctor
reported capable of bearing punishment."
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