'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎473] (492/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
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looked bad enough then, but this morning, after violent rain all
night, the sight of it made my hair bristle. The river is
broader than the Thames at Greenwich, and runs about seven
knots, the water like pea-soup, and bringing down huge trees
like straws; the natives state it will be worse, so I am setting
to work to cross at once. The river rose six feet whilst I was
making a raft this morning. Our boat is no good for towing,
and is not built for such a current. I tried to cross this morn
ing in her, but was whirled away like a peg-top in a moment.
I have finished two small rafts, made each of two canoes lashed
together, capable of taking two cart-loads. I made a larger
one at first, which, when finished, I saw at once would not
answer, as our boat could not tow it, so I consulted the natives,
and made two small ones, which I load and trust entirely to
them. I have made one trip over, and landed two cart-loads
safely before breakfast, but we were carried down a long way.
All is jungle the other side, but 1 shall have a little camp there
before night. There is another river a mile off, so we have our
hands full, and this river has again to be crossed four miles
from Chyabassa, which is forty miles distant. I received the
son of the Rajah of Dhell Bhoom, and he has given us supplies
liberally. The men are all cheerful and willing.
"Twelve a.m., the 25th of July. The river has risen
forty feet, the rain is in water-spouts, and the boatmen won't
cross, as the snags are coming down so fast. I am going to
write to the Rajah, as there are no provisions for thecartmen or
straw for the bullocks here."
But the Soubunreeka was, at length, crossed, without the
loss of a man, and Chyabassa reached in safety. For the
energy and good management displayed in this march, Lieu
tenant Windus received the special thanks of Government. He
writes from Chyabassa on the 3rd of August:—"I must give
great praise to the men, as they worked well, and carried out
all my instructions. The march certainly presented very great
difficulties, but I believe we have nearly one half of the original
cart-men who started with us. The others got frightened at
the distance and hard work, and bolted into the jungle, so we
had to drive the carts ourselves until we reached the next
station, when we managed sometimes to get fresh ones, who
would go one stage and then bolt in their turn. Strict dis
cipline was preserved, though there were some cases of looting
by the camp followers (numbering nearly three hundred), who
were caught red-handed, and castigated over a cart, in sight of
the villagers, which did a great deal of good, and procured us
much assistance from the Sonthals, for the news spread along
the line of march, and we found provisions and coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. all ready
for us in most cases, and the people quite confident; whereas,
I understand, the former party went through the country like a
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