certain; indeed the enemy were already retreating from it up the hill behind. General Wood, however, thinking it was not possible to carry the hill also, while without doing so, the stockade itself seemed to him to be untenable, he ordered the retreat to be sounded to the great disappointment of his troops who were flushed with the certainty of an easy victory. Our loss in killed and wounded did not exceed a hundred and thirty, the Nepaulese lost a Sidar named Sooreg Thappa, and many more men than we did: but our retreat gave to them the triumph of a victory.

The result of this action, and the bravery the Nepaulese had displayed left on the British General's mind an impression of the inefficiency of his force for the objects assigned to it, and which, unfortunately, influenced all his future measures. Instead of at once endeavouring to penetrate the hills, he confined his operations to defensive precautions; and at his solicitation parties of irregular cavalry were added to his force, to repel the enemy's numerous incursions

on the plains. Native reports magnified the Nepaul army to twelve thousand men, instead of which, at that place, their regulars were scarcely as many hundreds; and the General crediting these reports, threw up works at a small post on the direct road to Goruckpore to defend it, while he moved with his main force to impel an incursion into Nichloul. Such movements contributed only to make the enemy bolder, besides producing considerable alarm in our own subjects, which it must be admitted was not altogether unfounded, for scarcely a day passed without some British village being plundered and burnt by the Nepaulese. This state of things continued during the three really available months for punishing the Nepaulese, viz: January, February, and March; and even though in the latter month reinforced, by another native battalion and some artillery, General Wood still hesitated to act offensively. Unfortunately what had happened simultaneously on this frontier, and to the eastward, tended to confirm the enemy's impression of our timidity.

CHUNDER SEEKUR.

253

I must now relate the operations in that quarter.

Major Paris Bradshaw, our negociator, remained during the rains in military charge of the frontier, and the disputed lands of Sumroun; as I have before mentioned, his established posts were not molested, nor had he many communications with the Nepaulese until October, when some alarm began to be entertained at Khatmandoo at the extensive preparations making by us, and although determined to concede nothing if possible, still thought they it worth their while to try and amuse the British government with further negotiations, so as, if possible, to spin out the season of operations in idle discussion.

In the month of November, Chunder Seekur Opadeea came down to the Turai and sent information to our frontier political officer that he had a letter and presents for the Governor-General, and desiring a passport to enable him to proceed to Calcutta with them, a piece of assurance, and at such a

time, that a Goorkha alone would have perpetrated, in proof of which it will hardly be believed, that the letter in his possession was one of congratulation, and in the form usual on the arrival of a new GovernorGeneral, and was written as if there were no matters whatever in dispute between the two governments. Our political officer sent Chunder Seekur a copy of the proclamation of war, issued on the first of the month, and refused to let any one pass, or to receive the Brahmin himself, unless he came furnished with full powers to treat for peace. letter was duly forwarded to the Governor General, who approved of the political agent's proceedings, and directed that Chunder Seekur be requested to return to Khatmandoo, or remain on the frontier at his peril.

The

Notwithstanding this intimation, Chunder Seekur lingered in the Turai, and attempted surreptitiously to obtain a passport from the Tirhoot magistrate, who he fancied would not be aware of the circumstances, and was

CAPTURE OF CHUNDER SEEKUR. 255

still intriguing for this purpose, when Major Bradshaw, having heard of General Marley's crossing the Ganges on his way to Turai, resolved to defer active operations no longer, but to attack the Nepaulese post of Burhurwa, situated on the right bank of the Bhagmuttee river, and close to the frontier, preparatory to occupying the whole Turai for the British government. Accordingly, he concentrated his force at the end of November, and on the morning of the 25th, surprized and carried the post, killing the Nepaulese commander Pursuram Thappa, and making prisoner of Chunder Seekur with his attendants. Bradshaw, by this means, obtained possession of the Brahmin's instructions, which entered fully into the points at issue between the two governments, and completely showed the real object of the deputation to have been merely to gain time.

The Nepaulese pretended to be very indignant at the seizure of the Brahmin, who they now wished to say should have been respected