The remainder of the narrative will be most properly continued, and best understood, in the form of a journal.
Sept. 20.—In the evening embarked with the British troops and stores, on the Batticolo river, and proceeded, during the night, to Surcamony, a village on its banks, distant 27 miles.
21.—This day principally occupied in landing the stores. Joined by the native troops, who had proceeded by land from Batticolo.
Our detachment now consisted of the following numbers:—
| Europeans. | Natives. | |||||||||||
| Captains. | Lieuts. | Ensigns. | Serjeants. | Drummers. | Privates. | Subidar, or Capt. | Jemidar, or Lieut. | Hav. or Serjeant. | Drummers. | Privates. | Grand Total. | |
| Royal Artillery | 1 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||
| His Majesty's 19th Regiment | 2 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 70 | |||||||
| —Malay ditto | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 46 | 53 | ||||||
| 1st Batt. Bengal Volunteers | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 75 | 88 | ||||||
| 2nd Batt. ditto | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 76 | 87 | |||||
| (Pioneers and Coolies 550) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 70 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 197 | 305 | ||
N.B. One one-pounder, and one 4 2/3 coehorn.
Sept. 22.—Marched at day-light to the westward, keeping in a southerly direction as much as the nature of the country would admit, in order to approximate the route of Colonel Maddison's detachment.
23, 24, 25, 26.—Followed the same course, expecting, as we drew nearer to the place of rendevouz, to hear of the Hambingtotte division.
27.—Reached Sambapelly after a very fatiguing march of above seventy miles (from Surcamony), over a country wild and mountainous in the highest degree. During the last sixty miles we had not seen a house or a human being, nor was there anything except the paths through the forests and round the bases of the mountains, to induce a belief that this quarter had ever been peopled. We crossed one broad river, and several smaller streams, none of which fortunately impeded our march. The weather during the day was close and sultry, the circulation of the air being impeded by the forests; the nights, on the contrary, were foggy and cold. These changes of climate began to take effect on the troops, and I found it necessary to send back from hence two Malays and twenty-two Bengal Sepoys, who were indisposed. Sambapelly is a small village, near which stands the residence of a Candian chief. The country in the vicinity assumes a more favourable appearance. Some villages are discernible, and the valleys are in many parts cultivated.
28.—Marched at daylight, the country continuing mountainous, but the slopes of the hills in many places cleared, and the valleys in general cultivated. Passed through some villages, which were entirely deserted. Numerous parties of the enemy were seen at a distance, along the sides of the mountains, watching our movements, by which they seemed to be directed. About three o'clock, as the advanced guard was descending into a deep valley, close to the village of Kieratavally, they were fired upon by a party of the enemy, posted on the opposite hills, who fled as soon as they had discharged their pieces. Luckily one man, who was wounded, fell into our hands. Although we had now marched 124 miles from Batticolo, this was the first native to whom we had been enabled to speak. It was here that I expected to meet the Hambingtotte division, but our prisoner had heard nothing of it, nor of any detachment than that under my command; a circumstance which, cut off as I was from communication by the surrounding enemy, created considerable anxiety. As it was impossible to remain stationary with a corps in a country where there was no possibility of procuring provisions of any kind, every article of that description having been removed to the mountains, and as I conceived there could be no doubt of the Hambingtotte division bringing up the rear, I lost no time in advancing, and the more so as I expected I must soon meet some of the other columns, which I imagined must shortly be concentrating themselves towards the capital. During the night we heard the shouts of the enemy, and saw their numerous fires in various directions along the sides of the mountains.