'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎272] (291/622)

272
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
the 4 Zenobia' and 4 Nemesis,' and, at two p.m. on the followino'
day, reached the outposts of the enemy. On nearing the posi
tion, the Burmese opened fire on the boats from a stockade on
the left bank, from which they were speedily expelled by a dis
charge of grape and canister. Catting their way through the
stakes, which extended right across the creek and for some
twenty yards in depth, the force at once pushed on for the
village of Khyoung Gou, about three miles distant. On their
arrival they found the post deserted, when Captain Fytche's
Kareens immediately started in pursuit, and came up with the
Burmese rear guard, whom they pressed so closely that the
chief in command escaped with difficulty. The Burmese troops,
on being driven from Khyoung Gou, retreated to Eugma, a large
village sixteen miles inland, nearly equidistant from Donabew
and Pantanno.* As the natives assured Commander Rennie
that there was a tolerable road all the way, he determined
to follow them ; and, having landed one 12-pounder and three
3-pounder guns, at daylight, on the 23rd, started off in pursuit,
the guns, he says, 44 being dragged by hand over a rough road,
and sometimes over a paddy field, without a grumble or com
plaint." The advance guard, consisting of a large body of
natives, was led by Captain Fytche, who, at two p.m., came in
collision with a strong party of the enemy, whom he dispersed,
the chief falling by his hand. The w T hole force then pursued them
through Eugma, a village consisting of above three thousand
houses, which w T as burned; and, finding that they were com
pletely broken, halted for the night, and bivouacked in an open
plain. As the spies reported that the enemy intended a night
attack. Commander Kennie planted his guns at the corners of
the encampment, the men sleeping under arms. At daylight,
on the 25th, the whole force retraced their steps to Khyoung
Gou, and, on learning that the Burmese had retreated to the
northward for the purpose of joining the Menghee at Kyouk
Khyourz Ko-say, they re-embarked in the boats, and, after
a fatiguing pull, reached the 4 Nemesis ? at five p.m. on
the 25th.t
boat, with, eleven Europeans, and'Mr. Arthur Farquhar, clerk -in-charge, (volun
teer) ; Mr. Henry John Jane, second officer, in charge of port paddle-box boat,
with ten Europeans, and Mr. Ivory, carpenter, (volunteer) ; Mr. Diego Dias, mid
shipman, in charge of first cutter, with five Europeans and four Seedees, accom
panied by Mr. William Stevenson, surgeon.
# See despatch of Commander Rennie to Commodore Lambert, dated J3assein,
3rd February, 1853. ,. ,
f The beneficial effect produced by this success, and the moral dread m w ic ^
the evil-doers held Europeans, is exemplified in a remarkable manner by an mci
dent jotted down in his journal at the time of its occurrence, by Comman er
E-ennie. He writes:—"On our way back we met many of the inhabitan s re
turning from the jungle to their village, and all highly pleased with the ® ucc ^
of our expedition. We had a convincing proof of the dread they leel or
power this evening in the following manner. On our way back, a u i
spectable party met Fytche and asked his permission to return, winch he gran ,