Medical
arrangements.
Arrival at
Malacca.
One hundred
men despat
c h - e d t o R a s s a .
Advance up
the Lukut
river.——
Obstructions met with.
Scarcity of
coolies.
Climate.
Force ad
-vance against D. .
Baudhole. Terachee.
Junction of
the entire
force.
266
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Lieutenant-Colonel Story's party, I detailed a hospital assistant. There were several medical
officers with the European portion of the force, of which this detachment formed a part. On
8th December, the Malda reached Malacca, which was found to be in no apparent danger:
but as it was feared that a small detachment of Her Majesty's 10th Foot, at Rassa, in the
adjoining State of Sungie Yujong, would be overpowered, the force was ordered to proceed
at once to its relief. A detachment of 100 men of 1st Goorkhas, under Captain Rankin,
remained at Malacca, and with them I left Surgeon Bomford and a medical pupil. The
same night the remainder of the force sailed in the Malda for the mouth of the Lukut
river, some 30 miles north of Malacca. In the morning, 100 men were despatched under
Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, by river 2 miles and jungle-path 16 miles, to Rassa. As coolies
were not available, this party took nothing but their arms and ammunition, and, at my
recommendation, their water-proof sheets. They reached Rassa the same night, after a
severe march.
Next morning, a number of coolies having been collected, the rest of the troops, with the
smallest possible quantity of baggage, left the Malda in boats, which were towed by a
small steamer up the Lukut river. This stream is about 150 yards wide at the month, but
narrow above, and is only navigable as far as Lukuta—a distance of 2 miles. The water up
to this point is salt, and the banks are covered with a dense jungle of mangrove, growing to
the water's edge.
9. From Lukut, which was the residence of a friendly Rajah, to Rassa, the road was
merely a path through dense forest. It was obstructed by fallen trees and crossed numerous
streams and swamps, many of them waist-deep. Coolies were in barely sufficient numbers
for the ammunition and provisions. Tents, of course, could not be carried, and the greater
part of the medical stores had to be left behind. Each officer was allowed one coolie to carry his
baggage; and there being no roads, every one had to march on foot.
Arrangements 10. Shortly before reaching the halting place, a note was received saying that a number
made for of wounded men of the 10th Foot required immediate assistance. I therefore went on with a
wounded men. smal l guar d, and r eached Rassa at 10 P. M. Ther e I f ound 11 men of t he 10t h Regi ment
and 12 Arab auxiliaries badly wounded, but doing well, with the exceptions of one man of the
10th—shot through the spine, and an Arab—shot through the left lung. Both of these
died, but all the others, including two gun-shot fractures of the thigh, recovered. Antiseptic
(carbolic acid) dressings were used. Next morning the remainder of the .force arrived, and
were quartered in some Chinese houses and bamboo sheds.
11. The climate here was mild and equable. The thermometer ranged from 80 0 to 840 F.;
the atmosphere was saturated with moisture, the sky constantly cloudy, and showers of
rain occurred almost daily. The troops were very healthy, and the wounded did well.
12. The enemy, having occupied a very strong position, about 10 miles distant, called
Bukit Putus (the hill pass), on 18th December, the force consisting of
Naval Brigade
33
Royal Artillery
•
34
10th Foot
45
1st Goorkhas
255
Arab Irregulars
70
TOTAL
437
moved forward in two columns,—one column, under Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, advanced by
the direct road to the pass; and the other, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, by a path to the
left, which was said to lead round to the rear of the enemy's position. Surgeon Bomford,
Medical who had arrived from Malacca, was detailed with the force under Lieutenant-Colonel Hill;
arran ements. and I accompanied that under Lieutenant.-Colonel Clay. Surgeon Hoystead,
remained in charge of the sick and wounded. Most of the officers and men were partially
sheltered at night by kadjans (a kind of mat made from the leaves of the nipah palm). One of
Shelter at these afforded cover for 4 men, and 20 formed a cooly-load. On the 20th, Lieutenant-Colonel
night. Hill having sent word that he was making good progress, Lieutenant-Colonel Clay moved
forward to the foot of the pass, sending on Captain Charmer with a party to reconnoitre.
Captain Charmer succeeded in surprising one -of the enemy's stockades, and the rest of the
force advancing, the other positions were abandoned by the Ai alays. The wounded were
carried off, but six dead bodies were left behind.
Men killed13. Our loss was one naik killed, one sepoy dangerously wounded (since dead)—both shot
and wounded. through the neck, and three sepoys slightly wounded by ranjows or bamboo spikes.
14. Next morning the force marched through dense forest to Bandhole—a fortified
position which the enemy had abandoned. On 22nd we marched to Terachee, through a very
line valley, some 25 miles long and about half a mile wide. This valley was one vast sheet of
rice, fringed with fruit trees, and flanked by hills some 2,000 feet high, wooded to the summit.
On the way we met Lieutenant-Colonel Hill's party, and the whole force occupied the
village, or campong, of Terachee. Here there was excellent accommodation for all, in the
d e s e r t e d 1 M a l a y h o u s e s . F r u i t , p o u l t r y , a n d r i c e w e r e a b u n d a n t ; a n d t h e h e a l t h o f t h e m e n .
was good.
On 24th December the sick and wounded men were left under a guard at Terachee, with
all spare stores and ammunition. Surgeon Bomford remained in charge of the sick.