APPENDIX—MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE DUFFLA EXPEDITION.
231
they then forded, and ascended some 300 yards to a high and dry plateau, where they hutted.
34. On the 23rd January a party of invalids of the transport began their march to
Narainpore from No. 9 : they picked up weakly men as they
went slowly back, and on the 1st February the detail stood
as per margin,* the 14 at No. 6 being minor cases. On
the 23rd also, instructions were sent to Surgeon Raye in charge
of the field hospital at No. 6 to be prepared to start with all
the sick of the troops towards Narainpore. They were to
* 86 at Narainpore.
2 at No. 4,
14 at No. 6.
63 en route to Narainpore.
165
Preparations
for returning.
Sending sick
to the rear.
march to Borpani, No. 3, and boats would be there provided for them.
On the 24th, the artillery and 44th began their return march in medical charge of Sur-
geon-Major White. On his arrival at No. 6, all the sick men were to proceed under Surgeon
Raye. In all, 42 sick men began their march on the 27th. The majority of the men could
walk quietly, their arms, &c., being carried. Men were also told off to help their comrades
along. Rain came on when they reached the top of the hill, camp No. 5, and made the path
very slippery. All who were on foot, however, reached No. 4 in good time, but the "litters"
could not travel. The medical officer put the sick into the huts of the old encampment some
way down the hill and made the men comfortable for the night, he himself not reaching Hur-
j o o l i e t i l l l o n g a f t e r d a r k
. T h e n e x t d a y t h e y r e a c h e d B o r p a n i s a f e l y , w h e r e b o a t s a w a i t e d t h e m .
All reached Narainpore on the 30th, including those taken up at Borpani and Hurmutti, a
total of 62.
35. Head-quarters leave No. 9.—On the 27th January camp No. 9 broke up, and head-
quarters with the 43rd marched for No. 7. They reached camp No. 6 on the 30th, having
halted two days at No. 7, leaving the sappers and 42nd until all stores should be brought away.
It had been found necessary to make a demonstration at 'Pakfi's' village, and the 44th
had been sent up there on the 28th—camp No. 11—.The situation was high, about 3,700
feet, and exposed, but they hutted themselves comfortably. The 16th N.I. were this day (30th)
sent up to the same place to hut. On the 31st the sappers arrived at No. 6, and the General
and staff went to Pakfi's village, returning in the evening, On the 4th January the 42nd
arrived at No. 6 from No. 9, completing the evacuation. On this day the artillery marched
from No. 6 for Narainpore.
Head-quarters
leave No. 9.
Camp No. 11.
The weather.— The weather from the 30th January to the 6th February alternated clear and
cloudy with occasional heavy showers, thermometer at sunrise ranging from 37° to 43°.
36. The March to Deling.—The pressure on Pakfi's village had not sufficed for the obiect
in view, and on the 7th February a well organised little force*
started for the village of Deling, on the Runga river to the
northward, in light marching order. Each officer had strictly
his 40lbs., or one coolie load. Every man carried his two days'
rations. Four days' rations were carried with the column, and on
the distance proving further than was expected, three days' more
rations for the whole were sent for and met us on our return. Excellent arrangements for
supplies were made throughout. As the weather looked so unsettled, extra rum and tea, &c.,
were carried, and was thus present to be served out to the men on the days of the greatest
fatigue and exposure.
* Sappers 20 men, 50 men of each of
the 4 regiments,=200, Police 15, to-
tal 235 fighting men,
Fifteen officers, 290 transport coolies
and 81 followers,
Fifteen per cent. of the coolies were
spare.
The weather.
The march to
Deling.
To Camp No. 12.—Starting from No. 6, Pakfi's village, camp No. 11 was reached in 21/4
hours ; first half of road up a steep hill where the original track had, however, been much im-
proved. After an hour's halt, during which the men of 16th and 44th fell in, 21/2 hours' march-
ing down a precipitous descent and final scramble through forest and jungle, the force reached
a level plateau between the foot of a hill and a stream, a feeder of the Dikrung, and halted for
the night in thick forest at this No. 12. Rain began before shelter was completed, and con-
tinued at intervals heavily through the night. Surface drainage was however good, and the
men had butted well.
To Camp No. 13.—On the 8th, after 6 hours' marching, about 9 miles, raining nearly
all the way, crossing over a range of 6,000 feet high, we descended to the first water met with,
and halted for the night at No. 13 ; height 5,361 feet. The space was confined and the ground
swampy, but there was no choice Rain continued more or less through the night. Twenty-
five per cent of the 16th fell out during this march and joined late in the day. These men,
Hindoos of Oudh, will not eat before starting, and consequently are not prepared for long
continued exertion. The rear-guard came in at 5 P M.
To Camp
No. 12,
To Camp
No. 13.
To Camp No. 14.—9th. Twenty-five men of the 16th were left at No. 13 to forward the
post and guard supplies. Ascending a steep hill from camp the force proceeded along a ridge,
through thin forest, by a good track recently trodden by wild elephants ; then a long but easy
ascent, arriving where water was heard some way down the side of the hill; but this was only
three hours from camp, and it was determined to go on. We now ascended towards the peak
named, 29E., 7,695 feet high : here the vegetation showed a much colder region. The trees
were chiefly oak, and the other trees thinly leaved; there was but little brushwood or jungle.
On completing the ascent, the track proceeded to the eastward over a long undulating ridge ;
crossing slopes from peak No. 29W, 7,880 feet, about a mile distant on the left hand ;
the path was difficult and often obstructed by large moss-covered granite boulders ; turning to the
northern face of the hill, and descending scrambling some 300 feet, scanty springs of water
were found issuing from the hillside. There were indefinite accounts of water ahead; we
had been marching 5 hours, and it was feared that if we went further down the hill to a
more sheltered situation, the transport would not be up till after dark, as the march was a try-
ing one for men carrying loads. So a halt was here called. Height of No. 14 about 7,400
feet : distance from No. 13 about 6 miles.
To Camp
No. 14.