Star.
London, England, 1825-09-15 00:00:00

EAST INDIA PAPARS.

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FROM TIIE CALCUTTA JOHN BULL, MARCH 18..
From Rangoon I urther satisfactory intelligence has
been received, and we have much satisfaction in pub-
the following account of the proceedings of the
waver calumn of Sir Archibald Campbell's army, under
the immediate command of Brigadier-Gen. Cotton:
The troops of this column left Rangoon on the 16th
of February. On the 17th they reached Teesit, where
they found three new stockades unoccupied, and de►
stroyed them the same evening. The advance division,
two miles above, were fired on from the bank, and lost
two sailors killed, and one wounded. They burnt on the
left bank a strong bt eastwcn k of timber and a stockade;
early on the morning of the 18th they destroyed another
stockade on the right, nearly opposite. On the 19th,
the tide carried the advance to the two outer stockades
of Paulang (placed on opposite banks of the river), but
t•co late fully to reconnoitre them. The main body
anchored about six miles below. The reconnoissance
was completed early on the 206. Whilst the steam-
boat and Satellite were coming up, a battery of three
mortars and two six.pounders were erected on a point
separated horn the left stockade by jungle and swamp,
and which also commanded the right one. It opened
.at less than 35 minutes, and immediately the shells
caused c9nfusinn, and made the Burmeselie in their holes.
This time was also taken, while the tide was running out,
to arrange the column of attack on each side of the river,
formed under the banks out of reach of shot, and pre-
pared to make the attack on a given signal, when the
steam-boat and Satellite had anchored and produced
the desired impression—the column on the right pulling
off to carry the stockade on the right bank, and the left
column to carry that on the left. The tide turned at
half-past three, but owing to the Satellite grounding,
the steam-boat, in which Captains Alexander and Chadds
were, did not come up till five. The attack was in-
stantly made, and both stockades were in our posses-
sion in five minutes, without any loss on our side. The
practice of the mortar battery was excellent, and the
rockets were of the most material use. The enemy ran
instantly. The columns advanced immediately on each
bank, and Brigadier-General Cotton, who had joined the
steam-vessel in passing, and hoisted the signal on seeing
the impression made, proceeded with the right column,
under Lieutenant-Colonel O'Donoghtte, in Captain
Chadd's gig ; a flanking party was then thrown out to
protect our advance up the banks of the river, and the
troops instantly moved on, discovering the great
stockade of Paulang directly in their front, situated on
a roint of land commanding the El Euchianaer branch,
and the other running into the Dallas Creek. It looked
very strong and extensive. The Tantabien branch was
also between the two columns; but as some Burmese
o ore seen fording it, our men were ordered to put their
ammunition on their bayonets and do the same. It
was not higher than the arm-pit, and the column got
easily over. The steam-vessel was coming up at the
same time, and the right column was immediately op-
posite the Paulang stockade. separated by the river.
The enemy could not stand; and after a very weak
and contused fire, they instantly evacuated it at each
angle. The boats having kept parallel with the troops,
both columns were instantly embarked and posted at
it, and gained it without the loss of a man. The Bur-
mese had 4,000 or 5.000 men in the three places.
Bagadier•General Cotton's force was to have moved
nest morning; but the Satellite was still aground, and
not likely to be got off. The people of the country
(the Cariens) were flocking in; and the most positive
direction bad been given to prevent plunder.
The large stockade of Paulang or Paulang is said to
be remarkably strong—built of new timber, and 16 feet
high, with regular parapets and projecting angles.
Immense quantities of gunpowder, broken jinjals, and
a few brass guns, were taken. All the men lost by the
enemy were killed by the shells and rockets, to which
circumstance is to be attributed our trivial loss. The
use of these project;les previously to running up the
troops is of the first importance in saving the lives of
cam men.
Letters horn Cheduba have been received to the

28th—of February. Supplies do not seem to be very
abundant. No spirits, wine, nor beer to be had, and
fowls are scarcely procurable at two for a rupee.
Neither ducks nor sheep are to be procured. Captain
Hardy, in the Planet, accompanied by the Henry
Meriton and two gun-hoats, proceeded, about the mid-
dle of January, up the Ramree river or harbour. They
got up the creek It ading to Ramree, without the smallest
appearance of danger, carrying water enough for a
ship of the line. The entrance, however, to the liver
is rather narrow, owing to two ridges of rocks, which
do not leave any very extended opening. There is
plenty of water; but from the narrowness of the en
vance.it cannot be passed without a leading wind, the
tide and eddies setting very strong. It was a few days
after this that Captain Hardy took the Hastings, and all
the gun-boats in, abreast of two villages, which it had
been determined to destroy. The whole of the boats,
warmed and armed by the Hastings, were dispatched,
under the command of Lieutenant Windham, first of
that ship The first village was found deserted and
busnt. The second was about a quarter of a mile
dwant, the road to it being through a thick jungle
betwssn two hills. Our roeh were, however, suffered

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to pass •without . the smallest annoyancl•, until they
-reached th• village; %then a fire from three jinjals
and musketry was opened on ,them from all quarters.
The village was burnt—s 4 orthe enemy killed, and
two. prisoners taken ; one of.them said to be a man
of some consetrence, who had come from Ramree the
night before with a hundred cued' with muskets, for
the protection of that part of the island. The villages
are situated about two miles and a half from its south
end. On this occasion not a man was hurt on our sde.
The frigate and brigs kept up a fire on the setond vil-
lage while our men were passing through the jungle.
This success, it would seem, induced the further at
tempt, which failed, owing to the inkapacity or treachery
of the guide, who is said to have been the Dobashee of
Colonel Hampton. The troops destined for the attack,
were embarked on board the Francis Warden, and the
gun boats. The Planet took the European attillerymen.
The whole got to the creek, which is about 28 or 30
miles from the entrance of the river, or harbour, on the
ild of February; when a reconnoissance took place in
the boats of the frigate. About three miles up the creek
it was found to be staked across in two places--the first
very slightly, but the second in the strongest manner ;
and on these latter the boats could not make the
smallest impression: beyond the stakes were a breast-
work, and stockades, with a fortified hill in the rear.—
On the 3d, at day-light, the whole of the troops pro-
ceeded up the creek in the Matchless cutter, the Fetcher
ketch, and ten gun boats, together with the boats be-
longing to the Hastings, Warden, Henry Meriton, and
Planet, the latter vessel bringing up the rear as soon
as there was wa•er enough for her to cross the bar. The
force consisted of about 500 Sepoys, 45 artillery, and 50
of the crew of the Hastings; they carried with them
four pieces, two of which, however, only were landed,
and two howitzers, which, owing to the had landing,
could not be got on shore. The landing was covered
by the vessels and boats; and the troops pushed on
through nullahs and jungle, continually exposed to the
sniping shot of the enemy, not one of whom could be
discerned. One village was destroyed ; but it became
apparent that the guide had misled them, and that
instead of approaching the enemy they were increasing
their distance. It thence became necessary to return,
which was done in good order, until reaching the nul-
labs, when considerable confusion took place. The re•
serve, however, at this place, consisting of about 100
men, and the artillery, covered the retreat effectually ;
but the killed, consisting of four sepoys and one man
of his Majesty's 54th Regiment, with a Waterloo medal,
could not be brought off. A seaman of the Hastings
was also killed.

EPP

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was dispatched here to occupLit—about 100 horse are'
at Denoobew ;—heard a rumour, before leaving Denoo-
bew', of the English having taken PAulang; but little
intelligence is allowed to transpire at chit place; heard
on the road that the rumour in question is true, and
that the Kee Woorigee had fled with his force on the
English ships arriving at Paulang ; heard nothing from
Arracan of the English having advanced in that direc-
tion. A great many war-boats at Denoobew ; but their
guns are all inside of the stockade, No certain iutelli•
gence where Noonshoe.za now is; Prince Surrawuddee
is at Surrawuddee, with 500 men (soldiers). The re.
mainder of his men have been made over to Bundoola.
No force at Prome whatever ; does not know what
number of men are at Bissein.

•" RANCOMW, Firs. 14.

" Having a little time to breathe, I will endeavour to give you
some idea of this extraordinary place. On our first approach to
Rangoon we were struck with the number of King's ships, gun-
boats, and other vessels with which the river is crowded opposite
the landing place ; then with the appearance of the stockade, near
the water's edge, which is now merely a wooden wall, with an open
work at top. being sixteen or seventeen feet from the ground ; be-
hind this wall is a platform to stand or kneel upon, made of bam-
boos. These wooden walls are supported by heaps of clay and mud,
and outside them are often eight or nine trenches, four feet from
each other, and nine feet wide and deep, and in the bottom are
stakes of bambco hardened by burning, which are alto very
much scattered about, giving great trouble and many serious
wounds, for though not longer or much thicker than the blade ,
of a common knife, still they penetrate the thickest shoes.--'
While passing all these obstructions, the Burmese have an oppor-
tunity of firing with every security, but having passed these
trenches, they do not wait for the bayonet, but scamper off. Their
mode of attack is very strange; they extend in line, each man
taking five or six feet, which be burrows in, and makes himself
perfectly secure from all sorts of shot : he bads, pops up his head
and fires, earths again, and repeats this as lor.g as his ammunition
serves. In this manner hundreds may be near you without any
sign of them, except the earth they may have thrown up. Rangoon,
I should imagine, to he one of their holy cities, front the number of
buildings, to which we have given the name of pagodas; but they
appear to be tombs or monuments. At the base they are square;
these are hexagonally pyramidal,with a slender spire of tapering form,
crowned with a filigree work of gilt iron, resembling the Papal
crown, with the addition of a number of small bells, which give a
not unpleasant tinkling as the zephyrs pass. 01 these buildings
there are thousands, particularly near the great one, the approach
to which on one side is through a lane of them, occasionally mixed
with colossal figures, in a sitting pasture, with legs crossed, the right
hand pointing downwards in the peculiar manner which is to be
observed in all the figures sent to Calcutta. The great pagoda is a
pile of brick work, similar to the rest, but greatly exceeding them
in dm and beauty. A side of the base. I think, should measure
one hundred feet, mabing the area 10,000 feet square, from which
it ascends 200 in hexagons, octagons, decagons, site. the whole from
the base is gilt. Its position is very elevated, commanding an ee-
1-naive view, and is well calculated for a fortifica but we have
no woke of moment about it. By some dance' a fear of those
gilt or plated images were found in a pagoda, and fine that every
other has been defaced by a breach sufficient to admit a man. This
reminds me of the spoliation of the Grecian temples by the Turks.
To these principal objects of notice here, I may add one more,
namely, the wharf at the landing place, which is yeleped Scandal
Wharf. It is the mane, tfii moll, the general rendezvous, where
are liberally dealt out reports true and false, and anything not cre-
dited is called a shave, which one tells another, without giving of-
fence, saying that's a have."

THE EVENING STAR.