1824	The Burmese War	424

warfare, firing upon our sentries at all hours of the night, and lurking on the outskirts of the jungle, for the purpose of carrying off any unlucky wretch whom chance may throw in their way."

Major Snodgrass gives an equally unpromising view of affairs. " The enemy's troops and new-raised levies," he says, " were gradually collecting in our front from all parts of the kingdom : a cordon was speedily formed around our cantonments, capable, indeed, of being forced at every point ; but, possessing in a remarkable degree, all the qualities requisite for harassing and wearing out in fruitless exertions the strength and energies of European or Indian troops. Hid from our view on every side in the darkness of a deep and, to regular bodies, impenetrable forest, far beyond which, the inhabitants, and all the cattle of the Rangoon district had been driven; the Burmese chiefs carried on their operations, and matured their future schemes with vigilance, secrecy, and activity. Neither rumours nor intelligence of what was passing within his posts, ever reached us. Beyond the invisible line which circumscribed our position, all was mystery or vague conjecture." *

From the period when the English flotilla anchored in the Irrawaddi, small cargo boats were continually captured, and these were cut down into more manageable craft, in order to move the troops with greater facility, each being well able to hold 60 men. These boats very materially strengthened the English force, and gave a facility of movement to the land forces, excessively desirable in such a country, and with such an enemy as Sir Archibald describes above. The enemy, ever watchful on shore, were equally on the alert afloat. The narrowness of the river, and the immense assemblage of vessels stretching from shore to shore, offered a fine opportunity for the employment of fire-raft. These destructive engines were launched above Kemmendine, and it required all the vigilance of active officers and men, to save the flotilla from nightly destruction. In order to frustrate, or rather, effectually stop this annoyance, it was deemed requisite to occupy the stockades near Kemmendine, which commanded the river. They were attacked and carried on the 10th of June.

The division under Brigadier M'Creagh, having been successful against the island of Cheduba, the European forces were re-embarked, and joined Sir Archibald Campbell at Rangoon. Major Wahab, and Captain Goodridge, having executed their orders likewise, joined the commander of the forces. In the first of these operations, Brigadier M'Creagh thus speaks of Captain Mitchell: " I must do myself the pleasure to acknowledge the cordial co-operation that I received from Captain Mitchell, of his majesty's ship Slaney, who accompanied me at the

* See Appendix to the Burmese War, No. 1.

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