preparing his fuses, I advanced towards the village with the Infantry.  The first shell burst a little beyond the village, the second was lodged in its very centre, for a time completely paralyzing the Lushais.  On recovering from the shock, they took to their heels and scampered off in every direction, the last man leaving the village just as we entered it.  The houses, as usual, were made of bamboo, and after it had been ascertained that there was no living creature inside any of them, the place was set on fire, and we began our return journey.  There was a bright moon, but even aided by its light we did not reach our bivouac until midnight.  This ended the campaign so far as opposition was concerned, for not another shot was fired either by us or against us during the remaining six weeks we continued in the country.

Soon after this we heard that some of the captives we had come to relieve had been given up to the Chittagong column, and that Mary Winchester was safe in General Brownlow’s hands—­very satisfactory intelligence, showing as it did that the Lushais were beginning to understand the advisability of acceding to our demands.  The work of our column, however, was not over, for although, from the information we received of his whereabouts, we had given up hope of joining hands with Brownlow, Bourchier determined that Lalbura’s country must be reached; he (Lalbura) being the chief offender, it would never have done to let him think his stronghold lay beyond our power.

In order that we might be well out of Lushailand before the rains, which usually begin in that part of the world about the middle of March, and are extremely heavy, it was decided not to wait until a road could be made for elephants, but to trust to coolie-carriage alone, and to push on rapidly as soon as supplies sufficient for twelve days could be collected.  Kits were still further reduced, officers and soldiers alike being only allowed a couple of blankets and one or two cooking utensils.

We resumed our march on the 12th February; the route in many places was strongly and skilfully stockaded, but the tidings of our successes had preceded us, and our advance was unopposed.  In five days we reached the Chamfai valley, at the end of which, on a high hill, Lalbura’s village was situated.[4] Although Lalbura’s father, Vonolel, had been dead some years, the people still called the place Vonolel’s country.  Vonolel had been a famous warrior, and they were evidently very proud of his reputation.  We were shown his tomb, which, like that of all great Lushai braves, was decorated with the heads of human beings (his slaves in paradise) and those of animals, besides drinking-vessels and various kinds of utensils for his use in another life.