We were now between two ranges of very high hills; on our right hand Bukit Pandang, seen from a great distance at sea; the road shockingly bad.  Encamped on the western bank. 23rd.  Marched in a north direction, the roads almost impassable.  The river suddenly swelled so much that the rear party could not join the advanced, which was so fortunate as to occupy huts built by the enemy.  There were fires in two of them.  We were informed however that the Serampei and Sungei-tenang people often come this distance to catch fish, which they dry and carry back to their country.  At certain times of the year great quantities of the ringkis and ikan-gadis are taken, besides a kind of large conger-eel.  We frequently had fish when time would admit of the people catching them.  It is impossible to describe the difficulties we had to encounter in consequence of the heavy rains, badness of the roads, and rapidity of the river.  The sepoy officer and many men ill of fluxes and fevers, and lame with swelled and sore feet. 24th.  Military precautions.  Powder damaged.  Thunder and lightning with torrents of rain.  Almost the whole of the rice rotten or sour. 25th.  Continued to march up the banks of the river.  No inhabitants in this part of the country.

IRREGULARITY OF COMPASS.

The compass for these several days has been very irregular.  We have two with us and they do not at all agree.  The road less bad.  At one place we saw bamboos of the thickness of a man’s thigh.  There were myriads of very small flies this evening, which teased us much.  Occupied some huts we found on the eastern bank.  This is Christmas evening; to us, God knows, a dull one.  Our wines and liquors nearly expended, and we have but one miserable half-starved chicken left although we have been on short allowance the whole way. 26th.  Roads tolerable.  Passed a spot called Kappah, and soon after a waterfall named Ipu-machang, about sixty feet high.  Picked up a sick man belonging to the enemy.  He informed us that there were between two and three hundred men collected at Koto Tuggoh, under the command of Sutan Sidi, Sutan Asing, and Pa Muncha.  These three chiefs made a festival, killing buffaloes, as is usual with the natives of Sumatra on such occasions, at this place, and received every assistance from the principal Dupati, who is also father-in-law to Pa Muncha.  They possess sixty stand of muskets, beside blunderbusses and wall-pieces.  They had quitted the Company’s districts about twenty-three days ago, and are gone, some to Koto Tuggoh, and others to Pakalang-jambu. 27th.  Marched in a north-north-east direction; passed over a steep hill which took us three hours hard walking.  The river is now very narrow and rapid, not above twelve feet across; it is a succession of waterfalls every three or four yards.  After this our road was intricate, winding, and bad.  We had to ascend a high chasm formed in the rock, which was effected by ladders from one shelf to another.  Arrived at the foot of Bukit Pandang, where we found huts, and occupied them for the night.  We have been ascending the whole of this day.  Very cold and rainy.  At night we were glad to make large fires and use our blankets and woollen clothes.  Having now but little rice left we were obliged to put ourselves to an allowance of one bamboo or gallon measure among ten men; and the greater part of that rotten.