Page:Letters from India Vol 2.pdf/210

 Wednesday, 11th. We had a fine ball last night, but this morning a greater surprise. The ‘Childers,’ a Queen’s ship from Singapore, was semaphored us yesterday, and this morning we heard that was come in her. She came up the river with a steamer, and was here by eleven o’clock. is looking uncommonly well, and gives a very good account of Chusan—beautiful scenery, beautiful climate, &c., and the Chinese all returning to their houses; the bazaar open and plenty of provisions coming in. In fact, the lower orders of Chinese would be glad of English protection from the tyranny of their own mandarins.

Wednesday, 14th. I think I did not mention a disaster that had befallen a party in Upper Scinde under a Major, who was going to relieve a Captain Brown, in garrison in a small fort called Kalum. They marched in the great heats, lost their way, found no water, and were attacked when they were mad with thirst by an immense party of Beloochees, and were almost all cut to pieces. It is a bad story altogether, and poor