Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/568

544 dispersed by Major Thain, at the head of her Majesty's 44th, who on this occasion showed no lack of soldierly spirit.

And now the fearful Pass of Boothauk had to be traversed. This defile is about five miles long, and is bounded on both sides by lofty and precipitous hills. A mountain-torrent dashes through it with such impetuosity that the frost had produced no effect upon it beyond the edges, where ice was accumulated in slippery masses, affording to the wretched animals which were still retained a footing neither easy nor safe. This stream had to be crossed twenty-eight times. The defile gradually narrows towards the spot where the force was to emerge from it, or such portion, at least, as might survive the dangerous passage; for the heights were crowned with infuriated Ghiljies, ready to deal death to those below, while the cowards themselves were in perfect security.

"The idea," says Lieutenant Eyre, "of threading the stupendous pass before us, in the face of an armed tribe of bloodthirsty barbarians, with such a dense, irregular multitude, was frightful; and the spectacle then presented by that waving sea of animated beings, the majority of whom a few fleeting hours would transform into a line of lifeless carcasses, to guide the future traveller on his way, can never be forgotten by those who witnessed it." But the concentrated difficulties and perils were not to be avoided. The march was commenced about mid-day, the 5th Native Infantry in front. The troops were in the greatest state of disorganisation; the baggage was mixed with the advance-guard; and the camp-followers all pushed a-head in their precipitate flight towards Hindostan. Several ladies accompanied the advance; but no feeling of respect for the character or the timidity of woman operated to slacken the fire from above. These helpless and unoffending females were compelled to make their way through the pass, with hundreds of shots flying around them. Happily none of