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54 the Gorukpūr district, and overlooks the river Ghagrā, which flows between it and Ajudya, the ancient capital city of Oudh. The plains on which this village lies, and through which this boundary river passes, are remarkably fertile, but in rural features without any pretensions to landscape beauty. Across these plains runs the high road to Luknow, and to the right of them extensive fields stretch onwards until they vanish from sight near the banks of the Ghagrā on the one side, and likewise disappear in a vast circular sweep of vegetation on the other. In the background topes form a sort of amphitheatre on a colossal scale, and in front of all is the plateau on which the village of Belwa stands; while in a sandy dip adjoining this plateau its fort frowns over the surrounding country.

This village and fort, as well as other adjacent earthworks, were occupied by Nipal troops when we reached Amorah; but the day following our arrival, they suddenly evacuated the place, and started to rejoin their chief (Jung Bahadur), who was then with a Nipalese army on the march to Luknow. And to this extraordinary “move” must be attributed the harassing trouble and toil through which we struggled.

The insurgents were well aware of the importance of this formidable post, considerably increased by the difficult nature of the ground, possessing the command of the highway into Oudh, and having all the advantages of a concentric position; they were therefore not slow in seizing it immediately after the Nipalese had retired. 