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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 435
tins date the troops on board the ships and vessels had arrived,
also those which had followed by land, except the 42nd Native
Infantry. On the evening of the ]st of February, appeared a
Divisional Order for the following troops to hold themselves in
readiness to cross the estuary:— H.M.'s 54th Foot, one hundred
men of H.M.'s 44th, the 2(jih and G2nd Bengal Native Infantry,
10th ]\Iadras Native Infantry, two companies of JMugh Light
Infantry, four companies of Pioneers, and the Bengal field battery
of guns. This force was divided into two divisions ; the first,
under General Morrison, was to proceed to the Mungdoo creek
and storm the stockades, whilst the other, under lirigadier-
General McBean, was to land lower down and intercept the
fugitives, or act as circumstances might render necessary. The
embarkation commenced at five o'clock in the morning, and by
eight the troops were all on board the boats, and the artillery
on the rafts in tow of the ' Pluto' steamer.
On the British force effecting a landing on the opposite shore
of the estuary of the Naaf, the Burmese, acting on the well-
known Hudibrastic maxim, beat a hasty retreat over the
mountains, leaving the invaders to take undisputed possession
of their stockades of Mungdoo. Here were found a great
quantity of grain, several war-boats, one about ninety feet long,
and a small ship on the stocks.
A considerable force was sent in pursuit of the flying I'urmese
through the forests, but without avail. After a halt of many
days at Mungdoo, General Morrison pushed on through dense
forests and grass plains, or by the sea-shore, to the Myoo river
near its embouchure, where it is some three or four mik-s
broad.
Commodore Hayes, commanding the flotilla, left ^lungdoo on
the Ibtli of February, having arranged with General Morrison
that he was to take on the major ],)art of the fleet, including half
the gunboats, to the Arracan river, with (ieneral Midican and
Brigadier Fair's brigade, consisting of H.M.'s 54th, the Madras
10th Native Infantry, and left wing of the Kith Native infantry.
The Commodore also directed Captain Crawford, with the other
half of the gunboats and Mugh boats, to proceed to the Arracan
river, for the purpose 'of joining General Morrison, who was
proceeding to its entrance with tlie main body of tiie army.
On the morning of the 17th, the Connnodore cleared the
Naaf to join the transport ships destined to convey the above-
mentioned advance brigade to Arracan, but, at one i).m.. a
violent storm commenced from the northward, which rageii
round the compass until tlie morning of the llUh, and prevented
the embarkation of the troops in ipiestion. Commodore Hayes,
before quitting Mungdoo, had despached, on the lOth instant,
a small squadron of vessels,* under comn);ind of Lieutenant
* ' Asseerghur,' ' Pluto,' ' Tbumes,' und * Africa ' gunboats.
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