1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 175
2 firing of their cannon showed, that in that arm they conduct of
3 were still far from despicable. *Tis true, their shot Sobraone .
4 did little execution compared with that of Feeroz-
5 shuhur; as the centre division advanced, the can-
6 nons made more noise than mischief, for the shot
7 passed harmlessly over the line, and even beyond
8 Rhodawala. The ground was light and sandy, and
9 where the ball struck, it lay embedded. But far
10 different was the effect of their musketry and
11 grape. Ranged behind their walls, between which Destructive
12 there were numerous traverses, the Sikhs poured cies:
13 with impunity a deadly and incessant fire on the
14 approaching enemy ; not for afew minutes only, or
15 in repeated volleys, but in one long continued roll.
16 The devoted British troops, could not return their That of the
17 murderous fire with the least Prospect of success. dered ineffee-
18 The nature of the strong entrenchment of the The impracti-
19 cable nature
20 Siklis left the centre and left portions impracticable ¢f the centre
21 to infantry, and as the British guns were chiefly (ergot
22 directed to the right, where the attack was intended ee
23 to be made, to that quarter the Sikhs first directed right.
24 their defence, and with such energy, that it ap-
25 peared impossible to force an entrance into their
26 camp. Fortunately for the British, the right por-
27 tion of the entrenchment was its most vulnerable
28 point, owing to a passage or road leading to their
29 bridge, being here, which (after our guns had done
30 their work,) was discovered by the 53rd foot, and
31 through this the other regiments of the respective
32 divisions entered. Until the entrance of Brigadier
33 Stacey, Tej Singh was perfectly satisfied that the