They found it in the hands of about sixty Bhuttias, armed with _dahs_, who were plundering right and left. The planters sprang from their saddles and opened fire on them. The raiders, aghast at this unpleasant interruption to their profitable undertaking, strove to show a bold front. But the pitiless bullets and still more the calm courage of the two white men daunted them; and they fled into the friendly shelter of the forest. That garden was never attacked again. I was surprised to learn that on such occasions the planters had never sent information to the detachment at Buxa. But they told me that, as they never saw anything of the troops there, they almost forgot their existence. They added that the raiders came and went with such rapidity that it was hopeless for infantry to try to catch them. I determined to alter this state of affairs. So, shortly after our arrival, I took almost all my men out on a ten days' march, lightly equipped, through the jungle district to show that we were not tied to the fort and that we could mobilise and move swiftly if needed. I also devised a scheme by which, on the first intimation of a raid reaching me, mobile parties of my detachment would dash off at once over the hills to secure all the passes near and cut off the retreat of the invaders, while other parties, descending into the forest, would shepherd them into their hands. CHAPTER IV A DURBAR IN BUXA Notice of the Political Officer's approaching visit--A Durbar--The Bhutan Agent and the interpreter--Arrival of the Deb Zimpun--An official call--Exchange of presents--Bhutanese fruit--A return call--Native liquor--A welcome gift--The Bhutanese musicians--Entertaining the Envoy--A thirsty Lama--A rifle match--An awkward official request--My refusal--The Deb Zimpun removes to Chunabatti--Arrival of the treasure--The Political Officer comes--His retinue--The Durbar--The Guard of Honour--The visitors--The Envoy comes in state--Bhutanese courtesies--The spectators--The payment of the subsidy--Lunch in Mess--Entertaining a difficult guest--The official dinner--An archery match--Sikh quoits--Field firing--Bhutanese impressed--Blackmail--British subjects captured--Their release--Tashi's case--Justice in Bhutan--Tyranny of officials--Tashi refuses to quit Buxa--The next payment of the subsidy--The treaty--Misguided humanitarians.