once again an advance was made towards the narrow gateway; Captain Janssen at the head of his company. They effected an entry at the point of the bayonet into the enclosure, whence the enemy were forced to beat a retreat. Meanwhile the main column had also penetrated into the open square.

*

Before proceeding we must see what happened to the ambulance after Broekman's departure. Besides this officer himself many other seriously wounded soldiers were brought in. Just as two men of the 7th battalion, Corporal Zijlstra and Fusilier Singel, were carrying in Lieutenant Grootenboer a heavy volley was directed straight against them from behind a low wall just at the end of the trench where the ambulance was stationed. The doctor immediately put rifles and cartridges in the hands of Zijlstra, and Singel and Fusilier Van Wijk of 7th battalion whom he had just bandaged, and ordered them to reply to the fire while the wounded were all told to bend low or were stretched flat on the ground.

While the doctor proceeded with his task of bandaging, a European soldier lying on the ground behind him received a bullet through the head, which bullet was certainly meant for the doctor. The three soldiers managed to keep the enemy at bay by greeting them with bullets every time their heads appeared above the walls and this was kept up until Capt. Utzman of the 6th battalion, who was advancing with the main body, came to the rescue and drove the Balinese soldiers

away.

At last the doctor was able to comply with the order of Colonel Scheuer and transport the wounded one by one along the East side of the main road to the poeri, to the prince's residence on the N.W. side, where the ambulance was established in a large shed.

We will now return to the main column.

At the same time that Janssen's company had pushed through the front entrance of the poeri Captain Creutz Lechleitner and his company reached the back entrance, where they fell in with a band of thirty men armed with spears and krisses. A short close fight ensued; Sublieutenant Van Teyn cleft the head of a Balinese right through the middle, and one by one those remaining succumbed. Any further resistance would be futile. The Dewas have so ordained it.

Amid loud rejoicings all the other detachments made their way into the poeri; the position at the cross-roads was given up by the Balinese; those who did not escape were shot down and the ground was covered with their dead bodies.

The spirit of the enemy was broken. They might have continued to defend themselves from the three other poeris, which formed equally strong positions, but their courage was exhausted.

* It is possible that in our account of the attack on Mataram some inaccuracies may have crept in, as we have had no official reports to draw from. The accounts we have received have frequently been at variance with one another. This is however not to be wondered at when we hear of the same thing occurring at headquarters; for which reason the Commanderin-chief has ordered that in future all accounts of fighting be brought in on the evening of the encounter.

A couple of shells from the mountain artillery sufficed to drive away the few remaining Balinese and the troops were delighted to recapture one of the field pieces they had lost on the 26th August, along with the limber, a couple of wallpieces and a forge which were carried in triumph to the poeri.

The 2nd battalion, which had been following the movements of the left flank of the main column, had in the interval also reached the cross-roads.

The reserve had also advanced to this point, and the troops were assembled on the high road for a moment's repose after the struggle. The Commander-in-chief appeared on the scene; a deafening cheer went up from every throat; he was greeted with indescribable enthusiasm as he mounted the steps of the palace of the Balinese princes. What thoughts must have passed through the mind of this man, bearing the weight of such a heavy responsibility?

In his mind's eye he could picture to himself those weary troops, who, barely a month ago narrowly escaping destruction, had been pursued and disgraced and had their moral so grievously shaken; and now? Not only was that army vastly increased in numbers, but it had gained inward strength and had once more confidence in itself.

The enemy, defiant and arrogant, had hoped to drive us back to sea, but instead of that had been himself repulsed in every direction by the superiority of our forces.

Beside the triumphant names of Pagasangan and Pasinggahan we may now write the not less celebrated name of Mataram.

With pride and satisfaction indeed may the leader of the army stand at the head of his valiant men, in the very centre of the former seat of Balinese power.

For the first time during all this critical business a smile flits across the otherwise serious face of the Commander-in-chief as he nodded to officers and men. He thanked them for the courage they had displayed and baring his head led them in giving three cheers, which were vociferously joined in by the troops.

It was a solemn moment. It was as it were a cementing tighter and closer of the bonds that united them. The past has been obliterated and now each one can look back with honour to these days of victory, and face the future with renewed hope.

Still bad times were yet in store for us.

It was deemed inadvisable to pursue the enemy further that day in the midst of the labyrinth of walls. A strong post had to be built at Mataram, which was at once begun in the open space of the S.W. poeri. For the safety and protection of the fort which was to be called Mataram-poeri, all the surrounding territory had first of all to be cleared.

A portion of the troops protected the workers, and the others along with the convicts are set to clearing under the lead of the engineers (Captain Ruenepol). To begin with, the three poeris are taken in hand

for dismantlement and subsequent demolishment; powder, dynamite, crow-bars, pitch, spades and anything that can be got hold of is brought into requisition for the work of destruction; and after great efforts, the walls were finally laid low. Thus were the palaces of the Balinese

princes brought to the level of the ground on which they had been raised.

These residences were sumptuously furnished, magnificent specimens of European comforts and luxury were profusely strewn about. A number of precious stones, gold, costly weapons, objects of Balinese art, various things which they had secured as booty in their attack against us, were brought to light. Time for examination was not allowed.

Shortly after everything was devoured by the flames.

*

In the midst of this horrible scene of devastation, the Sassaks again clustered round in hundreds, to search the houses for plunder.

Loaded with booty, whole tribes of them returned to their kampongs, while some few remained to assist in the work of demolition.

The fire spread further and further and notwithstanding a heavy shower of rain continued to burn fiercely right through the night. In the interval the fort had been put into as an effectual state of defence as was possible. A small work to secure the communications was also constructed between Arong-Arong and Mataram. At 6 p. m. the troops were able to return to Ampenan and their respective posts, where they were received with tremendous enthusiasm.

Two campanies of the 6th battalion, as well as two field pieces and one mountain gun were left at Mataram-poeri and one section in the small work on the West side.

The men of the naval brigade returned from the posts they had occupied to Ampenan.

The casualties during the day were killed: 1 officer, (Sub-lieutenant H. Valkenburg of the infantry) 13 soldiers and 3 convicts; the wounded included 4 officers (all of the infantry) and 58 soldiers. Total 79.

These serious losses show how heavy the fighting was.

The enemy's losses were far more numerous, although the number of wounded who made good their escape to Tjakra is unknown. It was however possible to form an opinion, judging from the number of dead bodies which were found everywhere, both on the ground and in the dwellings. The number was computed at 300, amongst whom were women and children, some of whom had unfortunately fallen victims to our bullets, but many had received death at the hands of their own people. From reports received the Crown-prince was also dead; he had fallen with his men while defending the poeri.

Some of his faithful followers had carried the corpse to Tjakra; the old prince desired once more to look upon the features of his son, but was persuaded not to do so. The body was too shockingly

mutilated.

Thus the man who had been destined to rule as a powerful prince lost both his life and his crown, paying the penalty of another's guilt. So fell in honourable fashion the ill-fated prince, as demanded by the "adat" and the conceptions regarding the honour of a Rajah.

Concerning the effect that the artillery fire had had on Mataram, the statements brought in by the spies proved to be as incorrect as those they had made regarding the almost entire evacuation of Mataram.

Naturally there were very evident traces of the bombardment, very great havock had been worked here and there, but there was no

*This did not add to the comfort of the ambulance of Scheuer's column, which was in the N. W. poeri, where all the wounded of the other columns had been brought also. When the roof above their heads was in flames, they had to been taken to a fresh place of shelter. At half past two all the wounded were conveyed to Ampenan.

question of complete destruction. The small low walls had scarcely suffered at all.

The greater part of the houses had not only remained in habitable condition, but were actually inhabited not only by men, but even by women and children.

Experience once again taught us that too much reliance should not be placed on the results of a bombardment of large places built with solid stone walls.

The capture of Mataram could not fail to fill the Balinese with consternation, and the alarm at Tjakra was almost universal. Many would have surrendered at this juncture of affairs, others tried to escape, and large numbers sought protection amongst the Sassaks, promising to accept Islamism.