good deal at this unfair distribution, though he did not work the less strenuously. It was not a little vexatious to be saluted with a ‘Good night’ by several parties in succession as they quitted the trenches, with the prospect of comparative comfort in the camp, whilst the poor devils left behind had to pass the time as they best could.
“The firing from the ships and batteries still continued on the 6th; that of the Arabs was very faintly returned and ill-directed. They evidently did not possess the requisite and proper materials of ammunition; large stone shot came hailing in upon us, but often wide of the mark. As soon as a discharge was made from our guns, the Arabs were seen leaping out of the embrasures to pick up the round-shot, which they immediately returned. There was no mistake in this; for to satisfy ourselves, we examined the balls, and found they bore the King’s mark. The walls and towers did not exhibit any very decided traces of the efficiency of this day’s cannonade.
“The firing had terminated for the day, the men had been relieved, silence reigned in the batteries, the night was very dark, and the pickets, as usual, on the alert. About one, a dark object, like a large black dog, was seen creeping along on all fours, several similar objects following. The advanced pickets were instantly cut down; all was hurry, shout, and bustle. The trenches were filling with a large party of Arabs, engaged in close contest with our men, who were speared and stabbed in a twinkling. Already the Arabs had succeeded in dragging away a howitzer in triumph. The alarm spread like wildfire through the trenches. A party of the 65th foot, under Major Warren, instantly advanced in double quick time, attacked the assailants, drove them out of the trenches, and recaptured the howitzer. A desperate conflict ensued; the Arabs fought like furies, but they were soon bayoneted; nearly all of them, ninety in number, were found lying in the trenches. They had divested themselves of their upper garments to facilitate their onset, and their bodies seemed anointed with oil.
“It being found that our 12 and 18-pounders produced but a slight impression on the walls and towers, while the enemy availed themselves of our own shot to annoy us greatly, as they fitted exactly the calibre of their guns, it was resolved that several 24-pounders should be erected as a breaching battery. Two 24-pounders were accordingly landed with considerable exertion from the Liverpool, and had to be dragged a long way through heavy deep sand. The battery was erected nearer the town, and a party of seamen and marines was landed to work the guns. Lieutenant (John Norman) Campbell, of the Liverpool, commanded the whole of the seamen on shore.
“The 24-pounders opened on the 8th with astonishing effect. The walls and towers appeared to shake and totter under the force of the shot. The enemy found, too, that the balls were rather bulky for their guns, and were therefore under the necessity of having recourse to their own stone and grape shot. Ere night-fall, repeated flags of truce were dispatched from the town, but to these no attention was given, and darkness put an end to the firing.
“The cannonade was recommenced at an early hour on the next morn-