| caption: |
death of Captain Butler; return to Golaghat and burial of Butler |
| text: |
11. Captain Butler, though very weak, rallied wonderfully several times, but sinking gradually, died on the morning of the 7th January. Preparations for marching were at once made, and, starting at 9 a.m., we passed through Lakhuti, and encamped at 7 p.m. below Buragaon (Yembang of the Nagas). From Lakhuti, I despatched a letter to Mr. Ogle at Wokha, informing him of what had occurred, and instructed him to join me at Golaghat, as I was then ignorant as to whether the survey was to proceed or not. On the 8th, marching early, we reached Golaghat at 7.30 p.m., and on the 9th we buried Captain Butler at that station. Captain Butler, by his great experience and good judgment inspired everyone under him with the fullest confidence; and, apart from the grief we felt at the loss of a personal friend, his sad and untimely fate at the outset of the expedition cast a gloom over the rest of the season's operations. |
