Gregory had got a passport for the boxes as rare
merchandise for the palace of the prince at Kathmandu, in whose
presence alone they were to be opened. On reaching the palace at
night, these volunteers were to open their boxes, screw up the
barrels, destroy all the inmates, and possess themselves of the
palace, where it is supposed Kasim Ali had already secured many
friends. Twelve thousand soldiers had advanced to the foot of the
hills near Betiya, to support the attack, and the volunteers were in
the fort of Makwanpur, the only strong fort between the plain and the
capital. They had been treated with great consideration by the
garrison, and were to set out at daylight the next morning; but one
of the attendants, who had been let into the secret, got drunk, and
in a quarrel with one of the garrison, told him that he should see in
a few days who would be master of that garrison. This led to
suspicion; the boxes were broken open, the arms discovered, and the
whole of the party, except three or four, were instantly put to
death; the three or four who escaped gave intelligence to the army at
Betiya, and the whole retreated upon Monghyr.
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