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diff --git a/33496-h/33496-h.htm b/33496-h/33496-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..853cae8 --- /dev/null +++ b/33496-h/33496-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5961 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Scenes and Adventures in Affghanistan, by +William Taylor</title> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { text-align: center; clear: both;} +h1 span, h2 span { display: block; padding-bottom: .5em; } +#by { font-size: 60%; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 2em; } +#author { font-size: 80%; } +div.chapter { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 2em; } +p { margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em; } +p.chapdesc { margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; } +hr { width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; clear: both;} +table { margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + +.notebox {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; + margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; border: solid black 1px;} +ins.corr { text-decoration: none; border-bottom: thin dotted;} + +td.chap { text-align: center; vertical-align: top; } +td.desc { text-align: left; vertical-align: top; } +td.pgno { text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; padding-left: 1em; } +hr.tb {width: 45%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; page-break-before: always;} +hr.full {width: 95%;} + +.pagenum { position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; + font-style: normal; text-align: right; text-indent: 0em;} +.center {text-align: center;} +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} +.right { text-align: right; padding-right: 4em;} +.rind {padding-right: 2em;} +.poem { margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} +.poem br {display: none;} +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} +.poem span.i0 { display: block; margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em; } + + hr.pg { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;}</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Scenes and Adventures in Affghanistan, by +William Taylor</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = +"http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Scenes and Adventures in Affghanistan</p> +<p>Author: William Taylor</p> +<p>Release Date: August 23, 2010 [eBook #33496]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCENES AND ADVENTURES IN +AFFGHANISTAN***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Asad Razzaki<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href=" http://www.pgdp.net/c/">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive/American Libraries<br /> + (<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/americana"> + http://www.archive.org/details/Americana</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/scenesadventures00taylrich"> + http://www.archive.org/details/scenesadventures00taylrich</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<div class="notebox"> +<p>Transcriber's Notes:</p> + +<p>Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been retained as +in the original.</p> + +<p>A few typographical errors have been corrected. They are +shown in the text with <ins class="corr" title= +"like this">mouse-hover popups</ins>. Position your mouse over +the word to see the correction.</p> + +<p>The pagination is a little unorthodox. After page 211 there +are three unnumbered pages and then the numbering starts from page 225.</p> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="pg" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1><span id="title">SCENES AND ADVENTURES<br /><br /> +IN<br /><br /> +<big>AFFGHANISTAN,</big></span> +<span id="by">BY</span> +<span id="author">WILLIAM TAYLOR,</span></h1> + +<p class="center"><br /><small>LATE<br /><br /> +<span class="smcap">Troop Serjeant-Major of the Fourth Light +Dragoons.</span></small></p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center"><br />LONDON:<br /><br /> +<small>T. C. NEWBY, 65, MORTIMER <span class="smcap">St.</span>, CAVENDISH <span +class="smcap">Sq.</span> +<br /><small>AND</small><br /> +T. & W. BOONE, 29, NEW BOND STREET.</small></p> + +<p class="center">1842.</p> +<hr /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">T.C. Newby</span>, Printer, 65, Mortimer +Street, Cavendish Square.</p> +<hr /> + +<p class="center"><small>TO</small><br /> +<br /> +<big>FLORENTINE LADY SALE,</big><br /> +<br /> +THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE INSCRIBED<br /> +<br /> +<small>AS A</small><br /> +<br /> +TRIBUTE OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION<br /> +<br /> +<small>FOR THE</small><br /> +<br /> +HEROISM BY HER DISPLAYED<br /> +<br /> +<small>DURING THE LATE</small><br /> +<br /> +CAMPAIGN IN AFFGHANISTAN.</p> +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_i">[Pg I]</a></span></p> +<h2><a id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td class="pgno" colspan="2">Page.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc"><a href="#PREFACE">Preface.</a></td><td +class="pgno">i</td></tr> +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Proclamation of Lord Auckland. The Ghauts. +Fatal Practical Joke. Embarkation at Bombay. Mishap +at Sea. Landing at Bominacote. Review of +the troops by Sir John Keane. Suicide of Lieutenant +Fyers. Advance upon Scinde. Tattah. The Moslems +and Hindoos. Tombs of Tattah. Hindoo Superstition. +Adventure of a Dak, or Native Postman. +Death of a Smuggler. Jurruk. Belochee Thefts. +Feat of a Native Trooper.</td><td class="pgno">1</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Singular fate of Three Officers of the Queen's +Royals. Evacuation of Jurruk by the Inhabitants. +Desertion of Camel Drivers. Preparations for the +attack and defence of Hyderabad. Submission of the +Ameers. Consternation of the Natives at the arrival +of a Steamer in the Indus. Baida. Accident to a +Dragoon. The Lukkee Pass. Kotiah. Loss of Two +Soldiers of the 17th Foot. Sehwan. Arrival of Sir +Henry Fane. Asiatic Jugglers. Conversion of a +European Soldier to the Mahommedan Faith.</td><td class="pgno">23</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a><span +class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ii">[Pg II]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Larkhana. Departure of the Commander-in-Chief +for <ins class="corr" title="Candahah">Candahar</ins>. Capture of Belochee +Thieves. Ludicrous +scene in the Bazaar. Tremendous Hurricane. +An Irish Colonel's appeal to his men. Murder of +Cooks belonging to the Army. A Native Funeral. +The Bholun Pass. Massacre of Camp Followers. +Ill-timed Merriment. Animal Instinct.</td><td class="pgno">42</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Skirmish with the Enemy. Belochee Waggery. +Cleverly planned Capture of a Bruhee. Sufferings +from want of water. Valley of Shawle. Quettah. +Belochee Cruelties. Adventures in a Stone Quarry. +Treachery of the Khan of <ins class="corr" title="Khelet">Khelat</ins>. Murder +of another +Cook. Poisoning of the Wells. Fortunate Discovery.</td><td +class="pgno">61</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">The Khojuck Pass. Descent of the Troops. Shocking +Death of a Camel Driver. Detection and Escape +of an Affghan Thief. Loss of Cavalry Horses. Candahar. +Arrival of Shah Soojah. Condition of the +Troops. Attempt of the Natives to cut off a Convoy +of Provisions. Asiatic Mendicants. The Mosque at +Candahar. Arrival of Affghan Auxiliaries.</td><td class="pgno">77</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Installation of Shah Soojah. Attack on the Camel +Guards. Heroism of an Affghan Youth. Murder of +Cornet Inverarity of the 16th Lancers. Departure +from Candahar. The Ghiljie Hills. Locusts. Arrival +of new Auxiliaries. Camel Batteries. Hyder Khail. +Arrival at Ghuznee. Tomb of Mahommed. Remains +of the Old Town of Ghuznee. </td><td class="pgno">92</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iii">[Pg III]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Reconnaisance of the Fortress. Skirmish with the +Enemy. Rejoicing of the Garrison at our Supposed +Defeat. Preparation for a Coup de Main. Engineer +Operations. Storming and Taking of the Fortress.</td><td +class="pgno">108</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER +VIII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">An Affghan Heroine. Capture of Hyder Khan the +Commandant of Ghuznee<ins class="corr" title=",">.</ins> Escape of Ghool +Mahommed +Khan. Singular Discovery of a Map on the person +of an Affghan Chief. Description of the Affghan +Women. The Ruling Passion. Treasuretrove. The +Golden Shield. Chase of the Enemy. Just Retribution.</td><td +class="pgno">130</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Attempt to Assassinate the Shah. Court Martial +on an Affghan Chief. Visit to the Hospital at +Ghuznee. Hatred of the Affghans towards the Native +Troops. Departure from Ghuznee. Capture of a +Battery. Fatal Accident. Summary Punishment. +Arrival at Cabul. Pursuit of Dost Mahommed and +Treachery of a Native Chief. Description of Cabul. +The Balar Hissar. Mosque of the Emperor Baber. +The Bazaar.</td><td class="pgno">145</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Triumphant Entry of Shah Soojah into Cabul. The +Cabul Races. Death of Brigadier General Arnold. +Sale of the General's effects. Arrival of Prince Timour. +The Sikhs. Murder of Colonel Herring. Arrival of +money and supplies from the Upper Provinces.</td><td class="pgno">159</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iv">[Pg IV]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Institution of the Order of the Doorannee Empire. +Murder of a Private of the 13th Light Infantry. +Departure from Cabul. Return to Ghuznee. Accident +to the Revd. Mr. Pigot. Discovery of the Skeletons +of British Soldiers. Horse-steaks. Treachery of +some Ghiljie Chiefs and destruction of their Fort. +Adventure of a Dragoon. Loss of a Cook.</td><td class="pgno">173</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER +XII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc">Arrival at Quettah. Storming of the Fortress of +Khelat. Suicide of a Trooper belonging to the Horse +Artillery. Departure from Quettah. The Bholun +Pass. Dadur. Bagh. Breaking out of the Cholera. +Death of Doctor Forbes. Shikarpoor. Death of +Captain Ogle. Sukkur-Bukkur. Death of Lieutenant +Janvrin. Wedding Ceremonies of the Natives. Breaking +up of the Bombay Column. Departure of Brigadier +<ins class="corr" title="Cott">Scott</ins>. Boar Hunt. Larkhana. Sehwan. +Kurrachee. +Feast of the Mohurrum. Embarkation and Arrival +at Bombay.</td><td class="pgno">188</td></tr> +<tr><td class="desc"><a href="#APPENDIX">Appendix.</a></td><td +class="pgno">225</td></tr> +</table></div> +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_i_">[Pg i]</a></span></p> +<h2><a id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>The following narrative is put forth with all +the diffidence and apprehension that a mind +unaccustomed to literary pursuits, and limited +in its opportunities of improvement, naturally +feels on presenting itself for the first time to +the notice of the public. The doubts I entertain, +regarding the prudence of the step I have +taken, are in no small degree increased by the +circumstances under which the work has been +executed, the details having been entirely furnished +from memory, and without the aid of +any sort of data or memoranda. I should never +have dreamt of undertaking such a task, had +not the partiality of good natured, though perhaps +misjudging friends, overcame the scruples +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ii_">[Pg ii]</a></span> +which a consciousness of my own deficiencies +excited, and induced me to commit to paper +the scenes with which they professed themselves +to have been amused.</p> + +<p>Having candidly admitted the demerits +of the work, I may now be allowed to say a +few words in its favour. Should it be taken up +in the expectation of supplying materials for +the defence of an erroneous policy, or the +gratification of party spleen, it will fall short of +the hopes of the reader, for I have endeavoured +to steer clear of every thing like political allusion +in the fear of adding to difficulties, which +already appeared sufficiently formidable, and of +wrecking my little bark on a stormy and +troubled sea. Mine is the simple, straightforward +narrative of a soldier, more accustomed to +wield the sword than the pen, and caring little +for the conflicting interests or animosities of +party. With such a small amount of profession, +it is not unreasonable to hope that the +public will extend towards it some portion of +that generous indulgence with which it is ever +wont to regard the literary efforts of the humbler +classes.</p> + +<p><i>London, December 10th, 1842.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_1"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><a +id="AFFGHANISTAN"></a><big><big><big>AFFGHANISTAN.</big></big></big></p> + +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Proclamation of Lord Auckland.—The Ghauts.—Fatal +Practical Joke.—Embarkation at Bombay.—Mishap at Sea.<ins +class="corr" title="emdash was missing">—</ins>Landing +at Bominacote.—Review of the troops by Sir John +Keane.—Suicide of Lieutenant Fyers.—Advance upon Scinde.<ins +class="corr" title="emdash was missing">—</ins>Tattah.—The +Moslems and Hindoos.—Tombs of Tattah.<ins class="corr" title="emdash was +missing">—</ins>Hindoo +Superstition.—Adventure of a Dak, or native Postman.—Death +of a Smuggler.—Jurruk—Belochee Thefts.—Feat +of a Native Trooper.</p> + +<p>Towards the latter end of August 1838, rumours +reached Bombay and the various military +stations in the Deccan, that the troops were +about to be called into active service, and that +the scene of operations was to be at a distance +from our Indian territories. The extensive +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +preparations soon after set on foot, and the +unusual activity observable in the various +arsenals of the Presidency, left no doubt as to +the truth of these reports, and the only subject +of speculation that remained was, the precise +destination of the forces. Public curiosity was +at length set at rest, by the arrival of a proclamation +from the Governor General, directing +the assemblage of an army for service across +the Indus, and explaining at length the intentions +of Government. It will not be necessary +for the purposes of this narrative that I should +canvass the merits of this remarkable document, +or enter upon a discussion of the policy on +which it was founded. Sufficient is it for me +to say that the objects which it professed, were +the protection of our commerce, and the safety +of our Indian frontiers, both of which were +menaced by the intrigues and aggressions of +Persia. Having detailed the steps taken by +Dost Mahommed in furtherance of the views +of that power, and expressed its conviction, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +that as long as Cabul remained under his government +there was no hope that the interests of +our Indian empire would be preserved inviolate, +the proclamation proceeded to state, that pressing +necessity, as well as every consideration of +policy and justice, justified us in replacing on +the throne of Afghanistan, Shah <ins class="corr" title="Soojah-Ool- +Moolk">Sooja-ool-Moolk</ins>, +a monarch who, when in power, had +cordially acceded to the measures of joint resistance +to external aggression which were at +that time judged necessary by the British +government; and who on his empire being +usurped by its present rulers had found an +honorable asylum in the British dominions. +Such in a few words were the objects set forth +in Lord Auckland's proclamation and never +has unfortunate state paper been assailed with +such hostility and bitterness. Whether the +censures with which it has been visited are +deserved or not I will leave to others to +decide, contenting myself with the observation, +that failure and success are but too apt to sway +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +men's judgments and to give a character to the +circumstances that have led to them.</p> + +<p>The Bombay troops ordered to form part of +the army of the Indus consisted of her Majesty's +2nd, or Queen's Royals, the 17th +regiment of Foot, 307 of her Majesty's 4th +Light Dragoons, the 1st regiment of Bombay +Light Cavalry, two troops of the Honorable +Company's Horse Artillery, one company of +Foot Artillery, the 19th regiment of Native +Infantry, the Poona Irregular Horse, with the +Sappers and Miners, the whole constituting an +effective force of about 6,000 men, under the +command of Lieutenant-General Sir John +Keane.</p> + +<p>The 4th Light Dragoons were stationed at +Kirkee, about 70 miles from Bombay, when +orders arrived that the detachment should proceed +to the Presidency, for the purpose of +embarking for its destination. We left our +cantonments early in November, and overtook +the Artillery, which had preceded us from +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +Poona, at the Ghauts. We halted here two +days, and were joined by her Majesty's 17th +regiment of Foot, shortly after our arrival. +Short as was our stay, it was signalised by one +of those practical jokes which so often terminate +in fatal results, but which, unfortunately, seem +to have no effect in rendering people cautious. +Some artillerymen having been out shooting +game, one of them brought home a loaded gun +and carelessly left it in his tent. Several +of his comrades came in, in the afternoon, and +in the course of a carousal one of them took the +loaded piece, and presenting it at the nearest +soldier, jestingly threatened to shoot him. He +had scarcely uttered the word when the gun +went off and stretched his unfortunate comrade +dead at his feet. Nothing could equal the +distress and remorse of the homicide at the +thoughtless act by which he had deprived a +fellow creature of life, and it had a marked effect +on his future character and conduct.</p> + +<p>The passage through the Ghauts is romantic +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +and picturesque in the extreme, the road lying +over stupendous mountains and through deep +ravines for the length of about seven or eight +miles. Some beautiful country houses have +been lately erected here by a wealthy Parsee +of Bombay, on sites which command the +finest and most extensive views in the +neighbourhood. These delightful summer retreats +are surrounded by every luxurious accessory +that wealth and taste can supply, and +the Governor is occasionally glad to fly to them +for a short respite from the cares of office.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Bombay on the 15th of +November, and found it a scene of busy excitement. +The streets were filled with troops +and artillery proceeding to the place of embarkation, +and the inhabitants flocked in +thousands to the Bunder Head, to witness +their departure. The harbour was literally +alive with the numerous small craft employed +in conveying the troops to the different +transports, while the blue Peter flying at the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +mast head of the latter announced that we had +very little time for delay. We accordingly +hurried down to the beach, and were immediately +put on board the Cambridge. We +found it so crowded that Major Daly, +our commanding officer, was compelled +to remonstrate with the authorities on the subject, +and after some trouble, he succeeded in +getting from seventy to eighty men removed +to the other vessels. This did not sufficiently +lessen the inconvenience to prevent sickness +breaking out amongst us, and we lost one of +the Horse Artillery before we were many +days at sea.</p> + +<p>The passage was short, but not unattended +with danger. The Cambridge struck on a +sand bank, off the Gulf of Cutch, and it was +with considerable difficulty that she was relieved +from her perilous position. We were +kept on the bank about four hours, and it may +easily be conceived that no small degree of +alarm and uneasiness prevailed amongst the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +landsmen, who were unaccustomed to dangers +of this description. The night was pitch dark, +and the breakers sounded unpleasantly near us. +Captain Douglass the commander of the vessel, +appeared however all confidence, and after trying +a variety of experiments to get her off, he +hit upon one which luckily proved successful. +The whole of the troops on board having been +ordered upon deck, the Captain directed them +to jump three times simultaneously. This was +done by our fellows with a hearty good will, +and had the instant effect of loosening the +vessel from the bank, and enabling her to float +again into deep water.</p> + +<p>We arrived off the mouth of the Indus in +about fourteen days after our departure from +Bombay. The troops were immediately disembarked +in <i>pattemars</i>, small and clumsy coasting +vessels peculiar to the country. We +reached Bominacote the next evening without +any other accident than the sinking of three +boats, two containing artillery horses, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +other officers' supplies, to the value it was said +of £10,000 which had been sent on speculation +with the army by an eminent Parsee firm at +Bombay.</p> + +<p>Bominacote forms a sort of harbour of refuge +for the vessels which carry on a trade along +this line of coast. The village itself consists +of a few filthy huts, and its inhabitants spend +their lives in hunting and fishing. Both males +and females are in a state of almost savage +nature little covering being used by them +beyond the loin <i>goity</i> or covering for the loins +common to the natives of these parts. The +proverbial vanity of the weaker sex was, however, +displayed in the eagerness with which +they bartered their most precious articles for a +few handkerchiefs of Manchester make that we +happened to have with us.</p> + +<p>As soon as the horses belonging to the +cavalry, and the military stores had been landed, +it was decided that we should advance upon +Scinde in two divisions; the infantry under +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +the command of Brigadier Sir Thomas Wiltshire, +and the Cavalry under Brigadier Scott. +Previous to our departure the troops were reviewed +by Lieutenant-General Sir John Keane, +who had followed us from Bombay in the +Victoria steamer. Sir John expressed himself +in terms of warm satisfaction at the high state +of discipline and ardour of the men, who were +eager to be led against the enemy. The usual +precautions on entering hostile territories were +now taken, the Cavalry being ordered to +sharpen their sabres, and the Infantry served +with sixty rounds of ball cartridge.</p> + +<p>Before we took our departure from Bominacote, +a melancholy circumstance occurred, +which threw a temporary gloom over us. As +the men were sitting down to dinner the report +of a pistol was heard in the officers' lines. +Suspecting some accident I ran to the spot, +accompanied by two of my comrades, and discovered +Lieutenant Fyers, one of the officers of +my own regiment, lying dead in his tent, with +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +a freshly discharged pistol in his right hand. +The unfortunate gentleman had placed the +muzzle of it to his mouth, and the ball, taking +a slanting direction, had passed out over the +left ear. For several days previous he had +been observed to labour under great depression +of spirits, but no immediate cause could be +assigned for the fatal act. His loss was generally +lamented, for he was both a good officer +and an estimable member of society.</p> + +<p>Our route lay through a country barren in +the extreme, scarcely a vestige of vegetation +being any where to be met with. Of the +natives we saw or heard nothing, for as we +advanced they fell back, deserting the villages +and betaking themselves to their mountain +fastnesses. It being now near Christmas the +men suffered some inconvenience from the +sudden transitions of temperature, the days +being sultry and the nights extremely cold. +The consequence was that the dysentery broke +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +out amongst us, and several fatal cases occurred.</p> + +<p>At the close of the third days' march reports +became current through the camp that we +should soon see the enemy. It was said that +a force of ten thousand horse and foot was +about to take the field against us, and Captain +Outram was despatched towards Hyderabad, +to ascertain the truth of the story. He brought +back information that the enemy were ensconced +within the walls of that town, and +appeared to have little disposition to leave them. +We now began to find the difference between +quarters and camp, for the General thought it +necessary to send out frequent reconnoitering +parties and pickets, in order to guard against +surprise.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of the fifth day, we +arrived at Tattah, a place of considerable antiquity, +and, I believe, mentioned in Holy +Writ. The Indus formerly washed the walls +of this town, but owing to some natural or +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +artificial ingredient the course of the river has +been completely changed, and it now runs at +about four miles distance.</p> + +<p>Emerging from one of the most barren and +desolate tracts of country that it is possible to +imagine, even the tombs of Tattah, or City of +the Dead, as it is called in the language of the +natives, proved an agreeable distraction to us. +Tattah itself is a small, wretchedly built town, +containing little more than a thousand inhabitants, +who are for the most part of the Moslem +religion. The few Hindoos who reside here +constitute the wealthier part of the trading +community, but influential as this fact would +pre-suppose them, they are a persecuted and +oppressed race, the privilege of erecting places +of worship within the precincts of the town +being not only denied them, but even the free +exercise of their religious rites. Aggressions +of the most wanton and tyrannical nature, and +murders committed under circumstances of the +most shocking barbarity, and having their origin +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +solely in religious jealousy, are matters of no +unfrequent occurrence here.</p> + +<p>The Hindoos are consequently obliged to +resort to the caves of the neighbouring mountains, +to practise their religious ceremonies, but +the relentless intolerance of their persecutors +pursues them even there. During our short +stay we saw the bodies of two of the proscribed +race, who had been found murdered in one of +their concealed temples.</p> + +<p>The tombs of Tattah stand on a gentle +eminence, at a short distance from the town: +they are of circular construction, and are, as +nearly as I could judge, from seventy to eighty +feet in circumference, and from thirty to forty +feet in height. They are capped with domes, +but their external appearance presents nothing +graceful or ornamental to the eye. The interior +is gained by a staircase, which ascends to an +aperture forming the entrance, about midway +in the building, and a rudely constructed ladder +conducts the visitor downward to the basement, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +where the bodies lie. The interior of the dome +is lined with blue tiles richly ornamented with +arabesques and inscriptions from the Koran. +There are about a dozen of these remarkable +monuments and they are clustered together, +without arrangement or regard for effect. Of +the many sketches taken at the time I have not +seen one which conveys a correct idea of their +details. Although visited by nearly the whole +of the troops, it is a fact highly creditable to +their good taste and feeling that no mischief or +desecration of any sort was committed. Sir +John Keane, in a general order issued before +our departure, took occasion expressly to allude +to this circumstance, in terms alike honourable +to himself and to us.</p> + +<p>A curious, and I must say revolting, instance +of the gross superstition of the Hindoos fell +under my observation whilst at Tattah. At +the northern extremity of the bazaar I was +shown some of the most miserable specimens of +humanity that can well be imagined. In a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +filthy mud hut, the very aspect of which +threatened contagion, sat two living skeletons +rocking themselves to and fro. They were without +covering of any sort, except the old blanket +on which they sat, and their deep sunk eyes +and contracted features told a tale of long but +patiently endured privation. I was informed +that these poor wretches were undergoing a +self-inflicted penance, for the non-performance +of some religious rite. They had condemned +themselves for a period of seven years to a +daily allowance of rice and water, barely sufficient +to prevent the extinction of the vital +powers. We offered them food, but they +sternly rejected it. This lamentable fanaticism +on the part of a simple and inoffensive people +is, after all, but another and more harmless +phase of the fierce bigotry, which still continues +to exist amongst European nations.</p> + +<p>A <i>dâk</i>, or native postman, who had crossed +the river from Bhooj with letters for the camp, +was waylaid by two Belochees as he was +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +descending towards it, by the left bank, and the +letter bag taken from him. His captors, having +brought him to their retreat in the hills, secured +his hands behind his back, and lay down to +sleep, one of them using the letter bag as a +pillow. The <i>dâk</i> remained quiet, until their +snoring satisfied him they were sound +asleep, and then slipping his hands out of the +ligatures, he stole over to the fellow who had +the post-bag under him, and placing his knee +on his breast, cut his throat from ear to ear +with a knife, which he took from the +mountaineer's person, and made off with the +bag. In about ten minutes after, he heard the +Belochee close upon his heels, and, redoubling +his speed, a chase of nearly ten miles ensued, +in the course of which, the poor fellow had +two or three times nearly yielded from fatigue. +The dreadful fate which awaited him, should +he fall into his pursuer's hands, flashed however +across his mind, and plucking up +fresh strength and courage, he at length succeeded +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +in reaching the camp, but in so weak +and exhausted a state that nature was near +sinking under the effort.</p> + +<p>On the eve of our departure, a circumstance +occurred which created a very angry feeling +between the inhabitants and the troops, and +occasioned much regret to the Commander-in-Chief, +who was desirous that our advance should +not be marked by any thing which savoured of +cruelty. In consequence of the great increase +of drunkenness amongst the European troops, +owing to the cheapness and abundance of +liquor, strict orders were issued against its +being allowed into camp. One of the inhabitants +of Tattah, who was engaged in smuggling +the prohibited article, was stopped about dusk +by a serjeant, who happened to be going his +rounds. The fellow took to his heels, and a +sepoy, who was stationed as sentry in the staff +lines, mistaking him for a thief, and seeing him +pass at a speed which rendered capture out of +the question, levelled his musket, and shot him +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +dead on the spot. He was a fine muscular +fellow, about two or three and twenty, and +belonged to a respectable family in the town. +His friends immediately repaired to the scene +in a numerous body, and carried him off amidst +the wailing and lamentation of the women. +After this it was considered dangerous for any +of us to venture into the town when nightfall +had set in.</p> + +<p>The army was now ordered to advance upon +Jurruk, a town situated on the banks of the +Indus, at about a day's march from Tattah. It +is better built and cleaner than the latter place, +and some of the streets are covered over with +thatched roofs, forming a series of rude arcades, +illuminated by oil lamps. Opthalmia is a +common disease amongst the natives, and several +of the troops were attacked by it. Some of us +also suffered severely from the guinea worm, +a malady, common in some parts of Hindostan, +and which, although not considered dangerous, +is attended with great pain. It generally +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +attacks the feet, and has the effect of effectually +crippling the patient for the time. I have had +one drawn out of my right foot, which measured +nearly half a yard in length, and I have known +others to have had no less than from seven +to eight of them at once. It being impossible +for persons thus affected to march on +foot or even to mount on horseback, they were +usually carried along with the army in kajarvees, +a sort of double-chair strung across the +back of a camel, and swinging with a see-saw +movement that occasioned no small additional +suffering to the unfortunate occupant.</p> + +<p>The spot selected for the encampment was +extremely lovely, being encircled by hills, and +having the River Indus running on its right. +As the different regiments wound their way +round the heights, and descended into the plain +where the tents were to be pitched, the scene +would have made a beautiful subject for a +sketch. How often during a progress through +this wild and romantic country have I regretted +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +the want of a sufficient acquaintance with the +art of design, to enable me to convey to paper +some of its more striking and characteristic +features.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the numerous thefts committed +by the Belochees, who daily carried off +numbers of our camels, it became necessary to +provide them with guards whilst at pasturage. +This, however, did not prevent the plunderers +from continuing their descents, and they became +so hardy that they sometimes even +ventured to attack or carry off the guards +themselves. One day, whilst a party of the +Poona Auxiliary Horse were in charge of some +camels about two miles from camp, the Belochees +came suddenly upon them. There +were only six of our men, whilst the enemy +numbered twelve or fifteen. Nothing daunted, +however, a gallant fellow dashed out from +amongst our men, and cut down three or four +of the marauders. Being quickly seconded by the +others, the Belochees took to flight, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +black hero dismounted, and cutting off the +head of one of his dead antagonists, strung it +by the hair to his crupper, and triumphantly rode +into camp with it, amidst the acclamations of +his comrades. A more substantial reward was +conferred upon him for this daring exploit a +few days afterwards by his promotion to the +rank of havildar or serjeant. This may be +said to have been the first occasion on which +any of our troops came into actual collision +with the enemy, but the example which was +made had little or no effect in restraining the +thefts of the Belochees who appeared to have +an incorrigible taste for this sort of adventure.</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_2"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Singular fate of three Officers of the Queen's +Royals.—Evacuation +of Jurruk by the Inhabitants.—Desertions of +Camel Drivers.—Preparations for the attack and defence of +Hyderabad.—Submission of the Ameers.—Consternation of +the Natives at the arrival of a Steamer in the +Indus.—Baida.—Accident +to a Dragoon.—The Lukkee Pass.—Kotiah.—Loss +of two Soldiers of the 17th Foot.—Sehwan.—Arrival of Sir +Henry Fane.—Asiatic Jugglers.—Conversion of a European +Soldier to the Mahommedan faith.</p> + +<p>A melancholy incident occurred at Jurruk, +but whether it was occasioned by accident or +treachery we never could satisfactorily trace. +Some officers belonging to the Queen's Royals +applied for leave to go hunting in the preserves +of the Ameers of Scinde, and having obtained +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +it, Lieutenant Sparkes Lieutenant Nixon and +Dr. Hibbert, who constituted the party, left the +camp on foot at an early hour of the morning. +Their leave of absence expired at six o'clock +the same evening, but none of them had made +their appearance at that hour. About half +past eight a dog belonging to Dr. Hibbert was +observed returning into camp without his +master, which gave rise to gloomy apprehensions +amongst his brother officers, and the non +return of any of the party by next morning, +confirmed their worst fears. It was immediately +determined to send out a troop of native +cavalry to scour the country in search of them, +and the preserves were of course the first spot to +which they directed their horses. Part of the +force dismounted at the Shirkagh or Royal +Preserves, and proceeded on foot for a considerable +distance. Observing smoke ascending +in dense volumes to the right they made their +way towards it, and on gaining the spot a +shocking sight presented itself. A large area +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +had been cleared by the flames, and not a blade +of grass or brushwood had been left. The body +of Lieutenant Sparkes lay, dreadfully scorched +and mutilated, upon the ground, while that of +Dr. Hibbert was found in a tree, into which he +had evidently climbed to escape the devouring element. +A little further on lay Lieutenant<ins class="corr" title="period +removed"></ins> Nixon +whose features were so withered and defaced, +that it was almost impossible to recognize him, +and from the contracted and distorted position +in which his limbs were found it was evident +that he had suffered a more agonizing death +than the others. The remains of the three +unfortunate officers were borne back to the +camp and interred with military honours. +They were all talented and spirited young men +and their untimely fate was a source of universal +regret and discussion. By some it was +contended that the natives had observed them +entering the preserves, and inspired by hate had +fired the woods in different places, so as effectually +to surround them and cut off all chance +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +of escape. To such a degree did this supposition +obtain credence, that the soldiers of the +Queen's Royals loudly demanded to be allowed +to take revenge on the inhabitants of the +district. This of course could not be permitted, +and the clamour that had been raised +about the matter soon died away.</p> + +<p>Shortly after our arrival an order came down +from the Ameers of Scinde, that the inhabitants +of Jurruk should vacate the town and retreat +to Hyderabad. It was obeyed with great +reluctance, the love of home being stronger +with these poor people than their fear of the +British. Their removal was one of the most +distressing and painful scenes I have ever +witnessed, both men and women giving way +to wild bursts of passionate grief, and casting +back long and lingering regards at the habitations +they had abandoned. They left in bodies +of between two and three hundred, carrying +with them all their portable effects, and at +night the town was completely deserted. We +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +neither interfered with, nor molested them +during their preparations for departure, but +immediately on their quitting, a strong picket +was posted in some of the empty houses.</p> + +<p>Provisions became extremely scarce in the +camp, and owing to the remissness of the Commissariat +in forwarding the stores from Tattah, +our grog was reduced from two drams +daily, to one dram on halting days. This was +attended with the worst possible effects, for it +encouraged the troops to search after the liquor +of the country; which proved not only injurious +to the constitution of the soldier, but to +the discipline of the service. Desertion became +of frequent occurrence, and from one hundred +to one hundred and fifty camel drivers from +India, together with some Ghorra Wallars, or +native horsekeepers, succeeded in making their +way across the river to Cutch Bhooj. A few +were caught, and from six to twelve dozen +lashes each were inflicted on the delinquents.</p> + +<p>Captain Outram was again sent forward to +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +Hyderabad on a mission to the Ameers of +Scinde, but they received him in the haughtiest +manner and refused to come to any sort of +terms. The Captain found them fortifying the +hills round the city, under the superintendence +of an European officer, and he observed a +battery of twenty pieces of cannon, posted on +the banks of the river. Twenty thousand +Belochees armed with talwar, shield, and +matchlock, and two thirds of whom were dismounted, +occupied a position on the right bank, +so as to protect the battery. Half of this force +subsequently moved across the river and took +up a strong position on the western bank, +where we lay. The city was reported to be +full of armed men, and the idea of attacking it +previous to our junction with the Bengal army +was regarded as worse than folly, the river +being eighteen hundred feet wide and our pontoons +of insufficient length to traverse it. The +enemy, triumphing in our seeming inaction, sent +vaunting and threatening messages to us. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +Commander-in-Chief took no notice of their +bravadoes, but silently made all the necessary +preparations for attacking the city as soon as he +was joined by the Bengal army. Strong +cavalry pickets were thrown out on the hills to +the right, which commanded an extensive view +of the surrounding country, and the sound of +drums and other military instruments was +strictly prohibited in camp.</p> + +<p>On the 25th, Sir Henry Pottinger came into +camp from Hyderabad, the Ameers not only +refusing to pay the arrears of tribute that were +due, but treating the Envoy with every sort +of indignity. The Bengal army having come +through the Punjaub, and crossed the Indus at +Roree was now ready to act in conjunction +with us on the right bank of the river, and the +Commander-in-Chief resolved to lose no further +time in investing the city. He accordingly +commenced operations by planting a battery on +some heights which commanded its walls, but +which were at too great a distance for the guns +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +to do much damage. To the great disappointment +of both officers and men, who already +revelled in the anticipation of prize money, +the Ameers became alarmed at these demonstrations +and came to terms. An envoy, whose +appearance created no small amusement in the +camp, was despatched from Hyderabad to adjust +the necessary preliminaries. He was a short, +thick set old fellow, with a merry twinkling +eye, and as little as possible of what is called +official dignity about him. He brought with +him from twenty to thirty lacs of rupees, but +the reception which he met with from Sir John +Keane was not calculated to elevate the worthy +functionary in his own estimation.</p> + +<p>Positive orders having been issued that +neither officers nor men should be allowed to +enter Hyderabad on any pretence whatsoever, +I am unable to give my readers a description +of the town. It appeared to be of considerable +extent, but of such little strength, that had +the Ameers driven matters to extremities, I +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +have no doubt we should have carried the place +in an hour.</p> + +<p>We were exceedingly amused at the surprise +and consternation displayed by the inhabitants +of Hyderabad at the arrival of one of the iron +steamers in the Indus, with supplies for the +troops from Bombay. Nearly the whole of +the population flocked down to the banks of +the river to behold this surprising phenomenon; +they threw their arms in the air, and flung +themselves prostrate on the earth in perfect +ecstacies of wonder at every movement of the +mysterious power which propelled the vessel. +The scene was nearly as ridiculous as that +which greeted Columbus when the first notions +of European power and civilisation burst upon +the astonished minds of the simple aborigines +of America.</p> + +<p>After remaining a few days at Hyderabad +the army resumed its march, and arrived next +evening at Baida. An accident occurred here, +by which a trooper of the 4th Light Dragoons +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +lost his life. The banks of the river were extremely +steep, and as we were watering our +horses the pressure from behind forced a man +named Helm into the river. He was instantly +carried away by the current, and was soon lost +to view, although we strained every effort to +save him. His body floated down to Hyderabad, +and was recovered by the natives, who +restored it to his commanding officer, together +with a belt full of rupees, which was found +round his waist.</p> + +<p>Continuing our route we arrived at the +Lukkee Pass, where we found some thermal +springs, from which the sick derived considerable +benefit. A noble lake at the further +extremity of the defile afforded our officers +several days shooting and fishing, while the +beautiful scenery, by which it was surrounded +on every side, furnished such of them as were +artists with fine subjects for the exercise of +their pencil. Precipitous heights, assuming +every variety of fantastic form, stretched downward +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +to the water's edge, some in graceful +sweeps, and others in bold and threatening +attitudes, whilst their bases were hid in rich +woods or washed by the waters of the lake.</p> + +<p>Leaving this romantic spot with regret, we +proceeded to Kotiah, where we lost two soldiers +belonging to her Majesty's 17th regiment of +Foot. They went out in search of some camels +which were at pasturage and were never afterwards +seen or heard of. A party which was +sent in search of them found the marks of footsteps +and some traces of blood on the spot +where the camels had been grazing, and from +the torn up appearance which the ground presented +there was little doubt that they had +made a desperate struggle for their lives.</p> + +<p>Not satisfied with carrying off our camels, the +Belochees frequently ventured within the lines +after nightfall, and made off with any thing +they could lay their hands upon. Sir Keith +Jackson, the Captain of my own troop, detected +a fellow with a bridle in his hand, which he +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +was watching an opportunity to slip off with +unperceived, and taking his hand whip he +inflicted a most unmerciful castigation upon +him. The rascal whined and moaned like a +corrected child during the progress of the +punishment, but as soon as he was let loose he +stuck his tongue in his cheek, and went laughing +out of camp.</p> + +<p>Our next destination was Sehwan, a thickly +populated village, about seventy English miles +from Hyderabad. Here we were joined by the +ever to be lamented Sir Henry Fane, who was +to have assumed the command of the combined +forces at their junction at Candahar, but who +declined it in disgust at the wretchedly organised +state of the commissariat, and the neglect which +had been shown in providing for the contingencies +of the route. Sir Henry foresaw, and +subsequent events justified his views, that +although supplies might be regularly forwarded +from time to time, it was extremely doubtful, +nay almost next to impossible, that they could +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +reach an army always on the advance, through +distant and mountainous regions, and having +enemies hanging on its rear who were but too +deeply interested in preventing their safe +arrival.</p> + +<p>Before Sir Henry left us he inspected the +troops, and appeared satisfied with the condition +of the men, who had not as yet encountered +hardships sufficient to affect their appearance. +There have been few men in command whose +personal qualities have more endeared him to +those who served under him than Sir Henry +Fane. He was between sixty and seventy +years of age, at the time I speak of, and his +venerable countenance, beaming with the +kindliest and most benevolent feelings, and +manners that had a parental touch about them, +combined to render him one of the most +respected and popular officers in the army. +We viewed his departure from amongst us with +the deepest regret, for though we felt the fullest +confidence in our then leader, this gallant +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +veteran had so won upon our affections that a +comparison with him must have proved invidious +to any one.</p> + +<p>The ingenuity of the Asiatic jugglers is well +known, and I believe our European exhibitors +derive their proficiency, in a great measure, +from them, our soldiery carrying back with +them the rudiments of this respectable branch +of knowledge, and turning their swords, if not +into ploughshares, at least into as peaceable and +innocent a mode of gaining a livelihood. An +exhibition which took place during our short +stay at <ins class="corr" title="Schwan">Sehwan</ins> made many of the +"greenhorns" +amongst us gape, and impressed them +with a very high notion of the favour in which +the professors of the art are held by his +Satanic Majesty. Returning one day from +the bazaar, I observed a crowd of soldiers and +natives assembled near the lines of the Artillery. +Elbowing my way through them I found a +conjuror at his tricks, and from the expensive +and elaborate nature of the paraphernalia by +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +which he was surrounded, at once perceived +that his pretensions were of the highest order. +He was attired in loose flowing robes, covered +with mystic characters; and a long white beard +descended to his waist, contrasting oddly with his +jet black locks and piercing hazel eyes. Surrounded +by the various emblems and accessories +of his art, he looked a very imposing figure, and +every movement which he made was regarded +with as much interest as if destiny really rested +on his fiat. His only assistants were a man +who beat a <i>tom-tom</i>, or drum, to collect +an audience, and a beautifully formed girl +about five or six years of age, whose supple <ins class="corr" +title="und">and</ins> +graceful movements excited general admiration. +Having made a clear space of about thirty feet +in diameter, the conjuror took an oblong basket, +about two feet in length, and one in breadth, +the interior of which he exhibited to the spectators, +in order to convince them that nothing +was concealed in it. After performing a variety +of common-place tricks, such as balancing a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +sword upon a pipe and then swallowing the blade, +he suddenly turned towards the child and addressed +her in an angry tone of voice. She made some +reply which appeared to make him still more +choleric, for his features became swollen with +rage, and his eyes shot glances of fire. The +discussion continuing in the same violent strain +he appeared no longer able to control his fury, +and suddenly seizing the child by the waist, he +opened the basket and crammed her into it. +The half stifled cries of the girl were distinctly +heard, but they only appeared to enrage him +the more. Snatching a sword, which lay near +him, he plunged it to the hilt in the basket, +twice or thrice, and every time he drew it out it +was reeking with gore. The half smothered +groans and sobs of the dying child at length +convinced several of the spectators that a +murder had been committed, and two or three +soldiers rushed into the circle for the purpose of +seizing the criminal. Triumphantly smiling at +the success of the cheat, he held them at bay +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +with the sword for a few minutes, when, to our +great surprise, the child bounded into the circle, +unscathed, from amidst the crowd, though we +had kept our eyes attentively fixed on the +basket all the time. Suspecting that two +children had been employed, I examined the +basket, but found no trace of an occupant, and +saw nothing in its construction which could +have aided the deception. This clever trick +was loudly applauded, and brought its author a +plentiful harvest of pice and cowries, while +many there were who went away with the firm +conviction that it could only have been effected +through the agency of the devil himself.</p> + +<p>We had left a number of sick behind us at +Tattah, with instructions that they should be +conveyed in pattemars up the river Indus, and +rejoin us at Sehwan. A boat containing a +corporal and five men was stranded on the +banks of the river, and was with some difficulty +got off. The soldiers were so prostrated with +fever that they could scarcely move, and in this +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +state they arrived at Sehwan. To their great +distress they found that the army had proceeded +on its route, and one of their companions +expired immediately after their arrival. The +heat of the sun was intolerable, and the corpse +began to putrify. In vain they implored the +native boatmen to inter it or cast it in the river, +but they preferred running the risk of infection +to touching the dead body of an infidel. The +corporal, who was well acquainted with the language +of the country, entreated some of the +natives who crowded to the banks to remove +the body, but they remained deaf to his prayers. +Resorting to a stratagem which he thought +would have the effect of removing their religious +scruples, he asserted that the deceased had +died in the Mahommedan faith, and commanded +them on pain of the displeasure of the Prophet, +to give him decent interment. At first they +looked incredulous, but the corporal swore loud +and fast, and they were at length convinced. +They removed the body, and placing it on a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +sort of bier, somewhat similar to a sailor's hammock, +carried it on shore. Having swathed it +in cotton cloths, and laid it with the feet towards +the setting sun, they decked the head +and breast with flowers, and bore it in procession +to the place of interment, which was +situated in a romantic spot on the banks of +the Indus. The companions of the deceased +proceeded on their route, rejoicing in the success +of the corporal's trick, and rejoined the +main body without further accident.</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_3"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Larkhana.—Departure of the Commander-in-Chief for <ins +class="corr" title="Candahah">Candahar</ins>.—Capture +of Belochee Thieves.—Ludicrous scene in +the Bazaar.—Tremendous Hurricane.—An Irish Colonel's +appeal to his men.—Murder of cooks belonging to the Army.—A +native funeral.—The Bholun Pass.—Massacre of Camp +Followers.—Ill-timed Merriment.—Animal Instinct.</p> + +<p>Leaving Sehwan we crossed the Indus in pontoons, +and entered a fertile tract of country. +Our route lay through rich pasturage and +waving fields of corn, occasionally diversified +by rivers and lakes, the latter of which we +found well stocked with fish and game. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +natives did not exhibit any symptoms of fear at +our approach, but continued peaceably tilling +and cultivating their lands. Proceeding by +rapid marches we at length reached Larkhana, +the boundary which divides Upper and Lower +Scinde. It is a place of considerable importance, +and contains from seven to eight thousand +inhabitants. Long cloths are manufactured +here in considerable quantities, and a brisk +trade is carried on, in various other articles with +the mountain tribes. Sir John Keane now quitted +us to proceed to Candahar, where he was +to assume the command of the Grand Army of +the Indus. He was accompanied by two +squadrons of Native Cavalry, one resselah of +Local Horse, a regiment of Native Infantry, +and two pieces of artillery. The command of +this division consequently devolved upon Major +General Wiltshire.</p> + +<p>The Belochees again favoured us with a +visit and carried away about a dozen camels +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +from the encampment. A troop of cavalry was +ordered out in pursuit, and after a hot chase +succeeded in coming up with the marauders. +They immediately abandoned their prey and +made off to the hills, but not before they had +left three or four of their party in our hands. +Resolved to make an example which would +deter them from repeating the offence, General +Wiltshire ordered the cat to be liberally administered +to them in the Bazaar. The senior of +the party was first tied up, and it was evident, +from the trepidation he was in, that he expected +no less than the punishment of death. He +begged and implored for mercy, and finding +that no attention was paid to his supplications, +he took leave of one of the other culprits, who +turned out to be his son, and resigned himself +to die. Tied up, as he was, and unable to +observe the expression of our countenances, +which were convulsed with laughter, in anticipation +of the scene that was about to follow, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +he every moment expected to hear the report of +the musket, or feel the blow of the sabre that +was to deal out his doom. The moment, however, +the cat descended on his shoulders, +the terrified expression of his face changed into +that of the most extravagant joy. He smiled +and nodded at his son, and bore his four dozen +lashes with the joyful patience of a martyr, +suffering in the vindication of some holy +cause.</p> + +<p>On being set loose the culprits were informed +that if they were ever again detected in the +commission of similar offences they would be +shot, without mercy, and they were ordered to +disseminate this useful piece of information +amongst their comrades of the hills.</p> + +<p>Pursuing our route from Larkhana we encamped +the same evening at Dooson, and were +visited during the night by a terrific hurricane. +Arising without any previous indication, the +tempest came suddenly upon us in our sleep, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +sweeping the tents before it, and enveloping +us in whirlwinds of white sand. The night +being pitch dark we were soon in the greatest +distress and confusion, and to add to our embarrassments +the horses broke loose and ran +wild amongst us. They killed two of the +camp followers, and injured several others by +treading them under foot, and the alarm which +they created was as great as if the enemy had +made a sudden irruption amongst us. To this +succeeded a scene of rioting and squabbling, one +having lost a shaco, another a jacket, and another +his shoes. Accusations and denials, oaths, +vociferations, and complaints of injuries received, +formed altogether a pleasant medley; +and glad enough we were when the first streak +of dawn threw some light on this scene of horrible +confusion. After lasting about two +hours, heavy drops of rain announced the approaching +cessation of the tempest, but we +only exchanged one discomfort for another, +being soon drenched to the skin. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>After two days further march we arrived at +a wretched village, which separates Upper +Scinde from Belochistan, and which is only +entitled to notice as forming the boundary of +a desert plain, about fifty miles in extent, and +completely divested of vegetation, the white +soil lying exposed to, and reflecting back with +intensity, the scorching rays of the sun. There +were only two wells at the village, and there +was a fierce contest for precedence at them, it +being known that there was neither spring nor +stream of any kind in the desert which we +were about to traverse. The Infantry entered +on this cheerless waste about three in the +afternoon and the Cavalry followed about five. +The former were fully accoutred, and carried +sixty rounds of ball cartridge each. At two +o'clock the following morning the cavalry overtook +them and the general halt sounded. So +great was the fatigue of the infantry that +numbers threw themselves upon the ground +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +in despair, declaring, it was impossible for +human nature to sustain more, and they could +proceed no further. It must be borne in mind +that our rations had, for two months previous, +consisted of only half a pound of flour and an +equal quantity of red rice, with about four +ounces of meat, and the latter was in some +instances of no use to us, from the difficulty of +procuring fuel to cook it. The order of march +having been again given, several refused to +move from sheer exhaustion, and their situation +became one of great embarrassment to their +colonel, who was aware that if he left them +behind, they would be instantly sabred by +the enemy, who were always hovering on our +rear. Recollecting it was St. Patrick's Day, +and that most of the recusants were Irishmen, +he ordered, as a last resource, that the band of +the regiment should strike up their national +anthem. The effect was electrical, the poor +devils, whose limbs, a short time previous, had +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +refused to perform their accustomed office, +and whose countenances wore the aspect of +the most abject despondency, seemed at once +to have new life and energy infused into +them. They felt that this was an appeal to +their proverbial bravery and powers of endurance, +and gratified vanity did that which +threats and remonstrances had failed to +effect. A faint smile lit up their features, and +slowly rising from the ground they tottered +on their way. Had they adhered to their +first determination they would have fallen +victims to the most savage cruelties, as the +following circumstance will soon convince +the reader:—</p> + +<p>Three of the cooks belonging to our division, +who followed with the camp kettles at a short +distance in its wake, lost their way in the darkness +of the night, and as chance would have it, +stumbled upon a party of the enemy. They +were immediately seized, and each man was +bound by the wrist to the saddle of a Belochee +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +horseman. The cries of the unfortunate men +having reached the rear-guard, which consisted +of the Native Auxiliary Horse, they turned +in pursuit, and soon came in sight of the +enemy, whose figures were dimly visible in the +obscurity which prevailed. As soon as they +heard them galloping up the Belochees spurred +their horses to their utmost speed, dragging +their prisoners along with them at a terrific +pace. Finding their pursuers gained upon +them they stooped down, and with their broad +knives ripped up two of their victims from the +abdomen to the throat, and then cast them +loose. The third, more fortunate, escaped with +life, the Belochee to whose saddle he was +attached having freed him by cutting off his +left arm with a blow of his sabre: then wheeling +round on our horse, who were now almost +up with them, the enemy took deliberate aim at +the advancing troopers, and having killed two, +and severely wounded another, they plunged into +the darkness and succeeded in baffling pursuit. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>We reached the extremity of this barren +waste by seven o'clock next morning, and encamped +at the bottom of a steep hill where there +was abundance of excellent water. The cupidity +of the inhabitants of the neighbouring +villages, having got the better of their apprehensions, +several of them ventured into the +camp with supplies of flour, which was +eagerly purchased from them by the soldiery, +at the rate of about half a crown the lb. The +risk which they ran was great, for if the +fact had been discovered, they would, in all +probability, have been massacred by the mountain +chief. The profits which they realised by +the adventure, must however, have well repaid +them for the hazard.</p> + +<p>Descending the hills to our right, we +one day observed a funeral procession; and +curious to witness the ceremonies performed on +those occasions I followed at a little distance. +The corpse was swathed in cotton bandages like +a mummy, the head only being left exposed, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +and it was borne on a bamboo bier, or stretcher, +on the shoulders of four men. The relations +and friends of the deceased gave vent to their +grief in the bitterest lamentations, and there +appeared a depth and sincerity in their woe +which is but too often wanting at our European +rites. The procession was headed by a Faquir +or priest, whose rolling eyes, and long dishevelled +locks, gave him a wild and unearthly +appearance. His costume was no less singular +than his looks, for it consisted of a motley sort +of garment, composed of patches of almost +every colored cloth, with a cap or rather a +crown of peacock's feathers. Arrived at the +place of interment, which was situated in the +valley, the procession halted at a freshly dug +grave, and the bier was laid beside it. The +crowd formed themselves into a circle round it, +and the Faquir holding up a small idol, commenced +an oration in which he expatiated on +the merits of the deceased. The crowd having +prostrated themselves, the Faquir took a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +reddish sort of powder, and made a large mark +with it on the forehead of the dead man; then +taking a basket of freshly pulled flowers and +herbs he scattered them over the body and into +the grave. The mourners rising from the +ground, and walking in single files round the +bier made a respectful salaam towards it, after +which the corpse was lowered perpendicularly +into the earth, and the grave filled up. At the +conclusion, the Faquir sat himself on a stone +at a short distance from the grave, and remained +there quietly smoking his hookah, and +philosophising, as all good Faquirs should do, +on the uncertainty of mundane things.</p> + +<p>Our next destination was Dadur, where we +were to form a junction with a portion of the +Bengal forces. The distance is only a day's +march, and nothing of interest occurred +on the route. On approaching the encampment +of the Bengal troops, I could not +help being struck with their superior appearance. +It was evident that their commissariat +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +was better organized than ours, for their camp +equipage and other appointments were in all +respects complete, and they were abundantly +supplied with necessaries of every kind. This +disparity was, in some degree, removed before +we left Dadur, by the arrival of additional +supplies from Bombay.</p> + +<p>A few days having been passed in recruiting +our strength after these fatiguing marches, we +at length received orders to advance on the +celebrated Bholun Pass. Nothing could be +more calculated to awaken us to the difficulties +of our position, or to impress us with the uncertainty +of the fate that awaited us, than the +imposing grandeur of the scenery on which we +now entered. Let the reader picture to himself +a gloomy looking gorge winding through +two ranges of stupendous hills, whose rugged +masses of rock and hanging declivities impend +over the narrow route as if about to choke it +up, or recede a short distance to some fortress-like +looking freak of nature from whose imaginary +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +bastions and parapets it seemed easy to +hurl down destruction and death on the passenger, +and he may easily imagine that our +feelings were not of the liveliest or most comfortable +nature. A handful of men could have +effectually stopped our progress had there been +but another Leonidas amongst the wild inhabitants +of this magnificent defile, whose military skill +and resolution would have enabled him to seize +upon, and maintain its many points of defence. +We could not conceal from ourselves difficulties +so apparent, and a general and undefined feeling +of uneasiness pervaded us all. We felt that +if the enemy had any intention of resisting us +they would not lose opportunities which nature +herself appeared to indicate; and it was but +too obvious that if they only knew how to +avail themselves of the formidable barriers +which she had placed against invasion, our situation +would become critical in the extreme. +Once involved in the intricacies of the Pass, the +superior knowledge of the country possessed by +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +the natives, and their familiarity with mountain +warfare would enable them to harrass us at every +step, and a well planned and daring attack +might at once overwhelm us. Such were the +reflections that suggested themselves to almost +every man's mind, and many there were, I dare +say, who just then thought of home, and speculated +whether it would ever be his lot to revisit its +peaceful fireside, and recount the dangers of +which he had been the hero.</p> + +<p>The Bengal troops who preceded us through +the Pass left behind them sad proofs of the +justice of some of these conclusions. We +found from five and twenty to thirty camp +followers lying dead upon their track, the +throats of several having been cut, and the +others bearing on their mutilated persons the +unequivocal evidence of a desperate hand to +hand struggle. As we advanced through the +gorge we could observe the Belochees peering +at us over the jutting points of the precipices, +and the sharp report of their gingalls and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +matchlocks, which, luckily for us, were not +very sure in their aim, usually followed the +brief inspection by which we were favoured. +Observing a camp follower leading a camel at +some distance in the rear, three of the +mountaineers suddenly darted from a fissure +in the rock in which they had lain concealed, +and having cut the poor fellow down, led the +animal up the ascent by one of those diverging +tracks like sheep walks, with which these hills +abound. A serjeant belonging to the Horse +Artillery, who happened to witness the circumstance, +instantly galloped back, and gallantly +dashing his horse up the mountain succeeded in +sabreing the nearest of the thieves, and brought +back the camel amidst a shower of balls from +the neighbouring heights.</p> + +<p>Within a few miles of the Affghanistan +boundary the gorge is traversed by a stream +which winds like a snake through the sinuosities +of the Pass, and crosses it no less than sixteen +times. Although it presents for the most part, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +the appearance of an insignificant mountain +rivulet, it is, in many places studded with +deep and dangerous holes, into which the +cavalry often plunged, and got a good sousing +before they were aware of it. Shouts of laughter +usually escaped the comrades of the luckless +wight who became thus involved, and on +one occasion a tragedy had nearly resulted from +their ill-timed merriment. An Irish trooper, +named Dwyer, a brave, but hot-blooded fellow, +like most of his <ins class="corr" title="couutrymen">countrymen</ins>, was +feeling his +way cautiously through the stream, when both +horse and rider stumbled, and became instantly +lost to view. Some alarm was at first experienced +for their safety, but it gave way to a +roar of laughter when we beheld them again +emerging from the water. After several successive +attempts to disengage himself, the horse +at length obtained a secure footing, and Dwyer, +wheeling him suddenly round upon us with a +countenance furious with rage, drew a pistol +from his holster and fired at a group of seven or +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +eight men, who stood close to the spot, but fortunately +without effect. The madman was immediately +placed under arrest, but was released +after a few days' confinement.</p> + +<p>On approaching Beebenaunce towards the +close of the fourth day's march, we found +another stream where the Cavalry dismounted, +for the purpose of filling their canteens with +water, while the Infantry were distributed so +as to protect them. We had been marching for +several hours under a scorching sun, and over a +stony and rugged road, which rendered constant +watchfulness and exertion necessary to prevent +the horses from falling on their knees. Tormented +by an insatiable thirst, we were about +to slake it, when it was discovered that the +stream was polluted by the putrifying bodies +of several of dead Affghans, and followers of +the Bengal Army; the spot having been the +scene of a deadly contest which had occurred +some days previous. The struggle between +the loathing which this circumstance created +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +and the pressing calls of nature was however of +short duration. Not a man of us hesitated to +drink from the contaminated liquid, but the +horse which I rode, being imbued with keener +senses than his master, positively refused to +partake of it, though almost dropping with +fatigue and thirst. I took him lower down +the stream, where his fastidiousness being no +longer offended he indulged in a long and +copious draught.</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_4"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Skirmish with the Enemy.—Belochee +Waggery.—Cleverly +planned Capture of a Bruhee.—Sufferings from want +of water.—Valley of Shawle.—Quettah.—Belochee +cruelties.—Adventure +in a Stone Quarry.—Treachery of the Khan of +Khelat.—Murder of another Cook.—Poisoning of the +Wells.—Fortunate +Discovery.</p> + +<p>We were about to quit the Pass at the close of +the eighth day's march, when the enemy made +another and more successful attempt at plunder. +Emboldened by the absence of the Infantry, +which was at a considerable distance in the +rear, they descended the heights in greater +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +numbers than usual, and attacked the camp +followers in charge of the officers' baggage. +The latter took to flight, and the Belochees +commenced pillaging the trunks and cases. +Amongst the property carried off was a camel +belonging to Brigadier Scott, which was laden +with the whole of the general's kit. A party +of the 4th Dragoons, under the command of +Lieutenant Gillespie, at length galloped up +and put the enemy to flight. There were only +three men wounded and three horses killed on +our side, whilst the Belochees left great numbers +of dead on the ground.</p> + +<p>During the heat of the firing a mistake occurred, +which at first occasioned some alarm, +but was soon converted into a burst of uncontrollable +merriment. Our men had driven the +last of the enemy up the hill, the latter peppering +away at them from every rock or crevice +where they could find shelter, when our attention +was arrested by the appearance of a general +officer on the heights to our left, who appeared +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +to be making signs to us. It was at first supposed +that one of our leaders had fallen into +the hands of the enemy, and universal consternation +prevailed. The General at length took +off his shaco, and advancing to the very +edge of the precipice, waved it in the air as if +to cheer us on to his rescue, when to our +infinite amusement we discovered it was the +fellow who had made off with the Brigadier's +kit, and who, after examining the contents of +it, had rigged himself out in full uniform. The +rocks echoed with laughter, and the <i>pseudo</i> +general appeared to enjoy the fun as much as +any of us, for he capered about in a perfect +ecstacy of delight, and gave expression to his contentment +in the most delectable yells. A shower +of balls was at length directed against him, and +the Brigadier's swarthy representative came +tumbling down the precipice to render himself +and his briefly enjoyed honours into our hands.</p> + +<p>Amongst the booty carried off upon this +occasion were the wind instruments belonging +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +to the 1st Bombay Cavalry, and a bullock, carrying +two packages of ball ammunition, which +contained 500 rounds each. Some amusement +was created amongst us by speculations as to +the probable use that would be made of the +former, the humour displayed in the appropriation +of General Scott's kit having given us a +high idea of the waggish propensities of +the enemy. Our fun was however turned into +mortification when we beheld them cutting our +ball ammunition into slugs to fit the bore of +their gingalls, and sending it back to us from +the heights in as wholesale quantities as they +had taken it.</p> + +<p>In the course of the skirmish a feat was performed +by two of the native troops, which was +watched with the most intense interest. A +Bruhee (a fierce and warlike tribe, distinguished +by their inveterate hostility towards the black +troops in our service,) had taken shelter behind +a rock, about midway up the mountain, and +kept up a constant fire on some native cavalry +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +beneath. Two of the Sepoys belonging to the +Bombay Native Infantry observing the circumstance, +determined on effecting his capture, +and laying down their muskets at the foot of +the hill, they crept stealthily up. Whenever +the fellow's flashing eyes were observed on a +line with the rock, searching for an object for +his aim, they crouched under cover until the +discharge of his gingall satisfied them he +was about to reload. They then rapidly advanced +to his lurking place, and pouncing +suddenly upon him conveyed him down the +hill. The prisoner had such a horror of falling +into our hands that he several times implored +his captors to put an end to him on the spot. +They took no notice of his entreaties until they +had reached the bottom of the hill, where they +had laid their arms, when a havildar meeting +them inquired if they had not heard of the +orders, that no prisoners should be brought +into camp. "I knew nothing about it," replied +one of the soldiers; "but this I do know +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +that he is a stout-hearted fellow, and deserves +a better fate." "<i>I</i> understand you," exclaimed +the other Sepoy, and taking his musket he +placed the muzzle of it to the prisoner's head, +and literally covered the serjeant with his +brains.</p> + +<p>The quantity of carrion which we every +where left upon our route attracted numbers +of the ravening beasts of prey with +which these hills abound, and we could not rest +at night from the dismal howling which surrounded +us. Even the new made graves of our +comrades did not escape the keen and hungering +scent of the jackall, their remains being +scarcely interred before we found them again +torn up, their whitening bones alone attesting +the nature of the visitation. Amongst the +greatest of our annoyances, however, was the +intolerable stench which proceeded from the +putrefying bodies of the camels, that lay +scattered every where upon our track, and +which was enough to breed a mortality. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>As we emerged from the Pass into the open +country, the heights became literally alive with +Belochees, who gave expression to their rage +and disappointment in the most absurd and +violent gesticulations. We bivouacked late at +night in the open plain, after a fatiguing and +harassing march of twelve hours, during which +we had been unable to procure a drop of water. +The same privation awaited us in the place +where we passed the night, and the sufferings +of both men and cattle were dreadful. It was +not until six o'clock next day that we fell in +with a stream that traversed the road to Quettah, +and were able to satisfy the thirst which consumed +us. We were now in the valley of +Shawle, which presented a most agreeable contrast +to the barren hills through which we had +just passed: here we found a succession of vast +orchards, whose fruit trees bursting into blossom +and gladdening the wearied eye with a variety +of the most beautiful tints recalled to most of +us the pleasant scenery of dear old England. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>On our arrival at Quettah the troops underwent +a medical inspection, and it was determined +that the sick should be left behind. A depôt +was accordingly established here, consisting of +one regiment of Bengal Infantry, one company +of European Foot Artillery, some heavy +ordnance, and some Gikwar, or native horsemen, +the whole under the command of +Brigadier-General Nott. This arrangement +was reported to have given rise to some angry +altercation between the latter officer and Sir +John Keane previous to the departure of the +Commander-in-Chief for Candahar, General +Nott being indignant at being thus invalided +and debarred his share in the danger and glories +of the campaign. We remained at Quettah +about a week, the condition of both men and +horses being such as to render rest necessary. +The supplies which we obtained from the Bengal +column and the rich pasturage of the +surrounding country soon refreshed and re-invigorated +us, and we pursued our route in +renewed health and spirits. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>Leaving Quettah, we again entered a barren +and mountainous district which presented few +traces of cultivation, and which afforded little or +no pasturage for our cattle. In order to embarrass +us the more the Belochees lay on the watch +for the parties who were sent out to cut grass, +and maimed and mutilated them in the most +shocking manner. One poor fellow had his ears +slit, and another received injuries which rendered +the amputation of an arm necessary. The +thefts of cattle, however, became less numerous, +the cutting off the supplies of forage being +deemed a less hazardous and equally effectual +mode of impeding our progress.</p> + +<p>So serious became this change in the tactics +of the enemy that it was resolved to increase +the number of men sent out on the foraging +expeditions. This did not, however, deter the +Belochees from repeating their attacks, and on +one occasion they drove in a party consisting +of a considerable number of native soldiers, and +succeeded in making three or four of the grass-cutters +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +prisoners. A squadron of her Majesty's +4th Light Dragoons was immediately ordered +out in pursuit under the command of Major +Daly. We proceeded towards the hills at full +gallop, and at length came in sight of the enemy +who were in a close body of from three to four +hundred. They suddenly disappeared from +view, although the country was still a perfect +level, and presented no apparent means of concealment. +On reaching the spot we found +they had ensconced themselves in a large stone +pit or quarry, into which it was impossible for +cavalry to penetrate, and a sharp and well +directed fire from all the salient points of the +rocks affording the least shelter, indicated to us +their different lurking places. Patiently watching +our opportunities we sent a volley into +every recess or cavity where a rag was to be +seen fluttering, and Major Daly observing a +party of about ten or twelve clustered in some +bushes which lay almost within a bound of his +horse gallantly dashed the animal down the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +descent, followed by Lieutenant Janvrin, +the quarter-master of the regiment, and with a +couple of hog spears, which they happened to +have with them they dispatched several of the +party. The others made their escape by +plunging deeper into the recesses of the +quarry.</p> + +<p>The night now setting in, the Belochees +took advantage of the obscurity to steal out of +their lair and creep through our lines one by +one. They did not get off, however, without +further loss. Hearing a rustling noise within a +few feet of me, whilst on the watch, I listened +attentively and felt convinced that some of +them were endeavouring to effect their escape +by crawling along the ground on their hands +and knees. I plunged my spurs in my horse +and clearing the distance at a bound, just as I +observed two men rising from the ground, +I cut them both down, notwithstanding a most +determined resistance, in the course of which +they fired twice at me. Several others were +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +disposed of in like manner, but no prisoners +were made. We returned to camp about nine +o'clock, well satisfied with the issue of our adventure.</p> + +<p>The grass cutters who had been made +prisoners, and who were abandoned when it was +found that our pursuit was likely to prove +successful, had received no other injury at the +hands of the enemy, than a severe thrashing with +a bamboo. The poor fellows were terribly frightened, +and felt most grateful for their deliverance.</p> + +<p>Major Daly and two privates were severely +wounded in this affair. Beside a thrust of a +sabre in the chest the Major received a musket +ball in the left foot, which disabled him for +some time from active service. We also found +that several of the horses had been injured, it +being a favourite trick of the enemy to hamstring +them, or rip their bellies open, whenever +they could get within reach of the animals.</p> + +<p>A treacherous trick played us by one of the +neighbouring chiefs, the Khan of Khelat, added +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +in no small degree to the difficulties we had to +encounter. The Khan had promised allegiance +to Shah Soojah, and undertook to facilitate the +progress of the British troops through his +territories. Instead of fulfilling the friendly +professions he had made towards us, he interdicted +the villagers from bringing supplies +to the camp, and cut off almost all the mountain +streams. Several of the camp followers who +ventured out in search of water, were either +carried off or murdered, and our situation +became distressing in the extreme. In one +day's march of fifteen miles, we left upon our +track the bodies of nearly one hundred men, +who died from sheer physical exhaustion.</p> + +<p>Continuing our progress towards the Khojuck +heights, where we expected to meet with determined +opposition, we lost a number of men on the +route from their own imprudence in venturing +at a distance from the camp after dusk. One +of them, a Portuguese cook, belonging to my +own regiment, lost his way in proceeding to the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +bazaar for necessaries, and fell into the hands +of the Belochees, who were always hanging on +our rear. His cries being heard by some +soldiers returning from the bazaar, they ran +towards the spot from whence the noise proceeded, +and were received with a volley of +bullets. They did not of course venture farther, +being ignorant of the number of the enemy, +but on procuring assistance from the camp, +they discovered the cook with his throat +cut, the head being nearly severed from the +shoulders.</p> + +<p>Sickness now increased alarmingly amongst +us, owing to the bad quality of the attar or +flour, as well as the reduction in our usual +quantity of rations. The cattle were little +better off, and the difficulties of the route increased +at almost every step. Water continued +as scarce as ever, for the natives filled up or +concealed part of the wells and poisoned the +remainder. Of the latter fact, we received +intimation in time to prevent accidents, and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +chance befriended us as regarded the former. +After a harassing day's march some soldiers of +the 17th Infantry, who had set out in search +of water, were unsuccessful and were bewailing +their hard fate, when the unusual moistness +of the place where they had pitched their tent +attracted their notice. They sounded the +ground and finding it hollow, immediately +arrived at the conclusion that it was a well that +had been freshly covered over. Further examination +confirmed this supposition, and about +half an hour's work revealed a deep hole to +their sight, in which they found a spring of +excellent water. This discovery created such +joy and frantic eagerness in the camp that the +authorities were obliged to place a strong guard +with loaded muskets over it in order to keep +back the pressure of the crowds who flocked +to it.</p> + +<p>In the course of the next day's march we +came upon a part of the road which was literally +strewn with human skeletons and broken +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +matchlocks. Of the various surmises current +amongst us as to the occasion of this wholesale +butchery, the most probable was, that one of +the caravans travelling to Candahar had been +attacked and overpowered by one of the marauding +tribes of the district.</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_5"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">The Khojuck Pass.—Descent of the +Troops.—Shocking +Death of a Camel Driver.—Detection and Escape of an +Affghan Thief.—Loss of Cavalry Horses.—Candahar.—Arrival +of Shah Soojah.—Condition of the Troops.—Attempt of +the Natives to cut off a Convoy of Provisions.—Asiatic +Mendicants.—The Mosque at Candahar.—Arrival of Affghan +Auxiliaries.</p> + +<p>We reached the Khojuck Pass in the expectation +of finding it occupied by the forces of Dost +Mahommed, but contrary to general anticipation +it was abandoned. We learned that the Dost +had visited the place a few days before, in company +with several of his chiefs, when the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +prudence of disputing our passage was discussed. +Owing to some violent differences of +opinion amongst the subordinate chiefs, the +idea was abandoned, and the enemy fell back +towards Candahar. How different might have +been the fate of the expedition but for this +impolitic and cowardly step. To enable the +reader to judge of its importance a brief description +of the Pass will be necessary.</p> + +<p>Ascending an eminence of no great height +a platform of rock is gained, from which a +glorious view bursts upon the sight. Immediately +beneath is a steep declivity, along whose +rugged sides winds the narrow road, while a +chasm of immense depth yawns beneath, and +threatens to engulph the luckless passenger +should he chance to slip as he treads his way +down the difficult and dangerous descent. +Receding into the far distance lie long ranges +of blue mountains broken at intervals into open +plains and valleys, whose calm and smiling +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +aspect contrasts well with the frowning majesty +of the neighbouring heights.</p> + +<p>Nothing could be finer than the view which +presented itself as our troops wound round the +brow of this tremendous precipice, their arms +glittering in the sun, and their uniforms imparting +a gay and dazzling variety to the sober +hues of the stunted herbage with which its sides +were clad. The Infantry, consisting of several +companies of the Queen's Royals and a party +of the 17th regiment were ordered to line the +heights in order to protect the descent of the +Artillery and Cavalry, together with the heavy +baggage. So steep was the road (if road it +could be called) that the Cavalry were obliged +to dismount and lead their horses, bridle in +hand, and the Artillery to unlimber their guns +and drag them down the precipice, a task, as +the reader may conceive, of no small labour and +difficulty. About half way down, a camel, +laden with camp equipage, missed its footing +and was precipitated into the abyss with its +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +conductor, and both were of course, immediately +dashed to pieces. We reached the plain +without any further mishap about six o'clock the +same evening, and had every reason to congratulate +ourselves that the cowardice or +negligence of the enemy had prevented them +from disputing our passage.</p> + +<p>Having halted at the bottom of the Pass +two days so as to enable the remainder of the +heavy ordnance and baggage to descend we +proceeded towards Candahar. The enemy +occasionally made their appearance, and though +not caring to face us in the field, continued to +harass us severely by hanging on our rear, and +cutting off the stragglers. Nor did they abate in +the least in their love of thieving, robberies +being just as frequent, and characterised by as +much ingenuity and daring as ever. Late +one night I was on sentry before the tent of +Lieutenant Kemp when a rustling noise attracted +my notice; on looking attentively +towards the spot from whence it proceeded, I +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +perceived an Affghan crawling towards the tent +on his hands and knees, and suffering him to +enter, in order the more easily to secure him, I +surprised him as he was in the act of plundering +it. The fellow was completely naked, and +on my attempting to lay hold of him he slipped +through my fingers like an eel, owing to the +quantity of grease with which his person was +smeared, and succeeded in clearing the lines in +safety. I did not shoot him because positive +orders had been issued against shots being fired +in camp, which had before given rise to many +groundless alarms.</p> + +<p>The weather now became excessively hot, +the thermometer being 125 degrees in the +shade, which rendered it necessary that we +should prosecute our way either in the +cool of the morning or at night. The nights +were so beautiful that the latter could not be +deemed a hardship, and had the scenery been +but equal to that through which we had just +passed, it could not have been seen to greater +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +advantage than under these clear delicious +moonlights. Nothing, however, can be more +flat or uninteresting than the country between +the Khojuck Pass and Candahar. The only +thing that might be said to have broken the +monotony of the route was an occasional shot +which told the fate of some poor horse, who, +having been broken down by fatigue and privation, +and rendered incapable of further exertion, +was mercifully put out of pain by its +rider. There were nearly fifty head of cattle +disposed of in this way between the Pass and +Candahar, a pretty item in the expenses of the +campaign, when it is borne in mind that each +of them had cost from fifty to sixty pounds in +India. Had we come in contact with the +enemy at Candahar as we expected, I have no +doubt the Cavalry would have been found +wholly ineffective from the jaded and worn-out +condition of their horses.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Candahar on the 4th. of May, +and effected a junction with the remainder of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +the Bengal forces under Sir Willoughby +Cotton. Here we were also joined by Shah +Soojah in company with Sir William McNaghten +and Sir Alexander Burnes. The +dethroned monarch immediately took possession +of his ancestral palace, which had just been +evacuated by the enemy. The reverses of +fortune to which these Asiatic sovereigns are +subject have so steeled them against adversity, +that I doubt if his Majesty was agitated, even +by a passing emotion, at this important event. +If he felt at all, it was perhaps more a sensation +of fear than joy, for he could not conceal from +himself the fact, that the opinions of his subjects +were arraigned to a man against him, and +that under such circumstances his tenure of +sovereignty would in all probability be terminated +by a bloody death.</p> + +<p>Tired as we were of the harassing mountain +warfare in which we had been engaged, and +anxious to strike a blow which would decide +the fate of the Campaign, we were yet agreeably +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +disappointed at the evacuation of Candahar +by the enemy. We were greatly in need of +rest after the long and fatiguing marches, +which we had made; and the deplorable condition +in which we found ourselves, as regarded supplies, +rendered it highly impolitic to bring us +just then in face of the enemy. Sickness had +increased alarmingly amongst us, but in this +respect we did not find our position improved, for +the excessive heat which prevailed during our +stay here carried off great numbers of the +men.</p> + +<p>Although the bazaar was plentifully supplied +with meat and fruit, flour was difficult +to be obtained, the stock on hand having +been eagerly bought up by the troops on their +arrival. The traders turned the scarcity of this +necessary article to profitable account, for they +only gave 2℔. to the rupee instead of 40℔., +the usual proportion. We had been living on +half rations, and these not of the best quality, +for nearly a month previous, and had looked +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +forward to our arrival at Candahar for some +addition to the quantity, but so far was this +from being the case, that it was found necessary +to put the camp followers on the same allowance, +and it was not until three weeks after our +arrival that an increase and that not the full +one, was served out to us.</p> + +<p>We were in daily expectation of the arrival +of a convoy of six hundred camels laden with +provisions and grain, but intelligence having +been brought us that the Affghans lay in way +to intercept it, it was thought advisable to send +out a force consisting of two squadrons of +native cavalry, a party of her Majesty's 13th +Light Infantry and two field pieces for its +protection. The enemy being informed by +their spies of this movement, fell back to the +hills, and the supplies were brought in safety to +the camp. The native contractor who furnished +them, was offered a bribe of 10,000 rupees by +Dost Mahommed to direct his camels another +way, but much to his credit refused it. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p>Candahar is a place of considerable importance +in a commercial point of view, but its +military advantages are scarcely deserving of +notice. It is surrounded by an old wall and +ditch, some efforts to strengthen which had +been made by throwing up a few parapets, but +they were abandoned at the first news of our +approach. The principal entrance faces the +south and leads directly into the bazaar, which +presents rather an animated scene to the eyes +of the stranger, in consequence of the varied +and picturesque costumes of the multitudes +who resort to it, and who are composed of +Asiatics of almost every race. The merchandize +exposed for sale is no less heterogeneous +in its character than its vendors, and much to +our surprise and gratification it included good +broad-cloths and Whitechapel needles, articles +which, in the dilapidated and transparent +state of our clothing, proved of no small service +to us.</p> + +<p>Common and disgusting as mendicancy has +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +become through all parts of Asia, I have never +seen it carried to such an annoying extent as +here. Our ears were assailed on all sides by +whining petitions, and our eyes offended by +the exhibition of festering sores or simulated +deformities. The ingenuity displayed in twisting +a straight and well made limb into some +hideous distortion, or in painting up an ugly +case of cancer, would have excited the admiration +and envy of the importunate cripples who +beset the chapels of Catholic countries.</p> + +<p>At the further extremity of the bazaar +stands a noble mosque, in which are interred +the remains of Shah Soojah's father and grandfather. +A lofty gilt dome and graceful minarets +distinguish it above the other buildings of +the town, and the effect, as it is approached +from the distance, is extremely imposing. On +entering this beautiful temple the visitor is +conducted up a flight of marble steps to a +platform within the dome, where the remains +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +of the deceased princes lie. The tombs are +covered with palls of blue velvet, fringed with +gold, and illuminated by about two hundred +lamps, which are kept burning night and day, +while forty Faquirs, or priests, watch perpetually +over them. Two magnificent folio +editions of the Koran, bound in velvet and +ornamented with characters of gold, were also +shown to us with a degree of reverence that +proved the estimation in which they were held. +A few pigeons which were flying round the +interior of the building appeared to divide with +these costly exemplars of the Book of Life +the regard and veneration of the votaries of +the temple, this bird being held sacred, and +any invasion of its privileges visited by the +punishment of death.</p> + +<p>Several of the Affghan Chiefs who were +known to be devoted to the interests of Dost +Mahommed becoming alarmed at the turn +affairs were taking, or, as some said, being dissatisfied +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +with that prince for refusing to guarantee +the safety of their women, now came +into camp and tendered their allegiance to +Shah Soojah. These reluctant auxiliaries were +warmly received by the Politicals, who hailed +their adhesion as an omen of the success of the +expedition; and I observed Sir Alexander +Burnes carry his joy so far as cordially to embrace +one of them. The Chief smiled grimly, +but said but little. I had an opportunity however +of ascertaining his real feelings, on getting +amongst his followers a few days afterwards. +They openly expressed their regret at +being compelled to join the invaders of their +country, and stated, that they could not have +a braver leader, or a better prince, than Dost +Mahommed. They described him as being of +a just and generous nature, whilst they +represented the Shah as being cruel and unprincipled.</p> + +<p>These Affghan horsemen were a fine athletic +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +set of men, and capitally mounted, their +breed of cattle being much superior to ours, +and exhibiting proofs of the most careful +grooming. The riders wore coats of mail with +steel gauntlets, and their arms consisted of a +sabre, heavier and longer than ours, a dagger, +and in some instances shields and matchlocks. +I have no hesitation in saying that the Affghan +Cavalry, if these were a fair sample of +them, are a most effective body of men. They +may not be equal to ours in the field, but for +a harassing system of mountain warfare where +they are required to make sudden descents +upon Infantry, hemmed in between defiles, and +embarrassed by ignorance of the country, no +body of troops can be better adapted. Their +horses are light limbed, but strong and wiry, +and capable of undergoing incredible fatigue +while the trooper himself, practised from infancy +in the management of the animal, can +ride him over places where no European horseman +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +would venture. Had these wild mountaineers +but the advantages of discipline and +proper organization their country would be +inaccessible to any troops in the world.</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_6"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Installation of Shah Soojah.—Attack on the camel +guards.—Heroism +of an Affghan Youth.—Murder of Cornet +Inverarity of the 16th Lancers.—Departure from Candahar.—The +Ghiljie Hills.—Locusts.—Arrival of new Auxiliaries.—Camel +Batteries.—Hyder Khail.—Arrival at Ghuznee.—Tomb +of Mahommed.—Remains of the Old Town of Ghuznee.</p> + +<p>In order to give a sort of political eclat to the +steps taken to reinstate Shah Soojah on the +throne of his ancestors, it was resolved that he +should be solemnly inaugurated at Candahar, +and nothing was omitted that could possibly +tend to render the ceremony imposing. On +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +the morning fixed for its celebration, the whole +of the British forces were paraded in review +order on a large plain to the north of the city, +whilst the Shah's troops were drawn up at a +little distance. In the centre of the field stood +a platform canopied with crimson silk, and +ornamented with numerous banners and devices, +the seat reserved for the Shah being ascended +by a broad flight of tapestried steps, and covered +with cushions of crimson and gold. The other +accessories of the pageant were got up in similar +costly style, but the effect, on the whole, conveyed +to the mind rather the unsatisfied feeling +which attends the hollow show and glitter of +the theatre, than the idea of substantial power. +The weather was beautiful, the sun shedding its +gorgeous rays full upon us, and finding innumerable +reflections in the military panoply +beneath. The heat was however excessive, and +the majority of us would have willingly exchanged +our places in the ceremonial for the +shade and repose of our tents. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>As early as six o'clock the Commander-in-Chief +took up his position in front of the line, +and was received with a general salute. The +Shah was soon after observed leaving the gates +of the city on an elephant, the howdah of which +was of solid silver. His Majesty appeared to +me to be between fifty and sixty years of age; +of middle stature, and somewhat inclined to +corpulency. His features were large, but regular, +and the expression which played about +them was not calculated to leave a favourable +impression on the physiognomist. It had a +mingled character of vaccillation and cruelty +about it, which impressed one with the notion +that the possessor could sink with ease from +the extreme of tyrannical self-will to the +abject and fawning humility of the slave. +His Majesty was accompanied by his Vizier, +a tall, spare looking man of a thoughtful and +rather melancholy cast of features, and somewhat +older than his master. Immediately behind +the Shah rode Sir William McNaghten, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +in full court dress, such as is usually worn by +officials at her Majesty's levees in England, +and he was followed by Sir Alexander Burnes, +in a plain suit, and surrounded by the Affghan +chiefs, with whom he appeared to be in close +and friendly converse. The winning smile and +frank and courteous manner of the latter gentleman +appeared to have gained for him a degree +of consideration amongst the natives, which no +other European could boast of, and which was +principally attributable to the talismanic influence +of qualities that have a never failing +effect in softening down and subduing even the +most rugged and intractable natures. Nothing +could exceed the splendour of the costumes in +which these chiefs were clad, their turbans and +weapons being studded with diamonds and +other precious stones; whilst the horses on +which they were mounted were perfect models +of animal beauty.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Shah arrived on the ground +the bands of the different regiments struck up +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +"God save the King," and his Majesty was +conducted to his throne by the Politicals. The +troops then marched past the platform in slow +and quick time each regiment lowering its +colors as it arrived before it. A proclamation +was afterwards read, declaring and confirming the +Shah's title to the throne, and all persons subject +to his authority having been required to +yield him fealty, the Affghan Chiefs present +tendered their homage. The troops were +marched back to their lines immediately after, +and a Durbar concluded the ceremonies of the +day.</p> + +<p>It must not be imagined that during all this +time our ever watchful enemies had abated +their vigilance or lost any opportunity of annoying +us. They did not dare to attack the +camp, itself, precautionary measures having +been adopted to prevent their near approach, +by stationing inlying and outlying pickets +round it. We were compelled, however, to +send our camels to graze at some distance from +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +the encampment, and the soldiers in charge of +them were frequently surprised and driven in. +On one occasion a party of the 13th Light +Infantry, consisting of a serjeant and six privates, +who had been entrusted with the care of +from fifteen to eighteen camels, fell asleep on +their posts, being overcome by the excessive +heat, and the Affghans, stealing upon them +whilst in this state, put one man to death, and +severely wounded two others, the whole of the +camels of course falling into their hands. The +serjeant escaped but was broken for neglect of +duty.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this occurrence, two of the +marauders fell into our hands. In order to put +an end to, or diminish these vexatious losses it +was determined to make a terrible example of +the prisoners, in the hope that it would have +some effect upon their companions. They were +accordingly tried by a court martial, composed +of native officers, and sentenced to be blown +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +from the mouth of a gun. Having been led +into the market-place at Candahar, they were +ordered to draw lots as to who should first +undergo this dreadful doom. The younger of +the prisoners, a stripling of about nineteen +years of age, whose firm and gallant bearing excited +universal sympathy and admiration, responded +to this command by at once embracing +the mouth of the gun from which he was +instantly blown to atoms. His companion, a +grey-headed man, upwards of sixty years of +age, sat looking on, unmoved at this terrible +scene, and coolly smoking his hookah. On +being ordered to take his place at the gun he +did not exhibit the least appearance of fear, and +just as the match was about being applied, the +officer in command arrested it and directed the +prisoner to be taken away, the Shah influenced, +it is said, by the entreaties of Sir Alexander +Burnes, having granted his pardon. This unexpected +release from the very jaws of death +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +produced as little emotion on the part of this +stout old man, as its near approach or the fate +of his youthful companion had elicited.</p> + +<p>The mysterious and premature death of +Cornet Inverarity, of the 16th Lancers, formed, +whilst here, the universal topic of discussion in +the military circles. The circumstances, as +far as I could collect them, were these:—A +pic-nic party had been given by the officers of +the regiment at a pleasant rural retreat, within +a few miles of Candahar, and the Cornet, +being fond of fishing, took his rod and +strayed a short distance from his companions in +search of sport. His prolonged absence having +given rise to remark, some of the party went +in search of him, and found the unfortunate +gentleman lying dead on the banks of a neighbouring +stream. The wounds he had received +were of such a nature as to preclude the idea +that they were self-inflicted, and there can be +but little doubt that he was murdered by the +Affghans. The deceased was an officer of considerable +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +acquirements, and was regretted by +all who had the honour of his acquaintance. +He was only in his 26th year, and had been +about five in the service.</p> + +<p>I gladly avail myself of the opportunity +which presents itself of paying a tribute to the +good conduct and friendly feeling of the native +troops, who testified on all occasions the utmost +willingness, and indeed the most anxious desire +to render all the aid and service in their power +to their European comrades. Their knowledge +of the language of the country, and their acquaintance +with the value of its produce, proved +of no small advantage to us in our daily traffic +with the cunning and thievish traders of the +bazaar. Let me add that the general feeling +amongst us was that, in privation or danger, +we might always count with certainty on the +generosity and bravery of the Sepoy.</p> + +<p>Having passed nearly seven weeks at Candahar, +it was determined that we should next +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +proceed to Ghuznee, where it was reported that +Dost Mahommed and his followers had resolved +on making a stand. The army quitted the +encampment on the 27th of June, preceded by +a squadron of European cavalry, two squadrons +of the native troops, and two field pieces loaded +with canister and grape shot. The route from +Candahar to Ghuznee lies through a wild and +mountainous country, and over roads extremely +difficult, and at times almost impassable. The +Ghiljies fled on our approach to the numerous +mud forts with which these hills abound, and +seldom ventured on our track. In the +dwellings they had abandoned we found only +a few old crones and hungry dogs, both of +whom received us with a sort of howling +welcome. The Ghiljie huts are constructed +somewhat like a bee hive, being of circular and +conical form, with interior accommodations of +the most wretched description. The few males +whom we caught a glimpse of were clad in the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +same substitute for broad cloth that served the +famous Bryan O'Lynn, who having—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"No breeches to wear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cut up a sheepskin to make him a pair."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We were lucky enough to discover the stores +of corn and <i>bussorah</i> (a sort of provender for +cattle) which the natives had buried at the +first news of our approach. We were also well +supplied with water the country being traversed +in all directions by rivers and streams. To +counterbalance these advantages we were annoyed +with shoals of locusts, which literally +darkened the atmosphere and kept up a perpetual +buzzing and humming in our ears. The +locust appears to be a favorite article of food +with the natives, who roast it on a slow fire and +devour it with eagerness. We could not bring +ourselves to relish this equivocal dainty, +although our rations were not of the best or +most varied description. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>As we advanced on Khelat-i-Ghiljie scarcely +a day passed without some Chief coming into +camp from Cabul, with a retinue of from one +to two hundred men, in order to tender his +allegiance to the Shah. They were immediately +sent to the rear and incorporated with his +Majesty's levies. Many of these new auxiliaries +brought camel batteries, which created a +good deal of curiosity and amusement amongst +the European troops, to whom they were a +novelty. Each camel carried a sort of rampart +on his back, which mounted from four to six +swivel guns of small calibre, the conductor both +driving the animal and serving the guns. We +were surprised at the rapidity and accuracy +with which these portable batteries were served +and brought to bear, the animal dropping on its +knees wherever it became necessary to bring +the guns within range, and rising the moment +they were discharged.</p> + +<p>At Hyder Khail we were plundered of several +camels laden with bedding, belonging to her +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +Majesty's 2nd, or Queen's Royals, and the party +in charge of them disappeared and was not +again heard of before we left. As we passed +<ins class="corr" title="Khelat-i-Giljie">Khelat-i-Ghiljie</ins> the country +began to improve in +its character, and large tracts, covered with +corn and beans, betokened the presence of a +more civilized tribe than that through whose +inhospitable territories we had just passed. The +villagers came daily into camp with fruit and +vegetables, which they parted with at reasonable +prices, and their conduct to us on the +whole was civil and peaceable.</p> + +<p>On the 21st. of July we arrived in sight of +Ghuznee, the strength of which we found +underrated rather than exaggerated. Ghuznee +may be said to form the key to Cabul since it +commands the only direct route to that place. +The citadel is of great extent, and includes +within its <ins class="corr" title="precints">precincts</ins>, three or four +bazaars and +several streets. It is surrounded on every side +by strong bastions and substantial walls, the +whole of which had been recently put in repair, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +and it mounted nine guns (one a 48 pounder) +besides innumerable wall pieces, gingals, and +matchlocks. The principal entrance is at the +North side, on the road to Cabul, and is approached +by a bridge of slight construction, +thrown across a deep ditch or moat. To +the right and left stretch long chains of lofty +hills, which approach the walls so closely on +the North side, as to command a view of the +interior of the citadel. The enemy, sensible of +the importance of these heights, had lined +them with troops in order to prevent our +planting batteries on them. At the distance +of about three quarters of a mile from the fort, +and situated in an amphitheatre of hills, lies +the town of Ghuznee, which consists of only a +few narrow, straggling streets. A narrow, but +deep and rapid river, whose banks are studded +with rich corn fields, winds its devious route +through the pleasant valley in which the town +is situate, and half encircles its walls. Nearly +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +equidistant from the town and the fort, and +surrounded by luxuriant orchards and vineyards, +stands the famous tomb of Mahommed +of Ghuznee. It consists of an oblong building +36 ft. by 18, and about 30 feet in height, and +is crowned by a mud cupola. The gates are +said to be of sandal-wood, and were taken from +the temple of Somnath by the conqueror, whose +remains lie entombed here. The grave stone +in the interior is made of the finest white +marble, but its once rich sculpture is now +nearly defaced, and it presents but few traces +of the Arabic characters with which it was +formerly inscribed. Over the last resting +place of the hero, and in a sadly decayed state, +are suspended the banner of green silk, and the +enormous mace which he had so often borne in +battle.</p> + +<p>In the plain to the south of the hills stand +two pillars, or obelisks, of brickwork, about +one hundred feet in height, and twelve in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +diameter at the base, which are said to have +marked the limits of the bazaar of ancient +Ghuznee, and which at present form serve only +as conspicuous landmarks for the traveller.</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_7"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Reconnaisance of the Fortress.—Skirmish with the +Enemy.—Rejoicings +of the Garrison at our Supposed Defeat.—Preparation +for a Coup de Main.—Engineer Operations.—Storming +and Taking of the Fortress.</p> + +<p>We debouched on the plain in front of the +fort about eight o'clock in the morning, and +advanced upon it in three columns—the Cavalry +on the right, the Artillery in the centre, and +the Infantry on the left. The Commander-in-Chief +determined to reconnoitre the place in +force, and make the enemy show their strength. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +On approaching the orchards and walled gardens +before described, we found them occupied +by the enemy, and the 1st Brigade having +been immediately thrown into them, drove the +Affghans out of the enclosures in capital style, +and forced them to take shelter behind the +defences, with a comparatively trifling loss +on our side. Our guns were now brought +to bear upon the fortress, which had kept up +a sharp fire on us from the moment of our +appearance, but owing to our having left our +heavy battering train behind us at Candahar +we did but little or no damage. About eleven +o'clock we drew off, and pitched our camp out +of range of the fire of the foot. On our +skirmishers retiring from the gardens they were +immediately occupied by the enemy, who commenced +cheering our retreating parties, in the +conviction that they had obtained a victory. +Under this impression they instantly sent off +expresses to Cabul, to announce the fact, and +state that if the whole of the surrounding +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +country could be raised, they had little doubt +of being able to cut us off to a man. The garrison +spent the night in rejoicings, and blue +lights were constantly sent up as signals to +their friends on the neighbouring hills.</p> + +<p>Next morning the Shah's camp was threatened +on the left by large bodies of horse and +foot who were driven off by the Cavalry <ins class="corr" title="and +and">and</ins> +some of his Highness's troops; whilst +another force, consisting chiefly of horse, under +the command of one of Dost Mahommed's +sons; and at a short distance from him a +Ghiljie Chief, with about fifteen hundred +Cavalry, who had hung upon our flank all the +way from Khelat-i-Ghiljie, menaced us to the +right. This determined the Commander-in-Chief +to expedite matters, and the engineers +having made a careful inspection of the fortress, +he resolved on carrying it by storm. The +whole of the 22nd was consumed in making +the necessary preparations, the field hospital +being got ready while strong detachments of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +Cavalry scoured the country around, in order +to keep the enemy from our lines.</p> + +<p>In order to give my readers a correct idea +of the strength of the fortifications, and the +difficulties overcome by the intelligence and +courage of the officers and men of the British +Army, I cannot do better than to copy the +official reports made by the principal Engineer +officers on the subject. They contain a full +detail of the operations up to the moment when +the citadel fell into our possession.</p> + +<p><i>Memorandum of the Engineers' operations +before Ghuznee, in July, 1839, by Captain George +Thompson, Bengal Engineers, Chief Engineer +Army of the Indus.</i></p> + +<p>The accounts of the Fortress of Ghuznee, +received from those who had seen it, were such +as to induce his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief +to leave in Candahar the very small +battering train then with the Army, there being +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +a scarcity of transport cattle. The place was +described as very weak, and completely commanded +from a range of hills to the north.</p> + +<p>When we came before it on the morning of +the 21st of July we were very much surprised +to find a rampart, in good repair, built on a +scarped mound about thirty-five feet high, +flanked by numerous towers, and surrounded +by a faussebraye and wet ditch. The irregular +figure of the "enceinte" gave a good flanking +fire, whilst the height of the citadel covered +the interior from the commanding fire of the +hills to the north, rendering it nugatory. In +addition to this, the towers, at the angles, had +been enlarged, screen walls had been built before +the gates, the ditch cleared out and filled +with water, stated to be unfordable, and an outwork +built on the right bank of the river so as +to command the bed of it.</p> + +<p>The garrison was variously stated from three +to four thousand strong, including five hundred +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +Cavalry, and from subsequent information we +found that it had not been overrated.</p> + +<p>On the approach of the army, a fire of artillery +was opened from the body of the place, +and of musketry from the neighbouring gardens. +A detachment of Infantry cleared the +latter, and the former was silenced for a short +time by shrapnells from the Horse Artillery, +but the fire from the new outwork on the bank +of the river was in no way checked. A nearer +view of the works was, however, obtained from +the gardens which had been cleared. This was +not at all satisfactory. The works were evidently +much stronger than we had been led to +expect, and such as our army could not venture +to attack in a regular manner. We had no +battering train, and to besiege Ghuznee in +form, a much larger one would be required +than the army ever possessed. The great command +of the parapets from sixty to seventy +feet, with the wet ditch, were insurmountable +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +obstacles to an attack, either by mining or +escalading.</p> + +<p>It therefore became necessary to examine +closely the whole <i>contour</i> of the place, to discover +if any other mode of attack could be +adopted. The engineers, with an escort, went +round the works, approaching as near as they +could find cover. The garrison were on the +alert, and kept up a hot and well regulated fire +upon the officers whenever they were obliged +to show themselves. However, by keeping +the Infantry beyond musket range, and the +Cavalry at a still greater distance, only one +man was killed, and another wounded; the +former being hit by men sent out of the place +to drive off the reconnoitring party.</p> + +<p>The fortifications were found equally strong, +all round, the only tangible point observed +being the Cabul gateway, which offered the +following advantages for a <i>coup-de-main</i>. The +road to the Gate was clear, the bridge over the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +ditch unbroken, there were good positions for +the Artillery within three hundred yards of +the walls on both sides of the road, and we had +information that the Gateway was not built +up, a reinforcement from Cabul being expected.</p> + +<p>The result of this reconnaisance was a report +to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, +that if he decided upon the immediate attack +on Ghuznee, the only feasible mode of proceeding, +and the only one which held out a prospect +of success was a dash at the Cabul gateway, +blowing the gate open by bags of powder.</p> + +<p>His Excellency decided upon the attempt, +the camp was moved that evening to the Cabul +road, and the next morning, the 22nd, Sir John +Keane in person reconnoitred the proposed point +of attack, approved of the plan, and gave orders +for its execution. Preparations were made +accordingly, positions for the artillery were +carefully examined, which excited the jealousy +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +of the garrison, who opened a smart fire upon +the party.</p> + +<p>It was arranged that an explosion party, consisting +of three officers of Engineers, Captain +Peat, Lieutenants Durand and McLeod, three +Serjeants, and eighteen men of the Sappers in +working dresses, carrying 300℔s. of powder in +twelve sand bags, with a hose seventy-two feet +long, should be ready to move down to the +gateway at daybreak.</p> + +<p>At midnight the first battery left camp, +followed by the other four, at intervals of half +an hour. Those to the right of the road were +conducted to their positions by Lieutenant +Stuart, those to the left by Lieutenant Anderson. +The ground for the guns was prepared +by the Sappers and Pioneers, taking advantage +of the irregularities of the ground to the right, +and of some old garden walls to the left.</p> + +<p>The Artillery was all in position, and ready +by 3 A. M. of the 23rd, and shortly after, at +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +the first dawn, the party under Captain Peat +moved down to the gateway, accompanied by +six men of her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry, +without their belts, and supported by a detachment +of the same regiment, which extended to +the right and left of the road; when they +arrived at the ditch, taking advantage of what +cover they could find, and endeavouring to keep +down the fire from the ramparts, which became +heavy on the approach of the party, though it +had been remarkably slack during the previous +operations; blue lights were shown, which rendered +surrounding objects distinctly visible, +but luckily they were buried on the top of the +parapet instead of being thrown into the passage +below.</p> + +<p>The explosion party marched steadily on, +headed by Lieutenant Durand; the powder +was placed, the hose laid, the train fired, and +the carrying party had retired to tolerable cover +in less than two minutes. The Artillery opened +when the blue lights appeared, and the musketry +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +from the covering party at the same time. +So quickly was the operation performed, and +so little was the enemy aware of the nature of +it, that not a man of the party was hurt.</p> + +<p>As soon as the explosion took place, Captain +Peat, although hurt by the concussion, his +anxiety preventing him from keeping sufficiently +under cover, ran up to the gate, accompanied +by a small party of her Majesty's 13th +Light Infantry, and ascertained that it was +completely destroyed. There was some delay +in getting a bugler to sound at the advance, the +signal agreed on for the assaulting column to +push on, and this was the only mistake in the +operation.</p> + +<p>The assaulting column, consisting of four +European Regiments (her Majesty's 2nd regiment, +Bengal European regiment, her Majesty's +13th Light Infantry, and her Majesty's 17th +regiment) commanded by Brigadier Sale, the +advance under Lieutenant Colonel Dennie, +accompanied by Lieutenant Sturt, Engineers, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +moved steadily through the gateway, through a +passage inside the gateway, in a domed building, +in which the opening on one side rendered +everything very obscure, and making it difficult +to find the outlet into the town. They +met with little opposition; but the party of +the enemy seeing a peak in the column, owing +to the difficulty in scrambling over the rubbish +in the gateway, made a rush, sword in hand, +and cut down a good many men, wounding +the Brigadier and several other officers. +These swordsmen were repulsed, and there was +no more regular opposition; the surprise and +alarm of the Governor and Sirdars being so +great when they saw the column occupying the +open space inside the gate, and firing upon +them, that they fled, accompanied by their +men, even the garrison of the Citadel following +their example. Parties of the Affghans took +refuge in the houses, firing on the column as +it made its way through the streets, and a good +deal of desultory fighting took place in consequence, +by which some loss was sustained. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +Citadel was occupied as soon as daylight showed +that it had been abandoned by the enemy, and +the whole of the works were in our possession +before 5 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span></p> + +<p>We lost seventeen men, six European and +eleven Natives killed—eighteen officers, and +one hundred and seventeen Europeans, and +thirty Natives wounded—total one hundred +and eighty-two. Of the Affghans more than +five hundred and fourteen were killed in the +town, that number of bodies having been +buried, and about one thousand outside by the +Cavalry, one thousand six hundred prisoners +were taken, but I have no means of estimating +the number of wounded.</p> + +<p>There were nine guns of different calibres +found in the place, a large quantity of good +powder, considerable stores of shot, lead, &c., +&c., and a large supply of attar and other +provisions.</p> + +<p> +GEO. THOMSON, Capt. Engrs.<br /> +<i>Chief Engineer Army of the Indus.</i><br /> +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<p>The following report by Captain Peat, of +the Bombay Civil Engineers, gives a more +detailed account of the operations for blowing +up the gate, which, it will be seen, were attended +with difficulties of no ordinary nature.</p> + +<p>"During the reconnaissance the wall pieces +were particularly troublesome. This weapon is +almost unknown in our service, but it is a very +efficient one, especially in the defence of works, +and its use should not be neglected. Every +fortified post should be supplied with a proportion +of them, and a certain number of men in +every regiment practised in firing them.</p> + +<p>The charge recommended by Colonel Pasley, +for blowing open gates is from sixty to one +hundred and twenty pounds, and this is, doubtless, +sufficient in ordinary cases; but in this +instance we were apprehensive that the enemy +might have taken alarm at our being so much +on that side of the place, and in consequence, +partially or wholly, built up the gateway. It +was afterwards found that some attempts of the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +kind had been made by propping up the gate +with beams.</p> + +<p>The charge was so heavy, that it not only +destroyed the gate, but brought down a considerable +portion of the roof of the square +building in which it was placed, which proved a +very considerable obstacle to the assaulting +column, and the concussion acted as far as the +tower, under which an officer's party of her +Majesty's 13th regiment were standing at the +time, but without occasioning any casualties. +In cases of this nature it is of course the first +object to guard against any chance of failure; +and it is impossible, even now, to say how much +the charge might have been reduced with +safety.</p> + +<p>The enemy appeared so much on the alert, +and the faussebraye was so much in advance of +the gate that we never contemplated being able +to effect our object by surprise. The only +question was, whether it ought to be done by +day or night. It was argued in favor of the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +former, that the Artillery would be able to +make so much more correct practice that the +defences would be in a considerable degree +destroyed, and the fire so completely kept under +as to enable the explosion party to advance with +but little loss, and with the advantage of being +able to see exactly what they were about. +Captain Thompson, however, adhered to the +latter, and we were afterwards convinced it +was the most judicious plan; for although the +fire of the Artillery was necessarily more +general than it would have been in daylight, +still it was so well directed as to take up a good +deal of the attention of the besieged, and draw +upon their batteries a portion of the fire, which +in daylight would have been thrown down upon +the explosion party and assaulting columns. +It would also, even in daylight, have been +difficult, with our Light Artillery, to have kept +down the fire so completely but that a few +matchlock men might have kept their position +near the gateway; and in that narrow space a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +smart fire from a few pieces might have obliged +the party to retire. The obscurity of the night, +to say nothing of the confusion which it must +occasion among undisciplined troops, is certainly +the best protection to a body of men engaged +in an enterprise of this nature. Blue lights +certainly render objects distinctly visible, but +their light is glaring and uncertain, especially to +men firing through loopholes.</p> + +<p>The party consisted of eighteen officers, +twenty-eight sergeants, seven buglers, and two +hundred and seventy-six rank and file.</p> + +<p>It was made of this strength, not only to keep +up a heavy fire upon the parapets, and thereby +divert attention from the party at the gateway, +but also because we were not aware whether +the faussebraye was occupied or not, and as it +extends so much in advance as to take the gate +completely in reverse, it would have been +necessary, had a fire opened from it, to have +carried it by assault before the party with the +bags could have advanced. The party with +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +Lieutenant Durand was accompanied by six +men of the 13th, without their belts, the better +to secure them from observation, to protect +them from any sortie that might be made from +the postern of the faussebraye on the right, +or even from the gate itself, while another +party under an officer, Lieutenant Jennings, +accompanied me as far as the tower so as to +check any attempts that might have been +made from the faussebraye on the left, and at +the same time keeping up a fire on such of the +enemy as showed their heads above the parapet; +of this party one man was killed and a few +wounded.</p> + +<p>Nothing could have been more gallant than +the conduct of Lieutenants Durand and McLeod, +and the men under their command; or +more efficient than the manner in which they +executed their duty.</p> + +<p>The powder being in sand bags of a very +coarse open texture, a long hose and port fire +was thought to be the safest method of firing +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +it. The end of the hose fortunately just +reached the small postern. The casualties, +however, during this operation were much fewer +than was expected, being in all one private +killed, two sergeants, and twenty-three rank +and file wounded.</p> + +<p>The heaviest fire was certainly outside the +bridge, for the enemy near the gateway being +marked, whenever they attempted to shew their +heads above the parapet, were obliged to confine +themselves to the loop-holes, the range +from which is very uncertain and limited +against men moving about. A high loop-holed +wall, although imposing in appearance, is a +profile but ill adapted to resist attacks of this +nature.</p> + +<p>The enemy were perfectly aware that we +were in the gateway, but appeared to have no +idea of the nature of our operations. Had they +been so they might easily have rendered it +impossible to place the powder bags, by +throwing over blue lights, of which they had a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +large quantity in store. The powder pots and +other fire works so much used by the natives of +Hindoostan would certainly have rendered the +confined space leading to the gate much too hot +for such an operation; but the ignorance of +the besieged was known and calculated upon, +the result shows how justly.</p> + +<p>Their attempts at resistance were confined +to the fire from the loopholes and throwing +over large pieces of earth, some of which +appeared to be intended to knock off the port +fire.</p> + +<p>I on this occasion received an excellent lesson +on the necessity of not allowing preconceived +opinions to lead to any carelessness, in accurately +ascertaining the result of any operation +of this nature. The gateway appeared, from +what I had seen from the hills to the north, to +lead straight into the town, and on running in +to examine it after the explosion I was so much +impressed with this idea and so much convinced +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +of the probability of the gateway having been +blocked up during the day, that I was led to +believe that it had actually been done, from +seeing, in front of the gate that had been +destroyed, the outline of an arch filled up with +brick masonry. The true entrance turned to +the right and would have been discovered by +advancing a few paces, and that in perfect +safety, for the interior was secure from all fire. +Lieutenant Durand on first going up saw from +through the chinks of the gate that there was +a light and a guard <ins class="corr" title="immedialely">immediately</ins> +behind it, and +from that circumstance was convinced that no +interior obstacles of importance existed.</p> + +<p>My mistake therefore was luckily immediately +corrected without any bad consequence +resulting.</p> + +<p>A party of sappers with felling axes, and +commanded by Lieutenant Wemyss, and two +scaling ladders in charge of Lieutenant Pigan, +accompanied the assaulting column. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>Of ten Engineer Officers engaged in this +attack, only one, Lieutenant Marriot, was +slightly wounded. Captain Thompson however +had a very narrow escape, having been thrown +down by a rush of some swordsmen into the +gateway, and nearly sabred while upon the +ground."</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_8"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">An Affghan Heroine.—Capture of Hyder Khan the +Commandant +of Ghuznee<ins class="corr" title=",">.</ins>—Escape of Ghool Mahommed +Khan.—Discovery +of a Map on the person of an Affghan Chief.—Description +of the Affghan Women.—The Ruling +Passion.—Treasuretrove.—The Golden Shield.—Chase of the +Enemy.—Just Retribution.</p> + +<p>The Cavalry taking no part in these operations +I was an idle, but not the less an anxious +spectator of the scene. I had never before +witnessed effects so awfully grand, or so intensely +exciting in their nature as those which +immediately preceded and followed the explosion +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +at the gates. The atmosphere was +illuminated by sudden and powerful flashes of +various coloured light which exposed the walls +and bastions of the fortress to view, and revealed +the dusky figures of the garrison, in the +act of pointing their guns, or endeavouring to +penetrate the denseness of the obscurity beneath, +in order to assure themselves of the position +of their assailants. Then followed the din and +roar of artillery—the terrific explosion of the +gates—the crash of woodwork and masonry—the +hollow rumbling of the old towers as they +came in huge masses to the ground—the rush +of the storming party through the breach, and +the deafening cheers and shouts of besiegers +and besieged. It seemed as if all the elements +of destruction had been let loose at once, and +yet I panted to be in the midst of them. I +hardly dared to breathe from the very intenseness +of my anxiety, and it was not till I saw +the British flag floating from the citadel, that I +could respire freely. To the soldier there is +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +nothing more trying or chafing than to be condemned +to a state of inaction during the progress +of such spirit-stirring events as these.</p> + +<p>While the Affghans were disputing our +entrance into the citadel an incident occurred, +which for a moment diverted the attention of +the combatants and turned their fury into +pity. Amongst the foremost of the party who +signalised themselves by their desperate gallantry +was an aged Chieftain, the richness of +whose costume excited general attention, his +turban and weapons being resplendent with +jewels. The hope of plunder immediately +marked him out as an object of attack, and +numbers at once assailed him. He defended +himself like a man who knew there was no +chance of life, but who was resolved to sell it +as dearly as he could. He had killed several of +the Queen's Royals and severely wounded +Captain Robinson, when a grenadier of the +company to which the latter belonged, seeing +his officer in danger, rushed to his assistance, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +and with a thrust of his bayonet brought the +gallant old Chieftain to the ground. The +grenadier was about to despatch him, when a +beautiful girl, about seventeen, threw herself +into the <i><ins class="corr" title="mélée">mêlée</ins></i> and plunged a dagger +in his +breast. She then cast herself on the body of +the Chieftain, for the purpose of protecting it, +and the Affghans, forming a sort of rampart +before them, maintained their ground until the +heroic girl succeeded in getting it conveyed +into the interior of the citadel. Shortly after +the place was taken she was found weeping +over the remains of the brave old man, who, on +enquiry, we learned was her father. She was +treated with the utmost respect and tenderness +by our men, who neither obtruded themselves +on her grief nor offered any interruption to +the preparations which she made for his +interment.</p> + +<p>Amongst the prisoners who fell into our +hands was Hyder Khan, a son of Dost +Mahommed, and late commandant of the fortress. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +This Chief was discovered hiding in a +privy by a soldier of the Queen's Royals, who +would have bayonetted him but for the timely +interference of one of his officers, who chanced +to be near the spot. The Affghan leader was +immediately brought before Sir John Keane, +and the Shah being present rated him soundly +for his treachery. He replied only by a +haughty look of defiance, and was consigned to +a tent closely guarded by Sepoys. The sword +found upon this Chief, and which is at present +in the possession of Sir John Keane, was +valued at 14,000 rupees.</p> + +<p>Of the many prisoners we had taken, the +capture of none afforded such gratification as +that of Ghool Mahommed Khan, to whose bad +faith some of our past privations had been +owing. This Chief had entered into a contract +with Sir Alexander Burnes, to establish magazines +of provisions and corn at Quettah, for +the use of the British troops, and five thousand +rupees were paid over to him for the purpose. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +He purchased up all the corn of the surrounding +districts, but instead of fulfilling his agreement +he forwarded it to Ghuznee for the use +of the garrison, and was amongst the most +conspicuous defenders of the fortress. On +being brought before the Shah his Majesty +ordered him to be bowstringed, but before the +sentence could be carried into effect he managed +to escape. His treachery failed in its object, +for the greater portion of the flour and +grain which he had supplied now fell into our +hands. We also found from five to six hundred +horses in the stables of the fortress, all of which +were in excellent condition, and ranging in +value from seventy to a hundred pounds +each.</p> + +<p>I entered the fort shortly after it surrendered +and at every step spectacles of the most +shocking and revolting nature met the eye. +Round a long twenty pounder, which was +planted to the right of the entrance, lay heaps +of dead Affghans, who appeared to have attached +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +the greatest importance to the service +of this piece from the numbers who crowded +to perform the duty whenever our fire killed +those engaged in it. The agonising cries and +groans of the wounded wretches who lay +stretched at every side, and who craved drink +to sate their burning thirst, struck those who +had not been engaged in the fearful excitement +of the scene with horror and pity, whilst at +every turning a horse, wild with the injuries he +had received, was to be met galloping furiously +along the narrow streets, and treading the +bodies of the dying and dead under foot. +Advancing through the bazaar, my attention +was drawn towards a venerable looking Affghan, +who was seated on the ground with his back +propped against a wall, and whose richly ornamented +muslin robes were stained with blood, +which flowed profusely from a wound in his +breast. A fine looking youth of about fourteen +years of age was attempting to stanch it, and +I hastened to proffer my assistance. The old +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +man, however, pushed me back, and would not +let me approach him, plainly indicating by his +gestures that he held me and my countrymen +in abhorrence. Whilst standing at a short +distance from him, a straggling ball came +whizzing past me, whether intentionally or accidentally +I cannot say, and put an end to his +sufferings. Some soldiers, who afterwards examined +the person of this old chief, for such +from his attire I took him to be, discovered +amongst other things an extremely well executed +map, on which the whole of the route of +our troops from the point at which we had +disembarked to our arrival at Ghuznee was +plainly indicated.</p> + +<p>Some of the Affghan women were occasionally +to be met turning over the bodies of the +dead, in the hope of being able to discover +their relations or friends, and giving way to +their grief in the most heart-rending lamentations. +They were the most superior class of +women I had as yet seen amongst the Asiatics, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +their features being regular, and finely formed, +and their eyes piercing, but at the same time +soft in their expression. Although nothing +like violence was used towards them, they did +not escape some incivilities at the hands of our +men, owing to the fact that a number of Affghan +soldiers had attempted to escape in female +disguise.</p> + +<p>Various were the adventures related amongst +us, as having occurred on the first entrance of +our troops into the fortress. A Scotchman, +belonging to my own regiment, named James +Hamilton, who was known to be an inveterate +snuff-taker was discovered in a tobacconist's +shop in the bazaar literally covered from head to +foot with the contents of the <i>chatties</i> or jars +with which it was filled, and testing the +qualities of each with an air of the most exquisite +relish, his nose having been long a stranger +to its favourite aliment. The ruling passion +was exemplified in different ways in others. +Some sought for drink, of which there was +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +little to be obtained and others for gold, which +we had every reason to believe was plentiful, if +we knew but where to find it. A soldier of the +13th Light Infantry, more fortunate than his +fellows, lit unexpectedly on a jar which was +filled to the brim with gold pieces to the value +it is said of £600 sterling, and conveyed it +secretly to the camp. Becoming apprehensive +that this large sum would be discovered on +him, and that he would be obliged to give it up +to the prize agent, he distributed it amongst +several of his comrades in order that they +might take care of it. The possession of +so much wealth turning the heads of his +trustees they thought they might allow themselves +a few indulgences at his expence, but +their excesses ultimately betrayed the secret +and they were compelled to hand over the +money to the common fund.</p> + +<p>As the soldiers severally left the fortress to +return to the camp they were stripped of the +plunder which they had obtained, and a goodly +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +heap of armour and weapons of every kind +was soon piled before the entrance. Amongst +the number of curious articles obtained in +this way was an old shield, which had belonged +to one of the Affghan chiefs and +which, though remarkable for the oddness of +its construction, presented little else to attract +the eye. Its material appeared to be a compound +of copper and some white metal, and it +was thrown aside by the prize agent amongst +the most valueless of the objects which fell +under his care. A soldier of the Bengal European +regiment, who had been a jeweller by +trade, happened to observe the circumstance, +and carelessly taking up the shield, as if to +examine the devices with which it was ornamented, +scrutinized it for some time, and went +away without making the slightest observation. +He immediately repaired to the Captain of his +company, and told him to bid for the shield +at the prize sale which was to take place a few +days afterwards, advising him not to stop at +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +any reasonable price for it. The officer acted +on the hint, and obtained the article for about +thirty or forty rupees. The shield turned out +to be of the purest and finest gold, and the +fortunate possessor felt so grateful to his informant +that he made him a present sufficient +to purchase his discharge, and carry him home +to England.</p> + +<p>Amongst the different ensigns captured from +the enemy on this occasion were two banners +of green and crimson silk, trimmed with gold +lace and inscribed with precepts from the +Koran. They were desperately defended, the +Affghans appearing to attach great importance +to their safety. They are, I believe, at present +in the possession of her Majesty's 17th Light +Infantry, and the Bengal European Regiment.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the breach had been effected +intelligence was brought to the <ins class="corr" title="Commander-in +Chief">Commander-in-Chief</ins>, +that numbers of the enemy were making +their escape through one of the back gates. +He immediately dispatched the 1st Bombay +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +Light Cavalry in pursuit. The Affghans +being daring horsemen, and better mounted than +our men, made at once for the hills, where +they knew our Cavalry could not follow. +Aware of this our men put their horses to their +utmost speed, in order to intercept them before +they got entangled in the defiles. The chase +soon assumed a character of lively interest. +An Affghan, worse mounted, or less skilled in +horsemanship <ins class="corr" title="then">than</ins> his fellows, was +overtaken +and cut down, and the pursuers pressed hard +on the heels of another. The cheers of his +enemies, and the clatter of their horses' hoofs +sounding fearfully near in the ears of the pursued +he put the noble animal on which he was +mounted to its utmost speed, and cleared the +space between him and his companions at a +bound rather than a gallop. Again he was +almost within reach of the sabres of our men, +and again did the fleetness of his horse place +him for a time in safety. As he was about to +plunge into a deep ravine after the other fugitives +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +a shot brought his horse upon its knees, +and the rider was flung upon his head. All +now seemed over with him. Starting, however, +to his feet, he turned upon his pursuers, +and single handed opposed a host of them. +Warding off the blows which rained on him +from every side, he kept rapidly retreating +until he gained the brow of a steep declivity +over which he flung himself and was instantly +lost to view. Disappointed in their pursuit, +our men took an unmanly revenge on some +peasants who were peaceably engaged in agricultural +occupations near the spot. One of +these wanton acts of cruelty met with a just +retribution. A havildar or serjeant, seeing a +young Affghan following the plough at a little +distance, galloped up, and made several cuts at +him with his sabre. The young man ran to the +other side of the plough, and placed the serjeant +at bay. The latter drew a pistol from his holster, +and was about to shoot him, when his horse +stumbled over the plough and fell on his side, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +breaking the leg of the havildar and pinning +him at the same time firmly to the ground. +The Affghan seized the sword which had fallen +from his grasp, and dealt him a blow on the +head which instantly killed him. The comrades +of the dead man riding up surrounded +and captured the peasant, and he was brought +into camp to abide the decision of the Commander-in-Chief. +A representation having +been made to Sir John Keane of the wanton and +unprovoked attack which had been made upon the +prisoner, he immediately ordered him to be +liberated. The havildar was interred on the +spot where he fell and there were few in the +army who pitied or regretted him.</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_9"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Attempt to Assassinate the Shah.—Court Martial on an +Affghan Chief.—Visit to the Hospital at Ghuznee.—Hatred +of the Affghans towards the Native Troops.—Departure from +Ghuznee.—Capture of a Battery and Fatal Accident.—Summary +Punishment.—Arrival at Cabul.—Pursuit of Dost +Mahommed and Treachery of a Native Chief.—Description of +Cabul.—The Balar Hissar.—Mosque of the Emperor +Baber.—The Bazaar.</p> + +<p>A few days after the taking of Ghuznee a +tragical scene occurred, which pretty clearly +indicated how the tide of popular feeling ran +with regard to the restored monarch. There +is a poetical superstition that approaching +events are often foreshadowed, and the circumstance +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +to which I allude seemed to impress +every man's mind at the time with the result +that has since happened.</p> + +<p>The majority of the prisoners who fell into +our hands were released on condition of their +serving in the Shah's army, but there remained +about thirty who refused to accept of their +liberty on such terms. They consisted for the +most part of the immediate followers of Dost +Mahommed's father-in-law, and were devotedly +attached to that prince. The Shah, on learning +the <ins class="corr" title="circumstanee">circumstance</ins> ordered them to be +brought before +him, and expostulated with them on the folly +of their conduct. A Chief of haughty bearing +stepped from amongst the prisoners, and +after overwhelming his Majesty with reproaches, +told him that nothing should induce him to +enter the service of a man who had brought +the horrors of foreign invasion on his country. +Then suddenly snatching a dagger from one +of the attendants, he rushed with uplifted arm +towards the Shah, and would have pierced him +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +to the heart had not one of his Majesty's servants +interposed his person, and received the +blow intended for his master. The faithful +domestic fell dead at the feet of the Shah, +and the officers and attendants instantly rushed +towards the assassin with drawn swords; but +he had already anticipated their intention by +plunging the poniard in his breast. The Shah, +alarmed and exasperated, ordered the whole of +the prisoners to be immediately executed, and +in a few minutes their heads were rolling in +the dust. This terrible scene created great +alarm in the camp, it being at first reported +that his Majesty had been assassinated, but +the apprehensions to which it gave rise were +soon dispelled, by his publicly making his +appearance amongst us.</p> + +<p>A Chief, named Walla Mahommed, who +had persisted in firing on the troops several +hours after the taking of the fort, and in spite +of repeated summonses to surrender, was +brought to a court martial by order of the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +<ins class="corr" title="Commander-in Chief">Commander-in-Chief</ins>, and +sentenced to be shot +within the walls of the fortress. He had +killed three or four of our men, and wounded +one of the Native officers by his obstinate +folly. He met his fate with the most perfect +indifference, for the fear of death cannot be +said to be one of the weaknesses of the Affghan +character.</p> + +<p>I one day paid a visit, with some of my comrades, +to the hospital where the wounded Affghans +had been carried by their friends. It +was situated in the old town, and consisted of +a mud hut, whose thatched roof was broken in +several places, and afforded little or no shelter +against the heat of the sun. The interior was +as filthy and disgusting as it is possible to +conceive. Into a space of about thirty feet by +twelve, were crowded from seventy to a hundred +patients, who were disabled by wounds of +every description, their sufferings being aggravated +tenfold, by the intolerable heat and stench +of the place. They were attended by two +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +elderly men and a youth about fifteen years +of age, who were busily engaged dressing their +wounds, whilst a Faquir was performing certain +charms, by which he <ins class="corr" title="pretented">pretended</ins> he could +restore +them to health. Pitiable and disgusting as the +scene was I could not help laughing at the +mummeries of the fellow. He first placed +some cow dung in the hand of the sufferer, and +holding it in his, saturated it with water and +compelled the patient to smell it. He then +wound up the ceremony by repeating some +prayers over the fumes of a charcoal pan, the +patient repeating after him certain responses +which he directed him to make. This done, +he covered him up with an old blanket, and +ordered him to lay quiet for several hours, +when the cure would be complete. Having of +course received a consideration for all this +trouble, he left his patients to the progress of +the charm, and the discovery, when too late, +that they had been grossly duped.</p> + +<p>Happening to have a quantity of apples +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +with me which I had just plucked from one of +the orchards in the vicinity, I offered them to +the sufferers in the hope that they would in +some degree refresh them. They accepted +them with eagerness which induced some sepoys +who were with me to follow my example. The +Affghans indignantly refused to receive anything +at their hands, and so great was their hatred +of the native troops, that they actually spat +upon the men who showed them this kindness.</p> + +<p>Early in August we resumed our march +towards Cabul, leaving the whole of our sick +and wounded in garrison at Ghuznee. It was +reported that Dost Mahommed intended to +dispute every inch of ground to the capital, but +these valiant resolutions were abandoned as +soon as formed. The only indication of a preconcerted +plan of defence which we met with +on the route, was a battery of sixteen field +pieces which we found planted on an eminence +commanding the entrance to a formidable pass +about midway between Ghuznee and Cabul, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +but which had been deserted by the enemy as +soon as our advanced columns made their appearance. +A party of the Horse Artillery +having been sent to secure the guns and ammunition, +an accident took place which was attended +with fatal consequences. One of the +men having approached a tumbrel with a lighted +pipe a spark fell into it and the whole blew up +with a tremendous explosion, killing two of the +party and severely injuring another.</p> + +<p>The conduct of the inhabitants of the +different villages along this route, whether +influenced by good will or fear, I cannot take upon +myself to say, was friendly and well disposed +towards us. This did not however prevent some +excesses on the part of the native troops, which +Sir John Keane sought to repress by issuing +an order forbidding the men from robbing the +villagers on pain of death. At Chesgow, about +two days march from Ghuznee, a soldier +belonging to the 2nd Bengal Light Cavalry +was observed thieving in the immediate vicinity +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +of the staff lines, and one of Sir John's aides +de camps who watched his proceedings took a +gun from his tent and deliberately lodged its +contents in his side. The unfortunate man +died of the wound, after lingering a few days. +The extreme severity of the punishment and +its informal nature, were bitterly canvassed +amongst the native troops, but it nevertheless +had the effect of preventing a repetition of +the offence.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of the 7th of August, +we encamped without opposition under the +walls of Cabul, Dost Mahommed and his forces +having fled to the hills at the first news of our +approach. The Commander-in-Chief being +desirous of securing the person of the usurper, +immediately despatched Captain Outram, and +Hadji Khan, a chief supposed to be well affected +towards Shah Soojah, with a thousand Affghans +and a hundred native cavalry in pursuit. +They had not proceeded far from the camp +when it became evident to Captain Outram +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +that treachery was secretly at work, the Affghans +deserting daily, until their number was +diminished to about five hundred. Hadji Khan, +to whose guidance the force was entrusted, led +it by long and circuitous routes, under pretence +that they would thereby more easily intercept +the fugitives, and turned a deaf ear to the +Captain's entreaties that they should proceed +directly across the hills. Wherever a rapid +movement became necessary, the Affghan +managed so that his followers should be delayed +on the route, and there was no sort of impediment +that craft or ingenuity could suggest that +he did not employ to retard the progress of +the troops. Captain Outram having no authority +to act without the aid of the Khan was +obliged to shut his eyes to these manœuvres, +and succeeded after the most urgent persuasion +in inducing the Affghan Chief to proceed at +once to the hills, with a small detachment.</p> + +<p>After traversing the highest parts of the +Hindoo Kosh, a chain of mountains, fifteen +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +thousand feet above the level of the sea, and +extending as far as Bamean, Captain Outram +found that Dost Mahommed had taken refuge +in the territories of an independent Uzbeck +Chieftain then at enmity with the Shah. +Whilst crossing the heights several blue lights +were thrown up by the orders of Hadji Khan, +which the British had reason to believe were +intended to give warning to the enemy. Further +pursuit through a difficult and hostile +territory became of course out of the question, +and the horses being worn out from want of +forage and rest, orders were given for the +return of the party to Cabul. During the +march homeward Hadji Khan contrived to give +the British the slip, and made off to the hills, +rightly calculating that his equivocal conduct +would be severely punished by the Shah. He +was, however, captured before the British left +Cabul, and sentenced to imprisonment for life. +It was said that the Commander-in-Chief was +dissatisfied with the conduct of Captain Outram +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +in this affair, and that he pointedly passed over +his name in the official despatches to mark his +displeasure.</p> + +<p>As several descriptions of Cabul have been +published it will only be necessary for me to +give such of its leading features as are essential +to the completeness of my narrative. The +city lies almost in the centre of a semicircular +chain of hills, the valley in which it is situated +being watered by a noble river which pursues +a serpentine and picturesque route through it, +and divides the town in nearly equal parts. +The bazaar stands at the base of a lofty mountain, +up whose rugged sides straggle rude and +irregular fortifications of no great strength or +importance. The town itself covers a considerable +extent of ground, and the streets are in +general regular and well built as compared with +the other cities of Asia. Towering high above +the other buildings may be observed the mosque +and Balar Hissar or palace of the sovereign. +The latter is surrounded by beautiful gardens +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +and is entered by a large flagged court-way +leading to the principal portal of the edifice. +The proportions of the building are on a scale +commensurate with royalty, the centre being +surmounted by a lofty dome, and the wings of +vast extent. The right wing contains the +stabling of the Shah and chambers of the +household, and the left is appropriated to the +sovereign's own use. The general effect of this +building is heavy, and it conveys the idea of a +prison rather than a palace.</p> + +<p>About half a mile to the right of the palace +stands the mosque which contains the remains +of the Emperor Baber. This temple is one of +the finest I have seen in this part of Asia, +being of great architectural beauty and noble +proportions. It is entirely composed of richly +carved stone-work, and is crowned by a number +of graceful spires and minarets. The interior +is magnificently ornamented with gilding and +sculpture, and the pavement is composed of rich +Mosaics of various coloured marbles. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +tomb containing the remains of the Emperor +occupies the centre of the mosque, and is less +elaborately ornamented than any other part of +it, being composed of plain slabs of white +marble on which some extracts from the Koran +are inscribed.</p> + +<p>The bazaar is of circular form, the streets +composing it radiating from an open space in +its centre, and presenting a thronged and busy +aspect. The principal articles of merchandize +which attracted our notice were cashmere shawls +of the richest and most expensive patterns, +and costly silks of every description. A considerable +trade is also carried on in preserved +fruits, which find their way from here to the +most distant parts of Hindostan. In the fruit +market we observed grapes which measured +nearly two inches in circumference; peaches, +whose rich bloom and luscious quality gratified +at once the eye and the palate; and strawberries, +such as the hot houses of Europe, and +all the inventions of horticultural science could +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +not force into existence. As to apples +and pears, fruits prized in the western +hemisphere, they were in such abundance +and of such low price, that they were +only deemed worthy of furnishing food for +cattle. Almost all the necessaries of life were +in equal profusion, beef fetching only a penny, +and mutton twopence the pound. It may be +readily imagined that to the tired and half-starved +soldier, Cabul appeared almost a second +land of promise.</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_10"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Triumphant Entry of Shah Soojah into Cabul.—The Cabul +Races.—Death of Brigadier General Arnold.—Sale of the +General's effects.—Arrival of Prince Timour.—The Sikhs.—Murder +of Colonel Herring.—Arrival of money and supplies +from the Upper Provinces.</p> + +<p>It having been announced that early on the +morning of the 8th of August the Shah would +take formal possession of the Balar Hissar, the +troops were under arms and in review order at +ten o'clock. The Commander-in-Chief, the +Politicals, and the whole of the general officers +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +and staff rode up, shortly after, to the tent of +his Majesty, at which I happened that morning +to be stationed as orderly, and were kept +waiting some time. Sir William McNaghten +and Sir Alexander Burnes were at length summoned +to the Shah's presence, and having +remained with him a few minutes, they came out +and informed the Commander-in-Chief, it was +his Majesty's pleasure that the ceremony should +be postponed until three o'clock the same +afternoon. The reason assigned for this alteration +was understood to be an augury pronounced +by his Majesty's priests or soothsayers, +that the hour was unpropitious, an opinion in +which the troops devoutly concurred, the +prospect of broiling for several hours under a +meridian sun not being extremely agreeable.</p> + +<p>At the appointed hour the troops were +again under arms, and salvoes of artillery announced +the Shah's departure from his tent. +His Majesty was, as usual, borne on an elephant, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +the howdah of which was of silver, and +the caparisons crimson and gold. On each +side of him sat Sir William Mc Naghten and +Sir Alexander Burnes, the former attired in +the same court dress which he had worn at +Candahar. His Majesty appeared in excellent +health and spirits, and addressed much of his +conversation to Sir Alexander Burnes, who +seemed to be high in his favour. The Shah's +costume was, as usual, magnificent, his turban +being ornamented with a single diamond, whose +value was estimated at £100,000. Immediately +after came six elephants, containing the ministers +and household of the Shah, and then followed +the Commander-in-Chief, with the whole +of the general officers and staff in brilliant +uniforms, and decorated with their various +orders. The next feature in the procession, +and a ludicrous one it was, was the appearance +of two burly-looking fellows, dressed in red +and yellow, and wearing conical caps, out of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +which shot two large horns. We at first supposed +they were his Highness's jesters, +but instead of that they turned out to be his +executioners, functionaries far more essential +to the comfort of an Asiatic prince. The +Shah's troops, consisting of two thousand infantry, +brought up the rear, our own lining the +route along which the procession passed. On +approaching the city his Highness was received +with loud acclamations by the populace, who +gave expression to their satisfaction in barbarous +music and salvoes of small fire arms. Many +of the houses were decorated with flowers, and +the windows were crowded with spectators. At +the entrance, and in the courts of the palace, was +stationed a body of about 250 horsemen, whose +steel armour and splendid horses gave them a +martial and imposing appearance. They received +us with stern and scowling looks, which +plainly indicated that their hearts were not in +the ceremony which they were compelled to +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +sanction by their presence. On the Shah's +entrance into the palace he held a durbar, at +which all the British officers were presented to +him, and his Majesty took the opportunity of +expressing to them individually and collectively +his thanks for the exertions which they had +made to replace him on his throne.</p> + +<p>We had several reviews of the troops during +our stay at Cabul, and on each occasion we +were honoured by the Shah's presence. In order +to give his Highness some notion of an English +horse race, it was agreed that the officers +should get up sweepstakes amongst themselves, +which the Shah no sooner heard of, than he +added a splendid gold hilted sword with Damascus +blade. This increased the spirit of +competition, and the Derby or Oaks was +never looked forward to with more eager +interest. The place selected for the course +was a level plain immediately beyond our +lines, and about a mile and a half from the city. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>From sixteen to twenty horses belonging to +the officers of the different regiments were +entered for the sword, and it was resolved that +three heats should be run for it, the first six +horses of the first heat being privileged to run +the second, and the third heat being limited to +the first and second horses of the second heat. +It was agreed that the sweepstakes, which +amounted to a considerable sum, should be +divided into three parts, for the different breeds +and ages of cattle so as to prolong the sport for +three or four days.</p> + +<p>Six o'clock in the evening being the time +fixed for the commencement of the races, the +course became crowded, long before that hour, +with anxious spectators, the natives not being +amongst the least eager lookers on at this, to +them, novel scene. The Shah took up his +position near the winning post, attended by +the Politicals, and the Commander-in-Chief, +but his Majesty did not appear to take much +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +interest in the sport, and he left the course +before it was half over.</p> + +<p>The officers rode their own horses and turned +out in gay striped jackets and jockey caps; +so that but for the dark faces and turbaned +heads which every where encountered the eye +it would not have been difficult to imagine +ourselves suddenly transported to Ascot or +Epsom. The word having been given, away +started the competitors in high blood and +spirits; and as the rider belonging to some +particular regiment passed the others in his +career, the men composing it enthusiastically +cheered and hurraed him, others taking up +their shouts as their favourite passed him in +turn, this military favouritism imparting to the +contest a degree of wild excitement such as I +have never witnessed on any similar occasion.</p> + +<p>The second heat was still more warmly +contested, as, according to the regulations +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +above mentioned only the two foremost horses +could be entered for the third. Major Daly +of the 4th Light Dragoons, and an officer of +the 16th Lancers, whose name I now forget, +obtained the precedence, after a hard struggle, +the race being a neck and neck one the entire +way.</p> + +<p>As the two successful officers belonged to +different divisions, one to the Bengal and the +other to the Bombay army, the partizanship +which before had been only regimental now +extended to the two armies, and "Bravo +Bengal," "Bravo Bombay," burst at every +moment from the eager multitudes assembled, +as the riders alternately passed or repassed +each other in the final heat.</p> + +<p>After a contest in which the competitors +themselves almost appeared to feel the influence +which pervaded the crowd, and to think that +the honor of their respective divisions depended +upon their success, Major Daly gained the race +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +by about a neck, and was handed the sword +amid the delighted cheers of the Bombay troops +and the congratulations of his brother officers. +The races continued two days longer, and +afforded a pleasant recreation to the men after +the fatiguing and harassing duties of the last +few months.</p> + +<p>Brigadier General Arnold of the army of the +Indus, having been long suffering under a liver +complaint, breathed his last at Cabul shortly +after our arrival there. This officer was distinguished +for his qualities as a <i>bon vivant</i>, and +having laid in a good store of necessaries for +the campaign, was the only one almost who +fared well amidst the general privations. He +kept an excellent table along the route, and an +invitation to it, was always regarded as +amongst the lucky chances by which fortune +signified her favour. Good living could +not however protect the General against disease, +and he fell ill at Candahar of a malady which +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +is often said to be the result of it. He was +carried from Candahar to Cabul in a palankeen, +and took no part whatever in the events which +occurred between those places. His remains +were interred in the Armenian burial ground, +outside the walls of the city, and his effects +were publicly sold by auction a few days after. +The General had left Bengal with about eighty +camels laden with baggage and necessaries, of +which about five and twenty remained at the +time of the sale. His trunks were filled with +quantities of plate, a goodly provision of snuff +and cigars, and such an immense stock of linen +that it occupied two days of the sale. His cooking +apparatus was most elaborate and ingenious, +and we could not help wondering at the uses to +which the infinite varieties of small and curious +articles of which it was composed were devoted. +The prices at which these effects were sold will +appear incredible to the European reader, but +it must be remembered that it was the scarcity, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +in fact the almost total impossibility of getting +them, that enhanced their value. The cigars +sold at the rate of about two shillings and six +pence each, the snuff at ten shillings an ounce, +a few bottles of beer, a liquor of which no +other officer in the army possessed a drop, at +thirty shillings each, and some choice wines at +from three to four pounds the bottle. The +other things brought proportionate prices, the +shirts fetching from thirty to forty shillings +each. The amount realised at this sale must +have been enormous.</p> + +<p>Prince Timour, the eldest son of Shah +Soojah, arrived at Cabul early in September, +escorted by the troops of Runjeet Singh. We +expected to find the Sikhs an undisciplined +horde of barbarians, but they turned out on the +contrary to be nearly as well organized as ourselves, +being disciplined by French officers, and +marching with the same order and regularity +as a European regiment. Each division was +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +headed by an excellent military band and officered +by the same number of grades as ourselves. +The men were in general about the middle +height, and not so muscular or well formed as +the Affghans. They are made, however, of the +right material for the soldier, being brave, orderly, +and tractable, and though they may be +considered in some respects inferior to the European +troops, they are in my opinion, equal if not +superior, to the Sepoys. A detachment consisting +of the 4th Light Dragoons, the 16th +Lancers, and her Majesty's Queen's Royals, +under the command of Major-General Sir +Thomas Wiltshire, was despatched to receive +the Prince with fitting honors. He was met at +a short distance from the town by the British +escort, and conducted to the palace amid salvoes +of Artillery. The Prince was a fine youth +about one or two and twenty, with a frank +expression of countenance and affable manners. +The meeting between him and his royal +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +father was said to be extremely affecting, and +the Prince was unceasing in his expressions of +gratitude to the British for bringing about this +happy reunion.</p> + +<p>Large supplies of arrack, biscuits, and rice, +together with money to pay the troops, having +been promised from the Upper Provinces, their +arrival was looked forward to with some +anxiety in the camp, as we could not leave +Cabul without them. Information was at +length received that Colonel Herring was on +his way through the Punjaub, and after a +tedious and harassing journey, in which he had +to encounter frequent opposition to his progress +from the mountain tribes, he at length reached +Hyder Khail within one day's march of Cabul. +Riding out alone next morning, for the purpose +of inspecting the country, the Colonel was set +upon by a body of Affghans and barbarously +murdered, his body being plundered of every +article of value he had about him, and his horse +carried off. His mutilated remains were found +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +in the course of the day by some troopers, who +had been sent out in search of him, and brought +to Cabul along with the stores, which reached +that place in safety the same night. He was +interred with military honours in the Armenian +burial-ground, on the following day. The +deceased had been long in the service, and was +a gallant and experienced officer. We heard +that his murderers were captured shortly after +we left Cabul, and put to a dreadful death, by +order of the Shah.</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_11"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Institution of the Order of the Doorannee +Empire.—Murder +of a Private of the 13th Light Infantry.—Departure from +Cabul.—Return to Ghuznee.—Accident to the Revd. Mr. +Pigot.—Discovery of the Skeletons of British Soldiers.—Horse- +steaks.—Treachery +of some Ghiljie Chiefs and destruction +of their Fort.—Adventure of a Dragoon.—Loss of a +Cook.</p> + +<p>In order to testify his gratitude towards the +British, the Shah resolved to institute an order +of merit, to be called the order of the Doorannee +Empire, and to confer its respective grades +upon three classes of officers, namely, Generals, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +Brigadier Generals, and Field Officers. A +durbar having been summoned, at which the +Ministers of State, the Politicals, and a number +of British Officers were present, a chapter of +the order was held, and his Majesty, as +Sovereign, invested the Commander-in-Chief, +several general and field officers, and the Politicals +with the decoration, which consisted of +a sort of Maltese cross with a jewel in the +centre. His Majesty was also pleased to express +his desire that every officer, non-commissioned +officer, and private soldier in the army +should receive a silver medal, commemorative +of the campaign, and for this purpose placed a +large sum of money at the disposal of Sir John +Keane. The Queen's sanction has been obtained +to the measure, but the medal has not +as yet been issued.</p> + +<p>Leave had been given by the officers in command +of the different regiments to men entering +the town to carry their side arms, as a protection +in case of chance collision with the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +inhabitants. The facility of obtaining intoxicating +liquors rendered this a contingency of +not unlikely occurrence, and our men soon got +themselves into unpleasant and in some instances +dangerous scrapes. On one occasion, a +private of the 13th Light Infantry having been +drinking rather freely, forced himself into the +apartments of the wife of a respectable inhabitant. +Proceeding to offer her some violence, +her screams alarmed the neighbourhood, and +the soldier was soon surrounded by a host of +angry husbands and fathers, armed with every +description of weapon. He defended himself with +his bayonet for some time, contenting himself +with merely parrying their blows, and had +fought his way into the street, when he +was met by several others of the townspeople, +who set upon the unfortunate fellow and instantly +despatched him. They secreted the +body until night-fall, and then threw it outside +the walls of the town, where it was discovered +next morning. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>It having been determined that early in +September part of the forces should set out on +their return homeward, the choice fell upon +her Majesty's 17th Foot, the 2nd or Queen's +Royals, one Company of Foot Artillery, a +detachment of the 4th Light Dragoons, the 1st +regiment of Bombay Light Cavalry, and two +troops of Bombay Horse Artillery, the whole +under the command of Major General Sir +Thomas Wiltshire. It would naturally be +supposed that after so long an absence from +quarters, we hailed this intimation with something +like pleasure, but such was far from +being the fact. We had rioted in profusion +and luxury, and did not relish the idea of +again encountering the privations of the long +and dreary route which lay between us and +India. Added to this we had seen but little +of actual fighting, and the promotions had been +consequently few.</p> + +<p>Promotion and prize money are the all engrossing +subjects of a soldier's ambition, and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +this speedy return put an end at once to our +long cherished hopes. We well knew that the +restless and turbulent spirit of the Affghan +Chiefs would not permit them to remain long +in subjection to Shah Soojah, and that there +would consequently be more work for the +British troops. Regret and envy of our more +fortunate comrades were therefore the predominant +feelings which pervaded nearly the +whole of the departing troops.</p> + +<p>We left Cabul on the 14th of September, +and arrived at Ghuznee, the scene of our former +exploits, after eight days' march, during +which nothing worthy of mention occurred. +It is astonishing how soon the traces of war +disappear, and the living gaps caused by its +ravages are filled up. The fortress appeared +as perfect in its outline as if the hand of the +destroyer had not recently passed over it, new +gates having been substituted for those which +had been damaged, and the breach immediately +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +above them re-filled with masonry. The inhabitants +of the bazaar had resumed their +accustomed occupations, and scolded, and chaffered, +and jested, and laughed, as if they had +neither lost relatives nor friends, nor dabbled +through mire freshly reeking with their blood. +Familiarity, they say, breeds contempt and +blunts the feelings, and the Asiatic, before +whose eyes such scenes pass almost daily, thinks +of them only as the immutable decrees of fate, +which cannot be shunned, and ought not to be +repined at.</p> + +<p>The sick and wounded, of whom we had +left numbers at Ghuznee, had almost all died, +and were interred in an open space selected for +the purpose outside the walls of the fortress. +The last resting-place of our brave fellows is +situated at the foot of one of the adjacent +mountains, but neither stone nor inscription +indicates the spot.</p> + +<p>The Bengal regiment of Native Infantry, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +whom we found in garrison at Ghuznee on our +return, and whom we left after us, appeared to +be quite as well reconciled to their quarters +as we were at Cabul, although the two +places appeared to me vastly different in point +of health and comfort. The majority of the +inhabitants regarded the troops with a sort of +sullen indifference, but the trading classes +seemed civil enough. The quantities of fish +and game with which the neighbourhood +abounded, afforded the officers a ready means of +dissipating their time, and we would have been +well content to have remained here. Orders +were however given that we should pursue our +route, and we left Ghuznee on the 25th of +September, after a stay of only two or three +days.</p> + +<p>Instead of diverging to the right towards +Candahar, we took the direct route to Quettah, +over the Ghiljie hills. The weather had +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +become intensely cold, and the rivers and +streams were covered with ice, several inches in +thickness. The Rev. Mr. Pigot, our chaplain, +happened to be crossing one of them on a pony, +when the ice gave way with his weight, and +the worthy clergyman was immersed in the +water. The stream was not, however, so deep +as to occasion any alarm for his safety, and +he was speedily rescued from his embarrasment, +with no other inconvenience than being kept +shivering several hours in his wet clothes, his +baggage being at a considerable distance in advance. +The rascally native who preceded us as +guide grinned maliciously, and told him that +if he had not forgotten to say his prayers +setting out the accident would not have happened.</p> + +<p>On encamping, at the close of the first day's +march, from Ghuznee, some soldiers belonging +to the 17th Infantry and Queen's Royals, went +out in search of water, and met with a draw +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +well, which proved to be dry. One of them +descended in order to examine it more closely, +and an exclamation of horror escaped him +as he reached the bottom. On his companions +enquiring the occasion of it, they +learned that he had fallen upon several skeletons, +the identity of which with some soldiers +we had lost on the route upwards was placed +beyond doubt by fragments of military clothing +and regimental buttons which lay scattered +about. Singular to relate, a lark had +built its nest in one of the skulls, and was +found innocently reposing with its young in +this curious receptacle.</p> + +<p>The annoyances to which we had been subjected +during our route upwards, from the +thieving system of warfare pursued by the +Affghans, seemed now at an end. Our road +lay through bleak and desolate hills, where +only a solitary, and timid mountaineer was +occasionally to be seen. Numerous rivers and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +streams traversed this wild country in every direction, +and relieved us from all apprehensions +on the score of water. Provisions were also +plentiful, as the Commissariat had taken care +to lay in sufficient supplies, and the only inconvenience +which we might be said to have +experienced was the severe cold of the nights. +The barren nature of the country rendered +fuel difficult of obtainment, and the consequence +was that numbers of the troops were +carried off by dysentery.</p> + +<p>The march from Ghuznee to Quettah occupied +about five weeks, and we thought we +should never reach the end of these long chains +of hills. Always ascending and descending +heights of no inconsiderable elevation, the +horses became regularly knocked up with +fatigue, and we were obliged to shoot numbers +of them on the way.</p> + +<p>In a recess in one of these hills, I one day +came upon a singular scene. About nine or +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +ten of the natives were assembled around a +dead horse and while part of them were cutting +steaks from his haunches, the others were +engaged cooking them. Revolting as such a +sight is to European stomachs, I have seen the +time when, on our march upwards, I could +have partaken of these same horse steaks with +infinite relish.</p> + +<p>A few days before our arrival at Quettah, +we requited an atrocious act of treachery, +which had been committed towards us by some +Ghiljie chiefs, with the punishment it richly +merited. About one hundred camel drivers, +who had left us at Candahar, on our way to +Cabul, for the purpose of returning homewards, +took their route over the hills we were +now crossing in order to shorten the journey. +They were met by the Ghiljies with professions +of friendship, and seduced into a mountain +fort under the pretence of hospitality. +They had no sooner entered its walls than +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +their throats were all cut, and their bodies +flung into deep wells for the purpose of concealing +the massacre from the eyes of the +British.</p> + +<p>Information of the fact having been received, +Sir Thomas Wiltshire despatched a Squadron +of her Majesty's 4th Light Dragoons, two +companies of Native Infantry, and two pieces +of artillery to raze the fortress to the ground. +The cavalry started at two o'clock in the +morning, and after a hard gallop of eighteen +miles we arrived in front of the Ghiljie <ins class="corr" title="strong +hold">strong-hold</ins>. It was a small but strongly constructed +fortress, situated on the brow of a steep declivity +and defended by strong wooden gates. +The entrance was commanded by an old iron +carronade, and a number of loopholes for the +discharge of musketry. Not a living soul was +to be seen on the walls, and fearing some +artifice, Major Daly, our commanding officer, +resolved to suspend operations until the artillery +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +came up. As soon as the latter made its +appearance, and the guns were placed in a position +to command the fort, Major Daly ordered +part of the cavalry to dismount and +proceed with loaded carbines to the gate, under +cover of their fire. No opposition was, however<ins class="corr" title="missing +comma added">,</ins> +offered to us, the enemy having fled to +the mountains, and the gates were forced open +in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>The only inhabitants we found in the place +were a few women and children, but we +discovered quantities of the richest silks and +carpets, beside arms and money (consisting +principally of silver coins) the fortress being a +sort of depot for the booty obtained by these +highland marauders.</p> + +<p>One of the cavalry having entered a dwelling +in search of plunder, was suddenly seized +by two or three Ghiljies, who unexpectedly +made their appearance through a sort of trap, +with which almost every house in the fort was +furnished. They placed a bandage over his +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +eyes, and were in the act of passing a rope +round his arms, when the timely approach of +some of his comrades saved him from being +carried off as a prisoner, the enemy disappearing +through the trap the moment they heard +the noise of their footsteps at the entrance. +The troopers would have willingly pursued +them, but the depth and darkness of the subterraneous +passage convinced them it was +something more than a mere cellar, and they +knew that if they once got involved in its +windings they would be completely at the mercy +of the enemy. It is probable that these passages +had outlets without the walls, and that it was +through them the enemy made their escape at +the first news of our approach, the suddenness +and quickness of our movements preventing +them from taking their valuables with them. +There was also abundance of cattle and grain, +of which we brought off large supplies to the +camp. Orders having been given to the Artillery +to blow up the fortress, the women and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +children were sent out of it, and at five o'clock +the same day the walls were breached, so as to +render them completely useless, and the houses +fired in all directions. After remaining to see +that the work of destruction was complete, we +quitted the place at three o'clock in the morning, +and arrived the same day at the encampment. +The enemy were not entirely without +their revenge, for, following on our footsteps, +and watching us closely, they contrived to carry +off the cook, and three camels laden with the +cooking utensils of the squadron, a loss which +was severely felt, and by some thought ill compensated +by the booty we had obtained.</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="chapter_12"> +<h2><a id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="chapdesc">Arrival at Quettah.—Storming of the Fortress of +Khelat.—Suicide +of a Trooper belonging to the Horse Artillery.—Departure +from Quettah.—The Bholun Pass.—Dadur.—Bagh.—Breaking +out of the Cholera.—Death of Doctor +Forbes.—Shikarpoor.—Death of Captain Ogle.—Sukkur- +Bukkur.—Death +of Lieutenant Janvrin.—Wedding Ceremonies +of the Natives.—Breaking up of the Bombay Column.—Departure +of Brigadier <ins class="corr" title="Ccott">Scott</ins>.—Boar +Hunt.—Larkhana.—Sehwan.—Kurrachee.—Feast +of the Mohurrum.—Embarkation +and Arrival at Bombay.</p> + +<p>We reached Quettah on the 29th of October, +and the army separated into two divisions +there, one to proceed by the fortress of Khelat, +to punish the Khan for the treacherous trick +which he had played us on our way up, and the +other to return homeward through the Bholun +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +Pass. The force destined for military operations +against Khelat consisted of her Majesty's 2nd +or Queen's Royals, her Majesty's 17th regiment +of Foot, the 35th Bengal Native Infantry, one +company of Foot Artillery, one troop of Horse +Artillery, with the Poona Irregular Horse, the +whole under the command of Major-General +Sir Thomas Wiltshire. As my detachment +was not included in this expedition, owing to +the fatigued condition of the horses, and the +difficulty of procuring forage on the route, I +can only describe the storming of Khelat from +the reports of those who were present at it.</p> + +<p>The fortress of Khelat was very little inferior +to Ghuznee in point of strength, being defended +by strong breastworks and mounted with +large cannon. The garrison consisted of from +twelve to fourteen hundred men, and there was +abundance of provisions and ammunition in the +place. After reconnoitring its position Sir +Thomas Wiltshire resolved on carrying it by +storm, and the affair was a short but brilliant +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +one. A battery was erected on one of the +neighbouring heights, and a well directed fire +soon brought the gates down. The stormers +then rushed up the causeway under cover of +our guns; but before they had reached the +gateway, a heavy fire from the loopholes of the +fortress killed from twenty to thirty of our +troops, amongst whom was Lieutenant Gravatt, +who was gallantly leading them on. A desperate +hand to hand fight then ensued, the enemy +resisting in dense masses, and disputing every +inch of ground; but our men carried all before +them, at the point of the bayonet, and drove +the enemy into the interior of the fortress, +where they were headed by the Khan himself. +The old Chieftain fought with desperation and +though frequently offered quarter, indignantly +refused to accept it. He and the followers by +whom he was surrounded were all bayonetted +on the spot, and in about four hours the whole +of the fortress was in the possession of our +troops. In the immediate vicinity of the place +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +where the Khan was killed, a shocking spectacle +presented itself. His favorite women, about +twelve or fourteen in number, lay heaped +together in a pool of blood, their throats +having been cut by order of the Khan, to prevent +their falling into our hands. A large +quantity of treasure, consisting of specie and +jewels, was found in the citadel, and had the +Cavalry been present more would have fallen +into the hands of our troops, as the enemy +were observed despatching it to the hills, on +camels, through one of the back gates, during +the heat of the assault. Amongst the various +effects which were captured on this occasion +were several boxes of arms and accoutrements, +which had been plundered from us on our way +to Cabul, and a telescope and some books, +which had belonged to one of our officers. +Cattle and grain were also found in great +abundance, and proved of no small service to +the division, on its route homeward, through +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +the Gundava pass. The fortress was completely +dismantled before the departure of the troops, +and the Chiefs and other prisoners liberated on +promising allegiance to the Shah.</p> + +<p>Amongst the residents whom we found at +Quettah on our arrival was a Bombay Parsee, +who had ventured up to that place with supplies, +consisting of tea, sugar, hams, brandy, +beer, wines, and other necessaries. To the +soldier as well as the officer these articles were +a welcome treat, and having plenty of money +to purchase them we soon exhausted the stores of +the enterprising trader who had reason to congratulate +himself on the successful issue of his +trip.</p> + +<p>The morning previous to our departure a +suicide occurred under circumstances which gave +rise to the suspicion that the wretched perpetrator +of it intended to have preluded it by the +crime of murder. A trooper belonging to the +Horse Artillery was placed under arrest for +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +some trifling neglect of duty, and as soon as he +was liberated he took a loaded pistol and went +directly to the tent of the adjutant of his corps +who had fortunately quitted it a few minutes +before. The disappointed trooper returned to +his lines and immediately blew his own brains +out.</p> + +<p>We left Quettah on the 1st of November, +about nine o'clock at night, taking with us the +sick who had been left behind on our way to +Cabul, and who were now sufficiently restored +to proceed homeward. In consequence of the +scarcity of water on the route we were obliged +to make a forced march of eight and twenty +miles, and reached the entrance to the Bholun +Pass at six o'clock the next morning. We +entertained a lively recollection of the reception +we had met with on our former passage +through this defile, and now felt some misgivings +that we should not be allowed to retrace +our steps without a repetition of the favours +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +which were then so liberally showered upon +us. To our great gratification and contentment, +however, the Belochees offered us no +sort of obstruction, and could they have facilitated +our progress through their country, +would, I have little doubt, been well inclined +to do so. We occasionally caught glimpses of +them watching our movements at a respectful +distance, but they never ventured within musket +shot during the whole of our passage. We +lost two or three men from sickness before we +cleared the defile, and found it almost impossible +to inter them from the stony nature of the +strata with which the whole of this district is +covered.</p> + +<p>Quitting the Bholun we proceeded to Dadur, +and thence to Bagh, through a jungle abounding +with every sort of game, but more particularly +deer and wild boar. The troops made +their way with considerable difficulty through +the intricacies of this entangled route, the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +pioneers being in constant requisition to clear +a passage for them.</p> + +<p>On the 24th of November we arrived at +Bagh, a village situated at the Cabul side of +the desert, elsewhere described. The place +consists of a few miserable huts, surrounded by +fields of joharra, and containing only one tank +of stagnant water. Doctor Forbes, of the 1st +Light Cavalry, an officer universally esteemed +for his benevolence, hearing that the +Natives were dying in numbers of the +cholera, immediately hastened to the village +to tender his services. He was seized by the +<ins class="corr" title="epedemic">epidemic</ins>, and returned to his quarters +in a +dying state. The unfortunate gentleman expired +in a few hours afterwards, and was +interred the same day. Five or six of the +European troops were attacked in like manner, +and were immediately hurried to the hospital +tents, where two of them died, but the others +struggled successfully against the disease. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +Brigadier Scott, taking alarm at these unequivocal +evidences of malaria, gave orders that +we should proceed across the desert without a +moment's delay, and we accordingly struck our +tents at four o'clock the same day, carrying our +sick along with us. On reaching the extremity +of the desert we found the 1st regiment of +Bombay Grenadiers, with a large convoy of +provisions and stores for the use of the army. +These supplies should have reached us at the +other side of the Bholun, but the escort had +been attacked by the cholera on the route, and +were obliged to remain stationary until the +disease had abated. We found them nearly all +convalescent and about to continue their route. +We took from them a stock of provisions, and +pursued our march.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Shikarpoor with a great number +of sick who had fallen ill of the epidemic +on the way, and it was resolved that we should +remain here a few days. Shikarpoor is a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +large well built town, and contains two fine +mosques, several roofed bazaars, and two or +three large manufactories. The British Resident +has a fine house here, the gardens of which +are tastefully laid out in the European style. +Notwithstanding the clean looking appearance +of the town it is far from being healthy, and +from ten to twelve of our troops were daily +carried off by the cholera during our stay. +Amongst the number was Captain Ogle of the +4th Light Dragoons, who fell a victim to his +humanity in visiting the sick of his troop. +This lamented gentleman was only in his +thirtieth year, and was a great favourite with +his corps. He was unfortunately a married +man, and had been looking forward with feelings +of eager anticipation to his reunion with +his family. Being of a buoyant and joyous +temperament, his loss was felt severely in the +circle of his brother officers; his ready jest +and imperturbable good humour rendering him +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +the life and soul of the mess table. Captain +Ogle looked upon the private soldier as something +more than a mere automaton placed at +his disposal, and whilst he had always a due +regard for the discipline of the service, he exercised +the power entrusted to him with humanity +and judgment, the act in which he +lost his life being but the last of a countless +series of generous and disinterested offices +which he was in the habit of performing for +those under his command. Few men have left +behind them a memory so associated with +every thing that is valuable and estimable in +social and military life.</p> + +<p>Leaving Shikarpoor, on the 27th of November, +we arrived on the following day at Sukkur +Bukkur, a town situated on the banks of the +Indus, and having its citadel on a rock in the +centre of the river. The cholera rapidly disappeared +here; but we sustained another loss in +the person of Lieutenant Janvrin, the acting +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +Quarter-Master of our detachment, who was +carried off by the small-pox. On the opposite +bank of the river lies Roree, a village remarkable +only for its manufactures, which consist +principally of silks. Several of us having +obtained leave to visit the place, we were +strolling through the bazaar, when we observed +preparations for a wedding in progress. Taking +up a position which enabled us to see what was +passing, without obtruding on the parties concerned, +we waited patiently until the ceremonies +commenced. At the expiration of about a +quarter of an hour the bridegroom made his +appearance in front of the house which contained +his betrothed, and both in person and +attire he was all that a native belle could have +desired. He was a fine, muscular looking +fellow of about seven or eight and twenty, +with handsome features and bold and jaunty air. +He was dressed in a loose robe, of spotless +white, and without any ornaments or weapons +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +whatsoever. Proceeding directly to the door +of the house which contained his Dulcinea he +knocked at it three times with the knuckles of +his right hand and once with his left. He then +threw himself prostrate on a mat which had +been made for the purpose, by the lady's own +hands, and there waited her coming forth. The +door presently opened, and a number of musicians +immediately struck up a wild and discordant +air. A timid and pretty looking +maiden, about fourteen years of age, showily +dressed in different coloured silks, and ornamented +with a nose ring and bangles of pure +gold, at length stepped forth, followed by her +relatives and friends, who formed themselves +into a circle around her. The bridegroom starting +to his feet made a formal claim to the hand +of his affianced and presented her with a +garland of flowers, which she gracefully threw +across her shoulders, in token that she accepted +him, and then suffered him to embrace her. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +Lifting her in his arms he placed her on the +back of a donkey, and they went in procession +to pay visits of ceremony through the town, +the bride distributing sweetmeats to the crowd, +as she passed along. The bridegroom showered +his favours about in the form of some red +powder, which he flung in the faces of all near +him, and especially in those of the Europeans, +of whom there were a good many present. He +half blinded some of us, and conferred as dark +a hue as his own upon others—freaks that appeared +to give infinite delight and amusement +to the natives, but which were not taken in +quite as good part by some testy fellows +amongst us. Having arrived at the house of +the bridegroom's father, the old gentleman +graciously descended, and taking the bride in +his arms, bore her into his dwelling. The +bridegroom remained a few minutes after them, +and flinging some cowries to the musicians and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +crowd, he made a salaam and darted in after +his <i>inamorata</i>.</p> + +<p>We remained at Sukkur about six weeks, in +consequence of an order forwarded after us by +Sir William Mc Naghten, under the apprehension +that our services would be again +wanted at Cabul. The Indus being navigable +up to the town, we had plentiful supplies of provisions +and other necessaries at moderate prices, +and felt tolerably satisfied with our quarters. +As to the probability of our having to return +to Cabul, the Cavalry felt at ease regarding +the rumours which prevailed, for they well +knew that the condition of their horses put +such a thing completely out of the question. +An order at length arrived that the various +brigades of the Bombay column should be +broken up, and that the troops composing them +should return to their respective quarters. +Brigadier General Scott, and his aides de camp, +accordingly left us by one of the first boats +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +which sailed down the Indus for Bombay, and +we remained under the command of the officers +of our respective regiments.</p> + +<p>We passed our time hunting in the jungles, +in the vicinity of the camp, or in fishing in the +river, both of which proved prolific sources of +amusement. I went out several times to chase +the wild boar, and on one of these occasions +the sport nearly proved fatal to me. Proceeding +with two of my comrades, and a native for +guide, through a dense and almost impenetrable +part of the jungle, we suddenly roused a huge +boar, which turned fiercely upon us, and made +directly at the nearest of its pursuers, which, +as chance would have it, happened to be me. He +had me down on the earth in a twinkling, and +would have made short work of me had not a +well-directed shot from one of my companions +struck him right between the eyes, and tumbled +him lifeless on the ground. The man to +whom I owed my safety exhibited admirable +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +coolness, and self-possession, for the slightest +deviation in his aim would have sent the bullet +through me instead of the object for which it +was intended. It was with the greatest difficulty +we contrived to drag our prize into +camp, for he weighed no less than from twenty-five +to thirty stone, and supplied the troop +with pork chops until we were tired of them.</p> + +<p>The importance of Sukkur as a military position +cannot be exaggerated. It forms the +key to Scinde, and the Indus being navigable +up to the fortress, its supplies do not depend +on season or circumstance. These advantages +have not been overlooked, for it has since +been retained in the possession of our troops, +and will always serve as a <i>point d'appui</i> in any +future operations we may undertake at that +side of the Indus.</p> + +<p>After passing nearly six weeks at Sukkur, +we took the route to Larkhana along the right +bank of the Indus. The road lay, as before, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +through a jungle, and the occasional glimpses +which we caught of the river through the +clearances gave a picturesque effect to the +scenery. We arrived at Larkhana on the 19th +of January, and remained there only one day. +Proceeding thence to Sehwan we reached the +latter place in about four days, and found a +gun boat belonging to the Hon. Company +lying at moorings in the river. We left +Sehwan on the following day, and taking a +farewell of the River Indus we proceeded towards +the coast through a wild and deserted +district, in which we found neither villages nor +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Within one day's march of Kurrachee we +found a number of tombs richly sculptured +and covered with inscriptions from the Koran, +which were said to contain the remains of +some of the native princes. There being abundance +of excellent water here, and Kurrachee +having the reputation of not being extremely +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +healthy, it was determined that we should +remained encamped here until the Khelat division +formed a junction with us. It was not +till the end of February, however, that the +Khelat forces made their appearance, having +kept us waiting about five weeks, and on the +day after their arrival we marched into Kurrachee +where we found her Majesty's 40th +regiment.</p> + +<p>Kurrachee is situated on the Coast of Belochistan, +and its natural advantages entitle it to +the rank of a first rate sea-port town. It possesses +a fine harbour, in which a seventy-four +gun ship may ride in safety, and which is protected +by the batteries of the town, and the +guns of a fortress occupying an island about +midway between the mainland and the promontory +which forms the harbour. On our +arrival at Scinde, instructions had been forwarded +to Commodore Pepper, by the Commander-in-Chief, +to invest the place, and we +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +accordingly found it in possession of our troops +on our return.</p> + +<p>The town is large but irregularly built, and +is surrounded by walls and bastions, on which +we saw some pieces of cannon, but they were +of small calibre, and of the worst possible +construction. To the north of the town we +observed a superb banyan tree, which extended +its foliage to such a distance, that it formed a +pavilion capable of containing a small stone +mosque for the accommodation of a number of +Faquirs or priests. Of the many curious specimens +of this class that I have met with in +Asia, I have seen none so utterly degraded +and isolated from every thing like humanity. +Their bodies were thickly coated over with +ashes and red paint, and their hair clotted with +filthy moisture. They were surrounded by +every sort of abomination, and howled and +whined like a set of wild beasts. That they +had not reduced themselves to this savage +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +state merely from fanaticism we had abundant +opportunities of discovering, for we saw the +inhabitants of Kurrachee daily pouring into +the temple with rich presents and offerings, +and propitiating their good will by sacrifices +of their most precious and valuable effects. +To the left of the Mosque lies a tank, or +reservoir, about fifty feet long by thirty broad, +in which we saw a number of live alligators, +which are carefully fed by the priests, and +held in the greatest possible veneration and +awe by the deluded votaries who repair +there.</p> + +<p>The feast of the Mohurrum had commenced +a few hours before our arrival, but we were in +time to witness the greater part of it. A short +description of these singular rites may not be +uninteresting to the reader. A hole being dug +in the ground to the depth of about six or eight +feet, fire is placed in it, and the devotees dance +round it, with the most extravagant exclamations +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +and gestures, some dashing square pieces +of iron or brass together, to add to the effect. +According as one set of dancers becomes +fatigued they are replaced by another, and thus +the ceremonies are kept up without intermission +from sunset to daybreak. When the moon is +at its full they march in procession to the +water's side, preceded by their Taboots, a sort +of fantastical temple, constructed of bamboo +and gilt paper. I have seen one of these +temples, at Poona, of such large dimensions +that it required an elephant to draw it, and +cost no less a sum than a thousand rupees. On +reaching the water's side the taboots are thrown +in and allowed to float away with the tide. +This concludes the ceremonies and the wearied +performers are glad to return to their homes.</p> + +<p>On returning towards the lines, from the +Mohurrum, we saw a miserable looking wretch +squatted at the side of the road, who appeared +to be in deep affliction, for he was weeping +bitterly and lamenting his hard fate. I addressed +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +him and inquired into the cause of his +grief. He told me that he had been induced to +become a convert to Christianity by one of +the missionaries, and had been thrust out of the +pale of social intercourse from the moment +the fact became known. He deplored his +having yielded to the arguments of the missionary, +since they had debarred him from +participating in the religious ceremony which +had just terminated, its pomp and circumstance +having evidently made a deeper impression on +his imagination than his conviction. We gave +him some relief and passed on, when our +attention was again directed to him by one of our +companions, who had lingered behind. Several of +the natives had surrounded the poor convert, and +were spitting upon him, and loading him with +the vilest reproaches. We returned to the spot +and compelled them to leave him in peace.</p> + +<p>Amongst the British whom we found on our +arrival at Kurrachee was Mr. Masson, the +author of an interesting work on Affghanistan, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +which has been lately published. This gentleman +had been originally a private soldier in the +Honourable Company's service, and had risen +through various grades to the profitable civil +employ which he at present holds. He rendered +some important services to the company, +for which they awarded him a pension of £100 +a-year, and much to his credit he settled the +whole of it on his aged mother.</p> + +<p>After remaining at Kurrachee about ten +days, the order was at length issued for the +embarkation of the Cavalry, which was now +limited to my own detachment. Upwards of +thirty <i>pattemars</i> were hired for the voyage, and +from twelve to fourteen men, and an equal +number of horses, were stowed in each. We +had a quick and favourable passage, and arrived +at Bombay on the 10th of March, after an +absence of nearly eighteen months.</p> + +<p class="center"><br /><br />THE END.</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212"></a></span></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213"></a></span></p> +<p class="center"><big><big>APPENDIX.</big></big></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214"></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> +<h2><a id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2> + +<p class="center">FROM THE DELHI GAZETTE <ins class="corr" +title="EXTRAORINARY">EXTRAORDINARY</ins>, +OCTOBER 1, 1842.</p> + +<p><br /><br />"The Right Hon. the Govenor-General of +India having with the concurrence of the +Supreme Council, directed the assemblage of +a British force for service across the Indus, +his Lordship deems it proper to publish the +following exposition of reasons which have led +to this important measure.</p> + +<p>"It is a matter of notoriety that the treaties +entered into by the British Government in the +year 1832 with the Ameers of Scinde, the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +<ins class="corr" title="Nawah">Nawab</ins> of Bahawulpore, and Maharaja Runjeet +Singh, had for their object, by opening the +navigation of the Indus, to facilitate the extension +of commerce, and to gain for the British +nation in Central Asia that legitimate influence +which an interchange of benefits would naturally +produce.</p> + +<p>"With a view to invite the aid of the <i>de facto</i> +rulers of Afghanistan to the measures necessary +for giving full effect to those treaties, +Captain Burnes was deputed, towards the close +of the year 1836, on a mission to Dost Mahomed +Khan, chief of Cabul: the original +objects of that officer's mission were purely +of a commercial nature.</p> + +<p>"Whilst Captain Burnes, however, was on his +journey to Cabul, information was received by +the Governor-General that the troops of Dost +Mahomed Khan had made a sudden and unprovoked +attack on those of our ancient ally, +Maharaja Runjeet Singh. It was naturally to +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +be apprehended that his Highness the Maharaja +would not be slow to avenge this aggression, +and it was to be feared that the flames of war +being once kindled in the very regions into +which we were endeavouring to extend our +commerce, the peaceful and beneficial purposes +of the British Government would be altogether +frustrated. In order to avert a result so +calamitous, the Governor-General resolved on +authorising Captain Burnes to intimate to Dost +Mahomed Khan, that if he should evince a disposition +to come to just and reasonable terms +with the Maharaja, his Lordship would exert +his good offices with his Highness for the +restoration of an amicable understanding between +the two Powers. The Maharaja, with +the characteristic confidence which he has uniformly +placed in the faith and friendship of the +British nation, at once assented to the proposition +of the Governor-General, to the effect +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +that in the mean time hostilities on his part +should be suspended.</p> + +<p>"It subsequently came to the knowledge of +the Govenor-General that a Persian army was +besieging Herat; that intrigues were actively +prosecuted throughout Affghanistan, for the +purpose of extending Persian influence and +authority to the banks of, and even beyond, the +Indus; and that the Court of Persia had not +only commenced a course of injury and insult +to the officers of Her Majesty's mission in the +Persian territory, but had afforded evidence of +being engaged in designs wholly at variance +with the principles and objects of its alliance +with Great Britain.</p> + +<p>"After much time spent by Captain Burnes +in fruitless negotiation at Cabul, it appeared +that Dost Mahomed Khan, chiefly in consequence +of his reliance upon Persian encouragement +and assistance, persisted, as respected his +misunderstanding with the Sikhs, in urging the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +most unreasonable pretensions, such as the +Governor-General could not, consistently with +justice and his regard for the friendship of +Maharajah Runjeet Singh, be the channel of +submitting to the consideration of his Highness; +that he avowed schemes of aggrandizement +and ambition injurious to the security and +peace of the frontiers of India; and that he +openly threatened, in furtherance of these +schemes, to call in every foreign aid which he +could command. Ultimately, he gave his +undisguised support to the Persian designs in +Affghanistan, of the unfriendly and injurious +character of which, as concerned the British +power in India, he was well apprised; and by +his utter disregard of the views and interests of +the British Government compelled Captain +Burnes to leave Cabul without having effected +any of the objects of his mission.</p> + +<p>"It was now evident that no further +<ins class="corr" title="inteference">interference</ins> could be exercised by +the British +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +Government to bring about a good understanding +between the Sikh ruler and Dost Mahomed +Khan; and the hostile policy of the latter +chief showed too plainly that so long as Cabul +remained under his government we could never +hope that the tranquillity of our neighbourhood +would be secured, or that the interests of our +Indian empire would be preserved inviolate.</p> + +<p>"The Governor-General deems it in this +place necessary to revert to the siege of Herat +and the conduct of the Persian nation. The +siege of that city had now been carried on by +the Persian army for many months. The +attack upon it was a most unjustifiable and +cruel aggression, perpetrated and continued +notwithstanding the solemn and repeated remonstrances +of the British Envoy at the Court +of Persia, and after every just and becoming +offer of accommodation had been made and +rejected. The besieged have behaved with +gallantry and fortitude worthy of the justice of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +their cause, and the Govenor-General would +yet indulge the hope that their heroism may +enable them to maintain a successful defence +until succours shall reach them from British +India. In the mean time the ulterior designs +of Persia, affecting the interests of the British +Government, have been by a succession of +events, more and more openly manifested. +The Governor-General has recently ascertained, +by an official despatch from Mr. M'Neil, Her +Majesty's Envoy, that his Excellency has been +compelled, by the refusal of his just demands, +and by a systematic course of disrespect adopted +towards him by the Persian Government, to +quit the court of the Schah, and to make a public +declaration of the cessation of all intercourse +between the two Governments. The necessity +under which Great Britain is placed of regarding +the present advance of the Persian arms +into Affghanistan as an act of hostility towards +herself, has also been officially communicated +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +to the Schah, under the express order of Her +Majesty's Government.</p> + +<p>"The chiefs of Candahar (brothers of Dost +Mahomed Khan, of Cabul) have avowed their +adherence to the Persian policy, with the same +full knowledge of its opposition to the rights +and interests of the British nation in India, +and to have been openly assisting in the +operations against Herat.</p> + +<p>"In the crisis of affairs consequent upon the +retirement of our Envoy from Cabul, the +Governor-General felt the importance of taking +immediate measures for arresting the rapid +progress of foreign intrigue and aggression +towards our own territories.</p> + +<p>"His attention was naturally drawn, at this +conjuncture, to the position and claims of Schah +Sooja-ool-Moolk, a monarch who, when in +power, had cordially acceded to the measures +of united resistance to external enmity which +were, at that time judged necessary by the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +British Government, and who, on his empire +being usurped by its present rulers, had found +an honourable asylum in the British dominions.</p> + +<p>"It had clearly been ascertained, from the +information furnished by the various officers +who have visited Afghanistan, that the Barukzye +chiefs, from their disunion and unpopularity, +were ill-fitted, under any circumstances, +to be useful allies to the British Government, +and to aid us in our just and necessary measures +of national defence. Yet so long as they +refrained from proceedings injurious to our +interests and security, the British Government +acknowledged and respected their authority. +But a different policy appeared to be now more +than justified by the conduct of those chiefs, +and to be indispensable to our own safety. +The welfare of our possessions in the East +requires that we should have on our western +frontier an ally who is interested in resisting +aggression and establishing tranquillity, in the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +place of chiefs ranging themselves in subservience +to a hostile Power, and seeking to +promote schemes of conquest and aggrandisement.</p> + +<p>"After a serious and mature deliberation, +the Governor-General was satisfied that pressing +necessity, as well as every consideration of +policy and justice, warranted us in espousing +the cause of Schah Sooja-ool-Moolk, whose +popularity throughout Affghanistan had been +proved to his Lordship by the strong and +unanimous testimony of the best authorities. +Having arrived at this determination, The +Governor-General was further of opinion that +it was just and proper, no less from the position +of Maharaja Runjeet Singh, than from his +undeviating friendship towards the British +Government, that his Highness should have the +offer of becoming a party to the contemplated +operations. Mr. Macnaghten was accordingly +deputed in June last to the Court of his +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +Highness, and the result of his mission has +been the conclusion of a tripartite treaty by +the British Government, the Maharaja, and +Schah Sooja-ool-Moolk, whereby his Highness +is guaranteed in his present possessions, and has +bound himself to co-operate for the restoration +of the Schah to the throne of his ancestors. +The friends and enemies of any one of the contracting +parties have been declared to be the +friends and enemies of all. Various points +have been adjusted which had been the subject +of discussion between the British Government +and his Highness the Maharaja, the identity +of whose interests with those of the hon. +Company has now been made apparent to all the +surrounding States. A guaranteed independence +will, upon favourable conditions, be +tendered to the Ameers of Scinde; and the +integrity of Herat, in the possession of its +present ruler, will be fully respected; whilst, by +the measures completed or in progress it may +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +reasonably be hoped that the general freedom +and security of commerce will be promoted; +that the name and just influence of the British +Government will gain their proper footing +among the nations of central Asia; that +tranquillity will be established upon the most +important frontier in India, and that a lasting +barrier will be raised against hostile intrigue and +encroachment.</p> + +<p>"His Majesty Schah Sooja-ool-Moolk will +enter Affghanistan surrounded by his own +troops, and will be supported against foreign +interference and factious opposition by a British +army. The Governor-General confidently hopes +that the Schah will be speedily replaced on +his throne by his own subjects and adherents; +and when once he shall be secured in power, +and the independence and integrity of Affghanistan +established, the British army will be +withdrawn.</p> + +<p>"The Governor-General has been led to +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +these measures by the duty which is imposed +upon him of providing for the security of the +British Crown; but he rejoices that in the +discharge of his duty he will be enabled to +assist in restoring the union and prosperity of +the Affghan people. Throughout the approaching +operations British influence will be sedulously +employed to further every measure of +general benefit, to reconcile differences, to +secure oblivion of injuries, and to put an end +to the distractions by which, for so many years, +the welfare and happiness of the Affghans +have been impaired.</p> + +<p>"Even to the chiefs whose hostile proceedings +have given just cause of offence to the +British Government, it will seek to secure +liberal and honourable treatment, on their tendering +early submission, and ceasing from opposition +to that course of measures which may +be judged the most suitable for the general +advantage of their country. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General +of India,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="rind">"W. H. MACNAGHTEN,</span><br /> +<br /> +"Secretary to the Governor of India,<br /> +<span class="rind">with the Governor-General."</span></p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="center">"NOTIFICATION</p> + +<p>"With reference to the preceding declaration, +the following appointments are made;—</p> + +<p>"Mr. W. H. Macnaghten, secretary to +Government, will assume the functions of +Envoy and Minister, on the part of the Government +of India, at the Court of Schah +Sooja-ool-Moolk; Mr. Macnaghten will be +assisted by the following officers:—</p> + +<p>"Captain Alexander Burnes, of the Bombay +establishment, who will be employed under +Mr. Macnaghten's direction, as Envoy to the +chief of Khelat, or other states. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Lieutenant E. D'Arcy Todd, of the +Bengal Artillery, to be political assistant and +military secretary to the Envoy and Minister.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Eldred Pottinger, of the Bombay +Artillery; Lieutenant R. Leech, of the +Bombay Engineers; Mr. P. B. Lord, of the +Bombay Medical Establishment, to be political +assistants to ditto ditto.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant E. R. Conolly, of the 6th +Regiment Bengal Cavalry, to command the +escort of the Envoy and Minister, and to be +military assistant to ditto ditto.</p> + +<p>"Mr. G. J. Berwick, of the Bengal Medical +Establishment, to be surgeon to ditto ditto.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="rind">"W. H. MACNAGHTEN,</span><br /> +<br /> +"Secretary to the Governor of India,<br /> +<span class="rind">with the Governor-General."</span></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCENES AND ADVENTURES IN +AFFGHANISTAN***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 33496-h.txt or 33496-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a +href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/3/4/9/33496">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/ +4/9/33496</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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