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diff --git a/old/50219-0.txt b/old/50219-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 93ea182..0000000 --- a/old/50219-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11924 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Journal of the Disasters in Affghanistan, -1841-2, by Florentia Sale - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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 -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: A Journal of the Disasters in Affghanistan, 1841-2 - -Author: Florentia Sale - -Release Date: October 15, 2015 [EBook #50219] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DISASTERS IN AFFGHANISTAN, 1841-2 *** - - - - -Produced by MWS, Chris Pinfield and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - -Transcriber's Note: - -Apparent typographical errors have been corrected and hyphenation -rationalised. Inconsistent accents have been retained. Small capitals -have been replaced by regular capitals. - - - - -A - -JOURNAL - -OF THE - -DISASTERS IN AFFGHANISTAN, - -1841-2. - -BY - -LADY SALE. - -SIXTH THOUSAND. - - LONDON: - JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. - 1843. - - - LONDON: - Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE, - New-Street-Square. - - - - -NOTICE. - - -The absence of the Author from England, and the consequent impossibility -of consulting her during the progress of this work through the press, -may have caused some errors to creep in,--especially in the spelling of -the oriental words. The greatest care, however, has been taken to adhere -exactly to the original manuscript. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - -VOCABULARY Page ix - -INTRODUCTION 1 - -CABUL. - - The Zoormut Expedition 6 - Revolt of Tézeen and Bhoodkhak 8 - Departure of Gen. Sale's Brigade from Cabul 10 - Losses at the Khood Cabul pass 11 - Terms made with the Chiefs 21 - Outbreak in Cabul 31 - Captain Johnson's Treasury plundered 35 - Supineness of the British Chiefs 38 - Capt. Campbell's regiment repulsed 39 - State of the cantonments 42 - Return of the 37th N. I. 43 - Attack on the Commissariat fort 50 - Loss of Mackenzie's fort 54 - Outbreak in the Kohistan 56 - Want of provisions 58 - Loss of the Commissariat fort 59 - Disastrous attempt to recapture the small fort 62 - Shah Zeman declared King 66 - Recall of Gen. Sale 69 - Position of the cantonments 70 - Arrival of Brig. Shelton in cantonments 83 - Losses at the Rikabashees' fort 87 - Death of Col. Mackrell 89 - Losses at Kandahar 95 - Action on the Western Heights 97 - Affairs in the Kohistan 103 - Accounts from Jellalabad 108 - Dissensions in the British councils 120 - Action on the hills above Behmaru 121 - Terms proposed by the enemy 135 - Reply of the Envoy 142 - Difficulty of obtaining supplies 149 - Attack on the captured fort 152 - Disgraceful loss of the fort 157 - The General urges the necessity of negotiating 168 - Terms made with the enemy 173 - Hostages demanded by them 176 - The forts given up to them 181 - The seizure of the Envoy by Mahommed Akbar Khan 194 - News received of the Envoy's death 197 - Negotiations resumed 201 - Preparations for evacuating cantonments 208 - Departure postponed 215 - -RETREAT FROM CABUL. - - Cantonments evacuated 221 - Difficulties encountered by the rear guard 227 - Loss of the guns and ammunition 231 - Terms made with Mahommed Akbar 235 - Losses in the Khoord Cabul pass 236 - Akbar demands possession of the ladies and children 244 - Destruction of the rear column 254 - Attempt of the remnant of the army to reach Jugdaluk 259 - Gen. Elphinstone and Brig. Shelton go to Mahommed - Akbar 264 - Deliberations of the Chiefs 267 - Attack at Jugdaluk 273 - The final struggle at Gundamuk 278 - -THE CAPTIVITY. - - March of the prisoners towards the Lughman valley 279 - Accommodation at Buddeabad 284 - Accounts from Jellalabad 288 - Severe earthquake 297 - Adventures of Capt. Bygrave 300 - Accounts from the garrison at Ghuznee 305 - Ferocity and cruelty of Mahommed Akbar 307 - Change of jailors 309 - Offers for ransoming the Prisoners 311 - Report of the murder of Shah Shoojah 317 - March for Tézeen 321 - Major Pottinger expostulates with the Sirdar 328 - Death of Gen. Elphinstone 332 - Insults offered to his corpse on its way to Jellalabad 334 - Akbar acknowledges that he slew the Envoy 337 - Treachery of Shumshudeen at Ghuznee 340 - Visit to the ladies of Mahommed Shah's family 345 - Accounts from Jellalabad 351 - Proceedings at Cabul 351 - March to Khoord Cabul 352 - Offers for exchange of Prisoners 357 - Reports from Cabul 365 - The Bala Hissar is surrendered to Akbar 367 - Sufferings of Col. Stoddart and Capt. A. Conolly in - Bokhara 376 - Friendly conduct of the Nawaub, Zeman Shah Khan 381 - Gen. Pollock offers to treat with the Sirdar 384 - Gloomy prospects 386 - Policy of Mahommed Akbar Khan 386 - Death of Capt. John Conolly 392 - Accounts of the Kandahar force 397 - Newspaper controversy 399 - Review of Akbar's conduct 400 - His treatment of the Prisoners 403 - Futteh Jung challenges Akbar to battle 409 - Removal of the Prisoners to the Loghur country 410 - Proposed plan for their release 415 - March to Bamean 421 - Terms made by the Prisoners with their jailor 425 - He hoists the flag of defiance on the fort 426 - The Prisoners are joined by several native Chiefs 427 - They commence their MARCH 430 - Arrival of Sir Richmond Shakespear 432 - Rescue by Gen. Sale 436 - -ADDENDA 439 - -APPENDIX 449 - - - - -VOCABULARY - -OF - -PERSIAN, HINDOSTANI, AND OTHER ORIENTAL WORDS - -EMPLOYED IN THIS VOLUME. - - -_Akukzye._ The name of one of the great Affghan tribes. - -_Aloo-baloo._ The wild sour cherry. - -_Aman._ The cry for mercy--quarter. - -_Ameer._ Commander or chief. - -_Ana._ A small coin; sixteen of which make a rupee. Its value is about -three halfpence. - -_Ashurpee._ A mohur--a gold coin. Its value is about thirty shillings -English. - -_Ayah._ A female attendant--a nurse. - - -_Bahadur._ A bravo--a boaster or braggadocio; also a brave man--a hero. - -_Bahadur_ (verb). To boast or brag. - -_Bala Hissar._ Upper citadel--royal palace. - -_Barats._ Legal documents--assignments--promissory notes. - -_Barukzye._ The name of one of the five great Dooranee tribes. - -_Bash_ or _bosh_. Nothing--humbug. - -_Bashee._ A head-man. - -_Bédanas._ A sort of mulberry. - -_Behmaru._ The name of a village near Cabul. The word signifies "the -husbandless." - -_Bhanghys._ Baggage.--Boxes. They are boxes hung at each end of a pole -and carried on a man's shoulder. - -_Bheestees._ Water-carriers. - -_Bhoosa_ or _Boussa_. Chopped straw--chaff. _Hindostani._ - -_Bhoodkhees._ Presents. - -_Bildars._ Excavators--sappers. - -_Bourj_ or _Burj_. A fortified hill or tower. - -_Bukshees._ Gifts--presents--_douceurs_. - -_Bukhraeed._ A Mahommedan feast. The festival of the goat; held to -commemorate the history of Abraham and Ishmael (Isaac). - -_Bunneah._ A trader--a corn-merchant or dealer in grain, flour, &c. - - -_Cafila._ A caravan--a convoy. - -_Cass._ A kind of furze. - -_Caupoochees._ Porters. - -_Chaoney._ An encampment--cantonments. - -_Charpoys._ A bed on four poles, with ropes crossed over them. - -_Chattak._ A measure for grain, &c. The 16th part of a seer, or about 2 -ounces English. - -_Chebootras._ Small thick mats, on which slaves usually sit or _squat_. - -_Chillum._ The part of the hookah, or pipe, containing the lighted -tobacco--hence used for the pipe itself. - -_Chillumchee._ A washand-basin. - -_Chiragh._ A lamp. - -_Chogah._ A sort of cloak. - -_Chokey._ A police station. - -_Chouk._ A bazaar--a street. Also the portion of the taxes _excused_ to -the native Chiefs for keeping the passes open, and for keeping the -tribes in check. - -_Chowdry._ The chief man or head of a bazaar. - -_Chuddah._ A sheet or veil. - -_Chupao._ A night attack--a surprise--a foray. - -_Chupao_ (verb). To attack by night--to surprise by stealth. - -_Chupatties._ Unleavened cakes, made of ottah. - -_Chuprassy._ A messenger--a servant bearing a badge or brass plate. - -_Chuttah_ or _chatta_. An umbrella or parasol. - -_Compound._ An enclosed space--the ground round a -house. - -_Cossid._ A courier--an express--a foot messenger. - -_Crore._ Ten lakhs of rupees, or one million pounds sterling. - - -_Dāk._ Letter post. - -_Dallies._ Baskets for fruits, &c.--panniers. - -_Dewan._ A steward. - -_Dhal._ A kind of split pea--pulse. - -_Dhooley._ A palanquin for the sick. - -_Dhye._ Sour curds. - -_Dooranee._ The general name of the five great tribes; the -Populzye--Barukzye--Nurzye--Barmizye and Abkhuzye. - -_Durbar._ Levee. - -_Duffodar._ A non-commissioned officer of cavalry. - - -_Elchee._ An ambassador--an agent. - -_Eusofzyes._ An Affghan tribe north of Peshawer. - - -_Fakirs._ Devotees--mendicants. - -_Fatcha._ The prayer for the reigning monarch--a part of the Mahommedan -service; the reading of which is equivalent to doing homage. - -_Feringhees._ Europeans--Franks--foreigners. - -_Fernez._ Sweet curds. - -_Fouj._ An army. - - -_Ghee._ Clarified butter. - -_Ghuzee_ or _Ghazeea_. A champion of religion--a fanatic. - -_Gilzye._ The name of a great Affghan tribe. - -_Gobrowed._ Dumbfounded--at a _non-plus_. - -_Godowns._ Storehouses--granaries. - -_Golees._ Balls--bullets. - -_Golundaz._ Artillerymen--literally, throwers of balls. - -_Goor._ Coarse brown sugar or molasses. - -_Goorkha._ A native of Nepaul; literally "Cowherd." - -_Gulas._ Cherries. - - -_Hamaum._ A hot bath--baths; commonly written _Hummums_. - -_Haut._ A measure equal to half a yard--a cubit. - -_Havildar._ A serjeant in the native troops. - -_Hazir-Bashes._ The king's body guard. The words imply "Ever ready." - -_Hookm._ An order--permission--the word of command. - -_Hoosseinee-Angoor._ A peculiarly fine sort of grape, of immense size, -called "the bull's eye." - -_Huft Kohtul._ The seven passes. - -_Hurkaru._ A messenger. - - -_Janbaz._ The Affghan cavalry. - -_Jee._ Life--spirit--"with right goodwill." - -_Jeerga._ An assembly or council--a diet. - -_Jemadar._ A native officer holding the rank of lieutenant. - -_Jhala._ A raft. - -_Jingals._ Wall pieces, carrying a ball of about a quarter of a pound. - -_Jorabs._ Boots. - -_Jung._ The fight or battle. - -_Juwans._ Young men. - -_Juzail._ The long rifle of the Affghans. - -_Juzailchees._ Riflemen. - - -_Kaffirs._ Infidels. - -_Kaloss._ Safe--free. Finished. - -_Kazanchez._ A treasurer--a treasury. - -_Keshmish._ Raisins--grapes. - -_Khan._ A nobleman. In Cabul the title is assumed by every one. - -_Khelluts._ Dresses of honour. - -_Khootba._ The prayer for the king. - -_Kirkee._ A wicket or window. - -_Kos._ A measure of distance, equal to about two English miles. - -_Kote._ A fort. - -_Kotilla Taj-i._ The name of a pass--literally, the crown of the -mountains. - -_Kotilla Murdee._ The dead men's pass. - -_Kujavas._ Camel-panniers. - -_Kulassy._ A tent pitcher--a baggage servant. - -_Kulma._ The Mahommedan creed. - -_Kuneh._ A private dwelling. - -_Kurtoot._ The name of a village--literally, the donkey's mulberry. - -_Kurwar_, or _Khurwah_. A measure; equal to 700 lbs. English. - -_Kuzzilbashes._ Persians; or persons of Persian descent, residing in -Cabul. - -_Kyde._ Prison. The root of the vulgar English "quod"--to put in quod. - -_Kysee._ The white apricot. - - -_Lakh._ One hundred thousand. - -_Lakh of Rupees._ Ten thousand pounds sterling. - -_Larye._ A battle--an engagement. - -_Lascar._ An attendant on guns, magazines, &c. - -_Loonghee._ The cloth of a turban. - -_Loot._ Plunder. - -_Loot_ (verb). To sack--to plunder. - - -_Mast._ Curds. - -_Maund._ A measure of grain; about 80 lbs. English. - -_Maush._ A sort of grain. - -_Meerza._ A secretary--a Mahommedan writer. - -_Meer Wyse._ A teacher--the high priest. - -_Mehmandar._ A cicerone--a man of all work--a _factotum_. - -_Mehter._ A class of camp-followers--a sweeper. - -_Mohur._ A coin, generally gold; its value is about thirty shillings -English. - -_Moollah._ A priest. - -_Moong._ Pulse. - -_Moonshee._ A secretary or interpreter. - -_Muezzin._ The call of the _Faithful_ to prayers. - -_Mushk._ A leathern bag for holding water--a goat's skin. - -_Musjid._ A temple or place of worship. - - -_Nagura._ A set of drums which the natives beat to announce the presence -of the king or any great chief. - -_Naib._ A deputy or lieutenant. - -_Naich._ A corporal in the native troops. - -_Nal._ A horse-shoe. - -_Nalbunds._ Farriers. - -_Nalkee._ A palanquin. - -_Nans._ Cakes of bread. (? Latin, Annona.) - -_Nawaub._ A prince. Nabob. - -_Nazir._ A master of the household. - -_Neemchees._ A kind of spencer made of sheep-skins. - -_Neencha._ A coat. - -_No-roz._ The Vernal Equinox. The Mohammedan New Year's Day. - -_Nullah._ The bed of a river; also used for a river. - -_Numdas._ Coarse felt carpets. - - -_Ooloos._ The tribes or clans. To summon the Ooloos, answers to our -"calling out the militia." - -_Oorsees._ Open-work lattices. - -_Ottah_ or _Attah_. Ground wheat--flour, or rather what is called -pollard. - - -_Palkee._ A palanquin. - -_Pall._ A kind of tent. - -_Pesh Khedmuts._ Attendants. - -_Pillau._ A dish of meat and rice. - -_Posha Khana._ An armoury. - -_Poshteen._ A sheep-skin; also a fur-pelisse. - -_Pushtoo._ The language of the natives of Affghanistan. - -_Pyjania._ Loose trowsers. - - -_Raj._ A government--a province. - -_Rajah._ A prince. - -_Ressalah._ A troop of horse. - -_Rezai_ or _Resaiz_. A counterpane--a quilt. - -_Rui-band._ A veil. - -_Rupee._ A silver coin; its value is about two shillings English. - - -_Saces._ A groom. - -_Sahib._ Sir--master. - -_Salaam._ Salutation. To make salaam--to pay one's respects. - -_Seer._ A measure; about equal to two lbs. English. - -_Shah Bagh._ The king's garden. - -_Shah Guzees_ or _Shahghasses_. The household troops--the "yeomen of the -guard." Officers of the court. - -_Shah-zada._ A king's son--a prince. - -_Shalu._ Red cotton cloth from Turkey. - -_Shikar._ Field sports. - -_Shikargurs._ Hunting grounds--preserves. - -_Shoke._ A hobby--a mania. - -_Shroffs._ Native bankers--money changers. - -_Shubkoon._ A surprise at night. - -_Shytan._ The devil. - -_Siah Sung._ The black rock. - -_Siahs._ A large sect of the Mahommedans; opposed to the Soonees. - -_Sipahees._ The native Hindostanee troops. Sepoys. - -_Sir-i-chusm._ The name of a village--the words signify "the head of the -spring." - -_Sirdar._ A general. The title assumed by Mahomed Akbar -Khan. - -_Sirdar-i-Sirdan._ The chief of the generals. Generalissimo. - -_Soonees._ A large sect of the Mahommedans. - -_Subadar._ A native officer, holding the rank of captain. - -_Sugs._ Dogs. _A term of contempt._ - -_Sungah._ Breast work. Fortifications. - -_Surda._ A species of melon. The _cold_ melon. - -_Surwans_ or _Surwons_. Camel drivers--grooms. - -_Setringees._ A kind of small carpet. - -_Suwars._ Horsemen--troopers. - -_Syud._ The title of a chief of the Ooloos. - -_Syud._ A holy man--a saint. - -_Syuds._ A sect of the Mahommedans; claiming to be the descendants of -the prophet; and who therefore wear the green turban. - - -_Tattoes._ Ponies. - -_Topes._ Tombs--mounds--barrows. There are several in Affghanistan, -built in the time of Alexander. - -_Topshee Bashee._ The commander of the artillery. "The master-general of -the ordnance." - -_Turnasook._ The red plum. - -_Tykhana._ A cellar. - - -_Usufzyes._ An Affghan tribe north of Peshawer. - - -_Vakeel._ A deputy--a commissioner--one who acts or negotiates for -another. - - -_Wuzeer._ Vizier. - -_Wuzeerat._ The office of vizier. - - -_Xummuls._ Coarse blankets. - - -_Yaboos._ Affghan ponies. - -_Yaghi._ Rebellious--in a state of rebellion--or of independence. - - -_Zenana._ A harem. - -_Zerdaloos._ Apricots. - -_Zilzilla._ An earthquake. - -_Zubberdust._ Overbearing--"with the strong arm." - -_Zuna._ A dwelling. - - - - - JOURNAL - OF - LADY SALE. - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -* * * * I have not only daily noted down events as they -occurred, but often have done so hourly. I have also given the reports -of the day, the only information we possessed; also such news as was -telegraphed from the Bala Hissar, or sent in by the King or by Capt. -Conolly to the Envoy; and many other reports brought by Affghan -gentlemen of Capt. Sturt's[1] acquaintance, and by others of lower -degree, who having had dealings with him in the engineer department and -public works, and having received kindness from him, gave him such -intelligence and warning as was in their power: all of which he -communicated [to his superior officers] at different times; but the -warnings were not attended to; and as when he gave his advice it was -seldom adhered to, he became disgusted, and contented himself with -zealously performing his duties and making himself generally useful, -acting the part of an artillery officer as well as that of an engineer. -Had poor Sturt's life been spared, it was his intention to have worked -up my Rough Notes, and to have added much valuable information: he was -too much overworked to afford leisure to give me assistance at the time. -His plans, drawings, &c., with his public and private papers, were lost, -except a note or two that were, just a few days before we left Cabul, -put with my Journal. I believe several people kept an account of these -proceedings, but all except myself lost all they had written; and had -recourse to memory afterwards. I lost every thing except the clothes I -wore; and therefore it may appear strange that I should have saved these -papers. The mystery is, however, easily solved. After every thing was -packed on the night before we left Cabul, I sat up to add a few lines to -the events of the day, and the next morning I put them in a small bag -and tied them round my waist. I am indebted to Capt. Souter, of H. M. -44th Regiment, for a plan, from recollection, of the cantonment and -forts. The inaccuracies, if any, are but trifling; and it is -sufficiently clear to indicate the positions of the principal places -alluded to. - -A much better narrative of past events might have been written, even by -myself; but I have preferred keeping my Journal as originally written, -when events were fresh, and men's minds were biassed by the reports of -the day, and even hour. - -It is easy to argue on the wisdom or folly of conduct after the -catastrophe has taken place. With regard therefore to our chiefs, I -shall only say that the Envoy has deeply paid for his attempt to out -diplomatize the Affghans. Gen. Elphinstone, conscious that his powers of -mind had become enfeebled with those of his body, finding there was no -hope of Gen. Nott's arrival to assume the command, called in another -officer to his aid, who had but one object in view (to get back, at all -hazards, to Hindostan). He averred that a retreat to the Bala Hissar was -impossible, as we should have to fight our way (for one mile and a -half)! If we could not accomplish that, how were we to get through a -week's march to Jellalabad? Once in the Bala Hissar, which would have -been easily defended by one thousand men, we should have had plenty of -troops for foraging purposes; and the village of Ben-i-shehr, just under -the Bala Hissar, would have given us a twelvemonth's provisions if we -had only made the demonstration of a night march, to have the appearance -of taking them by force. Sallies from thence might also have been made -into the town, where there was always a party, particularly the -Kuzzilbashes, who would have covertly assisted us, until our returning -fortunes permitted them to do so openly. - -Independent of ----'s determination to return to India, he often refused -to give any opinion when asked for it by the General, a cautious measure -whereby he probably hoped to escape the obloquy that he expected would -attach to the council of war, composed of Gen. Elphinstone, Brig. -Shelton, Brig. Anquetil, and Col. Chambers. I might say nominally -composed; numerically it was much more extended. Capt. Grant, with cold -caution, obstructed every enterprise, and threw all possible -difficulties in the way; Capt. Bellew was full of doubts and -suggestions, all tending to hamper and retard operations; and numbers of -young men gave much gratuitous advice; in fact, the greater part of the -night was spent in confusing the General's ideas, instead of allowing a -sick man time by rest to invigorate his powers. Brig. Shelton was in the -habit of taking his rezai with him, and lying on the floor during these -discussions, when sleep, whether real or feigned, was a resource against -replying to disagreeable questions. Major Thain, a sincere friend and -good adviser of the General's, withdrew in disgust from the council: and -Sturt, who was ever ready to do any thing or give his opinion when -asked, from the same feeling no longer proffered it. - -As a proof that Sir William Macnaghten's confidence in Shah Shoojah was -latterly much shaken, he wrote to the Governor of India, proposing that, -if it really should be proved that His Majesty was acting treacherously -against us, the Dost should be restored to his country. But it is very -doubtful whether this despatch ever reached the Governor-General. - -I shall not refer back to many small insurrections that took place, but -only allude to the events that immediately preceded the grand -insurrection at Cabul. - -I believe I have indifferently written the name of a village as Dehmaru -and Behmaru; it is called both, but Behmaru is the correct name, -signifying the husbandless: Dehmaru would be the Husband's Village. It -takes its name from a romantic legend of a girl of rank betrothed to a -chief who was said to have been slain in combat, and she consequently -pined away and died also; but the lover recovered from his wounds, and -placed a stone, said to be one of those white ones that look like women -in Bourkhor, over her grave on the Behmaru hill; and when he died he was -buried beside her, with a similar stone to mark the spot. - -[1] Lady Sale's son-in-law. - - - - -CABUL. - - -_September, 1841._--Sir William Macnaghten obtained a force to be sent -out to the Zoormut country. A chief, contemptuously designated as a -robber, was said to have gone into the town of Zaho beyond Gurdez. The -information given to Capt. Hay, commanding one of the Shah's corps, -represented the place as contemptible. He went there with some few -troops supported by guns, found that the place was much stronger than he -had supposed, and that he could not do any thing against it, and that he -was fired at from six forts. On this intelligence reaching Cabul, a -large force was sent out on the 28th of September, under Col. Oliver of -the 5th, consisting of half of Capt. Abbott's battery, two iron -nine-pounder guns, a wing of the 44th Queen's, the 5th N. I., Capt. -Warburton's guns, Capt. Backhouse's mountain train, Anderson's horse, -the Kohistan corps, and two others of the Shah's, with the King's -sappers and miners and the Hindostanee sappers and miners under Capt. -Sturt, as sole engineer. - -The first day's march was through the city, with narrow streets and -sharp turnings, very unfavorable for guns, as was also a bad road -afterwards, a nullah, and a steep ascent; all which circumstances kept -them from getting into camp until late in the evening; after that the -road was good, with the exception of the Al-Timor pass, which was very -steep. It rises 9600 feet above the level of the sea. The crest was -represented as being as much as a man on horseback could surmount, and -the artillery would never have been got over it had not the natives -given their assistance: 800 of them dragged the guns up. The great -difficulty (as far as I could learn) lay, not so much in the acclivity, -as in the roughness of the road, which was perfectly filled with huge -blocks of stone. Here it was dreadfully cold, and snow fell. Beyond this -pass the people of the country fled, abandoning their property, and -consequently their suffering must be very great in the approaching -winter. - -The chiefs declared that they were ready to submit, but the orders were -peremptory to destroy the forts that had fired on the Shah's troops. -Lieut. John Conolly and Lieut. Burnet (54th) chupao'd[2] Akram Khan, -riding sixty miles at night with 300 horsemen. They surprised the chief, -his wives, and families; it was however done through the treachery of -the chief's son-in-law, who disclosed his retreat. The Shah has ordered -Akram Khan's execution. Whilst these events were going on, disturbances -had broken out near Cabul, where much had occurred to incite the chiefs -to rise. In former times, under the feudal system, when the sovereign of -Cabul required troops, each bold chieftain came forward with his -retainers; but these vassals had been taken from them, and were embodied -in corps commanded by British officers, to whom they owed no affection, -and only paid a forced obedience, whilst their hearts were with their -national religion; their chief's power was now greatly limited, and the -chouk guaranteed to them was withheld on the plea that the Company had -commanded retrenchments. But the saving required by Government was a -curtailment of those expences which were defrayed by its own rupees, -whereas the 40,000 rupees now the subject of dispute were, in fact, no -saving at all to us, as that money was never paid by the Company, but -was the chouk or money excused to the chiefs out of the revenue or dues -owing to the King, on condition of their enforcing the submission of the -petty chiefs and the payment of their rents. This sum whether paid to -Shah Shoojah or not, would never have replenished the Hon. Company's -coffers; and by upholding the Shah in such an act of aggression we -compromised our faith, and caused a pretty general insurrection, said to -be headed by Meer Musjude. - -The Kohistanee chiefs are urged on by the Dooranee Chiefs in Cabul, and -all the country about Tézeen and Bhoodkhak is in a state of revolt. It -is only wonderful this did not take place sooner. - -The Indian government have for some time been constantly writing -regarding the enormous expenditure in Affghanistan, every dāk has -reiterated retrench; but instead of lessening the political expences and -making deductions in that department, they commenced by cutting off -these 40,000 rupees from the chiefs. - -Affairs having assumed this gloomy appearance, the Envoy sent in all -haste for the force under Col. Oliver to return as quickly as possible, -leaving it to Capt. Macgregor's diplomatic ability to patch up the Zaho -business as best he might, and come to the rescue with his advice -regarding the Tézeenites, with whose customs, &c. he had much -familiarity. Macgregor strongly advised the not stirring up a hornet's -nest, and wished to try what he could do by diplomacy. Valour, however, -was the order of the day; and various were the suggestions of the -politicals. One plan was, that Gen. Sale's brigade, on its way down to -the provinces, should make a detour viâ Nigerow. The troops were not to -fight but only by their presence to overawe the Nigerowians, whilst some -neighbouring tribes, who had a blood feud with them, should make the -attack. Plans of the country were sent in, with imaginary roads drawn on -them from various points, whilst supervening obstacles to the march of -an army, such as hills and passes, were omitted. The scheme was not -considered feasible, in consequence of the advanced state of the season, -it being now October, and from the apprehension that the cold would -destroy the camels requisite to carry the tents and provisions. - -_9th October._--The 35th N. I., commanded by Col. Monteath, C. B., with -two six-pounder guns under Lieut. Dawes, were suddenly sent at a day's -notice to Bhoodkhak, partly as being the first march towards the -provinces (they forming a part of Sale's, or the 1st brigade), and -partly in consequence of the disturbances. - -_11th._--The 13th light infantry, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Dennie, C. -B., were also sent at a few hours' notice to Bhoodkhak; but as they were -not to proceed on their march until the arrival of Capt. Abbott with his -guns, I remained at Cabul with my daughter, Mrs. Sturt, who had been -staying with us during her husband's absence with Col. Oliver's force; -and Sale took his departure from Cabul, fully expecting me to follow him -in three days at the latest. - -_12th._--The 13th and 35th, with the two guns under Dawes, moved -forward, the whole under Sale, them object being to go through the -Khoord Cabul pass, and place the 35th N. I. in an advanced position at -Khoord Cabul, after which the 13th were to fall back again on Bhoodkhak. -This movement was effected, but with considerable loss. The Khoord Cabul -is a narrow defile, enclosed by high and rugged rocks; it is said that -the number of the enemy did not exceed 60 men, but they possessed -considerable advantage over our troops in their knowledge of the country -and in the positions they took up; for until they commenced firing, not -a man was known to be there. They were concealed behind rocks and -stones, and by a stone breastwork that they had hastily thrown up, -behind which, on our troops entering the pass, they laid in wait, and -appeared to pick off the officers in particular. The number of the enemy -were, however, underrated, as I am assured there were fully 200 of them. -The 35th lost, in killed and wounded, about 40 men; and Capt. -Younghusband, of the same corps, was badly wounded in the foot. The 13th -had 8 men killed and 19 wounded. Gen. Sale was wounded in the left leg; -the ball entered near the ankle, shivered the small bone, and was taken -out from the skin on the other side where it had lodged. Lieut. Mein of -the 13th, while leading his company up to the breastwork, was severely -and dangerously wounded in the head; the skull was fractured by the -ball, which entered it. Lieut. Oakes, of the same regiment, had also a -very narrow escape, being wounded in the head also. It rained very -heavily that night, and the 13th had the full benefit of it, for they -were out all night, having two alertes; one of the sentries was mortally -wounded, being shot on his post. Exertions were made to discover the -persons who fired on our sentries: three men were seized who had in -their possession the soldier's belt, which was a tolerable evidence of -criminality; but the Envoy wrote to say, that the people about the King -said that those men were good men and true, and they were to be released -without any punishment! - -_13th._--Two companies of the 37th N. I. and two guns under Mr. Waller, -were sent to reinforce the 13th at Bhoodkhak, leaving only the remainder -of the 37th in cantonments, and no guns. Should there be a rising in -Cabul, we should be entirely without the means of defence. The Shah's -troops have moved from their camp behind, to Siah Sung, for protection, -as, from the force which has gone with Col. Oliver, they have not guards -enough to protect their camp, or the stores left there: their sentries -are fired on constantly. Lieut. Mayne, of the Shah's service was -reported to have been shot when going his rounds last night, but it was -a mistake; the suwar who accompanied him was the sufferer. - -A poor woman, a Mrs. Smith, the wife of a conductor, was travelling up -the Bolan pass to Kandahar, with a few suwars as a guard. She was -attacked by the Belooches; the suwars fled, Mrs. Smith got out of her -palkee and ran a short distance, but was soon overtaken and killed; the -body was not plundered, and her rings were found on her fingers, and her -earrings in her ears; not that they committed the act from hatred to the -Feringhees and disdain of plunder, but that, according to the -superstition of these tribes, it is a most unlucky circumstance to kill -a woman; and finding their victim of the gentle sex, they fled, and left -her as she fell. - -_17th._--Col. Oliver's force returned; Capt. Abbott's guns have had -their carriages much damaged; the spokes of sundry wheels are absent, -thanks to the acclivities and declivities of the Al-Timor pass, so that -he requires a few days to put all to rights before he can go to join -Sale with the 37th: when they do so, the brigade will move on Tézeen. - -_18th._--The enemy came down (a chupao or night attack), 400 strong, on -Khoord Cabul, where an action was fought with great loss on both sides; -Lieut. Jenkins of the 30th was mortally wounded, and lingered in great -agony, having been shot through the spine. Col. Monteath sent to Sale -for reinforcements, who despatched to him the two companies of the 37th -that had lately arrived at Bhoodkhak. - -_19th._--The remainder of the 37th marched from Cabul to Bhoodkhak; also -Capt. Abbott and his guns, and the Shah's sappers and miners under Capt. -Broadfoot. Sale and Sturt have agreed that I am to remain with him and -my daughter at Cabul, and to come on with the Envoy, who is anxious to -go to his government at Bombay, and Gen. Elphinstone, who returns to the -provinces in consequence of ill health. - -Sale's brigade is to move on to Khoord Cabul to-morrow. Seventy-seven of -the wounded men from thence and Bhoodkhak have come in to cantonments, -as also Lieut. Mein, of the 13th. It appears that the Hazir Bash, the -escort sent by the King with Capt. Trevor to Capt. Macgregor (political -agent), were the people who let the Ghilzyes into the 35th's camp; they -were partly of the same tribe, and whilst the rest were fighting, these -ever-ready gentlemen did a little work of their own, cutting down -surwans and hamstringing camels. Whilst they were thus employed Capt. -Wyndham came up with a company of the 35th, and fired into the midst, -putting them to rout. Col. Monteath turned these people out of his camp -as unsafe to be trusted; the Envoy has ordered them to be sent back to -Cabul, and to be kindly treated, and will not believe them to be in -fault. The Hazir Bash, as their name imports, are "aye ready for the -field," but I fear that just now-- - - "At a word it may be understood, - They are ready for evil and not for good," - -like Walter Scott's goblin page. - -_20th._--Lieut. Jenkins's body was brought to Capt. Sturt's house; he -died just after he was placed in the dhooley, and was thus saved the -additional pain of the journey. - -_21st._--Lieut. Jenkins's funeral took place. As the 35th lost ninety -camels, and fifty more were sent in with the sick and wounded, the force -is detained until more camels can reach them from Cabul. - -_23d._--Much firing has been heard, and great anxiety prevails. All the -forts about Cabul are empty, and the Juwans have gone (it is said) to -aid in the fight against us at Tézeen: Sale writes that the report is, -that the people at Tézeen say they are unable to cope with us in battle, -but that they intend to plunder and annoy the force on its way down. - -_24th._--Sturt sent me a note before I was dressed this morning to -inform me, that at Tézeen one small fort had been evacuated, and that -Lieut. E. King, of the 13th light infantry, was killed. In the course of -the morning I heard that the 13th, having expended their ammunition, -were obliged to retreat; that poor King, being the last man to do so, -was shot dead on the spot. The men could not stop to take up his body -then, but they returned shortly after, and obtained it before the enemy -had time to do more than take off his jacket. He was a gallant -high-spirited young man, universally beloved, and consequently is much -lamented. He was interred under a tent at night, lest the Affghans -should recognise the grave and disinter the body. We afterwards were -informed that the attack was made on the rear guard before they quitted -their ground; that the enemy cut in, in rear of the baggage, took ninety -camels with all the treasure of the 13th, a large quantity of -ammunition, and other stores. - -Gen. Elphinstone told me, that Sale had been very imprudent in using his -leg, and had consequently been suffering a great deal of pain, but that -the remedies applied had given him relief; he expressed great regret -that he had not communicated any information to me, taking it for -granted that the Envoy had done so, if I had not a letter from Sale -himself; but he was wounded, and with plenty of military occupation, -could not always find time to write me many particulars, as he had to -send his despatches off as quickly as possible to the General. - -A letter from a friend with the force that was sent from Kandahar -mentions, that the force had arrived at the extreme point of their tour -(Dehwarah) on the 15th of October, and that they were to set out on -their return the following day. Capt. Leeson, of the 42d, in temporary -command of the Shah's 1st cavalry regiment, was to march twenty-five -miles and over a pass (the Kotilla Meercha), to be out of the way of the -others, on account of the scarcity of water. The troops had not had any -thing to do, nor was there even a chance of their having a foe to -contend with, for the people of that part of the country got such a -lesson in the fight of Secunderabad, that the chiefs could not have -collected 200 men; the forts were mere shells, their walls of no -thickness. - -The fort against which the eighteen-pounder guns were sent out, has been -an utter ruin for years, not only indefensible but uninhabitable. The -troops have been terribly distressed bringing the guns over and through -the passes, which are more difficult than can be imagined by those that -have not seen them; the last, the Dana Thunghee, is described as -resembling what the Khyber would be about Ali Musjid, if it had a deep -and very rapid river flowing through it, the said river having to be -crossed thirteen times. - -The Kotilla Taj-i (crown of the mountains), is very steep, and as nearly -impracticable as it can be, without being actually so. To avoid these -passes, the troops are to go through the Kotilla Murdee (dead men's -pass), which Capt. Leeson reports, from what he has seen of it, as -practicable but difficult. He writes to me that it will take a great -deal of labour to get the guns over it. From thence they steer for -Kurtoot (the donkey's mulberry), but it was not known whether the route -by that place was practicable; if not, they must face the Kotilla Taj-i, -bad as it is. Major Rawlinson, the political agent, had obtained the -blessings of the force for leading them such a wild-goose chase; he -seems to have received information that Akram Khan had a fort there, but -not to have known what that fort was like. It is a pity the army were -harassed unnecessarily; but in Major R.'s defence it is but justice to -say, that information is difficult to procure, and that it all comes -from our enemies. - -_25th._--I received a letter from Sale, in which he informs me, that the -conduct of the troops employed in the affair at Tézeen was good beyond -all praise; but, concluding that I had heard all the particulars, he did -not enter into detail. He wrote me that he was to halt that day (the -24th), as Macgregor was in treaty with the chiefs, who he says are -willing to refrain from all further opposition, and say they are -convinced they have no chance against us. Sturt has seen a letter from -Lieut. Cunningham, of the Shah's sappers and miners, by which it appears -that no enemy showing themselves, Capt. Paton, Qr.-Mr.-Genl., was on the -point of pitching the camp, when some of the advance guard were fired -on, upon which two companies were sent from each corps, with the -sappers, who all behaved gallantly; they went up the hills, and down -again, chased the enemy into their fort, and the sappers, commanded by -Capt. Broadfoot, drove them through it, and followed them through the -wicket they escaped by. The 13th having expended their ammunition were -obliged to retreat, and it was then that Lieut. E. King fell. - -Lady Macnaghten called on me, and told me that Capt. Macgregor, -Political Agent, wrote that the chiefs received him with great -politeness, and were pleased at the confidence reposed in them by his -going to meet them attended only by one suwar. They appeared to be -unanimous, and many in number, mustering 700 followers, who were daily -increasing. They agreed to all the conditions but one; whatever that is, -it appears to be the main point to be conceded, and we suppose that it -relates to the 40,000 rupees. One day has been allowed to the chiefs to -deliberate. The Envoy was some time since warned by three Affghans not -to ride so early in the morning or so late in the evening as was his -wont; but, whether from policy or natural fearlessness, he has not -attended to their advice. The Akhoonzadah has also told him that three -men have sworn on the Koran to take his life. The people of Tagow and -Lughman are leagued with those of Tézeen. Capt. Macgregor writes that a -great quantity of ammunition was left on the road for want of camels to -carry it on, which must have proved a great prize to the enemy, who were -much in want of it. - -_26th._--There being a report that all was peaceably settled at Tézeen, -I became very anxious for intelligence. Two letters were brought to me, -but alas! neither of them were to my address, one being from Capt. -Havelock to Gen. Elphinstone, the other from Capt. Paton to Major Thain. -After giving them a reasonable time to ruminate over their news, I wrote -to Major Thain, requesting him to give me any information in his power; -and informing him that I had no letter, I got the provoking reply that -the Sahib was gone out. Sometime afterwards Major Thain called: he owned -he was puzzled as to what was going on, but hoped that affairs would -remain quiet until we got out of the country. He said it was the present -intention, that the sick should move out on Saturday next, and the Envoy -and the General should leave Cabul on Monday the 1st. Shortly after he -left me, he sent me the two letters to read; he had expressed his -surprise that they had not arrived sooner, both being dated the 24th; -and my letter of the same date from Sale had arrived the day before! -Capt. Havelock mentions that all is settled and hostages given, but -remarks that, since the pacification, the camels have been fired on, as -also our outposts, but says, the one may be attributable to the arrival -of a chief who was in ignorance of the treaty, and the other, to their -people not being well in hand, a pretty sounding phrase; but are we to -understand that our men are so well in hand as not to resent it? Capt. -Paton writes mysteriously, that he has much to communicate, "better -spoken than written," and says the enemy have consented regarding the -obnoxious chief, (some person who they did not wish should participate -in the benefits of the treaty). He adds that a force to be of any use in -that country must not be hampered with camels, tents or baggage, and -that the ammunition should be carried only on mules or yaboos. If all -remained quiet, Paton and Havelock were to return, and the force to go -on to Kutta Lung. Paton hints that something had gone wrong which would -not have done so, had Gen. Sale not been confined to his dhooley. Thain -tells me that there is no mention in Sale's despatch of the gallant -conduct of the sappers and miners as related by Cunningham; he being -wounded probably did not observe all that passed, and did not have the -circumstances brought to his notice in time to write them; but had he -done so, it would have been very immaterial, for, excepting from private -letters, no intelligence transpires. - -Last year, when Sir Willoughby Cotton commanded, and during the -disturbances in the Kohistan, every despatch from Sale, who commanded -the troops there, was promulgated in orders, and the present system of -keeping information close is disgusting; there can be no secrets -regarding what passes in action in the field. The general impression is -that the Envoy is trying to deceive himself into an assurance that the -country is in a quiescent state. He has a difficult part to play, -without sufficient moral courage to stem the current singly. About two -months since Sir William wrote to Lord Auckland, explaining to him the -present state of Affghanistan, and requesting that five additional -regiments should be sent to this country, two of them to be European. To -these statements a written war succeeded between the Envoy and the -Supreme Government of Bengal. Letter after letter came calling for -retrenchment. Sir William had been appointed from home Governor of -Bombay, and was particularly chosen for the office from his being a -moderator and a man unlikely to push any violent measures; he hoped -affairs might take a turn for the better, and was evidently anxious to -leave Cabul and assume his new appointment. In an evil hour he acceded -to the entreaties of Sir Alexander Burnes (who appears to have been -blinded on the subject) and wrote to Lord Auckland to nullify his former -request for additional troops, and to say that part of those now in the -country might be withdrawn. The 1st brigade under Sale was accordingly -ordered to be in readiness to move down; and it was generally -understood, that all would be withdrawn as soon as the Shah had raised -five more regiments of his own. The letter of recall, as we may term Sir -William's, was sent off only two days before the breaking out of the -Zoormut affair. - -Great stress has been laid upon the chiefs having given us hostages, but -this is no certain proof of their sincerity; we have been long enough -amongst them for them to know the British character; they also know that -the Dost's family were safely and honourably treated under our -protection, whilst he and his son were in arms against us, and they -naturally consider their safety as a proof of that of any hostages they -leave with us. - -The dāks, which have not arrived since the 2d (nor have been -despatched since the 4th), are confidently asserted to be now on their -way, and are expected in to-morrow at the farthest. No one appears to -have been made acquainted with the terms of the treaty, which have been -kept close by the Envoy, who, however, observed that Macgregor had given -them better terms than he himself would have done. They are to get the -40,000 rupees the quarrel began about, and they promise to return us any -property they can find of ours: so that we leave off where we set out, -barring our killed and wounded, expence, loss of ammunition and baggage, -and annoyance of the detention, if not loss, of our dâks, bhanghys, &c. - -_27th._--I hear that Macgregor writes to the Envoy that the country -about Tézeen never was in so tranquil a state as it is at present! Now, -with a little variation in the wording, he might have cautiously written -to the Envoy, so as to be understood by him alone, and have intimated -that the country was now as quiet as it ever was; which, to those who -know the wild tribes thereabouts located, indicates any thing but a -state of pacification. - -The sick are again ordered to be off to-morrow, with a wing of the 54th, -to Tézeen, where the 37th awaits their arrival; and at present it is -supposed that the Envoy and General will follow on the 1st. - -_28th._--Sale has written me that he arrived at Seh Baba on the 26th at -1 P.M.; that the rear guard was fired on a mile from camp, and three men -wounded. They were in a snug post for the night. His leg was doing well, -and all inflammation had subsided. They had grain and bhoosa in plenty. -Capt. Grant tells me that a chief goes on daily in advance, to keep the -country quiet, and bring in grain. - -_29th._--We hear that since the force left Khoord Cabul, they have never -pitched a tent. The rear guard has been attacked daily, and the bivouack -fired on every night. The camels are dying forty of a night from cold -and starvation. Lieut. Jennings (13th) has been wounded severely in the -arm, the bone broken, and the ball went through into his side. Lieut. -Rattray (13th) wounded, and a sergeant killed and 3 men wounded; 4 or 5 -Sipahees[3] of the 35th wounded. - -_30th._--A small dâk has come in for the Envoy and General only, and -that only newspapers; the Envoy sent orders to have the dâk sent by a -private path, which succeeded. - -It seems that the terms made with the chiefs of Tézeen were, the -remission of the money which gave rise to the dispute. They were -required to call out the _Ooloos_, which they represented would be -attended with considerable expense, so they received 10,000 rupees to -enable them to do so, when they pocketed the money, but omitted calling -out the militia! Macgregor writes that he suspects the chiefs are at the -bottom of all the plundering and attacks on our force, though they -profess to have nothing to do with it, and that the depredators are the -robber-tribes. - -Last night as the cavalry videttes went their rounds at Siah Sung, a -party of men rushed out of a cave and fired at them; some were taken -prisoners; part of them were Affghans, but four were Hindostanees, and -one of them was a Chuprassy of Capt. Bygrave, who endeavoured to excuse -himself by saying, he fired at the party supposing them to be Affghans, -but could give no reason for being there himself. - -Mr. Melville was attacked last evening, but set spurs to his horse and -galloped off, on which the Affghans set up a shout; this is the fourth -attempt on the part of the Affghans to assassinate British officers -within a short time. I before mentioned Mr. Mayne's escape; Dr. Metcalfe -was also nearly cut down; and Lieut. Waller, of the Artillery, was -wounded on the head whilst riding close to the Siah Sung camp. - -_31st._--The invalids, whose march had been countermanded, are again -under Orders to go out to Siah Sung on Tuesday, to be in readiness to -march on Wednesday the 3d of next month. When the barracks for the men -and the officers' quarters were erected in the Cabul cantonment, a -committee assembled to value them and fix the house rent, both for them -and for the two houses to be occupied by the Commander of the forces and -the second in command. It was fixed at ten per cent. on the actual -outlay as specified by the engineers' department. We paid ours monthly, -as did the 13th, through the regimental paymaster. The 35th also paid -their rent monthly. There was some dispute regarding it with some -others, in consequence of the rooms not being all quite finished; but as -Capt. Sturt was not ordered to collect the money, but only to pay over -whatever he received, the business remained in abeyance. An inquiry is -now making about the house rent that has not been paid by the officers -who have gone away, so I feel quite delighted that Sale and I are out of -the scrape. Brig. Shelton has written officially to the General, to say -that it is very hard that he is kept at Siah Sung, when there is a good -house in cantonments to which he has a right, and applies officially to -the General to give him up either his own house or ours. Now, as long as -Brig. Shelton's duty keeps him at Siah Sung, he has no business in -cantonments. This is Sunday: both the General and I expect to march on -Wednesday, so, _par complaisance_, we neither of us expected to be -turned out; however, if we do not go, we both intend vacating our -habitations, when our house will be made over to Capt. Sturt, to undergo -repairs, so as to be ready for the reception of the next Commander of -the forces. Gen. Nott has been written to, to come up immediately, and -Gen. Elphinstone is to give up the command to him from the 1st of Nov. -The reason that our house is in future to be appropriated by the chief -arises from its being the best and most commodious. Sir Willoughby -Cotton gave his plan, and Sale his, when the houses were built; and Sir -Willoughby living _en garçon_ had omitted many little comforts that we -had considered indispensable. Added to which, Sale had a _shoke_ for -gardening, and had an excellent kitchen-garden; whilst I cultivated -flowers that were the admiration of the Affghan gentlemen who came to -see us. My sweet peas and geraniums were much admired, but they were all -eager to obtain the seed of the edible pea, which flourished well; and -by being sown as soon as the frost was over we had plenty of succession -crops, and we still have peas growing which we hope, if not cut off by -frost, will give a crop next month. - -The potatoes thrive well, and will be a very valuable addition to the -_cuisine_. The cauliflowers, artichokes, and turnip radishes are very -fine, and peculiarly mild in their flavour; they are all from seed we -brought with us from our garden at Kurnaul. The Cabul lettuces are hairy -and inferior to those cultivated by us; but the Cabul cabbages are -superior, being milder, and the red cabbage from English seed grows well. - -Regarding the fruits of Affghanistan, I should not be believed were I to -state the truth. Selected grapes off a bunch of those in the Kohistan -have been known to weigh 200 grains; the largest I ever weighed myself -was 127 grains. It was the kind denominated the Bull's Eye by the -English; I believe the natives call it the Hoosseinee-Angoor; its form -is nearly round, and the taste very luscious; it is of a kind not -generally purchaseable. At Kardunah they grow in great perfection. Those -I ate were sent as a present from a native gentleman to Captain Sturt, -as were also some very delicious pears from Turkistan. The largest -peaches I have myself weighed turned the scale at fifteen rupees, and -were fully equal in juiciness and flavour to those of the English -hothouse. The finest sort are in the Kohistan, but are so delicate they -will not bear carriage to Cabul. I have been assured by my friends who -have been there in the peach season that the best fruit of the kind at -my table was quite inferior to those above mentioned. The Orleans blue -plum is excellent. There is a green one resembling in appearance a -greengage, but very tasteless. There are also many other kinds, with a -great variety of melons, Water, Musk, and Surda, which is accounted the -best. - -It is reported that Sale's brigade are very badly off for carriage and -provisions, and we have here no camels to send to them. The 37th N. I. -and the Shah's sappers and miners are ordered back to the Huft Kotul, to -await the arrival of the invalids at that place. It is now said that, -from the difficulty experienced in procuring carriage, the sick and -wounded must be left here. - -In the evening we heard that the Envoy had received a hurried note from -Capt. Macgregor, by which it appears that between Jugdaluk and Soorkhab -the troops were attacked by about 400 men; that ours were unable to -force the hills. The enemy left the pass open, by which the brigade -proceeded; but they came down in force on the rear-guard, who are stated -to have been panic-struck. Our loss is stated at ninety killed and -wounded. Capt. Wyndham of the 35th killed, and Lieut. Coombes severely -wounded; Lieuts. Rattray and Halcombe of the 13th Light Infantry -wounded. There has been great loss of baggage and camels; seventy of the -latter carried off, which were returned to us on paying ten rupees each -for the Hindostanees, and twenty each for the Affghan animals. This is -instituting a premium for plunder, but it was caused by dire necessity. - -There were no despatches for the General, nor letters for me, but we -hope to receive further accounts to-morrow. - -_1st November._--No letters from camp, which has caused both surprise -and anxiety. - -_2d._--Last night a party of Kohistanees entered the city; a large body -of horsemen were also seen proceeding towards the city from the road -that leads by the Shah's camp behind Siah Sung. - -This morning, early, all was in commotion in Cabul; the shops were -plundered, and the people were all fighting. - -Our Affghan servant, Mahomed Ali, who used to sleep in the city, when he -passed out to come to my house in the morning was threatened, and -reviled as the chuprassy of the Feringhee General, who, they asserted, -had been beaten at Tézeen, and that all his troops had run away, and he -with them! - -The Shah resides in the Bala Hissar, and his guns from that fortress -were constantly firing; the Affghans in the city were doing the same -from six in the morning. Capt. Sturt hearing that Capt. Johnson's -(paymaster to the Shah's force) house and treasury in the city were -attacked, as also Sir Alexander Burnes's, went to Gen. Elphinstone, who -sent him with an important message, first to Brig. Shelton at Siah Sung, -and afterwards to the King to concert with him measures for the defence -of that fortress. Just as he entered the precincts of the palace, he was -stabbed in three places by a young man well dressed, who escaped into a -building close by, where he was protected by the gates being shut. -Fortunately for my son-in-law, Capt. Lawrence had been sent to the King -by the Envoy, and he kindly procured a palkee, and sent Sturt home with -a strong guard of fifty lancers, but they were obliged to make a long -detour by Siah Sung. In the mean time, Lawrence came to tell me all that -had passed, and to break the bad news to my daughter, Mrs. Sturt. - -Lawrence (military secretary to the Envoy) had had a very narrow escape -himself. An Affghan, grinding his teeth, and grinning with rage and -hatred of the Feringhees, aimed a blow at him with a sword, which -Lawrence parried, and putting spurs to his horse he escaped: one of his -suwars received a cut in the leg, which was revenged by another horseman -shooting the fellow. - -It was Lawrence who came to tell me of Sale's wound; he is always kind -and friendly, though he has now been twice the herald of ill news. It -struck me as probable that the suwars would take Sturt to his own house; -and as he and my daughter were staying with me, there would not even be -a bed to place him on there. I therefore determined not to lose time by -waiting till the bearers could get my palkee ready, but took my chuttah -and walked off as fast as I could towards Sturt's house. I fortunately -met Major Thain (aide-de-camp to Gen. Elphinstone), for I soon saw a -crowd of about fifty suwars in his compound. Thain ran on, and told the -bearers to bring him on to my house. I cannot describe how shocked I -felt when I saw poor Sturt; for Lawrence, fearing to alarm us, had said -he was only slightly wounded. He had been stabbed deeply in the shoulder -and side, and on the face (the latter wound striking on the bone just -missed the temple): he was covered with blood issuing from his mouth, -and was unable to articulate. From the wounds in the face and shoulder, -the nerves were affected; the mouth would not open, the tongue was -swollen and paralysed, and he was ghastly and faint from loss of blood. -He could not lie down, from the blood choking him; and had to sit up in -the palkee as best he might, without a pillow to lean against. With some -difficulty and great pain he was supported up stairs, and laid on his -bed, when Dr. Harcourt dressed his wounds, which having been inflicted -about ten o'clock, now at one were cold and stiff with clotted blood. -The tongue was paralysed, and the nerves of the throat affected, so that -he could neither swallow nor articulate; and the choking sensation of -the blood in his throat was most painful to witness. He was better -towards evening; and by his wife's unremitting attention in assisting -him to get rid of the clotted blood from his mouth by incessant -applications of warm wet cloths, he was by eleven at night able to utter -a tolerably articulate sound. With what joy did we hear him faintly -utter _bet-ter_; and he really seemed to enjoy a tea-spoonful of water, -which we got into his mouth by a drop or two at a time, painful as it -was to him to swallow it. - -It was most gratifying to see the attention and kind feeling manifested -on the occasion by the sergeants of the engineer department, and their -anxiety (particularly Sergeant Deane's) to make themselves useful to -Sturt. - -Capt. Warburton, Capt. Johnson, and Capt. Troup were all fortunately in -cantonments; for their houses in the city were plundered and burnt. At -Johnson's (the King's treasury) the guard of forty men was massacred, as -also all his servants but one, who luckily was not at home. The -insurgents looted a lakh and 70,000 rupees of public property, and -Johnson lost above 10,000 rupees of his own property. - -There were of course various reports. We first heard that, on the affair -breaking out, Sir A. Burnes went over to the Wuzeer's to ascertain what -could be done; and that he was safe there, excepting having been shot in -the leg. The King, from the Bala Hissar, sent intelligence to the Envoy -"that Burnes was all right;" but a few hours afterwards the King -acknowledged that he did not know any thing of him, neither did the -Envoy at seven in the evening, when Capt. Lawrence and Capt. John -Conolly came to inquire after Sturt's health. Our only hopes of Burnes' -safety rest on the possibility of his having obtained refuge in some -harem. His brother's fate is as yet unknown. Capt. Broadfoot was shot in -the breast, and killed. He was breakfasting with the two Burnes's: -before he fell he had killed six men with his own hand. Capt. Drummond -is protected by Osmar Khan, Kariez-i-Umeer, chief of a domain, the first -stage from Cabul towards the Kohistan. Capt. Mackenzie, political -assistant to Capt. Mackeson at Peshawur, came up to Cabul some time -since; and when Lieut. Milne (in the Commissariat) was sent to -Khelat-i-Gilzie, Mackenzie took his place in the Shah's commissariat. He -was located in a fort divided into two by the range of Commissariat -Godowns,--one side inhabited by Brig. Anquetil, commanding the Shah's -forces, the other by Mackenzie, who (the Brigadier being in cantonments) -held out in both, with some sappers and miners, a few of the Shah's 6th -Regt., and 130 Juzailchees: the latter are good men, and mostly -Usufzyes. In this fort were stored 8000 maunds of ottah and wheat. Capt. -Trevor hopes to defend his tower as long as it is not fired. Another -report states that Trevor, his wife, and one child, have escaped, whilst -his six other children have been murdered. Another, that he has escaped, -but that his wife and seven children are all murdered. - -The Kuzzilbash quarter of the city is said to be all quiet. Naïb -Shureef's son has been killed in some of the scuffles in the city. -Abdoollah Khan, Amenoollah Khan, and a few other Dooranee chiefs, are -said to be the instigators of the insurrection. - -The King (who resides in the Bala Hissar) says if the rebellion is not -all over to-morrow morning, he will burn the city,--by no means an easy -task: the houses are all flat-roofed and mud-roofed. It is true Cabul -has been burnt three times before, and therefore what has been may occur -again. By throwing shells into the houses you may fire them; and the -individual house fired, being ceiled with wood, blazes fiercely until -the roof falls in, and the mud and dust smother the fire without danger -to the adjacent buildings. The King has also declared that if the Meer -Akor (who protected the man that stabbed Sturt) does not give the -assassin up, he will hang the Meer Akor himself. It appears a very -strange circumstance that troops were not immediately sent into the city -to quell the affair in the commencement; but we seem to sit quietly with -our hands folded, and look on. On the breaking out of the insurrection -the King sent Campbell's Hindostanee regiment into the city, with some -guns, who maintained an arduous conflict for some time against the -rebels; but being wholly unsupported, were obliged eventually to give -way, when the greater part of them were cut to pieces, and several of -their guns were captured. - -The state of supineness and fancied security of those in power in -cantonments is the result of deference to the opinions of Lord Auckland, -whose sovereign will and pleasure it is that tranquillity do reign in -Affghanistan; in fact, it is reported at Government House, Calcutta, -that the lawless Affghans are as peaceable as London citizens; and this -being decided by the powers that be, why should we be on the alert? - -Most dutifully do we appear to shut our eyes on our probable fate. The -Shah is, however, to be protected, whatever may be the fate of the -English in the city; and Brig. Shelton is sent with the Shah's 6th, some -of the 44th Queen's, and three horse artillery guns under Capt. Nicholl, -to the Bala Hissar. The King, as he well may be, is in great -consternation. At about 9 A.M. Capt. Sturt arrived at Siah Sung from the -cantonments, bearing orders from Major-Gen. Elphinstone for the 54th N. -I., Capt. Nicholl's three horse artillery guns, and a company of the -44th, accompanied by the Shah's 6th regiment, to hold themselves in -readiness to march at a moment's notice to the Bala Hissar. As they had -all been on the _qui vive_ since daybreak, they were ready in an -instant, and eagerly expecting orders to march, when a note came from -Capt. Lawrence (the Envoy's military and private secretary), dated Bala -Hissar, 10 A.M., telling them, "Stay where you are,--all is quiet; you -need not come." This caused great surprise, as the firing was brisk in -the city. After waiting another hour under arms, the Brigadier ordered -Sturt to go in and see what was going on: this he gladly did, and, -accompanied by eight suwars of the Shah's 2d cavalry, went to the Bala -Hissar. In half an hour a suwar returned, saying he had been badly -wounded entering the palace gates, and bearing an order for an immediate -advance of the troops. "Forward" was the word; and, anticipating an -attack on the city, the troops gladly set out, and arrived unopposed in -presence of the King, when, to their sorrow, instead of receiving -_hookm_ to enter the city, the Shah almost rudely inquired why they had -come! After standing under arms another hour, firing being heard towards -the Shôr Bazaar, the Brigadier sent Lieut. Melville of the 54th to -inquire what was going on. On going down to the gate towards the city, -he found the fugitives from Campbell's regiment flying in, and reporting -that their regiment was entirely cut up: this he reported to the -Brigadier, who ordered him to take the light company down to the city -gate, and whilst taking charge of that position to protect as best he -could the retreating regiment. On arriving there, Lieut. Melville placed -a section as a guard, and took the remaining three to the entrance of -the Shôr Bazaar, and formed them up facing the street: he had not been -there more than five minutes, when he observed a disorderly rabble -retreating at a quick pace towards him, pursued by a large body of -Affghans, whilst others from the tops and windows of the houses kept up -a brisk fire upon them. - -Immediately after the colours had gained the rear of his detachment, -Lieut. Melville retreated slowly, facing the enemy, towards the gate, -pouring in volley on volley; but, owing to the protection afforded the -rebels by the walls, it is to be feared with but little effect. On -reaching the fosse he formed his men up again, to allow the two guns to -pass to his rear; but the Affghans made a rush, and the golundaz of the -Shah took to a disorderly flight. As the idea of rescuing them with -three sections was entirely out of the question, and the fire was -becoming very hot, Melville sent Lieut. Macartney (of the Shah's -service), who in the meantime had come to his assistance with one -company of the Shah's 6th to man the walls over where the guns were -left, and prevent the enemy carrying them off; this being done, Melville -got a few of the golundaz to go back and spike one of the guns, after -which he retired inside, having lost one subadar and three men wounded, -and one man killed. On arriving inside he placed the men on the -ramparts; and being accidentally bayoneted in the thigh, he was released -from duty, making over charge of the men to Macartney. - -It being found impracticable to bring in the guns, from the carriages -being broken, the European horse artillery, who had been sent out for -that purpose, came back; and some guns having in the meantime been -mounted on the wall and brought to bear on them, they were so broken by -the shot as to be perfectly useless: and it may here be remarked, that -to the day the troops left the Bala Hissar, notwithstanding frequent -attempts were made by the enemy, they never succeeded in gaining -possession of them. - -The King, who had been in a great state of excitement during the day, on -hearing of the loss of his guns, and that 200 of Campbell's regiment had -been killed or wounded, was excessively agitated; the more so that, -immediately on the rebellion breaking out, almost all the Pesh Khedmuts -and Shah Guzees had deserted him. He ordered a dinner for the officers -in the evening; as, to their extreme disgust, they were obliged to stay -the night in the fort, neither men or officers having an article of any -sort or kind besides what they wore. The 5th cavalry, who had -accompanied the detachment to the Bala Hissar, had, after taking all the -baggage from Siah Sung to cantonments, remained in the latter place. - -The King, sitting with the British officers around him, was anxious to -obtain their advice in the present crisis, and particularly asked that -of ----; whose conduct was represented on the emergency as pitiful and -childish in the extreme, not having a word to say, nor an opinion to -offer. - -In cantonments all was confusion and indecision. The Envoy mounted his -horse and rode to the gateway, and then rode back again,--the best thing -he could do; for had the Affghans either killed him or taken him -prisoner, it would have given them a decided advantage on their part. -Sir William and Lady Macnaghten had vacated the residency before 11 -o'clock A.M., and came into cantonments; a circumstance which no doubt -was soon known to the insurgents, and must have given them an idea that -we greatly dreaded an attack from them, which was threatened at night. -The guns were placed in battery, and the walls manned with double -sentries. The Kohistanees are reported to have 500 men assembled at Deh -Hadji in the Kohistan. The villages about the Lake are all in a state of -insurrection. The whole force from the Siah Sung cantonments are come -in: the Shah's 6th, the 5th cavalry, Anderson's horse, and Skinner's are -in the Mission Compounds; the escort in cantonment. Lawrence has kindly -promised in case of an attack to come over to us; but we are so anxious -about Sturt that we do not think much of danger. - -Two Sipahees were cut down near the gate of the Commissariat Fort -to-day; another was killed who only attempted to cross the road. We have -good news to-day from Sale at Gundamuk, dated the 1st. They were all -quite well, and supplied with all that they required. Bukhtar Khan, the -new governor there, had sent 500 of his tribe to Jugdaluk; 250 of -Ferris's corps and 300 of Burns's Khyberries were to follow quickly, to -secure the passes, and open the road to Seh Baba. The Tagow chief who -attacked Sale's force on the road is said to have withdrawn his men; and -now that all seems clear for our march down, this insurrection has risen -up here. It was only two days ago Lady Macnaghten told Mrs. Sturt that -the country was all quiet, except the little outbreak near Tézeen! - -_3d._--At three in the morning the drums in cantonments beat to arms, in -consequence of a large body of men coming over the Siah Sung hill; they -proved to be the 37th from Khoord Cabul, who, about half-past 2 P.M. -yesterday, received an order to march on its receipt to Cabul. Poshteens -arrived about an hour afterwards in safety, with no other guard than a -couple of suwars; however, before the regiment was ready to move off its -ground, the Ghilzyes had taken possession of the mouth of the pass, and -were with some difficulty dislodged by two companies of the 37th, and -two guns of the Shah's mountain train; the latter under Lieut. Green. -The order received by Major Griffiths to march the detachment under his -command on receipt of the order was accompanied by a note from Capt. -Paton, Assistant Quartermaster-General, telling Major G. that all Cabul -was in insurrection, &c. The Laird of Pughman (who had held the pass -from the time Sale left Bhoodkhak), with all his followers, joined our -force as soon as they reached his post, and marched into Cabul with -them. The rear-guard of three companies and one Mountain T. gun were -hard pushed, as they had to fight all the time the regiment was getting -ready, and also kept up a skirmishing fight all the way in, in which all -the corps joined; they had four men killed and thirty wounded. The -Mountain T. gun they had in the rear eventually broke down, but was -brought into cantonments. One officer, Lieut. Gordon, was wounded. -Notwithstanding this, they came in with all their baggage in as perfect -order as if it had been a mere parade movement; and great praise is due -to Major Griffiths on this occasion. I observe I have mentioned the -Laird of Pughman,--a sobriquet applied to a good man, and a true one to -the Shah and us. His proper name was the Syud Mahommed Khan; and for the -good service he did in the Kohistan with Sale's force he obtained the -honorary title of Jan Fishan Khan, or the nobleman who is the -exterminator of his sovereign's enemies. It is a difficult sentence to -render into English. - -_Jan_ means life; _Fishan_, heedless of the life of your enemies; -_Khan_, a lord or nobleman. I am no linguist myself, but friends who -understand Persian well give the above as the best translation. The -common one is, "The khan or noble who throws away his life upon his -enemies." - -This day there was a great talk of the Kohistanees being expected to -arrive to attack us. The double sentries are loaded to-day, as also the -sentries placed round the ammunition and stores. - -In the evening the rebels appeared in considerable numbers near Mahommed -Khan's Fort, and between that and the Commissariat Fort, situated 300 -yards from cantonments. We have only three days' provisions in -cantonments: should the Commissariat Fort be captured, we shall not only -lose all our provisions, but our communication with the city will be cut -off. - -This fort (an old crazy one, undermined by rats) contains the whole of -the Bengal commissariat stores, valued at four lakhs of rupees, -including about 12,000 maunds of ottah, wheat, and barley, and all the -medical stores, &c. - -No military steps have been taken to suppress the insurrection, nor even -to protect our only means of subsistence (the Godowns), in the event of -a siege. The King, Envoy, and General appear perfectly paralysed by this -sudden outbreak: the former is deserted by all his courtiers, and by -even his most confidential servants, except the Wuzeer, who is strongly -suspected of having instigated the conspiracy; and suspicion attaches to -his Majesty again. It is here necessary to observe, that several months -ago letters calling on all true Mussulmans to rise against the Kaffirs -(English unbelievers) were widely disseminated: they bore the King's -signature; but Sir William Macnaghten always insisted that they were -forgeries of a very peculiar description, that papers bearing the -veracious signature had had their contents washed out, and these -seditious writings inserted. The Shah of course said, "An enemy has done -this;" and, as dead men tell no tales, much of the obloquy was allowed -to rest on Moollah Shekoor, who had paid the penalty of other state -crimes. - -In Affghanistan the English act as they do in all other countries they -visit,--keep to themselves, and even (generally) employ only servants -brought with them. The Envoy kept but few Affghans in his employ: he had -a news reporter, at 150 rupees a month, who had the credit of concocting -splendid untruths; an old moollah picked up at Kandahar, who, I believe, -receives 200,--a man greatly in Sir William's confidence; there is also -an old cossid. These people adhere to the Envoy, and flatter him into -the belief that the tumult is _bash_ (nothing), and will shortly subside. - -This day there was a grand bustle, getting guns into all the bastions. -Capt. and Mrs. Trevor, and their seven children, came into cantonments. -Trevor's Hazir Bashes brought them in safe; but they had to walk through -the river, and to carry the children, saving only the clothes they had -on. As they escaped at one gate, their tower was taken possession of by -the rebels from another. - -That the insurrection could have been easily crushed at its -commencement, is evident from the circumstance that on the 2d of -November a considerable number of chiefs went to Capt. Trevor's house to -lend him assistance; amongst them were Osman Khan, Abdool Rahim Khan, -Khan Shireen Khan, Taj Mahommed, Gholam Moyenoodeen, &c. The Nawaub -Zeman Khan sent one of his younger children to Trevor, and desired him -to keep him as a hostage; but finding that no assistance came from -cantonments Trevor declined keeping the boy, and, accompanied by some of -the above-mentioned persons and their followers, he made his way into -cantonments on the 3d. - -It is further worthy of remark, that Taj Mahommed Khan went to Sir -Alexander Burnes the very day before the insurrection broke out, and -told him what was going on. Burnes, incredulous, heaped abuse on this -gentleman's head; and the only reply he gave him was, "Shuma beseeah -shytan ust!" on which Taj Mahommed left him. This anecdote was told us -by himself. - -Two of the Shah's mountain train guns, under Lieut. Green, and 400 of -the 54th N. I., were sent, escorted by cavalry, to take ammunition and -carcasses to the Bala Hissar, as also bedding for the men. - -There is a report that the city is about to be fired. - -A large party bearing the religious flag (green) came towards the rear -gate: they fought with much _jee_; but one of our guns played on them, -and then the cavalry dashed out and cut them up. Lieut. Le Geyt, of the -Shah's service, with a small party of Anderson's horse, feigned to fly, -and drew a party after them, on whom they turned and dealt destruction. - -At the Bala Hissar the troops were allotted to their different stations; -though, in consequence of a great portion of the 54th N. I. being in -cantonments, as yet no permanent division of the troops could take place. - -One of the most important posts was the tower on the summit of the hill, -which was held by 100 men of the 54th, the same number of the King's -Juzailchees, one gun of the mountain train, with two officers. The -centre post, being a commanding position over the town, was occupied by -four companies of the Shah's 6th, two of Nicholl's H. A. guns, and some -large guns of the King's. The rest of the troops were scattered in -different parts of the fort, two companies being at each of the gates. - -During this day many projects were entered into for the purpose of -putting down the rebellion, but none were put into practice. The Wuzeer -went into the town, accompanied by some troops; but soon returned, -having made no impression. The King wrote to Sir William Macnaghten, -proposing that a free pardon should be offered to all offenders, and -that all should be forgiven and forgotten if the leaders of the -insurrection would come to his durbar, and, acknowledging their faults, -return to their allegiance. This, of course, was never carried into -execution. Five companies of the 54th, commanded by Capt. Corry, -accompanied by some cavalry, arrived; having lost on the way, between -cantonments and the Bala Hissar, the baggage and clothing of the -grenadier and light companies, who, consequently, were exposed to the -rigorous nights without a single article of clothing. Although fired on -the whole way, they had only three men wounded. The cavalry returned, -but the 54th remained with the headquarters of their regiment. - -_4th._--At two in the morning firing recommenced at the city. Khan -Shireen Khan and some others are conjectured to have driven the fighting -party out of the city; but we do not hear of the heads of the faction -(Abdoollah Khan, the proprietor of the Pisheen Valley, Amenoollah Khan -of Logur, and Sekunder Khan) being seized. The insurgents in great -numbers took possession of Mahmood Khan's fort, the Shah bagh, Mahommed -Shureef's fort, and the garden between the Godown fort and the fort -called the Bazaar of the European regiment. - -Our guns from the south bastion opened early, and played almost all day -on Mahmood Khan's fort, and on any body of Affghans that showed -themselves. Lieut. Warren, who held the Commissariat fort with fifty -men, wrote to the General to say, that, unless reinforced, he could not -hold out; that he was surrounded by the enemy, who he feared were mining -the walls, and they were preparing ladders for the escalade; adding also -that some of his men had already left him. - -In the evening a party of cavalry and infantry were sent to aid him in -evacuating his position! Capt. Boyd, the Bengal Commissariat officer, on -hearing the object of this force from Capt. Grant (Assist. Adjt. Gen.), -proceeded in person to Gen. Elphinstone, accompanied by Capt. Johnson -(the Shah's Commissariat officer). They urgently entreated him to recall -them, and, instead, to send such reinforcements as were required to hold -a position of such vital importance; pointing out the certain -destruction of the whole force in cantonments, in the event of the -capture of all our supplies. The General acquiesced in their views, and -promised to issue the order for reinforcements. The above detachment was -very shortly obliged to return to cantonments, having suffered most -severely in men and horses, who were fired upon from behind every face -and from every loophole of Mahommed Shureef's fort, without their being -able even to see an enemy. Previous to this detachment going out, a -party of Europeans, under Capt. Robinson, went down the Kohistan road to -effect the same object. Capt. Robinson (H. M. 44th) being killed, this -small party was obliged to retire, having suffered severely. Two horse -artillery guns accompanied the party. Lieut. Waller, H. A., and Lieut. -Fortye, 44th, were wounded. The whole of this occurred within 250 paces -of the south bastion. In the evening no reinforcements had been sent to -Warren, and the two heads of the Commissariats, Johnson and Boyd, again -went to the General, to entreat he would not lose any more time in -sending aid to that officer, and informed him there were but two days' -provisions left in cantonments; pointed out the great fears entertained -that we could not procure supplies from the surrounding country, with -the enemy in force in the neighbouring forts, and the consequent -destruction of our force from famine, unless the Godown fort were taken -possession of at all hazards. The General conceded to these opinions. As -Mahommed Shureef's fort commanded the only gate of the Commissariat -fort, it would be requisite first to take possession of that fort. The -political authorities had no persons from whom they could obtain -information! For a reward of fifty rupees one of Johnson's servants -proceeded to the fort, and brought back intelligence (in about half an -hour) that he saw twenty or thirty men with lighted matchlocks sitting -on either side of the wicket: he judged, from the silence that -prevailed, there were but few then within, and affirmed there were none -on the road. Johnson subsequently sent another man, who confirmed the -reports, but did not see any lights near the wicket. All this was made -known to Gen. Elphinstone, who determined on taking possession of the -fort, and Capt. Boyd volunteered to carry the powder to blow in the -gate. The General, however, afterwards listened to other advice from -other of his staff officers, who were averse to the proceeding, as -involving too much risk! During this time another letter was received -from Lieut. Warren by the adjutant of his regiment, stating that unless -he was immediately reinforced, he must abandon his position, as many of -his guard had gone over the wall to cantonments, by which his force was -much weakened. Capt. Boyd and Johnson left the General about midnight -under the impression that Mahomed Shureef's fort would be immediately -attacked and the Commissariat one reinforced. - -A letter was written by order (by Capt. Bellew) to assure Lieut. Warren -that he should receive reinforcements by two o'clock in the morning. -Capt. Mackenzie held his (the King's Commissariat) fort until his -ammunition was entirely expended, and then cut his way through the town; -but in so doing was wounded in three places. Strange to say, this -officer owed his life to beating a woman! He told his people to abandon -their property and save their lives. A woman put down her child to save -her pots and pans; and expostulation being of little effect, and time -most precious, Mackenzie drew his sword to strike her with the flat of -it, by which means he had it in his hand when he was attacked -immediately afterwards. - -Trevor's tower has been burnt. Had reinforcements and ammunition been -sent to Trevor's tower and Mackenzie's fort, they might have held out -for ever against any force the rebels could have brought against them. -The Hazir Bashes refused to stay to defend them, because they saw they -must be sacrificed, and that no reinforcements were sent. Had they -arrived, the Kuzzilbashes would have declared openly in our favour, with -Khan Shireen Khan at their head; but unless supported by us, they -dreaded giving offence to the insurgents. - -Another party has been sent out with guns; it is said they are to fire -the city, but most likely it will be a mere demonstration. Such it has -proved. The guns were sent to take possession of the Lahore Gate; they -got not quite to Mahmood Khan's fort, and had to come back again. - -The enemy have now possession of the Commissariat fort, the fort -opposite the Bazaar fort, or Mahommed Shureef's, and the Shah bagh; the -two latter posts appear to have been left unoccupied for the enemy's -especial advantage. - -The only mortar we have being a five-and-half-inch one, has little more -effect than a popgun of large calibre. - -A gun has been sent to attempt to blow open the gate of the Shah bagh, -which Sturt says will be a work of time with a gun; and they cannot use -a powder-bag, as the gate is not _get-at-able_ for the crowds of people -fighting all the way from the Bazaar fort to the Shah bagh, and thence -to the city. - -A large party of horsemen have shown themselves coming down the Siah -Sung hill: the cavalry are sent to look after them. Mahmood Khan's fort -is occupied by the enemy, who are to be shelled out, it is said; but we -have been throwing shells into the small fort opposite the Bazaar -(Mahommed Shureef's) since 12 o'clock, and now at 4 they are still at -it, and seem to have done nothing. - -A Kulassy of Capt. Maule's has just come in from the Kohistan half -naked: he reports, that the Kohistanees are all up; that Maule and -Wheeler were killed at Kar Durrah, and that they were overpowered. - -This day Lieut. Gordon, of the 37th, was killed; Capt. Swayne, 44th, -ditto; Lieut. Walsh, of the Shah's service, wounded in the thigh; -Hallahan, 44th, in the shoulder; Warren, 54th, wounded; Capt. Robinson -and four men, 44th, killed, and sixteen wounded. - -The cavalry had brought in six wounded, and had thirty-one missing at 5 -o'clock. The 5th cavalry went up to the gate of the Shah bagh in gallant -style; but it was shut too quickly for them to get in. Hamilton's horse -shot under him in the ditch under the gate. - -At tea-time we had an alarm, and very smart firing like a _feu de joie_; -but it was a false alarm. I believe no enemy was seen: it occurred on -the rampart near to Sale's bastion. - -After we had, as we thought, settled poor Sturt for the night, between 8 -and 9 o'clock Capt. Lawrence came to see him and ask his advice. Sturt -had wished to have communicated with the General on the defence of the -cantonments, and, ill as he was, he had written a letter to him; but -thinking that advice from so young an officer might not be relished, he, -notwithstanding my remonstrances on the subject, tore it up. About 10 -o'clock, Lieut. Eyre, Deputy Commissary of Ordnance, and Capt. -Warburton, the Shah's Topshee Bashee, came; and as they had received -information that there are men posted outside the gate of the captured -fort, with matchlocks all ready, the plan in agitation of blowing open -the gate with a bag of powder would not answer: they, therefore, with -Sturt, decided on getting the two nine-pounders into the bastion, and on -setting to work forthwith to cut the embrasures to fit them; and between -2 and 3 o'clock in the morning was fixed upon as the time to commence -playing on the fort to breach it, and at the same time to throw in a -proportion of shells to create confusion. The place to be taken by -assault. If this does not succeed, we shall probably have to retreat to -Jellalabad. Sturt strongly advises the troops being all thrown into the -Bala Hissar, and the cantonments being abandoned until we get up -reinforcements; but the cry is, how can we abandon the cantonments that -have cost us so much money? - -The enemy's force are estimated at from 1500 to 2000. Brig. Shelton is -expected in from the Bala Hissar, where they are said to be short of -provisions. Here we got six seers of ottah for the rupee yesterday, but -to-day none is procurable. The servants are to get half rations from the -commissariat to-morrow. - -At the Bala Hissar two companies!!! were warned for service under Capt. -Corri, 54th, for the purpose of entering the town to cause a diversion -during the expected attack which it was understood there was about to be -made from cantonments. However it was, as usual, only one of the -theoretical plans so often talked of, and so little practised. Conolly, -Troup, and Hay had gone there for the purpose of assisting with counsel; -but there was "great cry and little wool," and nothing was done. - -The supplies are become very limited, and it becomes a question how the -troops and Horse Artillery horses are to be fed: to-day there were only -three days' provisions left; but owing to the great exertions of Capt. -Kirby, Acting Assistant Commissary-General, a very large quantity was -laid in, Damel Khan and Timor Khan, two Armenian merchants, being very -instrumental in procuring them. Immediately in the neighbourhood of the -Bala Hissar were fields of wheat stretching out for many acres; the -wheat being the second crops, and some half a foot high, was found to be -excellent food for the cattle: the groves also, in the vicinity, were -all cut down for firewood, which, as long as it lasted, was very -liberally distributed to the troops by the King. - -_5th._--At 5 o'clock A.M., no reinforcement having gone to the -assistance of Lieut. Warren, although promised by 2, that officer -vacated the Commissariat fort. No blame can attach to him, but much to -those who withheld aid. The enemy took possession, depriving us of our -only means of subsistence. Nor was this all the mischief: it gave both -confidence and much plunder to the enemy, and created great disgust -amongst the Europeans, who lost all their rum; a worse loss was all the -medical stores, sago, arrow-root, wine, &c. for the sick. - -The men in cantonments were employed all day, the guns and mortars -throwing shot and shell at the Mahommed Shureef's fort; Major Swayne -being ordered with a very insufficient force to attack it, only two -companies with two Horse Artillery guns, under Lieut. Eyre. The latter -were ordered to be placed on the Kohistan road, outside the gate of -cantonments, and to keep up a heavy fire on the fort; whilst Major -Swayne was to advance rapidly on the fort, and blow open the gate with a -bag of powder. Lieut. Eyre obeyed his orders; but his ammunition was all -expended before the arrival of Major Swayne's party, who, instead of -advancing, had, on a fire of matchlocks being opened from the fort, -taken cover under some walls from the heavy fire of the enemy; and -having expended all their ammunition ineffectually, the whole had to -retire with some loss of men and horses. This was the only opportunity -that offered of retrieving our loss. The enemy were busied in hundreds -all day in carrying off our stores, all which we plainly saw from -cantonments. The troops retired by order of Gen. Elphinstone, to my no -small surprise, for the enemy had begun to run out from a broken -bastion; but when they found our people retreating, they took courage, -and no more left the fort, on which shot and shell kept playing all day. -After stating this, it is unnecessary to add that Sturt's suggestions -had not been acted on. - -When the 44th retreated from Mahommed Shureef's fort, all were in -amazement; the 37th asked leave to go and take it, but were not -permitted to do so. The Sipahees are grumbling at short allowance, and -not being allowed to do any thing. The 37th were anxious to be employed -in recovering the Commissariat fort, though no actual proposition to -that effect was officially made to the General. - -On this day a report was carried to the King and Conolly that the rebels -had mined from the Shôr Bazaar to immediately under H. M.'s palace, -which said mine was to be sprung the same evening. The King instantly -left the palace, and took up his abode at the Gate of the Haram Serai, -where he remained during the rest of the siege; and all day, seated at a -window commanding a fine view of cantonments, telescope in hand, watched -anxiously the course of passing events in that place. He was at this -time quite sunk into a state of despondency, and would gladly seize any -opportunity of asking the opinion of any of the officers as to what was -likely to be the issue of the struggle. He put off for the time all the -insignia of royalty, made the officers sit by him on chairs, and seemed -quite _gobrowed_ (an expressive eastern term, to be rendered something -between dumbfounded and at one's wits' end). The Shah's conduct in the -particular of the chairs is the more worthy of remark, as he had been in -the habit of keeping the officers for hours standing with folded hands -silently in his presence, and then ungraciously dismissing them without -even a passing remark. He now sent to each Sahib a warm silk resaiz and -a pillow, which were very acceptable, as they were all starving with -cold. - -_6th._--Major Kershaw, Lieut. Hobhouse, and eleven soldiers of the 13th -Lt. Inf. (who had been left at Cabul in consequence of illness) this day -volunteered their services. - -Sturt, having fretted himself half mad at every thing going wrong, -determined, weak and ill as he was, to go out and do his duty. He is the -only engineer officer at Cabul. He was unable to dress, but went out in -his shirt and pyjania to the works. Although he was out himself a little -after 6 o'clock, he could not get things or people into their places -until 10. General Elphinstone gave him permission to make any -arrangements he considered as safe from chance of failure for taking the -small fort; but when he had with great exertion got three nine-pounders -and two twenty-four pound howitzers at work (the latter across the -road), Major Thain was sent to him to desire he would be careful not to -expend ammunition, as powder was scarce! there being at the time a -sufficiency for a twelvemonths' siege! However, Sturt made no alteration -in his proceedings, and by 12 o'clock an excellent breach was made, the -bastion being thrown down and great part of the curtain, so that ladders -were not required: the gate was blown in at the same time by Capt. -Bellew, Assist.-Adjt.-Gen. There was a small crack in the rampart near -Sale's bastion, of which I used to take advantage, as a stepping-stone -to enable me to see what was going on; and from my position I saw the -storming party ascend the breach, under a heavy fire, with a commendable -steadiness and great alacrity: they quickly drove the enemy from their -stations, who then escaped through the wicket into the Shah's garden. -The storming party was commanded by Major Griffith, of the 37th N. I., -consisting of the light company of the Queen's 44th, Lieut. Hobhouse and -ten men of H. M. 13th Lt. Inf., one company of 5th N. I., one company -37th N. I.; in all about 150 men. Lieut. Raban, 44th, killed whilst -waving his sword on the highest point of the breach; Mr. Deas, 5th, -wounded. I believe we had nineteen killed, and several wounded; amongst -the latter, one of the 13th. The flag taken from the enemy was waved on -the crest of the breach by a Sipahee of the 37th, who captured it, and -who was promoted for the act. He and a havildar of the same corps, -though belonging to the rear company, were, with Lieut. Raban, the first -into the fort. But few of the enemy were found killed; but it is -difficult to estimate the numbers of their slain, as they are so -particular regarding Moslem burial that they always, when practicable, -drag the bodies away. Great numbers escaped to the hills behind, which -were quickly covered with horsemen, from 2000 to 3000 men. A party of -Anderson's horse charged straight up the hill (just to the left of the -gorge leading to the lake) in most gallant style, and drove the enemy -along the ridge to the extreme left. Meantime, the 5th cavalry rode -along the foot of the hill to the left, and charged up at that end; by -which manœuvre the enemy were hemmed in, in the centre of the two -cavalry corps, when a very severe encounter took place. From the top of -our house we saw every thing distinctly; the gleaming of their swords in -the sun, and the fire of their pistols and matchlocks: fresh horsemen -came pouring on to the assistance of the enemy from the back of the -hill; they buried our cavalry and Anderson's horse, who, overpowered by -numbers and a most galling fire, were forced along the ridge to the spot -whence the first charge took place. - -The Affghans have many advantages over our troops: one consists in -dropping their men fresh for combat; each horseman takes a foot soldier -up behind him, and drops him when he is arrived at the spot he is -required to fire from. Their horsemen are either gentlemen or yeomen (as -we should denominate them), all well mounted, and their baggage ponies -can manage the hills much better than our cavalry horses; in fact, the -Affghan horses seem to me to climb about with as much unconcern as goats -do. As regards pistols, we are on a par, as most of theirs have been -presents from the Posha Khana; but their juzails carry much further than -our muskets, and, whilst they are out of range of our fire, theirs tells -murderously on us. - -A standard bearer with a white flag was killed; he was evidently a -person of some consequence, from the great anxiety evinced to obtain -possession of his body. There were two red flags in another division. - -Capt. Anderson distinguished himself, killing four men with his own -hand; he rode up the gorge to challenge the enemy again, but they had -the advantage of position, and would not come down. - -The enemy continued to crown the heights: our guns were out of range, -and the shot fell short. We had infantry out in skirmishing order, but -the whole was little more than a very exciting and provoking spectacle; -for we made little impression, although the whole of our cavalry was -out: so cavalry, infantry, guns, and all, came back again, and soon -after the enemy came down the hill, some evidently returning to the Shah -bagh, and others dispersing more to the left, and probably returning to -the city. - -Lady Macnaghten told me to-day that Sir William had written to inform -Sale that we had been in siege since the 2d, and to request his return -with the force under his command; to leave the sick and wounded in -safety at Gundamuk, under charge of the troops there. To this the -General assented, and signed the letter; but afterwards he said it would -be abandoning the sick and baggage, and refused to recall Sale's brigade. - -I was asked if I could send a letter from Sir William to Sale, through -Sturt's influence with the natives; but if, with secret service money at -his command, the Envoy cannot bribe a messenger, how are poor people -like us to do so? - -Sir William has given one of the Kuzzilbash chiefs 50,000 rupees to -raise a diversion in our favour, and has promised him two lakhs more if -he succeeds. - -The insurgent chiefs have set up a king, and a wuzeer; they went to the -mosque, and read the fatcha, or prayer, for the reigning monarch. -Several of the Moollahs refused to recognise the name of Shah Zeman: -they said they would allow that of Shah Shoojah as a legitimate monarch. -There was a long and wordy dispute; but Shah Mahommed Zeman seems at -present to possess most power in Cabul. This is not the blind Shah -Zeman, Shah Shoojah's brother, but a relation of the Ameer Dost -Mahommed. He is an old man, and said to be the son of an elder brother -of Dost Mahommed's, and used to be called the Nawaub. He has struck coin -in his own name. - -Abdoollah Khan has sent a messenger to treat with the King, who replied -that he would receive no such low person, and that some person of -respectability must be sent. The King is also said to have seized the -man who stabbed Sturt, and to have declared his intent to put him to -death; but just now I believe he dares not do so. - -This day there was a report that Sir Alexander Burnes and his brother -were still living, but that the people, in whose power they were, were -treating for a very large ransom. - -Capt. Warburton left two guns in the city at his house; the Affghans -have taken possession of them (six-pounders), and use them against us -either with their own balls, or ours returned to us in that manner. They -hammer our nine-pound shot into an egg shape. One of them that fell in -Sturt's compound attracted attention, as we all supposed that they could -not be hammered to fit other guns. - -Paton and Bellew meet in council with Sturt at nine most evenings at our -house. To-day arrangements were made for carrying the Shah's garden and -the Commissariat fort at daybreak, every thing being so clearly -explained that even I understood it as well as hemming the handkerchief -I was making. The captured fort, as it is called, is now held by three -companies. It is proposed to be blown up: they are quietly to cut -embrasures in the wall for three guns, to cover the attack on the -garden. There is to be a simultaneous attack on the Commissariat fort; -and the signal for escalading the breach with a company of Europeans, -and one of natives, will be the explosion in blowing up the gate. Plans -were sketched, and all the minutiæ written out, so that the General -might have no questions to ask. It is now midnight, and no reply has -been sent from him, though an answer was to have come to say whether the -work should be done or not. - -This day Gen. Elphinstone wrote to the Envoy to state that we were in -want of ammunition, requesting him to endeavour to make arrangements -with the enemy! - -Capt. Bellew told me that the General has at length agreed that Sale's -brigade shall be recalled. Had we more men, a brigade might be sent out -on the hill, to punish the enemy who defy us there. - -The men are greatly harassed; their duty is very heavy, and they have no -cover night or day, all being on the ramparts. The weather is cold, -particularly at night. - -There was a good store of grain in the captured fort, but very little of -it was brought into cantonments by the Commissariat, though a great deal -found its way into the Bunneahs' shops, or was carried off by the -Sipahees and camp-followers. - -A great quantity of wheat has been brought in to-day and yesterday from -the villages, and we are promised further supplies. - -A note from Thain mentions that Sale has been sent for, but, from the -very cautious wording of the order, it appears doubtful whether he can -take such responsibility upon himself as it implies. He is, if he can -leave his sick, wounded, and baggage in perfect safety, to return to -Cabul, if he can do so without endangering the force under his command. -Now, in obeying an order of this kind, if Sale succeeds, and all is -right, he will doubtless be a very fine fellow; but if he meets with a -reverse, he will be told, "You were not to come up unless you could do -so safely!" - -There has been much talk of bringing Brig. Shelton from the Bala Hissar -into cantonments, to aid with counsel and prowess; the plan is, however, -for the present abandoned. - -The troops in the Bala Hissar are better off than we are, as there are -yet some supplies in the shops there, though at an exorbitant rate. - -Despatches have been sent for reinforcements from Kandahar. If Gen. -Nott's brigade had not proceeded on their way to the provinces further -than the Kojuk pass, they are to return. - -Accounts have been received that Codrington's corps at Charikar is -surrounded. Capt. Rattray, the political agent there, and Lieut. -Salisbury, killed. Capt. Codrington and the other officers wounded, as -also Major Pottinger, political agent. - -There has been great talk of withdrawing the troops from the Bala Hissar -into cantonments; but if this were done, the King, with his 800 ladies -(wives, daughters, &c., and their attendants), would follow, and we -should soon be starved out. If we make an inglorious retreat to -Hindostan, he will still accompany us; and as we brought him to the -country, we must stand by him. - -When there was first an intention of building for the army at the -Company's expense, Capt. Sturt gave it as his decided opinion, (which -opinion is on record in the letter book of his office, in a letter to -Sir A. Burnes,) that the garrison should be placed in the Upper Bala -Hissar, from whence (with plenty of ammunition and food, which might -always be procured from the city, either purchased from friends, or -taken zubberdust from the enemy) we never could be dislodged. A large -outlay (I write from memory, and therefore do not name a sum) was -expended in commencing barracks, bombproofs, &c.; and last, not least, a -new wing was added to a palace for the Envoy, and another, to make all -square, was laid out, when the King sent to say he would neither have -the Envoy nor the troops in the Bala Hissar: so all the money spent was -thrown away, and the King had the new wing and the whole palace thrown -down because it was originally erected by the Dost. - -The camp was pitched at Siah Sung; but that site would not answer for a -cantonment for many reasons detailed by Sturt in his public letter, -which I propose appending to my Journal.[4] I shall therefore only -notice two of them,--the distance from good water, and the whole spot -being commanded by the heights that surround it, except on one side, -which is a morass, and from that cause not particularly healthy at some -seasons. - -There was ground on the further side of the city, but that would not -answer, as should an insurrection occur in Cabul it would cut off our -communication with Jellalabad. - -Eventually the King gave up a garden or orchard, the present site of -cantonments, with water at hand, good and plentiful, and always -procurable by digging two feet for it in any direction. - -Sturt urges the absolute necessity of our now withdrawing our forces -from the cantonments into the Bala Hissar, but is still met by the cry -of, "How can we abandon the good buildings and property?" - -The ammunition might be buried and concealed, the guns spiked, &c.; but -a great deal of the former might be sent into the Bala Hissar by the -cavalry carrying each man a proportion on his horse nightly, and many of -the latter might be taken to the citadel. - -To Sergt. Deane, of the engineers' department, the army are very greatly -indebted for his great personal exertions in getting in grain. He is a -particularly intelligent man, and very superior to his present station -in life; and the fluency with which he speaks Persian enables him to -pick up information, and also to go about at times in disguise for the -same purpose. - -If we can only continue to obtain provisions as we have done for the -last two days, we shall be able to hold out on half rations, and in -another month, it is said, the Kohistanees cannot touch us for the snow, -which fell heavily on the hills last night. - -We had rain here late in the evening, and at night; and this morning I -saw a great increase in the snow on the hills. - -In the Bala Hissar, Lieut. Melville having recovered from his wound -sufficiently to do his duty, was sent down to take charge of the Lahore -gate of the fort, which was now the only opening into the Bala Hissar, -the others having been built up with almost solid masonry. - -The troops there were isolated in a fort closely besieged, actually -without a single case of amputating or other surgical instruments -amongst them, and hardly a grain of medicine!--most culpable negligence, -as they might easily have been sent from the cantonments, though a -little foresight would have suggested their being taken there with the -troops; and they might easily have been got ready during the time they -were under arms--more than an hour--before they marched. - -There has been constant firing for the last day or two on the city side -of the fort, and the enemy have made several unsuccessful attempts to -carry off the two guns that are lying beneath the walls. Food is already -scarce in the bazaar; and although plenty is stored up in the private -houses of the natives, yet in the shops the price of two seers of wheat -or two and a half is a rupee. - -The Sipahees complain bitterly of the severity of the weather, -particularly at night, and above sixty men are in hospital at the Bala -Hissar already, besides the wounded: they are attacked with pneumonia, -which carries them off in the course of a couple of days. The King sent -strict orders to Melville at the gate, to allow no one to pass either in -or out without a pass from either the wuzeer or Conolly, except the -surwans in charge of the grazing cattle which go out at 8 A.M. and -return at 2, protected by a resallah of the King's Sikh regt.: in case -of an alarm from without, a flag is ordered to be waved from the -ramparts, on which signal all the cattle are immediately to come in. The -above-mentioned resallah are, without any exception, the worst set-up -and most disorderly body of troops calling themselves a regiment that -can be imagined: their horses are ill-conditioned, their arms and -accoutrements nominal, as each man dresses as he pleases, a stick with a -bayonet on the top being the sole offensive weapon of many of them. And -this is the imperial guard of the monarch of Affghanistan! Besides this -regiment his majesty has with him in the fort, of his own troops (not -reckoning those of the subsidiarised force), his orderly regiment -(Campbell's), 400 Juzailchees, and 500 of another Hindostanee regt. The -orderly regiment are certainly better men of the sort (not being the -Company's soldiers) than are usually met with, although they did run -away in the city on the 2nd, but it was not until they had lost 200 men -and fought gallantly. Campbell himself is the King's right-hand man. - -Associated with Melville at the gate was Raja Jeenial Sing, a man whose -father was prince of an extensive territory lying near Cashmere, and -who, when Shah Shoojah in 1818 was a fugitive and an exile flying from -Runjeet Sing, received him most kindly, gave him all he asked for: -refusing every offer or command of Runjeet to surrender him up, he -transported him safely to the Company's territories. For this, Runjeet -deprived him of his Raj, valued at four lakhs yearly, and all his -property, imprisoning both him and his sons: the latter on their -father's death made their escape and arrived at the court of Shah -Shoojah, for whose sake they had lost every thing. His gratitude was -shown in the regal donation of two rupees eight anas daily!! Verily they -had their reward, and well may they exclaim, "Put not your trust in -princes!" - -From an idea of an insurrection being about to take place among the -Arabs (who compose a large portion of the inhabitants), a proposal was -set on foot for turning all the Affghans, &c. out of the Bala Hissar, -and taking all provisions found for the use of the troops both there and -in cantonments. This, as well as every other energetic measure proposed, -was knocked on the head either by the King or the politicals, and, -instead of turning out all useless hands, an order was issued to allow -no woman to pass the gate unless supplied with a pass, as an idea had -got afloat that they were about to turn out their wives and children ere -a general massacre of the troops took place. However, in lieu of an -insurrection, food becoming very scarce, all the natives became -clamorous for permission to leave the fort, and go into the city with -their wives and children,--"a consummation devoutly to be wished," and -to insure which it had been good policy to have paid them a high price -for their houses and grain, &c. This the King positively refused to -allow, but ordered a Shah-Gazee to join Melville at the gate, and, -having examined them one by one to see that they carried out no arms, to -allow females to pass; but no man to go on any account. In this way, in -three days were passed out 750 women with their children, which was at -least a good riddance! - -_7th._--I did not go to bed till after Mr. Eyre went away this morning: -he came at a little after midnight in consequence of some frivolous -objections of the General's, based I believe mostly on Capt. Bellew's -doubts as to whether the trees in the garden next the Commissariat fort -were planted in lines parallel to the wall or not. Now Bellew always has -an "observation" to throw in, or "begs to suggest" something. He had -acknowledged he had never been in this garden, though Sturt had; neither -could he be made to understand that it was the custom of the country to -plant the trees in lines parallel with the outer walls: neither could he -comprehend, that if even a tree intervened, a shot would destroy it from -the heavy nine-pounders. These trees were not gigantic English oaks, the -growth of a century; but fruit trees. - -The heavy iron nines would now have proved their utility against the -fort, but the old objection of the difficulty of transporting them over -bad roads still exists; an iron nine cannot be as portable as a brass -six-pounder, but the eighteen-pounders would not have given much more -trouble than the nines did on the march up, and would have done us good -service had we them here. Capt. Abbott wrote for 3 eighteen-pounders; -the military board made it a case of arithmetic, and sent 6 nines; and -as they had to be taken up the hills by hand, a little more manual -labour would have transported the others also over the Affghanee -mountains. - -I often hear the Affghans designated as cowards: they are a fine -manly-looking set, and I can only suppose it arises from the British -idea among civilised people that assassination is a cowardly act. The -Affghans never scruple to use their long knives for that purpose, _ergo_ -they are cowards; but they show no cowardice in standing as they do -against guns without using any themselves, and in escalading and taking -forts which we cannot retake. The Affghans of the capital are a little -more civilised; but the country gentlemen and their retainers are, I -fancy, much the same kind of people as those Alexander encountered. - -The Juzailchees were sent out to skirmish: they attacked the Shah bagh, -and cleared the west end of it; they then joined Major Thain, who, with -a squadron of horse and two companies of infantry, attacked a garden -beyond it, drove the enemy out with great slaughter, and burnt the -garden house. Lieut. Eyre at the same time, through a small opening in -the wall of the Shah bagh immediately under the captured fort, played -with a six-pounder upon the gate of the garden. Not being supported, -however, these advantages were lost, and the enemy being reinforced in -great numbers, the above troops were forced to retreat, having lost a -considerable number of men; _par exemple_, fifteen of the Juzailchees -out of ninety-five were left on the field. I have not the actual numbers -of the Europeans and Sipahees who were slain. - -The gun was saved with great difficulty, and here a great fault was -committed in sending one gun only. In the Marquis of Hastings's time an -order was published prohibiting a single gun being sent out, in -consequence of the disastrous consequences attending its being -unsupported during the Nepalese war. But all seems confusion here. Those -who, at the head of affairs, ought to have been directing every thing, -appear to be in consternation. General Elphinstone from his first -arrival in the country was in ill health, which gradually increased on -him, till his mind became nearly as much enervated as his body; and so -conscious was he of his own state, that he had written to Government to -give up the command, and also to Gen. Nott at Kandahar to come up and -take his place until a new commander of the forces was appointed. - -We are now in circumstances which require a man of energy to cope with -them. Major Thain is said to be a good adviser, but unfortunately it is -not always in the multitude of counsellors that there is wisdom; and so -many proffered their advice and crossed his, that Thain withdrew his, -and only now answers such questions as are put to him. - -_8th._--At four in the morning a sharp firing was heard, for which at -the time we could not account, but afterwards found that it proceeded -from the captured fort, which the enemy had attempted to mine and -recapture. They had succeeded in making a large hole, but being repulsed -they set the fort on fire. At daybreak, finding Sturt's servant still in -the verandah, and knowing that his master was to have been up at -half-past four, I went to the door to inquire, and found that the -General, or rather his advisers, had decided that nothing was to be done. - -The enemy are using our guns against us, throwing shot into cantonments -from Mahmood Khan's fort. - -Our men are so overworked that it is intended to give them rest to-day. - -Sturt went out early this morning, and found the garden next the -Commissariat fort unoccupied; he immediately took the sappers under -Lieut. Laing with fifty of the Juzailchees under Mackenzie to cover -them, and sent for two companies of Sipahees as a covering party whilst -they pulled down the wall, which was quickly accomplished. - -There is a report that we are to be attacked in cantonments to-night. -Sturt went to Gen. Elphinstone and Brig. Anquetil, who both gave him -_carte blanche_, and desired that all his instructions should be obeyed. -He has accordingly placed 15 guns in position. We have only two -artillery officers in cantonments that are available, now Waller is -wounded; they are Eyre and Warburton. We have no laboratory men,--no -other engineer officer than Sturt, who, weak as he is, has to do every -thing. - -When we came into cantonments last November, Sir Willoughby Cotton -commanded the forces in Affghanistan; and Sale, as the second here, and -commandant in cantonments, had the troops paraded and their posts -assigned, in case of any sudden attack. These troops (the 1st brigade), -who knew their posts, are now far from us, and no arrangement of a -similar kind has been made since their departure; so Sturt has had the -officers told off to their several stations, has paraded them at them, -and goes his rounds before he goes to bed to see that they are all at -their posts. - -It is said that Mohun Lull has named the man who killed poor Sir -Alexander Bumes; he also writes that there are only 500 Kohistanees in -the city, and that otherwise all is going on well in the Kuzzilbash -quarter of the city, where he resides. - -It was reported to-day that the city was on fire, but it proved to be a -village fired by the Kohistanees. - -Conolly writes from the Bala Hissar, accounting for the firing we heard -this morning. An attack was made on the Bala Hissar, which was repulsed: -the enemy were seized with a panic, fancied they were attacked from the -rear, and began to fight amongst themselves; cries of _Aman_ were heard -in cantonments by several persons besides myself. Conolly also writes -that he has not only heard that we are to be attacked to-night, but that -the enemy are making up bhoosa bags with which to fill up the ditch. - -Sturt is gone to lie down to recruit his strength, knowing that I never -dose now till daylight, but sit up to watch passing events, and give the -alarm if need be, and have kept my nightly watch ever since the -insurrection commenced. Our troops as yet are staunch; and if we are -attacked, and succeed in repelling the enemy, we shall be able to keep -our own until Sale's brigade arrives. - -The enemy showed to-day on the heights, in force about 3000; but we -cannot cope with them, so content ourselves by throwing shrapnell at -them. Eyre threw some with great precision; the distance was, however, -very great, and we consequently did little execution. We also greatly -feel the want of laboratory men to cut fuzees, &c. - -Sturt asked for a party to occupy the village of Behmaru, but it was not -given. The Envoy was anxious to secure this place, but all was in vain; -and as we neglected our advantages, the enemy availed themselves of -them, and Meer Musjudee threw himself and 1000 followers into it. We -have thereby lost 900 maunds of ottah, which was paid for. - -Two forts near the village are in our possession. - -An attack expected at about 3 o'clock this afternoon. - -Brig. Shelton came in from the Bala Hissar with six companies of the -Shah's 6th, one horse artillery gun, and one of the mountain train. - -The people in cantonments expect wonders from his prowess and military -judgment. I am of a different opinion, knowing that he is not a -favourite with either his officers or men, and is most anxious to get -back to Hindostan. I must, however, do him the justice to say that I -believe he possesses much personal bravery; but, notwithstanding, I -consider his arrival as a dark cloud overshadowing us. Most glad shall I -be to find that, by his energy, the General is roused up to active -measures. It is, perhaps, a part of his complaint (but, nevertheless, -equally unfortunate for us), that Gen. Elphinstone vacillates on every -point. His own judgment appears to be good, but he is swayed by the last -speaker; and Capt. Grant's cold cautiousness, and Capt. Bellew's doubts -on every subject, induce our chief to alter his opinions and plans every -moment. - -At the Bala Hissar they began to be much cramped in their correspondence -with cantonments, which became very limited; a hurkaru stealing out at -night, and returning with an answer early in the morning, being now the -only means of communication; and the same man never went for more than -five days without being either killed or confined. - -The Affghans, having persons who can read English, French, and Latin, -were aware of all our secrets. - -Mohun Lull and the Naïb Shureef were our newsgivers from the city, and -always gave intelligence of the arrival of any new chief or body of -troops; also doing, or saying they were doing, all in their power to -enter into some sort of terms. The King is gradually getting worse and -worse, and has quite lost all his self-possession. He has warned the -females of his zenana (amounting in number to 860) that in the event of -the cantonments falling into the hands of the rebels he should -administer poison to them all! At least these are the reports gathered -from his few immediate attendants; how far they may be relied on as -true, or whether they are merely set afloat to blind us to his own share -in the insurrection, it is difficult to say. - -Brig. Shelton made over the command to Major Ewart, 54th N. I., and left -the Bala Hissar at 4 A.M., and arrived in cantonments before daybreak, -without meeting with any opposition on the road. - -The troops were left in position as follows:-- - -At the city gate of the fort were 2 companies of the 54th, 1 gun horse -artillery, 1 of the mountain train. At the centre square above the -palace 2 companies 54th, 2 guns horse artillery, 1 eighteen-pounder, and -just under it a nine-pounder. The Sikh horse encamped in the square. - -At the Lahore gate, 100 men of the 54th under Lieut. Melville, with 50 -of the Shah's Juzailchees. On a bastion to the left of the Haram Khana, -1 company of the 54th. On the upper tower of the fort, commanding the -whole, 100 of the 54th, 100 Juzailchees, and 1 gun of the mountain -train. The remainder were in reserve at the palace square, with their -different parts allotted to them in case of an alarm. - -On this day the men at the Bala Hissar were put on half rations in -consequence of the large supplies of ottah required to be sent to -cantonments, and which Capt. Kirby is getting stored as fast as he can. - -Ammunition, by the directions of the Major-Gen., is now beginning to be -thrown into the Bala Hissar, under charge of Capt. Walker, commanding -detachment of 4th local horse, who has orders to bring back all the -ottah he can collect in time to return before daylight; but, owing to -the men (who are half starved in cantonments) always, immediately on -depositing their loads, leaving their ranks to forage for themselves, -not more than half the loads usually arrived. - -We now began to bombard the city in earnest from Nicholl's battery, -beginning at eight o'clock every evening and continuing until eleven, -firing at intervals of about ten minutes from the 5½-inch mortar, and -the nine-pounder. The effect was beautiful to us in the cantonments; but -it is to be feared that was almost the only effect it had, as, from all -we could learn, four or five were the usual average of victims, being a -very small number for so great an expenditure of ammunition. Amenoollah -Khan's house was the principal object of attack, and one or two shells -went completely through it; but as, immediately on the shelling -commencing, he and all his family left it for some other residence, the -loss of a few of his horses was the utmost injury he suffered. - -Regarding Brig. Shelton's view of affairs, it may be remarked that, from -the first of his arrival in the country, he appears to have greatly -disliked it, and his disgust has now considerably increased. His mind is -set on getting back to Hindostan; and it is worthy of remark that from -the first, on going into the Bala Hissar, he desired Capt. Nicholl to -fill all the ammunition boxes, as fast as it was expended, with flour -(ottah), to be ready for provision in case of retreat. - -_9th._--The enemy showed themselves again on the hills, and were -permitted to remain unmolested. - -The Envoy wished troops to be sent out; but deference was paid to -Shelton's opinion, who would not attack them, being all for a retreat to -Hindostan. - -_10th._--Having bullied us with impunity yesterday, the enemy again -showed themselves on the hills, and rushed with a shout into the village -of Behmaru, which they occupy and vacate as the whim takes them. They -also lined the Siah Sung hills, came down to the river, and kept up such -a heavy fire, that we could not keep our gun outside the rear gate, and -we had to bring it in. - -The enemy are in possession of several forts near us. The 44th and part -of every corps were out under Shelton, but considerable delay took -place, and it was only on the Envoy assuring the General that he would -take the responsibility of the act on himself that the troops were sent -out. - -They attacked the Rikabashees' fort. By some blunder, Bellew did not go -at the gate, but blew in the wicket. Lieut. Bird, of the Shah's 6th, and -a few others, got in, when the enemy's cavalry charged, and the 44th -turned--"sauve qui peut." Here Shelton proved a trump. Cool and brave, -he with much difficulty succeeded in rallying the men, to save those -inside, and when they did return they fought like lions. It was a very -fearful affair as witnessed by nearly all in cantonments; and the men, -both Europeans and natives, in the second attack behaved with undaunted -courage. Capt. Westmacott, 37th, had been skirmishing in front, and -commanded the advance No. 2. and 3. companies of the 37th. On the -retreat of the troops, Lieut. Hawtrey (37th), Capt. MacCrea (44th), -Lieut. Cadett (44th), Lieut. Bird (6th), Lieut.-Col. Mackrell (44th), -and two or three soldiers (44th), and a havildar and four or five of the -37th, were left in the fort, having rushed in at the kirkee (wicket). -Lieuts. Hawtrey and Cadett returned to endeavour to get more of the men -up. Bird's account of the affair is, that when they got in they -experienced a most decided opposition, but the enemy rushing out at the -opposite gate, they took advantage of it, when abandoned by their -comrades, to close the entrance, securing the chain with a bayonet. The -enemy, seeing the success of their own charge outside, rallied, and, -cutting a hole in the door with their long knives, they got out the -bayonet, and opened the gate again. Bird and one Sipahee, 37th, and one -or two others, retreated to a room in which there were two horses, and -through a small opening kept up a sharp fire, luckily killing the few -who saw them enter, and afterwards picking off all who passed in their -way. Above thirty were thus killed, fifteen of whom fell to Bird's -share, and six to that of the Sipahee of the 37th, for which the Sipahee -was afterwards promoted, by Bird's especial request to Major Griffith. -Col. Mackrell went to the door, to look if relief was coming, -disregarding Bird's advice to remain with him coolly and steadily till -they got reinforcements. The Colonel was wounded and fell, and the -cavalry cut him up dreadfully. He was wounded in both legs, one below -the knee, the other on the thigh; he had three cuts in the back, two -toes cut off, and three or four cuts on the arm, which was taken off -immediately after he was brought in. Poor man! He said, "This is not -battle, it is murder!" He still lives, but is not likely to survive: -better had he been shot at once. To persons accustomed to civilised -warfare, these details must be revolting. Even a dead enemy is never -passed without a cut at the body. They cry "Aman" themselves, but never -show mercy to Kaffirs. - -Capt. MacCrea was in the fort all but one arm, by which they seized him -and dragged him out: his was a very similar fate, but his sufferings -were less protracted, for he was dead when found, with, I believe, his -skull cloven. - -Poor Westmacott of the 37th was cut to pieces near the kirkee. We must -have killed a great number of the enemy. Mr. Bird says he himself saw -above 100 killed, but that as fast as a man fell, others came and -dragged him away. Major Scott in vain tried to rally the 44th: excited -to tears, he called for volunteers to follow him, when a private, named -Stuart, was the only man who offered to go, and for which, on its -reaching the Envoy's notice, he was, by Sir William's earnest entreaty -to Shelton, promoted sergeant. - -When the storming party came up the second time under Shelton, a cruel -scene took place. The enemy could not have had less than 150 killed and -wounded. We had ourselves fully that number. There were 26 killed and 28 -wounded of the 44th; above 50 killed and wounded of the 37th. I did not -hear the number of the Shah's 6th, and have not access to records; not -that they are kept very correctly, for Sturt was never returned as a -wounded officer. - -The conduct of the 37th is highly spoken of: they drove the enemy (who -had got on the top of a bastion) with their bayonets clean over the -side, where they were received on the bayonets of the 44th. - -The dreadful slaughter of our men is attributable to a desperate rush of -Affghan cavalry. It is supposed that some very influential person was in -the fort, and has been killed. A body richly dressed was found, but the -head was carried away. This they do when they cannot take the body, as -the head then receives Mussulman burial, which the Affghans are very -particular in observing. A horse was taken, and a sword that was much -bent; both are said to have been recognised as having lately been in -possession of Moollah Mobend of Zoormut. Four other forts were taken, -from which the enemy ran on the capture of the Rikabashees'. - -Shelton led the troops out towards the Siah Sung hill, where the enemy -was in force, and where Eyre did great execution with two horse -artillery guns. The troops remained out till dark, when, having -completely overawed the enemy, they returned. Three times the sappers -were ordered (and as often countermanded) for the purpose of blowing up -these forts and firing them. At length it was decided to keep the -Rikabashees' fort, and to occupy it. There is known to be a large store -of boussa and lucern there; and we hope also to find grain. Zulfar -Khan's fort was also occupied by us. These forts were not above 400 -yards from cantonments. The furthest fort is memorable as the spot where -a murder was committed not long ago, and was perhaps 1000 yards distant; -of this the four bastions were blown up, and the place itself fired. As -Brig. Shelton has always been supposed to be greatly disliked by his -men, it has excited much astonishment that the men of the 44th were all -inquiring after the "little Brig.," as they call him. They say they are -ready to be led to any work there may be for them to do. - -This event has already produced its effect. Khojeh Meer of Behmaru has -sent his salaam to know our pleasure. The Envoy's reply was, "If you -wish to keep your two forts, sell us grain." - -The events of to-day must have astonished the enemy after our -supineness, and shown them that, when we have a mind to do so, we can -punish them. - -Our spirits are raised and depressed by the barometer of public events. -Could any thing have roused us at first to action, the insurrection had -been crushed in the bud. When the 44th turned and fled to-day, the Gen. -asked the Envoy if he was prepared to retreat to Jellalabad as to-night; -but Sir William replied that he would do his duty, and never desert the -King; and, if the army left him, would die at his post! - -Now we are uppermost we hold up our heads, and hope not to have to sculk -into the Bala Hissar without baggage. Were Sturt's advice taken, we -should nightly send ammunition there, and, when a sufficiency is -conveyed, all make one bold night march in very light marching order, -just what we can carry on our horses. In there, we can be lodged (not -comfortably, I grant) in the houses of the inhabitants, who would be -well paid for vacating them. They have laid in their stores for the -winter, which would be bought at any price--and then we might defy all -Affghanistan for any time. However it seems hopeless to think on such -subjects, for those who with a great end in view might be brought to -abandon public works and property for a time, will not consent to part -with their own! A horse, with handsome silver-mounted saddle, &c., has -been brought in by Lieut. Vanrenen, who sold it for 120 rupees to some -one who fancied it because it was supposed to have belonged to a chief. - -Sturt's recovery and energy appear little short of miraculous; he nearly -possesses the power of ubiquity. He cannot yet mount his own tall -horses, and must astonish my little Cape horse, for he gallops him the -whole day from bastion to gate, and gate to bastion, laying guns, and -off like a shot; his aim being to show the enemy that all our batteries -and gates had guns in position, which we could fire nearly -simultaneously,--for they know how weak we are in artillery officers. - -The enemy kept up a smart fire for some hours; the bullets flew about -briskly, and fell plentifully in the verandahs of Capt. Boyd's house. - -An artilleryman was killed whilst sponging his gun; also two bheestees -in the Mission Compound. - -Sir William told Sturt this morning that if we beat the enemy to-day, he -felt convinced that in five days they would all be off; and the -circumstance of Khojeh Meer's salaam is a favourable sign. - -To-morrow early we are to endeavour to get grain from Khojeh Meer at -Behmaru. - -The grain in the Commissariat fort is still burning, and the fort itself -still in possession of the enemy, who annoy us from thence and from the -Shah bagh and Mahmood Khan's fort. The latter place we are not strong -enough to take unless Sale's brigade or Nott's arrives: this is much to -be regretted, for in all disturbances in Cabul, whichever party kept -possession of that fort was always the conqueror in the end. - -Gen. Nott may be here with his brigade in three weeks: we have plenty of -ammunition, and if we can get grain we may hold out till they arrive. - -_11th._--Yesterday's lesson has made the enemy shy, and very few showed -themselves on the hill, and those were all horsemen: none were seen on -the Siah Sung hills. - -Two regiments were sent to cover the foraging party collecting grain -from the captured forts. 600 maunds of wheat have been brought in, -boussa, &c.; this gives us three and a half days' provisions. - -Ottah is ready for us at the Bala Hissar, and the chief of Behmaru has -tendered his civilities again, now that Meer Musjudee's people have -retired from the village; but our 900 maunds of grain that were paid for -are gone. - -A large grave, or rather pit, full of bodies has been found outside the -Rikabashees' fort, which the enemy had not time to cover over before -they retreated. - -Bad news from Candahar. A party of the Shah's troops under Lieut. -Crawford, who were escorting state prisoners, are said to have been -attacked and cut to pieces, and it is feared that Capt. Sanders -(Engineers) was with them. Capt. Skinner is reported to have been killed -in endeavouring to escape out of the city in women's clothes. A dog of -Col. Dennie's, and another of Major Kershaw's, having come into -cantonments, has caused much excitement: as we have not heard from -Sale's camp for some time, we think it may be a proof that they are on -their way back. - -To-day we have been throwing shells into Mahmood Khan's fort, both from -the cantonments and also from the Bala Hissar. We hear that to-morrow -night the enemy intend to take the cantonments, and that they have -fifteen ladders to escalade with, and bags filled with boussa to cross -by filling up the ditch. Our men are all in high spirits. - -Meer Musjudee has sent to Sir William to say he will come in to treat; -his vakeel was in cantonments yesterday. The Ghilzyes have been (it is -said) brought off by the Envoy. It was a reinforcement of 1000 Ghazees -that joined the enemy yesterday at the Rikabashees' fort; it is supposed -that they suffered very severely in the action. - -_12th._--Arrangements have been made by Sir William with Meer Musjudee, -who is to receive 60,000 rupees if he brings in Codrington's regiment: -he, poor man, has died of his wounds. The expected attack on the -cantonments has not taken place, but there was a good deal of firing all -night, and shells were thrown from one o'clock at Mahmood Khan's fort. - -_13th._--The Ghilzye chiefs expressed a wish to treat: however that may -be, the enemy showed themselves on their favourite heights (Behmaru); -they are supposed to be reinforcements from Zoormut. They took two guns -up with them, which they played upon cantonments. On this Brig. Shelton -was sent with a force against them. It was with great difficulty the -Envoy persuaded the General and Brigadier to consent to a force going -out; and it was late before the troops were ready, consisting of-- - -A squadron of Anderson's horse, 120 men, under himself: - -The Envoy's cavalry escort, about 60 men, under Le Geyt: - -The 5th cavalry, all but their usual guards, about 250, under Col. -Chambers, being two squadrons, the rest being with Sale: - -A troop of the 1st and another of the 4th locals, or Skinner's and -Alexander's horse, under Capt. Walker: - -6 companies of the 44th, under Major Scott; 4 weak companies of 40, or -160 men, of the 37th; the Shah's 6th, the 5th, I believe six companies -each. - -There were three columns; two companies of the 37th led the left column -under Thain, with the 44th in the centre and Shah's 6th in rear. The -right column was under Scott, the reserve under Major Swayne. - -Civilians and women are fond of honour and glory, and perhaps do not -sufficiently temper valour with discretion. - -It appears that the Affghans attribute our forbearance, whatever may be -its motive, to fear, which gives them courage to beard us lions in our -den. - -The General again (as in the late attack on the Rikabashee fort) asked -the Envoy if he would take the responsibility of sending out the troops -on himself; and, on his conceding, the force was sent. The Envoy had -also much angry discussion on this point with Brig. Shelton. - -But all these delays of conference lost much time, and it was between -four and five P.M. before operations commenced. - -The Affghan cavalry charged furiously down the hill upon our troops in -close column. The 37th N. I. were leading, the 44th in the centre, and -the Shah's 6th in the rear. No square or balls were formed to receive -them. All was a regular confusion; my very heart felt as if it leapt to -my teeth when I saw the Affghans ride clean through them. The onset was -fearful. They looked like a great cluster of bees, but we beat them and -drove them up again. - -The 5th cavalry and Anderson's horse charged them up the hill again and -drove them along the ridge. - -Lieut. Eyre quickly got the horse artillery gun into the gorge between -the Behmaru hills and that to the left (the gorge leading to the plain -towards the lake): from this position he soon cleared that plain, which -was covered with horsemen. There was another stand made at the extreme -left; but we were successful on all points, captured both guns, brought -one of them in, for which we had spare horses in the field; and having -no means of bringing the other away, it was spiked, upset, and tumbled -down the hill. - -The enemy had taken these guns up the hill with the King's elephants; -but unfortunately they had sent the animals back, or they would have -been fine prizes for us. - -Brig. Shelton, perhaps not considering the lateness of the hour, -deferred his return to cantonments until the shades of evening had -closed over the troops; and it being impossible to distinguish friend -from foe, we could not assist with our guns from cantonments, which in -daylight would have swept the plain, and have prevented the enemy from -following up our return to cantonments. - -The enemy cut in between cantonments and our men, and their horsemen -came up close to Sale's bastion. Our anxiety was very great, for all -this time our front was attacked (it is said by 400 men); the firing was -sharp and long-continued. The Brigadier did not get back till 8 o'clock; -and it was some time after that before all was quiet. When the men of -the 37th were upbraided for turning, they replied, "We only retreated -when we saw the Europeans run, and knew we should not be supported." - -We moved into Sturt's house this evening, as Brig. Shelton was grumbling -about the cold in a tent. - -The enemy saluted our house with six-pound shot, which rattled about and -passed us, and several struck the house; one was imbedded in the wall -under Mrs. Sturt's window. At night we threw shell as usual into Mahmood -Khan's fort, and could plainly distinguish the sound of "Ullah ul Alla" -as they burst. - -Major Thain and Capt. Paton were wounded: the latter had to suffer -amputation of the arm; the former had a deep flesh wound in the -shoulder, twelve inches long, and one deep. - -Sturt, going his rounds at night, narrowly escaped being shot in the -back. - -_14th._--We had a quiet night; which was a great blessing, as Sturt was -suffering very much from the wound in his face. - -The chiefs complained that we broke faith with them yesterday in -attacking them when they had expressed a wish to treat: however, we were -not the aggressors, for we did not do so till they had fired at us. -To-day they have requested we will not fire on the hill, which has been -agreed to: they are (they say) busy searching for their dead. They had -lights on the hill all night, burying their slain, and they are now -searching for swords and any thing they can find, also picking up balls -of all kinds. - -A number of swords have been taken. - -The two sons of Abdoollah Khan are said to be wounded. We could hear -Abdoollah Khan's nagura beating on the hill quite distinctly. - -Had Sale's brigade been here, it is probable we should not be so -peaceable; but our men are so hard worked that they require a day's -rest. - -The Affghan cavalry yesterday were not inclined to try a second charge: -Col. Chambers invited an attack, which they declined. Their infantry -seem to be contemptible in the plain, but they fight hard when cooped up -in forts. They fire from rests; and then take excellent aim; and are -capital riflemen, hiding behind any stone sufficiently large to cover -their head, and quietly watching their opportunities to snipe off our -people. There is also a peculiarity in the Affghan mode of -fighting,--that of every horseman carrying a foot soldier behind him to -the scene of action, where he is dropped without the fatigue of walking -to his post. The horsemen have two and three matchlocks or juzails each, -slung at their backs, and are very expert in firing at the gallop. These -juzails carry much further than our muskets. - -The Envoy went out to meet some chiefs in Zulficar Khan's fort: they -kept him waiting a long time, and then said they could not come. Meer -Jaffier Khan, the son of Naib Shureef, has returned from collecting the -revenue, with 300 Hazir Bashes: being all Kuzzilbashes, we presume he -will not be against us. The old Naib has been fined 1000 rupees for -having associated with, and eaten with, us infidels. - -Meer Musjudee is said to be sick even unto death in the city. A cossid -has arrived from Macgregor, and a letter from Sale of the 9th from -Gundamuk. The enemy are evidently spreading false information, through -persons professing to be travellers. No travellers are on the roads now. -Cossids are scarcely procurable; the few that have been sent to recall -the brigade have not succeeded in their attempt. The man who went on the -6th was stopped and his letter read by a man who was educated at -Loodianah. The enemy have another sçavant, who imbibed literature at the -college of Delhi. There is also a prisoner, a Mr. Tierney, in the city; -whether he assists them or not we do not know. - -The day has passed off quietly, and we look forward to a good night's -rest, which is most desirable for Sturt. - -_15th._--After a quiet night, we have had a quiet day. - -Our camels are dying fast: we see several dragged away daily; and as -they are only just thrown without the gate, the air is tainted by their -carcasses. - -Major Pottinger and Mr. Haughton have made their escape from the -Kohistan; the former has a ball in his leg; the latter has lost his -hand, and is severely wounded in the back and neck. During the time they -were beleaguered in Charikar, they were, in common with the Sipahees of -the Shah's 4th regiment (Ghoorkas), subjected to great misery from the -want of water; the allowance for the last four days being one wine glass -full per diem for each man: the horses they rode on had not had a drop -to drink for ten days, nor food for five. - -The site of the cantonments was badly chosen. In addition to there being -no water, which of itself rendered the site unfit for a military post, -their position was completely commanded on two sides by the enemy; who, -having cut off their supply of water from above, gave the few defenders -no rest by night or day. Added to these trying circumstances, the -garrison were encumbered with their wives and children, who had been -encouraged to come up from Hindostan in great numbers. It is affirmed -that they did so by permission of Lord Auckland; it being supposed that -they would have no wish to quit the country with their families settled -along with them. - -The not being allowed to bring up their families, even at their own -expence, was always considered as a heavy grievance by the Europeans; -but, in their instance, the wisdom of the refusal has been proved. But -to return to the Ghoorkas; harassed by the enemy, and encumbered by -their families, they sank into a state of perfect apathy; not so the -Punjabee artillerymen who served the guns. Part of these deserted to the -enemy; and, on the following day, had the insolence to return for the -purpose of seducing away their comrades. It was in trying to arrest some -of these that poor Haughton was so dreadfully wounded: perceiving his -intentions, the Jemadar of artillery (a Punjabee) snatched Lt. Rose's -sword from him, and with it cut off Haughton's hand. It was with great -difficulty that Pottinger and Haughton effected their escape. Somewhere -between Akterae and Istalif during the night they strayed from the other -officers. Finding themselves separated from the rest, they determined to -make the best of their way, secreting themselves in a hollow during the -day, and travelling all night; but Haughton's wounds, particularly those -in the neck and back, prevented his urging his horse beyond a walk. On -arriving at Cabul, they decided on going straight through the city in -the night; they were challenged, and Pottinger gave a Persian reply; -which the guard evidently judged a doubtful one, as it was followed by a -volley being fired at them, but fortunately without effect, and they -pursued their way to cantonments, arming at the gate in such a state of -exhaustion that had they had a mile further to go they never could have -sat on their horses. From them I heard the particulars of Maule's, -Rattray's, and Wheeler's deaths. They were sitting together, I believe -at breakfast, when some of their own men attacked them: they are said to -have set their backs against the wall and defended themselves until they -were deliberately shot. - -The report to-day is that Abdoollah Khan's sons are killed; that -Amenoolah's two sons are killed, and Shumsoodeen's two brothers wounded; -the latter are nephews of the Ameer, Dost Mahommed. - -It is also reported that the enemy say they cannot meet us in the field, -but they will starve us out of the country. - -The Envoy has information that we are to be attacked to-night on three -faces of the cantonments; this is the first night of the moon: Sturt's -Affghan servants say that, if an attack is made, it will not be for -three nights to come, as at present they are all feasting. - -There is a native report that a Fouj has been seen at Seh Baba, which -has been magnified into Sale's brigade on the way up; but from letters -of the 9th, received yesterday, it is evident that at the time they were -written none of our letters had reached them; and they were misled by -false reports industriously spread by the enemy, in the guise of -travellers. - -_16th._--There was some quick firing heard about one in the morning. The -news we gather from people who have come in from the city is, that -Nawaub Zeman Khan has paid his troops three lakhs of rupees, at the rate -of ten rupees for each suwar and six for each foot soldier; that they -are in high glee, and say they will attack the Chaoney. - -The 25,000 men that were to do so last night did not make their promise -good. - -Some Goorkhas that came in to-day say that they have no information -regarding Dr. Grant, but that they saw Lt. Rose at Karabagh. - -A report has come in from the Bala Hissar that Sale has gone on to -Jellalabad, which Brig. Shelton told me he believed, on the principle of -"Being out of a scrape, keep so." Most people believe the report to be a -ruse of the enemy, to shut out hope of relief coming to us. We, however, -doubt Sale's having ever received the order to return. - -The city seems to be much quieter, and some ottah and grapes were -brought very early this morning to the gate to sell. The King has -written to say he wishes to offer terms to the rebels; but Sir William -says that they must first be sent for his approbation, lest his Majesty -should offer too much. - -A quiet night, as far as regarded hostilities,--with plenty of rain. - -_17th._--We had a gloomy day, with rain at intervals. - -Another report that the 1st brigade is gone on to Jellalabad; coupled, -however, with its being only to deposit their sick in safety, and that a -force of 10,000 men have arrived there to our assistance from Peshawer. - -Jubbar Khan (a brother of the Dost's) has been appointed Wuzeer to Zeman -Shah Khan, who has coined rupees in his own name. - -This has been a good grain day: at 12 o'clock we had got in 400 maunds, -at two Cabul seers the rupee, and otta at one. The Cabul seer is equal -to six Hindostanee seers. The Affghans continued bringing in grain and -ottah all the day. - -_18th._--This morning, at 2 o'clock, an attempt was made to throw in -ammunition into the Bala Hissar, but it failed; and Capt. Walker and -Lieut. Webb reported that the bridge, which was to have been repaired by -the Wuzeer, had not been touched. - -Accounts received from Jellalabad by a cossid, who brought a letter to -Sir William which he had torn in three pieces for the better concealment -of its contents; on seeing the enemy he swallowed another small one; he -was searched, but brought in the torn letter without discovery. He -reports, that, after Macgregor gave him the letter, he delayed his -departure a little; that there was a grand _Larye_ at Jellalabad; that -Sale had thrown his force into the fort there; that the enemy had come -down with 40,000 men, and Sale had sallied out and beat them, pursuing -the enemy eight or ten miles to Futteabad. - -Another report stated that Sale had been obliged to spike three of his -guns. A few hours afterwards another courier arrived with a letter from -Sale, by which it appears that the enemy surrounded the fort, in number -about 5,000, and that he ordered a sally under Col. Monteath, of 600 -infantry, all his cavalry, and three guns. The cavalry maintained their -character, and behaved nobly, and the enemy got severely handled. - -My letter, containing a précis of goings-on here from the 2d to the 8th -inclusive, had reached Sale, and was the only detail of events that had -been received; it was sent on to the Commander-in-chief, and a copy of -it to Lord Auckland. Sale had written to Capt. Mackeson at Peshawer for -provisions, ammunition, and troops. - -It had been wished that this blow below should be followed up by another -here; but the council at the General's was as usual both divided and -wild. One plan was to sally out, sword in hand, and attack the town,--a -measure that must have been attended with great loss on our side, even -if victorious; with the pleasing certainty of all who were left in -cantonments having their throats cut during the absence of the troops. - -The next proposition was the taking of Killa Mahmood Khan. But nearly -the same objection existed there. With a large force, and much probable -loss, we might take it; but we could not destroy it quickly, and could -not afford troops to garrison it. It is rather fortunate that the -last-mentioned attack was not made: for a few hours afterwards we had -certain information that, instead of 200 men, the enemy have nearly all -their infantry there. - -A report was this day brought to the King that the Jemadar of -Juzailchees, who commanded at the Upper Town, above the Bala Hissar, had -deserted his post during the night, accompanied by two non-commissioned -officers of his guard. His Majesty was extremely wroth; and ordered all -the men to be relieved, and another party, consisting of Rohillas from -the Peshawer territory, to be sent in their place. Most fortunate was -the discovery, and the prompt measures taken on the occasion; as it was -discovered, from secret information sent in by Mohun Lull during the -day, that the traitor had sold the tower to the rebel Sirdars for a -hundred gold mohurs. This man had the effrontery to return in the -evening; and declare, with the greatest _sang froid_, that he had only -been away on his own business into the city; and angrily demanded why he -was deprived of his command. He was, however, put in irons, and confined -in the fort prison. - -Mohun Lull's account stated that arrangements had been made to give up -the tower that same night to a party who were to come round by the back -of the hill. Had this plot succeeded, the Bala Hissar might have been -taken, as the tower commands it. - -_19th._--At two in the morning an alarm; which soon died away. Shortly -after this the ammunition was sent off to the Bala Hissar, under charge -of Col. Oliver; who sent back to report that in consequence of the -bridge being out of repair, and there being water in the Nullah, he -could not proceed, and desired instructions how to act. The reply from -the General was, if he could not proceed, he was to return: when this -arrived, Oliver had got over with the ammunition; but I suppose he -misunderstood the order, for he recrossed and came back again. With very -few exceptions the 5th N. I. may be said to be inefficient from the -commanding officers to the lowest rank. - -In the course of the day we got in a good deal of grain; but the General -appears to be kept in a deplorable state of ignorance. Although reports -are sent in daily, he scarcely knows what supplies are in store, or what -is our real daily consumption. Affairs are curiously carried on: for -instance, the Shah's 6th indent for six maunds daily; the 37th, a much -weaker corps, for about twenty! These indents are all signed by -authority! The quantity required is easily calculated, as each fighting -man gets a half seer of wheat, and each camp follower six chattaks per -diem. There is much roguery going on in the regimental bazaars, where -the Chowdrys make money in connexion with the Bunneahs. - -They say the 6th have a full bazaar from loot at the forts taken lately, -and do not require to draw for their followers: the 37th have 5,000 -registered camp followers, and other corps much in the same proportions. - -The Affghans are highly indignant at Pottinger and Haughton having -ridden through the town. It certainly appears to us very wonderful that -they did so in safety. - -There was some firing in the city about sunset,--both guns and volleys -of musketry. The rebel chiefs are supposed to have attacked the -Kuzzilbashes in the vicinity of Morad Khana. - -The enemy have sent to the Kohistan for the guns that are at Charikar, -and on their arrival propose giving us battle. A plan was laid to sally -out from the Bala Hissar towards the city, and destroy an Hamaum exactly -in front of the Ghuznee gate. In this place reside a barber and a -blacksmith, two of the best shots in Cabul, who have picked off many of -our men. They completely commanded the loopholes with their long rifles; -and although the distance is probably 300 yards, yet they seldom fail to -put a ball through the clothes or into the body of any one passing them. -It was sufficient for the loophole to be darkened, for it to be fired -at; and it became an amusement to place a cap on the end of a pole above -the walls, which was sure to be quickly perforated by many balls. - -I believe this plan was never put in execution, and only, like many -others, proved a source of speculation and conversation. - -_20th._--The firing in the city yesterday was consequent upon some -persons having taken refuge with the Kuzzilbashes, who refused to give -them up, as being contrary to the Affghan rules of hospitality. There -has been more fighting amongst themselves to-day. - -The latest report is that the Ghilzyes, and Kohistanees, and all the -people who come from a distance, are anxious to return to their own -homes, finding that there is no more plunder to be had, and sundry hard -knocks being all that they are likely to obtain. However, they have been -requested to stay for a few days, just to see how the Chaoney is taken -when the guns arrive from the Kohistan. These same guns cannot be very -formidable, for they are said to have been spiked at Charikar; and, -moreover, the carriages are broken down--all split at the elevating -screw. - -The enemy are now talking of pitching camps on the other side of the -hills towards the Lake, and also on the Siah Sung encamping ground. - -There was a report to-day that a large force was coming in with the -guns, for which the rebels have sent the King's elephants. In -consequence of this report, and another that the enemy had taken -possession of a fort in our rear, six companies of infantry and two -troops of horse were sent out, but only a few stragglers were to be -seen; and the forts were all peaceably occupied by women and children as -usual. - -Camels and tattoos are dying fast, and the air is most unpleasantly -scented at times. - -It is now rumoured that the reason Sale's brigade does not come up is, -that the two regiments refuse to do so. This I do not believe; they may -have been annoyed at the thoughts of returning; but I will never believe -they refuse to aid us in our extremity, if they have the power to do so: -and I consider the report to be of a piece with Brig. Shelton's -expression that Sale's brigade was safe, and would keep so. - -Nooreddin Khan (the chief of the Jan Baz, who so nimbly have found their -way to Cabul), was the son of an old servant of Shah Shoojah's. In -consequence of the father having been faithful to him through his -misfortunes, the King was anxious to provide for the son, and gave him -the command of the Jan Baz. On Nooreddin's arrival, Conolly sent him a -message reproaching him for the ingratitude of his conduct, to which the -young scamp replied, that all he could promise in our favour was a safe -retreat from the country! - -The Ghoorka corps is said to be entirely cut up, and we have no longer -any hopes of Rose's or Grant's escape. The men are said to have been -disgusted at having persons placed over them as native officers, who -were raised at the same time as themselves, and who were not of higher -caste. - -We have as yet no news from Candahar, from whence we expect to hear of a -similar rising to that here. - -Walker succeeded in throwing in ammunition into the Bala Hissar early -this morning, as also 30,000 rupees, each horseman carrying a small bag -of coin. - -To-day part of the ammunition was removed into Westmacott's house; some -put under sheds, and the rest was left in the square: it seems there was -fear of its being blown up by the enemy! - -_21st._--The enemy uncommonly quiet; said to be employed in -manufacturing powder and shot, and hammering such of our shot as they -pick up to fit their guns. - -Some servants of Skinner's have gone to the Bala Hissar to Conolly; they -report that their master is still safe in the city. Capt. Drummond is -under Zeman Shah Khan's protection. - -Shumsuddeen Khan is said to be dying of his wounds. - -At dinner time Brig. Shelton sent to Mr. Eyre, stating that the Envoy -had information that 80,000 foot and 10,000 horse were coming to set -fire to our magazine with red-hot balls! How these balls were to be -conveyed here red hot is a mystery, as the enemy have no battery to -erect furnaces in: but nothing is too ridiculous to be believed; and -really any horrible story would be sure to be credited by our -panic-struck garrison. - -It is more than shocking, it is shameful, to hear the way that officers -go on croaking before the men: it is sufficient to dispirit them, and -prevent their fighting for us. - -There is said to be a kind of republican council in the city, composed -of twelve chiefs, to whom the people at present pay obedience. I wonder -what the new King, Zeman Shah Khan, and his Wuzeer think of this new -power. - -A man of Warburton's artillery has deserted, as also a havildar of -Hoskins' regiment; the latter was received by Zeman Shah Khan with great -honour, and told that all good Mussulmans were welcome. A house and -shawls were given to him. - -Our useless expenditure of ammunition is ridiculous. At the captured -fort last night the garrison popped away 350 rounds at shadows, probably -of themselves: however, we have plenty of it; 13 lakhs made up, and 900 -barrels of powder, shot, bullets, &c. in store in profusion. - -Shelton croaks about a retreat; and so much is openly said of our -extremity, that were we obliged to fall back on Jellalabad, it is more -than probable that there would be much desertion amongst the Mussulmans. - -It is difficult to ascribe the just cause to the inactivity of the -enemy: if they feared us, they would disperse; and if they mean to -starve us, why do they allow us to get in supplies in the quantities -they do? That something is in agitation there can be no doubt; and the -most plausible idea is, that the enemy think that by keeping us on the -alert so long for nothing, that we shall all relax in our vigilance, and -give them the opportunity to attack the cantonments with success. - -Sturt has in vain suggested that a picket of infantry and cavalry with a -couple of guns be sent at daybreak up the hill towards Siah Sung, to cut -off the supplies we see daily going into the town. - -By purchasing them, we might induce the people to supply us largely, and -at all events prevent the enemy obtaining them. I have no patience with -those who say, "Oh, it is not ottah, it is only charcoal." Now our foes -require charcoal as much as we do food, for they cannot make their -gunpowder without it; and wood is very scarce in the city, for the poor -people who used to bring it in on donkeys have ceased to do so, lest it -should be taken for nothing. - -_22d._--At two o'clock this morning Walker took the bedding for the -artillery to the Bala Hissar. - -This being considered a propitious day, the enemy lined the heights -towards the lake. A party was sent to occupy the friendly village of -Behmaru; but, as usual, delay was the order of the day, and it was -deferred until the enemy had taken possession, though not in great -force. - -On the troops arriving there under Major Swayne, of the 5th, the enemy -evacuated it: he, instead of allowing the men (as they themselves -wished) to enter the village, kept them under hedges firing pot shots, -on which the enemy reoccupied the position. The force sent out was 1 -horse artillery gun, 1 mountain train ditto, 1 ressalah of Anderson's -horse, 1 ditto Walker's, 1 ditto 5th cavalry, 400 5th N. I.; the whole -under Major Swayne, 5th N. I. In the evening a reinforcement was sent of -the remainder of the 5th, under Col. Oliver. Lieut. Eyre wounded -severely in the hand. The troops returned, having done nothing. - -The Ghilzye chiefs say they have sworn on the Koran to fight against us; -and so they must fight, but that they will not fight hard. This is what -they have told Sir William through their emissaries. He is trying to -treat with all parties: but the sanctity of an oath is evidently but -little regarded; and what faith can we put in their assertions? - -We have just heard that Capt. Woodburn, with 130 men, returning to -India, was enticed into a fort at Shekoabad, a few marches on this side -of Ghuznee, where they swore on the Koran to be our friends, and where -the whole party were massacred. Poor Woodburn was represented as a -strong man, who took four or five Golees to kill him! There is a report -to-day that two regiments coming from Candahar have been cut up. - -Grand dissensions in military councils. High and very plain language has -been this day used by Brig. Shelton to Gen. Elphinstone; and people do -not hesitate to say that our chief should be set aside--a mode of -proceeding recommended a fortnight ago by Mr. Baness, the merchant. - -The poor General's mind is distracted by the diversity of opinions -offered; and the great bodily ailments he sustains are daily enfeebling -the powers of his mind. He has lost two of his best advisers in Paton -and Thain; the former confined by his wound, the latter declining to -offer advice, from disgust at its being generally overruled, by the -counsel of the last speaker being acted on. - -There is much reprehensible croaking going on; talk of retreat, and -consequent desertion of our Mussulman troops, and the confusion likely -to take place consequent thereon. All this makes a bad impression on the -men. Our soldiery like to see the officers bear their part in privation; -it makes them more cheerful; but in going the rounds at night, officers -are seldom found with the men. There are those that always stay at their -posts on the ramparts, and the men appreciate them as they deserve. To -particularise them would be too openly marking the rest; but their names -will, I trust, be remembered to their honour and advantage hereafter. -Amongst these, Capt. Bygrave, the Paymaster-General, was conspicuous: he -never slept away from his post (the battery near his house) for a single -night, and took his full share of fatigue, without adverting to his -staff appointment. - -Col. Oliver is one of the great croakers. On being told by some men of -his corps, with great _jee_, that a certain quantity of grain had been -brought in, he replied, "It was needless, for they would never live to -eat it." Whatever we think ourselves, it is best to put a good face on -the business. - -The enemy are erecting sungahs on the heights above Behmaru. - -_23d._--We had firing of one sort or other all night. From the Bala -Hissar they were shelling the city, and there was much firing from our -ramparts. - -At about two in the morning, in consequence of a resolution arrived at -the preceding evening to submit no longer to the insults of the enemy, -(who by occupying Behmaru greatly annoyed our foraging parties, and -almost precluded our attempting to drive them off the hill immediately -above that village, whither they were accustomed to resort in great -numbers for the purpose of bravado, and also probably to prove our -strength or weakness,) Brig. Shelton marched out of cantonments with -seventeen weak companies: I believe many of them did not muster above -forty men. Those from the 44th were under the command of Major Swayne of -the 5th N. I.; those from the 37th and Shah's 6th, under Major Kershaw -of the 13th. All the 5th were employed under their own colonel (Oliver). -One squadron of regular cavalry, and two detachments of irregular horse; -one six-pound gun under Sergt. Mulhall, and 100 sappers and miners under -Lieut. Laing. - -This force ascended the hill immediately above Behmaru, dragging the gun -with them with great difficulty, and thence up on the knoll overhanging -the village. From hence they perceived that the village was in the -possession of the enemy, who were discernible as they slept around their -watchfires. A few rounds of grape from the gun quickly aroused them; and -they sought cover in the houses and towers, from which they replied to -our cannonade and musketry by a sharp and pretty well-sustained fire of -juzails. Both officers and men were most anxious to be led against the -village, to take it by storm, but the Brigadier would not hear of it; -and our men were helplessly exposed to the fire from behind the walls, -which the enemy quickly loopholed for that purpose. After waiting until -day dawned, and losing the opportunity of taking the enemy by surprise, -a party was ordered under Major Swayne of the 5th, who, instead of at -once leading his men through the principal entrance into the village, -went to a small kirkee, which he reported himself unable to force, -though this was afterwards done by a few men pulling it down with their -hands and kicking at it; and after remaining there a considerable time -came back, having lost several of his men killed and wounded. - -The enemy (as daylight dawned) were seen leaving the village in small -parties: to cut these off, Walker was sent down to the plain, on the -north-west side of the hill leading to the lake, with his irregular -horse. At this time large bodies of the enemy were descried ascending -the hill, near the road by which they used to issue from the city, and -separated from that occupied by our troops only by a narrow gorge -leading to the plain and lake beyond. To meet and oppose these, Brig. -Shelton, leaving three companies of the 37th, under Major Kershaw, to -maintain their original position, marched the remainder of the force -along the ridge towards the gorge, taking with him also his solitary -gun! - -I had taken up my post of observation, as usual, on the top of the -house, whence I had a fine view of the field of action, and where, by -keeping behind the chimneys, I escaped the bullets that continually -whizzed past me. Brig. Shelton having brought forward skirmishers to the -brow of the hill, formed the remainder of his infantry into two squares, -the one about 200 yards in rear of the other, the intervening space -being crammed with our cavalry, who, from the nature of the ground, were -exposed to the full fire of the enemy without being able to act -themselves. - -The number of the enemy's foot men must have been upwards of 10,000 -(some say 15,000), and the plain, on the N.W. of the hills, was swept by -not less than 3000 or 4000 Affghan cavalry, whose rapid advance obliged -Lieut. Walker to retreat up the hill, by which the enemy were enabled to -throw fresh reinforcements and ammunition into the village of Behmaru; a -circumstance which rendered it difficult for him to hold his ground. - -The fight continued till about 10 o'clock, by which time our killed and -wounded became very numerous. In spite of the execution done by our -shrapnell, the fire of the enemy told considerably more than ours did, -from the superiority of their juzails and jingals over our muskets. - -They also fought from behind sungahs and hillocks, whilst our men were -perfectly exposed; our troops also labouring under the disadvantage of -being drawn up in square, from an apprehension of an attack from the -Affghan cavalry. - -The vent of the gun became too hot for the artillerymen to serve it. - -At this time, that is at about half-past 9 or 10, a party of Ghazeeas -ascended the brow of the hill, by the gorge, where they planted three -standards close to each other, a red, a yellow, and a green one. It is -possible that the Brigadier might not have seen their advance; but when -they had nearly attained the summit, they had an evident advantage over -us, as their shots generally told in firing up at our men, whose persons -were wholly exposed, whilst only a few of their heads were visible to -our troops, and the old fault of firing too high most probably sent all -our shots harmlessly over their heads, for to hit them it was requisite -to fire on the ground. When they fairly appeared aboveground, it was -very evident that our men were not inclined to meet them. Every -field-glass was now pointed to the hill with intense anxiety by us in -cantonments, and we saw the officers urging their men to advance on the -enemy. Most conspicuous were Mackintosh, Laing, Troup, Mackenzie, and -Layton; who, to encourage the men, pelted the Ghazeeas with stones as -they climbed the hill; and, to do the fanatics justice, they returned -the assault with the same weapons. Nothing would do,--our men would not -advance, though this party did not appear to be 150 in number. At length -one of the Ghazeeas rushed forward, waving his sword over his head: a -Sipahee of the 37th darted forth and met him with his bayonet; but -instead of a straight charge he gave him a kind of side stroke with it, -and they both fell, and both rose again. Both were killed eventually; -the Ghazeea was shot by another man. It was very like the scenes -depicted in the battles of the Crusaders. The enemy rushed on: drove our -men before them very like a flock of sheep with a wolf at their heels. -They captured our gun. The artillerymen fought like heroes; two were -killed at the gun; Sergeant Mulhall received three wounds; poor Laing -was shot whilst waving his sword over the gun and cheering the men. It -was an anxious sight, and made our hearts beat: it lasted but for a few -minutes. - -(Brig. Shelton says, that when our men ran, he ordered the halt to be -sounded, at which the troops mechanically arrested their flight, and -fell into their places!) - -They ran till they gained the second square which had not broken; and -the men finding a stand, turned about, gave a shout, and then the -Ghazeeas were, in their turn, panic-struck, abandoned the gun, but made -off with the limber and horses. - -On this we retook the gun without resistance. One of the artillerymen -had a wonderful escape; he had clung on to, and under the wheels, and -never quitted it. Once more in our possession, the gun was instantly -re-opened on the enemy; but our men had an antipathy to the brow of the -hill, and would not advance as quickly as they might have done, until -some successful shots from the gun, and three splendid ones which were -made by Serjeant Wade from the Kohistan Gate; one of which struck -Abdoollah Khan's horse, and caused him to fall off, on which the people -surrounded their chief, and were occupied in carrying him off; they fled -to the other hill, and I believe never stopped until they got into the -city. All appearing to be over, I hastened home to get breakfast ready -for Sturt, every one supposing that the enemy were routed, and that -Brig. Shelton was coming back with the troops. - -At this time I was standing on the ramparts, and heard the Envoy, in my -presence, ask the General to pursue the flying troops into the city, -which he refused, saying it was a wild scheme, and not feasible. - -Had Shelton returned to cantonments, or thrown his force into Behmaru, -all had gone well, and we had remained masters of the field. - -The enemy had, as I before mentioned, a large body of cavalry on the -other side of the hill, on whom our men kept firing. - -At about half past twelve, just as we had finished our breakfast, the -enemy gradually came up the hill; and their fire was so severe that our -men in square could scarcely fill up the gaps as their comrades fell, -and our whole force, both horse and foot, were driven down the hill, and -our gun captured--a regular case of _sauve qui peut_. - -All would have been sacrificed but for four circumstances; first, a -well-directed fire kept up from the Mission Compound by part of the -Shah's 6th. A charge made by Lieut. Hardyman, with a fresh troop of the -5th Cavalry, being joined in it by Walker, who had collected about -twenty of his Irregulars. It was in going too far across the plain, in -driving the Affghan horse back towards the hills, that poor Walker -received his mortal wound in the abdomen. Major Swayne was wounded in -the neck while in the square. A party of about fifty of Mackenzie's -Juzailchees, under Capt. Trevor, lined some low walls on the plain in -front of and to the left of the old Musjeed, whence they kept up a -steady discharge. Two of these men, seeing a wounded Sipahee wave his -arm for help, gallantly dashed into the midst of the enemy, and brought -him off. - -Perhaps the greatest safeguard of our troops was the conduct of Osman -Khan, who suddenly stopped the pursuit and led his men back. - -Perceiving our defeat on the hill, the troops at the captured fort and -those at the Musjeed deserted their posts, and were with difficulty -persuaded to go back to them. The troops all scuttled back as hard as -they could. The General went outside the gate (and took great credit to -himself for doing so) to rally them, as he called it; but there was -little chance of doing that while they were under our walls. I was -amused at hearing him say to Sir William, "Why, Lord, sir, when I said -to them 'Eyes right,' they all looked the other way." - -Our friends in the Bala Hissar did not tamely look on. Conolly got the -King to order eight of his suwars to go and give information to Sir -William of their having observed a body of 5000 men passing round to the -back of Behmaru; and afterwards his Majesty ordered the whole of the -Ressallahs and 100 Juzailchees to go on to the Siah Sung hill, and try -and create a diversion in our favour by drawing away some of the troops -who were engaged with ours on the Behmaru hill. It certainly had some -effect; for immediately on their forming on the summit, a large body of -men under Mahommed Shah Khan, a principal Ghilzye chief, sallied out -from Mahmood Khan's fort, and advanced to the attack, which now, -however, they were not imprudent enough to await, but immediately took -to flight. By desire of the Wuzeer, Lieut. Melville was then sent out -with a party of Juzailchees, and five sections of N. I., to keep a body -of them in check who had boldly advanced within gunshot of the Bala -Hissar: but after a little skirmishing the enemy retired to the Siah -Sung hill. - -The Affghans appear to have but one plan of attack. They go up the -further hill to the extreme left near the city, and spread along the -ridge, and the horsemen conduct the infantry to the gorge. The horsemen -then some of them come up with the infantry to the brow of the right -hill, the larger body of horse going behind it; this they did the second -time in one day. - -Shelton, in taking up his position as before described, had both his -flanks exposed, as also his rear. The men were formed in two large -squares when attacked by infantry, and in these squares were men of -different regiments all mixed up together: they had never been practised -to it: no man knew his place. - -Whilst in this square a reward of ten rupees was offered by the -Brigadier to the first man who volunteered to go with him to take the -enemy's flag in the gorge; Captain Mackenzie shouted 100 for the flag. -After some hesitation, a havildar of the 37th came forward; but as no -other followed him, he was told to return to his place. The enemy then -came on, and the whole square rose simultaneously and ran. The 44th had, -I believe, fifty-eight wounded; the loss of the 5th I did not ascertain; -the 37th had eighty killed, and ten wounded. Of officers, Col. Oliver, -Capt. Mackintosh, and Lieut. Long were killed; Walker mortally wounded; -Swinton, Evans, Major Swayne, Hawtrey, Bott, and Mackenzie wounded. - -The three companies of the 37th that were out under Major Kershaw -suffered severely: they were amongst the last to leave the hill. The -grenadier company returned with only a Naick and two men! - -The misfortunes of the day are mainly attributable to Shelton's bad -generalship in taking up so unfavourable a position, after his first -fault in neglecting to surprise the village, and occupy it, which was -the ostensible object of the force going out. - -Had he remained above Behmaru, he might have retreated into and occupied -that place, in which the enemy had but few men at first, and who might -have been easily dislodged. Shelton tries to lay all the blame on the -Sipahees. He says they are timid, and that makes the Europeans timid -also; but he has been told some home truths. On asking Capt. Troup if he -did not think that the 44th had behaved nobly, that officer plainly told -him he considered that all had behaved shamefully. - -The troops certainly were wearied out; and, having been out since two in -the morning, it appears wonderful to me that at half-past twelve they -were not too weary to run; however, they had one great inducement to do -so. Osman Khan was heard by our Sipahees to order his men not to fire on -those who ran, but to spare them. A chief, probably the same, rode round -Kershaw three times, when he was compelled to run with his men; he waved -his sword over his head, but never attempted to kill him; and Capt. -Trevor says his life was several times in the power of the enemy, but he -also was spared. - -Another great fault committed was in taking only one gun; a second would -have supported the first: with only one, as soon as it was fired the -enemy could rush upon it; as they did. - -The enemy assembled on the Siah Sung hill, and attacked eighty horsemen -sent in with letters by the King; they proved to be from Jellalabad. Our -people at first fired on the sikhs, but fortunately did no harm. The -enemy's cavalry then came down the Siah Sung hill, and escorted their -infantry into the forts beyond the river, which we had dismantled a few -days since. Our troops were in by two o'clock; before five, not an enemy -was to be seen, and our people were out searching for the dead. The -magazine being dropt within range of our guns was safe, and has been -brought in. Abdoollah Khan is supposed to have been killed. No -particular news from Jellalabad, where all was going on well. There was -no letter for me; but Lawrence came to tell me that Sale was well, and -busy getting in provisions. - -_24th._--A letter has come in, supposed to be a forged seal, from Zeman -Shah Khan: it has been cautiously and courteously replied to. - -A person has come in from Osman Khan (who is a nephew of the Ameer Dost -Mahommed) and Shumshir deen Khan, offering us terms: they propose that -we should leave the country, giving hostages that we will send the Dost -back to them. They say they do not wish to harm us, if we will only go -away; but that go we must, and give them back the Dost; that Mahommed -Akbar Khan (his son) will be here to-morrow with 6000 men; and that if -we do not come to terms, they will carry the cantonment; and that they -are ready to sacrifice 6000 men to do so. - -What Sir William and the General's council of war (Shelton, Anquetil, -and Chambers) mean to do we know not; but our situation is far from -pleasant. - -Gen. Elphinstone has written to the Envoy to-day; requesting him to -negotiate with the enemy, in consequence of the impossibility of our -going to the Bala Hissar, and Shelton concurs in opinion that we cannot -fight our way in: also stating we have upwards of 700 sick, and the -scarcity of provisions. - -Last night an attempt was made to dismantle the bridge leading towards -Siah Sung, which succeeded partly: it is now made a flying bridge. - -Sturt proposed to destroy the Rikabashees' fort, and throw a party that -was in it into the small fort near the bridge; but it was disapproved by -the Envoy, who said he would place a moollah he had confidence in, in -it, as the General said he could not afford twenty men to garrison it. - -A boy of the Syce order, who had been a prisoner twenty days, has made -his escape from the city. He tells us, that Amenoollah Khan of Logur is -the chief who was killed by a grape-shot in the head yesterday. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan has directed, that when the cantonments are taken, -the officers, their wives and families, are to be made prisoners, as -hostages for his father. If once in his power, we might be safe; but -these Ghazeeas are fanatics, and would cut us into mince-meat. - -Poor Oliver's head and one hand were cut off when his body was found: -the latter was probably done to obtain a diamond ring which he always -wore. The heads of all the Europeans were taken away, and will no doubt -be exhibited as trophies! - -_25th._--The Big-wigs are angry at any thing having transpired regarding -the letters that have come in from the chiefs; and say it is all a -mistake. Be that as it may, a guard of honour was turned out, on the -arrival of two men who refused to parley with Lawrence and Trevor, and -said they must see the Envoy and the General. At first they were said to -be Zeman Shah Khan and Osman Khan; then Jubhar Khan; and at last it -proved to be Sultan Khan and his private meerza. They held their -conference with the Envoy in the officer's guard-room of the rear -gateway. - -The new king, Zeman Shah Khan, has written to the Envoy to say that he -has accepted the throne, not from his own wish, but to prevent greater -ills arising. - -There was a very long and unsatisfactory conference with the ambassador. -He and his secretary rode sorry yaboos, and were only attended by their -saces. If their array was thus humble, their demands were sufficiently -exorbitant; and the terms they offered such as could not be accepted, -even by persons in our condition. They require that Shah Shoojah be -given up to them, with his family; demand all our guns and ammunition; -and that Gen. Sale's force should move to Peshawer before we march from -this place. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan has arrived: we heard the firing in honour of his -arrival in the city. He is reported to have brought in an accession of -6000 men to the force, which was before estimated at 10,000 horse and -15,000 foot. The new arrivals are probably Uzbeks, and not far removed -from rabble; but even a mob may from numbers succeed against us. - -The subadar of the native artillery has gone off, as also three of -Skinner's horse: these men are all said to have families in the city. - -In the evening there was a great crowd of Affghans; some hundreds of -them, all armed to the teeth, round the cantonments. They came in the -most friendly manner, saying all was settled, _jung-i-kalūs_. The men -of the 44th went out of cantonments amongst them unarmed, were shaking -hands with them, and receiving cabbages from them, unchecked by Lieut. -Cadett, the officer on duty on that face, who seemed to think this -friendly meeting a very fine affair: however, the circumstance got -reported, and the adjutant got the men in. - -This appears very like a ruse on the part of the enemy, to throw us off -our guard, and surprise us. It was suggested to the adjutant to examine -the cabbages; as it was possible that outer leaves might cover bladders -of spirits; and that, having intoxicated the men, they would when they -were drugged make an attack on us: however, nothing suspicious was -discovered. - -We saw a fire on the hill this evening, supposed to be a party watching -our movements, towards the Bala Hissar. - -There can be no doubt that the enemy have spies in cantonments; and -there are so many Affghan servants, that it is perhaps difficult to -prevent their passing in and out. - -Two men of suspicious appearance were prowling about the Envoy's tent, -and Lawrence desired a chuprassy not to molest them, but quietly to -dodge them, and to report progress. This he did, and stated that the men -walked all over the cantonment, looked at every thing, and then walked -out at the gate! So much for surveillance. - -It is now said that Abdoollah Khan was wounded by a grape shot on the -23d, and that there is no truth in the report of Amenoollah Khan, of -Logur, having been stabbed in a dispute in the council regarding terms -to the Feringhees. - -Poor Walker was buried to-day. He died of his wound last night. He is -greatly regretted from his amiability; and, as a right gallant soldier, -his loss is doubly felt in the present crisis. - -The Shah Razee (Moyen oo deen's father) commanded the troops in Behmaru. -He says, had we taken possession of the village in the outset, the day -would have been ours on the 23d. We have also heard that so great was -the alarm in Cabul, when the Affghans fled on Abdoollah Khan's being -wounded, that the women were sent away out of the city in great numbers; -and many in such haste, that they did not even wait to mount them on -yaboos, but sent them away on foot, expecting to see our troops in the -city immediately. - -Great care is taken of the firewood in store in cantonments, and much -discontent prevails because fires are not allowed. The Hindostanees feel -the severity of the weather, to which they are exposed night and day; -and the want of fuel adds much misery to their privations in being put -on short allowance of food. There is at this time a complete winter -stock of firing laid in; added to which, on emergency, the trees of the -orchard might be cut down. - -Capt. Sturt was urgent, both with Gen. Elphinstone and Brig. Shelton, -that the men might have fires at night to enable them to warm themselves -and dry their frosted clothes when coming off duty: but no order was -given in consequence of his suggestions. - -_26th._--Negotiations with the enemy broken off. - -Accounts received from Sale up to the 21st; from Macgregor to the 23d. -The Khyberries up. Capt. Fenis and his family had fled, and got safe to -Peshawer. Lieut. Mackeson was still in Alimusjid in rather a critical -position. To-day the Affghans lined the hills; some thousands of them, -with many horsemen. They afterwards came down to the plain, and we -expected an attack upon the cantonments. On their nearer approach, they -were found to be mostly unarmed; some had sticks, some sticks with a -knife tied on the end of them: they were merely the shopkeepers, come -out to look at us. The Affghan knife is a very formidable weapon, about -two feet long, and thicker, stronger, and broader than a sword, and as -sharp as possible. - -Some of these men went up to the breach of the captured fort, and asked, -as the _jung_ was over, if they might not return, and live there. And on -being told, "No," they said, "Very well; we will go away to-day, and -come again to-morrow, and see if we may come then." - -One well-dressed man inquired if the volunteer regiment (37th) was -there; and being replied to in the affirmative, said, "I want my horse -back that I lost the other day; have I any chance of getting it?" - -All this coming close to our works, and spying, ought to have been -stopped. - -Sturt called out to them in Persian, and warned them off, or he would -open the guns upon them. Some respectable people begged, for God's sake, -he would not do so; for they were not warriors, but had come out to see -sights and amuse themselves. - -Sturt saw a man meanly dressed on foot stealing up close to the walls, -and called out "_Pēsh Burrō;_" on which he raised his hand, -telescope fashion, to his eye, and showed the end of a note. He was -passed on to the gate, and admitted into cantonments; and was said to be -the bearer of a letter from Mahommed Akbar Khan. However, this is -denied, or even that any letter came. - -Whenever the political horizon clears a little, mystery becomes the -order of the day. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth -speaketh;" and when overwhelmed with perplexity, the directors of events -here are not so close. However, events do transpire, and we know that -treaties are on foot with the Ghilzye chiefs; though that too is denied -to-day. - -Meer Musjudee is dead. Some say he has been poisoned; others that he -died in consequence of the wounds he received last year in the Kohistan. -A number of this chief's followers have gone off with the body to the -Kohistan, there to attend his funeral obsequies. - -A report has come to us through the enemy, that three regiments, from -Kandahar, have got beyond Ghuznee, somewhere about Shecoabad; that there -has been an engagement; and that though the Affghans could not conquer -them, they still have been able to prevent their progress. - -Sleet in the morning; and in the afternoon snow, which soon froze. - -_27th._--We had a quiet night; and it continued tranquil till the middle -of this day; when the horsemen again took post on the hills, and -escorted infantry to the right, and down into the village of Behmaru, -into which we threw some shells. - -The negotiations are now come quite to a close. The enemy's demands were -modest, considering that they were the first to treat, it is said. They -require, in addition to giving up the King and his family into their -hands, all our guns and ammunition, muskets, bayonets, pistols, and -swords. The married men, women, and children, to be given as hostages; -and then--we are to trust to their generosity! To this the Envoy sent a -chivalrous reply,--That death was preferable to dishonour,--that we put -our trust in the God of battles, and in His name bade them come on. - -The King is in an awful state of alarm; for he has been told that we -have been making terms for our free exit out of the country, paying for -the same five lakhs of rupees; and leaving him to his fate, poor man! He -is certainly to be pitied (if not at the bottom of it all), fallen from -his high estate, and believing us to have abandoned him. - -Jan Fishan Khan is the only chief who stands by him; and he has had his -forts and property destroyed: his wives and children, he hopes, may have -been saved by some of his neighbours; but, as yet, he only knows the -fate of one young boy, who was burnt alive. He had one wife with him in -Cabul when the insurrection broke out, and urged her to fly to Pughman -for safety; the old chief told me, her reply was worth a lakh of rupees, -"I will not leave you; if you fall, we die together; and if you are -victorious, we will rejoice together!" - -Some say that Mahommed Akbar Khan is now King, and Zeman Shah Khan his -Wuzeer: others state that the latter refuses to give up his lately -acquired power. - -Ishmatoolah (the Akhoonzada or old moollah from Kandahar, who was to -have gone with Sir William to Bombay), has taken himself off, leaving a -message for the Envoy to say that he was gone to the city. A messenger -was sent to his son, Khojeh Meer, in Behmaru; who stated that two -respectable persons came to fetch the moollah, reporting that they did -so by order of Mahomed Akbar Khan, who required his immediate -attendance, as Lawrence and Trevor were both with him, and the Envoy -coming. Whether the father and son are in league or not, remains to be -proved; but this man's secession (who was much in Sir William's -confidence) has caused us all to be on the alert, expecting an attack, -or mischief of some kind. - -There was an absurd report to-day, that the enemy had sent us back the -gun they captured on the 23d, with the horses; and the gullibility of -John Bull was proved by many persons leaving an auction of some of the -deceased officers' property, to go to the Kohistan gate, and find it was -all nonsense. - -_28th._--Shelled the village of Behmaru, whence the enemy annoyed us by -firing on our yaboos sent out to endeavour to procure grain. - -This day we had both rain and snow. Mahommed Shah Khan Ghilzye is come -into Cabul, and therefore we think there must have been a fight below, -in which he has had the worst. - -A Hindu merchant has offered to bring grain, and lay it at the gate of -Mahommed Shureef's fort in the night. We are not to speak to his people; -and are eventually to pay him at the rate of one Cabul seer for the -rupee, and we are bound to take 200 kurwars. Also on every hundred -maunds being delivered, we are to lay down a bag of 1500 rupees as a -present. He says many would assist us, but are afraid; that as he is the -first in the market, he expects to make his fortune. - -_29th._--The enemy are not showing any cavalry to-day; and there is a -rumour that they have gone to meet the corps coming in from -Ghuznee--there was only infantry on the hillside; however, some -alarmists fancied that they were coming down, which they never do -without horsemen: the bugles sounded, there was a great bustle, and all -ended in nothing. - -We shelled Behmaru and the hill above it; and also the two shops close -to the village, one on either side of the road, where there is a little -bridge, and the trees form an archway. - -Ammunition was sent to the Bala Hissar. - -The horses are hard up for grain: those for the artillery have not been -much looked after since Lieut. Waller was wounded; and one of them is -averred to have eaten his comrade's tail! That he bit it off there is no -doubt. - -_30th._--Abdoolah Khan's death has, it is said, created some confusion -in the city. Whilst still living a report was spread of his decease; -and, like Alexander, he mounted his horse, and showed himself to his -followers; but the exertion was too great for him, and he shortly after -expired. - -Amongst other political barometers, the manner in which persons are -spoken of indicates whether affairs are going on well or ill: just now, -things are looking up again. A few days ago people spoke of "The -Macnaghtens;" then they became again "Sir William and my Lady;" and -to-day they have left their refuge in a tent in cantonments, and are -gone into the great house again, which they think will have a good -effect, and tend to quiet people's minds. - -The politicals are again very mysterious, and deny that any negotiations -are going on, &c.; but letters come in constantly; and we know they are -treating with the Ghilzyes. - -A new arrangement is made with Khojeh Meer regarding grain: formerly he -received fifty rupees daily as bukshees, whether grain was procured or -not; now he is to have 500 rupees given him on delivery of every hundred -khurwars. - -Sturt proposes to hut the men on the ramparts, and give them plenty of -firewood. As yet they are not allowed any fires, except for cooking -their food. He also wishes to have the city shelled, both from the Bala -Hissar and the cantonments, particularly to annoy the quarter where the -gunpowder-makers reside. - -Early this morning a party of horsemen left the city in the direction of -Bhoodkhak, and another towards the Kohistan. - -Treaty is certainly going on; and we think that the confederacy may be -breaking up. Humza Khan of Tezeen is said to be sending his women away -from Cabul, and many have been seen mounted on yaboos going away on the -road leading to Bhoodkhak. - -_1st December._--Mohun Lull writes that the enemy will show in force -to-day, and attack us to-morrow. The firing we heard in the night was an -attack on the patrol, who got in safe. - -A cossid reported yesterday that he had been with his letter to -Kelat-i-Ghilzye, but he brought no letter back. He said that the force -had left the place; and as he could not give any account of, or letters -from Ghuznee, we suspect that he never went at all. - -A report to-day that the Hindu merchant had commenced his supplies of -grain is contradicted: but a small quantity was got in to-day. - -We sent to get some barley for our horses; but the enemy were hovering -about the villages, and prevented us. - -It is reported that the garrison at Ghuznee have blown up the bastions, -and joined General Nott's force. - -More treaty going on. Firing at night, said to be an attempt to blow up -the Bala Hissar gate, which was repulsed. A good deal of firing during -the night, and also shelling into the town. - -_2nd._--Last night's firing was an unsuccessful attempt of the enemy on -the Bourj above the Bala Hissar. - -I counted this morning 49 horsemen on the Siah Sung Hill, who were -reported to the General at 300! We did not fire at them, as they were -seen to come from Mahmood Khan's Fort, where the Ghilzyes reside who are -now treating with us. - -Mohun Lull's information was incorrect; the enemy did not show in force -yesterday, neither have they to-day made their intended attack on the -captured fort and that of the magazine. The person who succeeds in -taking the latter is promised 40,000 rupees, and the rents of the -adjacent lands. - -The enemy's confederacy is said to be breaking up: they are now -quarrelling regarding the partition of power which as yet they have not. -One says he will be chief of Cabul, another of Jellalabad, &c. The plan -proposed for the capture of cantonments by the enemy is, to send 200 -bildars in front to cut down the ramparts; next come the infantry, and -then the horse. I suppose we are to stand still and look on. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan is said to be very ill. - -There is a report that a man has come in from Gen. Nott's camp at -Urghundee, eighteen miles off; that the enemy had attacked him, placing -two guns in position, both of which we are said to have captured. We -fear this news is too good to be true. These reports are disseminated by -the enemy; and the only motive to which I can attribute them is a wish -to lull us into security by reports of aid coming to us, until -starvation prompts acquiescence in their demands, be they what they may. - -A man of the Ghoorka corps has come in. He says the men are wandering up -and down the country, and that some have taken refuge in forts; that -poor Rose, in a fit of despair, put an end to his existence by shooting -himself; and that Dr. Grant, when he last saw him, was wounded in the -leg. - -Ishmatoolah is said to be imprisoned in the city. - -The Parsee merchant is also in prison until he pays a ransom of 10,000 -rupees: his property has all been taken away. - -The people of the city are said to be discontented. They have no -firewood; the people who used to bring it in are afraid to do so lest -they should be plundered. - -_3rd._--The attack intended for yesterday has been postponed to to-day, -we hear; but there seems to be little likelihood of one. - -Khojeh Meer says that he has no more grain: we only got 50 maunds in -to-day. He also says that the moollahs have been to all the villages, -and laid the people under ban not to assist the English, and that -consequently the Mussulman population are as one man against us. He says -he expects himself to have to run for his life to Peshawer whenever we -go away. Khojeh Meer has a difficult part, to play: his pecuniary gain -in siding with us is great; but being the father-in-law of Meer -Musjudee, who married the Khojeh's daughter, he of course lets the enemy -occupy the village whenever they please. As far as we are individually -concerned, Khojeh Meer has been very civil to us: he sells us grain -whenever we can manage to send an Affghan servant on a yaboo to purchase -it. Sturt has been kind to the man; and he evinces his gratitude by -writing to say that he will get us what supplies he can. Much more grain -might have been procured, had we not foolishly tried to drive hard -bargains with Khojeh Meer. It has been intimated to the Envoy that the -enemy's troops, who lately got one rupee daily for each horseman, and -eight anas for each foot soldier, have not had any pay for four days, -and that they are grumbling at it. - -We saw a party leaving Cabul towards Bhoodkhak with two women on one -horse riding with them. - -A cossid came in from Jellalabad; no letter for me. He had been detained -five days in the city, and his intelligence only reached to the 21st. -Khojeh Meer says that the villages to our rear (from whence the grain -was brought to Behmaru) are occupied; and that the only place which -could have given us grain, and where we might have obtained six months' -supply, was Khojeh Rewash, which is at present occupied by Sekundu Khan -with 500 men. - -In the evening about seven o'clock there was firing on the southern -face, and towards the Magazine fort, which continued until past ten -o'clock. The enemy appear to be trying to mine that fort, and Sturt saw -about ten men close up under the walls of it. - -The enemy seem to be on the alert; however there was no firing at night -of any consequence: we shelled the city from the Bala Hissar as usual. - -Orders were this day issued, that the arms and accoutrements, -discipline, &c. of the various corps, should be attended to! Consequent -on this order the 5th have been very busy cleaning their musket -barrels,--a most unusual exertion. The arms used to be placed against -the rampart, and of course the barrels were rusty and the powder damp. - -A committee is ordered to assemble to-morrow to value all useless horses -in the Bazaar, which are to be destroyed; so there will be plenty of -cheap meat, as tattoos and camels have for some time past been eaten: -even some of the gentlemen ate camel's flesh, particularly the heart, -which was esteemed equal to that of the bullock. I never was tempted by -these choice viands; so cannot offer an opinion regarding them. - -Brig. Shelton sent to tell Sturt that one of the bastions of the -captured fort was on fire, and to request he would send bildars to dig -the place and lay on fresh earth. He went accordingly to see what was -the matter, and came back very angry, as the guard had been burning the -defences he had put up. - -_4th._--Two chiefs have been treating with the King: they propose that -he throws off the Feringhees, on which they will render their allegiance -to him. His Majesty, however, thinks it unsafe to break with us. Gen. -Nott's brigade is now supposed to be at Shekoabad, about six marches -from Cabul. The enemy assembled in numbers on the heights, and planted -two guns in the gorge; from which they discharged 144 shot at us (said -to have been scored on the wall of the Mission Compound). They had three -other guns out, which were placed on the road behind a trench they had -dug, and a kind of breastwork they had thrown up across the road, near -the Shah Bagh. - -In front of this they had another for their men to fire from behind it. -Another party took post in the Nullah, near the bridge going to Siah -Sung. A man mounted on a grey horse came down apparently to see if they -were properly posted: he had a _foot_ man with him. A shot was taken at -the latter, who, being beyond its range, ran a few yards backwards and -forwards, dancing, jumping, and cutting capers in derision. - -Just as it was getting dark the fight commenced in earnest: the enemy -made a rush at the captured fort. They had placed a bag of powder at the -wicket, and must have been greatly astonished at finding it produced no -effect in consequence of Sturt having filled the place up. - -They were received with a sharp fire, which was kept up for a long time, -both of musketry and guns. Lieut. Cumberland, of the 44th, was on duty -there with 100 men. He sent for a reinforcement, and Sturt took fifty -men to him under a very heavy fire. (Observe the wisdom of unnecessarily -risking the life of our only engineer officer.) - -Notwithstanding that the enemy opened five guns on us, our loss was very -trifling: as yet I have heard only of one man, an artilleryman, killed; -and a sergeant of Sturt's (Williams) was wounded whilst digging with the -sappers. A few horses and camels were killed, as also one or two camp -followers in the Mission Compound. - -Some of the cannon shot went clean over the cantonments (those fired -from the gorge): one fell between the legs of Mr. Mein's mule in Sturt's -compound, near the rear gate, without doing any damage. - -To-day Sturt came home with his clothes singed, having been nearly blown -up by an explosion of powder in one of the batteries, when a man got his -pouch ignited by the port-fire; he was much hurt: at 10 o'clock the -shots were dropping quickly. - -I can scarcely believe that this is the grand attempt at capturing -cantonments; and therefore am expecting another, and wish it may occur -by daylight. - -The enemy's idea of blowing open a gate is excellent. They filled the -bag with powder, applied and lighted a slow match, and then threw it at -the gate! so that, when it exploded, of course it did no harm. - -_5th._--The enemy assembled in small parties on the Siah Sung Hill; -also, but not in great force, on the other hills. - -In the morning they attacked a foraging party sent by the cavalry, and -surrounded them in a fort. At length they took an oath on the Koran not -to hurt them; and a trooper, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the -rest, came out: he talked with them, shook hands with them, and they -seemed very friendly. They then desired the camp followers to come out; -but they distrusted them, and called to the trooper to return to them: -as he was doing so they shot him. The grasscutters had amongst them one -old musket, with which they shot two of the enemy: further operations -were suspended by the arrival of a reinforcement, when the enemy -disappeared _instanter_. - -Some ottah has been said to have been dropped at the Musjed; but this -has been contradicted, and I believe no grain has been brought in -to-day. - -The chief of Khojeh Rewash says that we must send a force, to make it -appear that we force it from him; and then he will sell us grain. - -The proprietor of Kella Bolund offers 1000 kurwars of grain if we will -send for it, and has given the Envoy an order for its delivery; but the -difficulty lies in getting at it. - -Major Kershaw has sent to announce that the enemy are coming out of the -city gate with their guns. - -There has been firing all day, but I believe only a bheestee of Mr. -Eyre's killed, just behind our compound. - -In the evening, about five o'clock, there was very quick firing about -the Bazar village. - -The enemy have burnt the bridge, and commenced mining one of the -bastions of the captured fort. - -A strong reinforcement has been sent there; and Sturt is gone down -again, at nine at night, to look to its defences. - -Sturt has again to-day narrowly escaped being shot. The enemy seem to -know and to lie in wait for him, and he never shows his head above the -rampart without a ball whistling close to it. The Affghans are good -shots when they fire from their rests; and as the ammunition is the -property of each individual, they do not throw it away as we do ours. -Their gunners appear to be inferior, as they fired at the captured fort -at a distance of 300 yards, yet did not hit it. - -_6th._--Sturt was out till one o'clock this morning. Between twelve and -one he crept round the fort and got into the enemy's mine: they had -worked in about eight feet. He blew up the mine, which fell in and -destroyed the covered way they had made, and shook down part of the -garden wall. - -News from the Bala Hissar that the enemy are evidently thinning their -numbers; and a Ghilzye chief who has been wounded is gone home. - -A cossid, who was sent by the King to Ghuznee, has returned. He says he -was stopped half way and put in kyde; that during the time he was a -prisoner another cossid arrived, sent to Amenoollah Khan from the -Kelat-i-Ghilzye chiefs with a letter. This man told him that he was the -bearer of a request for troops and guns, without which they could not -prevent the Feringhee King reaching Cabul; and that four regiments of -infantry, 100 horse, and five guns were already at Karabagh, two marches -from Ghuznee: that this occurred five days since (about the 1st). The -cossid took his oath on the Koran, before four moollahs, to the truth of -his statement; desired he might be put in prison (in which he was -accommodated); and further begged if the force did not arrive they would -put him to death! So after all this asseveration he was, of course, -implicitly believed. - -At daybreak not a vestige remained of the bridge; which, however, the -General is still very anxious to rebuild, and has sent to inquire if -Sturt can do so. Without materials or workmen, and the enemy on the -spot, it is as impossible as useless to attempt it. - -The General refused to have a party stationed in the small fort to -defend this same bridge, and now it is gone. He seems more bewildered -than ever, and says if the force arrives there will only be more mouths -to eat up our provisions; and we have only eight days', this inclusive; -but we have not a man to send out to forage. - -The enemy were out to-day, but not in great force. They have got a -Russian seventeen-pounder of brass, which they have brought in from the -Kohistan, and have planted it in the road, near and on this side of -Mahmood Khan's fort. From this they have been firing at us all day, and -the balls fall many of them in the gardens of Messrs. Eyre and Sturt's -house. We have picked up three cannon balls close to the door of the -verandah. - -Lieut. Hawtrey of the 37th N. I. was on duty at the captured fort to-day -with 100 men--forty of these were of the 44th, the rest from the 37th. - -[Illustration: * room at fort] - -Suppose this to be the fort: * no outlet, the window being blocked up -with mud. In this room were six of the 44th. The Affghans planted their -crooked sticks, which served them for scaling ladders; got up one by -one; pulled out the mud, and got in. A child with a stick might have -repulsed them. The Europeans had their belts and accoutrements off, and -the Sipahees the same. They all ran away as fast as they could! The 44th -say that the 37th ran first, and as they were too weak they went too. -Hawtrey says there was not a pin to choose,--all cowards alike. After he -was deserted by the men, he himself threw six hand grenades before he -followed them. One man of the 44th was an exception, and he was shot -whilst assisting Hawtrey in throwing these missiles. - -Lieut. Gray, 44th, was wounded in the arm earlier in the day, by a man -who climbed up and fired through a loophole at him: he thoughtlessly -left his post to return to cantonments and get his wound dressed; and -the men endeavoured to excuse themselves by saying their own officer was -not there to direct them. It was the most shameful of all the runaways -that has occurred. The men (all agree) were not dressed when the enemy -entered. The 37th had three men left dead in the breach, and two were -wounded, which certainly looks as if they had defended themselves. We -lost 6000 rounds of ammunition in this fort. - -Brig. Shelton wished that the garrison who had evacuated the fort should -retake it. For this purpose he got the men under arms as soon as they -could be collected together, and kept them, regardless of the inclemency -of the weather, with snow lying on the ground, until three or four -o'clock in the morning; when they were eventually dismissed, nothing -being attempted. - -The least thing seems to-day to create alarm. The following note, -accompanied by a six-pound shot, was sent by order of Brig. Shelton to -Sturt: - - "Dear Hogg--The enemy have planted a gun in a bastion of one of their - forts, near the road leading to the Kohistan gate of the city, and have - been firing it at the Magazine fort since one o'clock. Two or three - shots struck the rear face. I send you one that fell in the room above - the gateway, after passing through the wall. - - "Yours, W. GRANT." - -Gen. Elphinstone wrote again to the Envoy to-day, urging him to treat -for terms with the enemy. - -At near 9 A.M. Sturt left us with an intention of blowing up the -captured fort, which the men seem to have taken a dislike to, and to be -determined not to defend it. He had not been gone more than a few -minutes when quick firing commenced: the enemy had come down evidently -in force along the south-eastern face of cantonments. There was a blaze -of light from Mahmood Khan's fort to our rear gate: it did not last -long, but it was a very anxious time; for our north-eastern portion of -rampart is occupied by the 5th, and I distinctly heard Bygrave using no -gentle language whilst he kicked the men up and out of their tents. -Lieut. Mein (13th) was also active in assisting to do the same, but with -very little success; though the drums beating to arms, and the hallooing -and shouting for the General and the Brigadier, were noise enough to -have aroused the dead. Lieut. Deas was on the rear gate guard; and had a -rush been made at it by the enemy, there did not seem to be any one to -oppose them. - -Yesterday when Sturt was talking to the General and the Brigadier about -the captured fort, he mentioned that Capt. Layton commanded there that -day, and that he wished he should remain and retain it as a permanent -command, it being a place for which an officer should be selected, and -he considered him as well fitted for the command. Shelton, with a sneer, -asked if Layton would like to stay there? To which Sturt replied, "I do -not know what he would like, but I know that I should wish him to do -so." Capt. Layton's courage and steadiness were too unimpeachable for -the sneer to affect his character as a soldier. The Brigadier's dislike -to him arose from his not being a man of polished manners, and rather -ungrammatical in his language. - -After all had gone wrong, the Brigadier told Sturt that he had told him -to order Capt. Layton to remain, and appealed to the General whether he -did not; to which Elphinstone hesitatingly replied, yes. On Sturt saying -that he never understood such an order, and that their recollections of -the conversation were different from his; that he would not give up his -own reminiscence of the business; that he (Sturt) was wide awake at the -time; the Brigadier lying on the floor rolled up in his bedding, and -either really or affectedly half asleep. On this the General hedged off -evasively by saying, he did not think what was said amounted to an -order! - -Now when Sturt mentioned the circumstance to me yesterday, I asked him -whether he thought they would select an officer as a permanent -commandant, and his reply was, "God knows." Besides if it was to be, it -would have been notified in Orders, being a decided innovation on the -daily relief of the fort. - -"One example is as good as a million:" these circumstances show how -affairs are carried on. The General, unsettled in his purposes, -delegates his power to the Brigadier, and the Brigadier tries to throw -off all responsibility on the General's or any body's shoulders except -his own: and the General is, as in the present instance, too -gentlemanlike to tell him that he deviates a little from the exact line, -and thus takes on himself the evasion. - -Sturt came home quite disgusted; vowing that if those dear to him were -not in cantonments, they might blow them up for what he cared. - -I heard a piece of private intelligence to-day,--that three of the -Envoy's Chuprassies and a Duffodar of the 4th Ressallah, with two other -persons whose names have not transpired, are in connection with the -enemy; and this treasonable correspondence has been discovered by some -intercepted letters. The men had been disposing of their property two -days previous to the discovery. The three Chuprassies are in -confinement, and the Envoy talks of asking the General for a -court-martial on them. The chances are they will escape punishment: -whereas were they hanged as traitors at once, it might be an useful -lesson to others. We have a Fakir and some Affghans in confinement also, -who are suspected of being spies. - -The General peremptorily forbade the camp followers trying to take away -the piles of the bridge that remained; so the enemy, who are hard up for -wood, came down in great numbers, and did it for us. To-day we have -seven days' provisions left. - -_7th._--Sturt was anxious to take the _re_captured fort; and as it -appears that the men are determined not to keep it, he proposed to blow -it up, and to call for volunteers for that purpose. - -The 44th say they wish to wipe out the stain on their name, as do the -37th. Hawtrey's company volunteer to go with him, and take it without -the assistance of any other troops. - -In sending the Sipahees to that fort, the sixty men were taken six from -each company, so that very few could have had their own officer, -European or native, havildars, jemadars, or even their own comrades. It -was certainly a particularly bad arrangement. - -The General wished to know from Sturt whether the fort was practicable -and tenable; at least this was the message brought by Capt. Bellew: to -which Sturt said but one reply could be made--"Practicable if the men -will fight: tenable if they do not run away!"--but that he considered -that the great object was to destroy it; as he more than doubted the -willingness of the troops to garrison it, although daily relieved. - -Objections were raised as to any other measures being taken than firing -at it to batter it down, which was accordingly done all day. The enemy -showed again; but their numbers are thinning: they fired at us all day; -and the balls from the brass seventeen-pounder just opposite came -whizzing over and about Sturt's house and garden. - -Our chiefs are very anxious regarding three galleries that the enemy are -said to be running from various points to the Bazar bastion. They are -said to have mined 100 yards towards it from the captured fort. Hadjee -Mahommed, the famous miner from the Kohistan, has twenty men with him; -and the enemy have great confidence in his skill, and have given him -12,000 rupees. - -I wonder if they paid the conquering hero of the captured fort their -promised reward of 4000 rupees? - -The report is, that the Affghans have sworn on the Koran to take the -Bazar fort and the Magazine fort: for the latter they are to receive -10,000 rupees. - -The Envoy is in hopes to get in five days' provisions from the Bala -Hissar. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan sent in, offering us terms to go out, bag and -baggage: but this was before the fort was taken, and he will now -probably rise in his demands, which have not transpired. No reply has -yet been given, as hopes are entertained of the arrival of Gen. Nott's -force before we are quite starved: besides, as Zeman Shah Khan has not -given up the power to Mahommed Akbar Khan, he may not be able to -guarantee our safety. - -_8th._--The first news of the day was, that the ammunition destined for -the Bala Hissar during last night set out, eighty yaboos, escorted by -some of Skinner's horse, under Capt. Hay: when they got to the camel -sheds they found themselves between two fires, of which, however, but -one shot hit a trooper. On the first shot being fired, many of the saces -threw off their loads, and galloped as hard as they could. Only -forty-four laden yaboos arrived: five were lost altogether, with many -yaboos and loads of private baggage; for there was (now, when the -enemy's suspicions were raised) an idea of trying to throw ammunition -into the Bala Hissar, and of eventually endeavouring to force our way -there: and a good deal of private property was attempted to be sent in -with it. We did not send any thing, expecting that our goods would never -reach their destination. - -Had Sturt's wish been complied with, long ago we should have been safe -in the Bala Hissar, with plenty of provisions, and might have set all -Affghanistan at defiance until an army could arrive from the provinces. - -The orders given to the reserve last night were, to go to the rescue if -the convoy was attacked on its return; but as there was no order to -defend the animals laden with ammunition when going, they waited until -Brig. Shelton should arrive, and when of course it was too late, and all -was over. - -Conolly and Jan Fishan Khan have come in, I believe to press the subject -of our all going to the Bala Hissar. - -The General now says that it was Sturt who objected to the attempt on -the Captured fort:--rather an odd assertion, as he was not likely to -object to his own proposition! - -There is a report that the Wallee of Khoolloom is coming to our -assistance. To-day there has been much firing in the city; and Dr. Duff -says he saw with a glass the people in the Kuzzilbash quarter fighting -from the tops of the houses. - -Yesterday the servants of Mr. Steer and of some other officers asserted -that they heard distant firing of artillery across the gorge behind -Cabul, but no one gave much credit to it. This morning both Sturt and -Warburton heard the booming of very distant artillery, and several other -persons did the same. Ghuznee is only about eighty miles from us: so -that the firing might be from thence: but it is confidently asserted -that the Kandahar force must be near; and three days are given as the -period for their arrival. - -Great anxiety, occasioned by a new mine reported to be commenced at the -mill, which Kershaw has examined, as also Sturt and his sergeants, and -there does not happen to be any such thing! - -Two days since we saw a funeral procession, with about fifty followers, -going away by the road leading towards the ground lately occupied by the -Shah's camp. - -To-day we saw a number of laden camels and yaboos, and sheep, and -people, all going away: they were escorted off in safety by horsemen, -who returned as soon as they were out of sight of cantonments. A number -also went off towards the Kohistan; and we think the confederacy must be -breaking up, as we see very few of the enemy now, either horse or foot; -and the information from the Bala Hissar now rates their numbers at 2500 -fighting men. - -A letter was sent by the General to the Envoy, finding fault with the -site of cantonments, adverting to our want of provisions, &c.; and also -urgently pointing out the necessity of the Envoy's negotiating with the -enemy for the best terms he could get from them. This letter was signed -by the four members of the council of war,--Major-Gen. Elphinstone, -Brig. Shelton, Brig. Anquetil, and Col. Chambers. Anquetil appended to -his signature, "I concur in this opinion in a military point of view." - -_9th._--Another letter, much of the same tenor, from the General to the -Envoy. - -Letters received from Jellalabad, but not by me. I wrote to Sale by the -return cossid, from the 18th inclusive. Mackeson had thrown provisions -into Alimusjid; and 400 Usutzyes were raising for its defence. The -Afreedees' allegiance was doubtful, and they were likely on any reverse -to become our open enemies. - -Sale had written to the Commander-in-chief to say that reinforcements -for this country must be much greater than those now on their way; that -there must be a strong siege train, engineer officers, with all -_materiel_--light infantry, British infantry, and dragoons; and had -stated that the whole country was in insurrection, and up against us. In -a postscript he mentions that on the day he wrote the first, they had -sallied and entirely defeated the enemy. - -Treating is still going on. We have only three days' provisions! The -Ben-i-shehr is rich in grain. Conolly at the Bala Hissar offers to take -it with the escort, but is not permitted; and to send a force from -cantonments it would require a much larger one than we can afford; the -same misfortune attaches to Killa Bolund and Khojeh Rewash. - -The King wrote to say that John Conolly and Jan Fishan Khan, who came -into cantonments, must not return to the Bala Hissar last night, as -there were Juzailchees out for the purpose of cutting them off. They -therefore went in at five this morning. They got in safe, though their -escort was fired upon. - -We had Sturt's yaboo paraded this morning, who did not seem to feel the -smallest inconvenience, notwithstanding that he had been knocked down by -a nine-pounder shot yesterday. The ball struck the rampart and rebounded -on to his neck, which was protected by such a mane as would not be -believed on description, being of the very shaggiest of those in this -country. - -At one this morning Sturt was roused up to examine a wall that Brig. -Shelton wished to have pulled down, and was kept out, with Capt. Hawtrey -and fifty men, for an hour. It proved to be a mare's nest, and the party -were sent on a harassing duty for no purpose! - -The 44th have asked for a court of inquiry, and it is to sit to-morrow: -but there is but too much evidence to prove that the Europeans were the -first to run away from the Captured fort. The artillerymen in the -bastions all assert that they were so, and also the first into -cantonments; and the rest of the regiment have _cut_ that company; and -men are generally good judges of their comrades' conduct. - -Capt. Trevor was sent by Sir William to meet several Ghilzye chiefs who -had volunteered to enter into terms with him, on payment of two lakhs of -rupees, which sum was taken by Trevor that night, but only one person -met him, who said that the others had seceded from the engagement, and -they would not receive the money. They had declared that, although -connected by marriage with Mahommed Akbar Khan, they had no regard for -him, and would, if Sir William wished it, bring his head; but he -replied, assassination was not our custom. - -The alarm was sounded, and at the same time there was a signal flying -from the Bala Hissar, of the enemy being in force in the Shah's garden. -They were making a place to fire behind; from which we drove them. We -had the usual firing all day, and dismounted one of their guns. - -Early this morning I was awakened by firing, proceeding from a party -under a Duffodar, in charge of twenty yaboos, with 100 sacks to be -filled with grain at the Bala Hissar. They were fired on by the enemy; -and came scampering back without their bags, and having lost six ponies. - -Capt. Hay was this day sent with a message of consequence to the King, -attended by an escort of fifty horse. He went out of cantonments at a -brisk trot, and forded the river. The enemy kept an excellent look-out; -they were immediately in pursuit, but our party got safe into the Bala -Hissar. It was a beautiful sight to see Hay with his cap pulled down on -his brows, his teeth set, neither looking right nor left, but leading -his men with the air of a man ready and expecting to encounter the -worst, and fully determined to do his _devoir_. We were all very anxious -about him, and were delighted to hear that he had got back safe, for -they were fired on in returning, and ten horses without riders were the -heralds of their return. One man only is missing, and we hope he may yet -find his way in, as it is very dark, and the enemy may miss him. - -To avoid the enemy, they had to make a _détour_ out of the road some -miles, and the men got dismounted by their horses stumbling and falling -into ditches, &c. There was much anxiety relative to the purport of the -message. It was supposed to be an urgent entreaty from the Envoy to the -King, that the latter would come into cantonments for the purpose of -retreating with the army to India: whatever it was, it produced an order -for the immediate evacuation of the Bala Hissar by our troops. - -The enemy have been busy to-day making a platform (said to be 12 feet by -4) behind the commissariat fort. - -It is surmised that this is a contrivance to cross the ditch with; but, -as that is 20 feet wide, it is not likely to succeed. They are said to -have appeared to be trying its strength by walking over it. - -This day orders have been issued to deprive all camp followers that are -not mustered of their grain rations; but those who will take meat are -permitted to have it in lieu. We have commenced giving our servants two -sheep a day. Between Sturt's servants, mine, and Mr. Mein's (who is -staying with us), we muster forty. - -Sturt was told yesterday that two of his sappers were going to desert, -and he had the circumstance reported; but the General and Capt. Bellew -would not put them into confinement, because their plan being overheard -was not considered as a sufficient proof of their intentions: so they -ordered them to be watched; and the end of the story is, that to-day -they are not to be found. A second case of most excellent surveillance. - -_11th._--Early this morning, a convoy went to and returned from the Bala -Hissar, having conveyed bags there to be filled with grain. - -An armistice; and chiefs came to treat with the Envoy: they met on the -plain; and whilst the negotiations (which were lengthy) were carrying -on, the enemy were busy throwing up works and placing guns in position. - -A letter was received last night from Ghuznee: that place was invested; -and Col. MacLaren was marching up with troops, who were somewhere -between Candahar and that place. - -As we have only two days' provisions, terms have been accepted. As far -as I can learn, four political hostages are to be given--Pottinger, -Trevor, MacGregor, and Conolly--to insure the return of the Dost. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan is to go down with us. They say they will give us -carriage, and we are to be off on Tuesday. The 54th from the Bala Hissar -are to come in to-morrow morning. - -_12th._--The troops from the Bala Hissar have not come in, at the desire -of the chiefs; who have now decided that they wish the Shah to remain, -and only require us to go. They wish the King to strengthen their -allegiance by giving his daughters in marriage to the chiefs, and -receiving theirs in return. - -They were anxious to have our ladies as hostages, but it was refused. - -The Kuzzilbashes have every thing to lose, should the Dost return, and -the Barukzye power come in. - -_13th._--Another letter from Gen. Elphinstone, urging the Envoy to treat -with the chiefs. - -A report prevalent that it is wished the force should remain; which is, -however, discredited. - -The Kohistanees are in great numbers in Behmaru, the Shahbagh, &c.; and -unless the chiefs take possession of the forts _near_, and probably have -a party _in_ cantonments, they will certainly get in, and loot -immediately on our going out. - -A curious scene occurred to-day. The men are to leave their old muskets, -and take fresh ones out of the magazine. Without any order or -arrangement the Europeans, Sipahees, and camp followers all got into the -midst of the stores, and helped themselves to whatever came in their -way; it was a regular scene of plunder. - -_14th._--The troops left the Bala Hissar last night, but it was -considered unsafe for them to come on here on account of the lateness of -the hour. Immediately on their getting outside the gate, a rush was made -by Mahommed Akbar Khan's men, that chief wishing to seize on the Bala -Hissar, and the person of the King. His majesty had the gates shut, and -in so doing shut in the quarter guard, with some prisoners of the 54th. -Finding that the force could not come on, Conolly returned to the gate -to ask to be re-admitted, at which time he was saluted with a discharge -of grape, had one horse shot under him, and another wounded. This was -afterwards explained away as having been intended for the King's and our -mutual foes: if so, they were not very particular as to which party they -fired at. Our troops remained out all night; and this morning had to -fight their way in, against a mixed rabble of Ghilzyes, Logurees, and -Cabulees. - -The bullock drivers ran away from the nine-pounder gun; of which the -enemy took possession. They carried off the bullocks; but being near -cantonments, fresh animals were sent out (it was on this side of the -Siah Sung Hill), the gun was soon recaptured; but not till an -unfortunate artilleryman, who being sick rode on it, had been cut to -pieces. - -Osman Khan sent to say that if one of the three lakhs promised to him -was sent this evening, he would send in provisions, of which we are in -great need, having only sufficient for to-day and to-morrow's -consumption. In the evening three and a half lakhs were sent. - -_15th._--There is a very evident change in politics. "The good King," as -Sir William used to call him, is now thrown over by us, as he refused to -deviate from his accustomed hauteur towards his nobles, or to admit of -his daughters marrying the chiefs as they proposed. - -Shah Shoojah has also set his seal to a proclamation calling on all true -Mussalmans to fight against the Feringhees. - -A small quantity of ottah was brought in to-day. - -Negotiations are still going on. - -The chiefs are very anxious to have all the married men and their -families as hostages for the Dost's safe return. - -Two days since the King was to have come into cantonments, in rather -light marching order, to accompany us to the provinces. At that time it -was decided that Osman Khan (head of the Barukzyes now in the country, -and at present Vizier) should remain at Cabul: and it being expected -that the expulsion of our force would be a scene of bloodshed and -disaster, a running fight all the way down, Sturt said, that if he could -see Osman Khan himself, and make his own terms with him for our safety -and protection in his own house, he would not object to being one of the -hostages, and keeping his wife and mother with him: he authorized Capt. -Lawrence to say as much to the Envoy. To his great astonishment he heard -that his name had been proposed to the chiefs without any further -communication with him, and with a state of politics wholly different -from those under which he would have acquiesced in the proposition. In -the first place, Shah Shoojah is not going with our army; but is doing -all he can to raise a party against us, and sits at a window of his -palace in the Bala Hissar, whence he distributes shawls, khelluts, and -bhoodkhees to the Ghazeeas. In the second place, Osman Khan is one of -the chiefs who it is now decided are to go down with the Envoy. - -Sturt's having talked imprudently to a friend, and its being taken -advantage of, prevents his interfering in the affair; but _I_ am not so -tied, and have represented (through friends) to the General in a -military point of view that he ought to object to Sturt's being taken as -a hostage, on the plea that should there be any thing to do on the way -down, through the Khyber or in the Punjab, he is the only engineer -officer we have;--a circumstance which the General acknowledges escaped -his recollection, but he quickly remedied the ill by writing to the -Envoy on the subject; and time must show the result. - -Determined not to put his wife and myself in the enemy's power, he wrote -to the Envoy as follows:-- - - "My dear Sir William, - - "Within the last hour a report has reached me, that myself, Lady Sale, - and Mrs. Sturt, had been proposed to the Cabul chiefs as hostages, in - exchange for Capt. Trevor. - - "I have a very distinct recollection of having told Lawrence to mention - to you, that I had no objection to such an arrangement _under certain - terms_; but not having been made acquainted with the fact of such a - proposition having been made, or further consulted on the subject, I - write in much anxiety to inquire if there is any foundation for the - report, and if there is, to be made acquainted with the arrangements - proposed, under which I can be expected to acquiesce in them as far as - regards Lady Sale and Mrs. Sturt; for myself I am ready for any - circumstances likely to benefit or aid in bringing negotiations to a - satisfactory conclusion. I trust you will ease my mind upon this point, - for reports have reached me from several quarters, all of which are - more vague than satisfactory. - - "Very truly yours, "J. L. D. STURT. - - "15th December, 1841." - -This elicited a reply from Sir William stating that he was much hurried -by business, and did not recollect whether Sturt's name had been -mentioned to the chiefs or not; but it was of no consequence, as no -ladies were to be sent as hostages, &c. The letter was evasive and -diplomatic; and did not inform us whether Sturt was to be sent from us -or not. It was, I believe, unfortunately thrown amongst a heap of papers -which Sturt was destroying, for I could not find it afterwards. - -_16th._--The impudence of these Affghans is very great! Yesterday some -men who were looting our people close to the gates were warned off, and -they replied, that we might keep within our walls; all _without_ -belonged to them. - -To-day a well-dressed man, one of Mahommed Akbar Khan's personal -attendants, was attacked by them close to the walls, and stripped of his -garments. - -Mr. Baness, the merchant, was standing talking to some of the Affghans -by the gate; a man snatched his watch from him, ran up to a suwar, -knocked him off his horse, mounted it, and galloped off. - -This day Sturt was fortunate in purchasing a bag of otta sent in to him -by Taj Mahommed; whose man brought another which our servants were -purchasing. - -In a moment there was a cry of otta! and the garden was filled with camp -followers and Sipahees. I never saw such a scene: the joy of those who -got a handful for a rupee, the sorrow evinced by those who were -unsuccessful, and the struggles of all to get close to the man! The -gentlemen had to stand with thick sticks to keep the people off. There -was no weighing; at first the man gave two handsful for a rupee, but the -quantity soon diminished in consequence of the great demand for it. - -To prove our good faith and belief in that of the chiefs, we are to-day -placed entirely in their power. - -They know that we are starving; that our horses and cattle have neither -grain, bhoosa, nor grass. They have pretty well eaten up the bark of the -trees and the tender branches; the horses gnaw the tent pegs. I was -gravely told that the artillery horses had eaten the trunnion of a gun! -This is difficult of belief; but I have seen my own riding-horse gnaw -voraciously at a cart-wheel. Nothing is _satisfied_ with food except the -Pariah dogs, who are gorged with eating dead camels and horses. - -This evening the Rikabashees fort, Zulfa Khan's fort, and the Magazine -fort, were given up to the chiefs. - -Misseer Aollah Khan, brother of Nawaub Zeman Shah Khan, came in as a -hostage. - -In the Magazine fort our allies are said to have placed 4,000 men. The -chiefs promised, as soon as they were in possession of our forts, to -give us grain; and about half an hour after our garrisons were withdrawn -155 maunds of otta and a small quantity of bhoosa was brought in. - -They have also promised to procure us 2,000 camels and 400 yaboos. - -To show how strangely military matters are conducted at present; we were -taking our evening walk on the ramparts, when a Sipahee quite out of -breath came up, and asked for the Brigade Major, saying that he was sent -from the Rikabashees fort to ask for the order to give it up, as the men -were waiting outside the gate ready to march off, and the Affghans were -also waiting to march in; as we plainly saw, when we stood near -Bygrave's bastion. I do not attach any blame to the General in this; but -to those whose duty it was to issue the orders and see them executed. - -At eleven P.M. heard some firing, and began to think there was going to -be some treachery. - -Our allies, as they are now called, will be very magnanimous if they let -us escape, now that they have fairly got us in their net. It is said the -Bala Hissar will be attacked to-morrow by those who are neither the -King's nor our friends; though they are now termed allies instead of -enemies. - -_17th._--There has been news from Jellalabad to-day up to the 7th. I -hear that Sale and all are well there; but it came out by accident. The -Sikhs have refused to assist us, which is breaking their treaty, and -portends military movements in the Punjab;--an additional reason why our -only engineer should not remain in Cabul. - -Accounts from Candahar and Khelat-i-Gilzie. All is right again, they -say, at the former place; that prompt measures were taken; a chief -seized and blown from a gun, which terrified the rest into subjection. -No further news from Ghuznee; which, by the last accounts, was invested. - -Both otta and bhoosa brought in to-day; but not more than for the day's -consumption, and only for the commissariat. Camels were brought in, and -some sold to the commissariat for 140 and 150 rupees each. We offered -1000 rupees for eight camels; but for so few they insisted on receiving -200 for each. The plunderers were, as usual, outside attacking all who -passed, friend or foe, and were fired on from the magazine fort: the -garrison there were also firing. - -Sturt was standing at the rear gate, when a man inquired if he was an -officer; and, on his asking why he wished to know, and what he wanted -with him, said, half drawing his sword, "to fight." - -It is said that our departure depends on the King's reply, which was -expected to be given to-day. He is either to go with us to Loodianah, to -remain here, or to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. - -In the city Zeman Shah Khan now reigns. - -The people say that, as soon as we go, there will be dreadful fighting; -not such as they have had with us, but chupaos on each other's houses, -sword in hand, and cutting each other's throats: that we shall be -attacked all the way to Khoord Cabul, but not after that, as that part -of the country belongs to Ameenoollah Khan, whose son goes with us. - -Nothing decided regarding Sturt, but it is said he will have to remain. - -_18th._--When we rose this morning the ground was covered with snow; -which continued falling all day. - -A very strange circumstance occurred last night. Some persons were -endeavouring to remove the barricade at the gate of the mission -compound: on being discovered, two Europeans galloped away, who were not -recognised. The third, ----, a writer in Capt. Johnson's office, was -taken prisoner: he refuses to name his companions, and says they were -going to Mahommed Akbar Khan to obtain provisions for the army. ---- is -a man of bad character; he has lately got himself into bad repute by -writing letters in the newspapers under the signature of "Sharp." He was -also connected with a man of the name of O'Grady Gorman in a -correspondence with the Russians; which was proved by letters found -amongst the papers of the latter after he was murdered at Candahar. - -Two men of the 54th have made their escape out of the Bala Hissar; they -passed a rope through one of the loopholes and let themselves down. They -say the King has been tampering with them, offering to give them 15 -rupees a month, and to promote all the non-commissioned officers; but -that not one has accepted his offers. - -This day we bought camels at 150 rupees each. - -_19th._--More strange things have occurred. Brig. Shelton wrote -privately to Mahommed Akbar Khan for forage for his own use, and -obtained ten loads of bhoosa. He made the man who brought it a present -(writing to Sir William that he wished to have a pair of pistols or a -chogah of small value from the Tosha Khana to present to a respectable -native), and the present was sent with a bill attached to it for 30 -rupees. On its arrival, Shelton left the room to receive it, and during -his absence the Affghan appropriated to himself a sword which had been a -gift to the Brigadier from Shah Shoojah. On this he applied to the Envoy -for its restoration, which brought the whole story to light; and -occasioned the Brigadier to receive an admonition for having, unknown to -the Envoy, entered into correspondence with one of the chiefs. The -General, having heard the former part of the above story, wrote to the -Envoy to ascertain if he also could not obtain forage from Akbar direct; -but Sir William was extremely indignant at any attempt at correspondence -being entered into with any of the chiefs by individuals, and -peremptorily forbade it; having the courtesy to add, that he was in -expectation of obtaining some for himself, of which he would permit Gen. -Elphinstone to have a part. - -The chiefs are evidently fearful that we are getting in supplies to a -greater extent than they wish. - -We had been fortunate enough to purchase some otta and barley for our -servants and cattle. A servant of Mahommed Akbar Khan's came into our -verandah and wanted to take it away by force; but I saw what was going -on, and called Sturt, who took him by the collar, and expedited his -departure by a kick; to the great astonishment of sundry Affghans at -such indignity being offered to the servant of a sirdar. - -Snow again fell to-day. - -In a letter from Gen. Elphinstone to the Envoy to-day, he observes, -"that the force is not in a state to act in any way necessity might -require; but he hoped that it would be better disposed to-morrow!" - -_20th._--Taj Mahommed Khan came again to see Sturt; and through his -servants we got some new cheese. He told us that Shamsuddeen's brother -died last night. - -Taj Mahommed assures us of the intended treachery of Akbar; and says the -force will be annihilated, and is most anxious that we should accept -such protection as he is willing to afford us somewhere in the hills -until the return of the English;--for that a strong force will be sent -to retake Cabul, and avenge the meditated destruction of our army, is a -general opinion amongst the thinking Affghans, several of whom, as well -as Taj Mahommed Khan, obtained written testimonials of their friendship -towards the English, that they may hereafter produce them for their -advantage. We can only thank him for his good intentions. It is -difficult to make these people understand our ideas on military -subjects; and how a proceeding, which was only intended to save a man's -life, conjointly with that of his wife and mother, can in any way affect -his honour. Certain it is that we have very little hope of saving our -lives. - -The Envoy seems to fear treachery on the part of the chiefs; and -evidently wishes to break the treaty. If he does so, it must be by a -simultaneous attack on the three forts we have given up to our "allies," -and also on Mahommed Khan's fort. It would, if successful, give us a -decided advantage, and perhaps alarm many into siding with us; but the -plan is too late a one. Sturt was applied to for a sketch of operations, -which he gave, for the attack on Mahommed Khan's fort, but was of -opinion we were too weak, and our men too dispirited, to attempt it. On -this subject he received a letter from the General, of which the -following is a copy:-- - - "My dear Sturt, - - "I do not know whether Thain has written to you the substance of a - conversation I had this day with the Envoy. He thinks it possible we - may be driven to hostilities, and asked, with the view to the recapture - of the magazine (fort omitted), whether we had ladders, or the means of - making them. I hope they will not drive us to this, although things - look very ill and very like treachery. - - "Yours, "W. K. E." - - "20th Dec." - -The Envoy had a meeting with the allies this evening: he says they have -not broken their treaty, but are fearful we shall break ours. The chiefs -rise daily in their demands; and to-day required that we should send the -guns and ammunition that were to be left at once into Mahmood Khan's -fort. - -They now will not give up Trevor; because, as the Envoy wishes to get -him back, they take it for granted he is a person of consequence. The -affair of the sword has made the same impression regarding Brig. -Shelton, whom the chiefs have demanded, with Captains Grant and Conolly. -Trevor is with them, and Drummond and Skinner are still detained in the -city. - -Chiefs, or their deputies, daily come in to negotiate; but we have only -Moussa Khan with us as an "honoured guest." - -Sturt has proposed to the General that we break off all treaty, and -openly retreat to Jellalabad; directing Sale to remain there, and the -whole force to await the arrival of troops either at Jellalabad or -Peshawer; not to leave our sick, as was intended, with Zeman Shah Khan, -but to take all officers' and other private baggage for them, and the -ammunition, allowing a small portion for women and children. The staff -and sick officers to be allowed a riding horse, the others to march with -their men. This is a public-spirited proposition of his; for we had -succeeded, at great expense, in obtaining carriage for his most valuable -property, which, by this arrangement, must be abandoned, and for which -it was possible he would not receive any recompence. - -We hear that the inhabitants of the fortress of Ghuznee communicated -with the enemy without; and by a coalition have driven our troops from -all other parts than the citadel and the Cabul gateway. Now, had we -retreated to the citadel in the Bala Hissar, as Sturt recommended before -the Rikabashees' fort was taken, and often afterwards, we should not now -be in the humiliating situation that we are. - -The troops sent to the relief of Ghuznee only got two marches beyond -Khelat-i-Ghilzie: their further progress is said to have been prevented, -not only by the overpowering numbers of the enemy, but also by the snow, -which rendered the passes impracticable; they fell back upon Candahar, -leaving reinforcements in Khelat-i-Ghilzie. - -Orders were despatched yesterday to Ghuznee, for the surrender of that -place. The troops will have to march through the Zoormut country, and go -down by Dera Ismael Khan. - -Thursday is at present said to be the day for our departure. - -_21st._--The hostages are decided on,--Airey, Pottinger, Warburton, and -Conolly, who are to start immediately for the city. - -The Envoy met Osman Khan and Mahommed Akbar Khan in conference. - -_22d._--The waggons, ammunition, &c., given up to our "allies." - -Lady Macnaghten's carriage and horses given to Mahommed Akbar Khan. - -The troops were kept under arms for two hours about nothing. Some -cavalry horses were sent out to be shot: the Affghans wished to take -them away, but the guard (37th) bayoneted one man, and shot another; on -which they dispersed. - -The Affghans say, that if, when we retook the gun on the hill, on the -23d of last month, we had pursued to the gates of Cabul, they would -never have made head against us again. They say they cannot understand -Shelton's conduct on the hill on that day; and that, if our generals can -do no more, the Affghans have nothing to fear from them. This is nearly -verbatim what has been remarked before, but I am not attempting to shine -in rounded periods; but give every thing that occurs as it comes to my -knowledge: and this was the saying of an Affghan gentleman, and also of -several of the lower classes, who came both to-day and often, to see -Sturt, to give him warnings, which, alas! were by those in authority -slighted. - -A general opinion prevails amongst the Affghans that a force will be -sent up against them; and many persons are getting letters to prove who -are our friends. - -Macgregor writes that for reasons of the utmost consequence, it is -impossible for Sale's brigade to leave Jellalabad. Yesterday there was a -grand discussion in the chiefs' durbar. One party objected to the -departure of the English, urging that, _coute qui coute_, they should be -killed: the Nawaub Zeman Shah Khan said, "If that is your opinion, I -shall go into cantonments; after that, do as you will: for me, I will -never lend myself to any act that is contrary to good faith." Our -friends in the city seem to think that this chief's character is not -understood by our chiefs in cantonments. Zeman Shah Khan does not wish -our departure; but he fears his followers, and dares not openly say what -he thinks. - -The Envoy, in taking the part of Mahommed Akbar Khan, and in giving him -money, has given him the means of doing much harm. Before he received -money from us he had no power, and was not a person of any consequence; -now he is in force, with the disadvantage of possessing a very bad -disposition; and until the Nawaub said, "if you put difficulties in -their route to Jellalabad I shall go into cantonments," he did every -thing in his power to embarrass the council. At present, all appears -_couleur de rose_. - -It is said that yesterday Mahommed Akbar Khan went to Osman Khan's -house, and swore on the Koran that he would do whatever the Nawaub -desired. This act they say decided every thing; and it was settled that -the troops should march on Tuesday the 4th, Osman Khan to go with the -army; he appears to be a good and an intelligent person. The son of the -Nawaub also goes, but he is not considered a shining character, though a -good person. It is believed that Shah Shoojah will have a strong party -after the English depart; but the Nawaub's faction treat this opinion -with ridicule. - -_23d._--Humza Khan is a Ghilzye chief, now in Mahmood Khan's fort. He -was the governor of the Ghilzye country; and, when the insurrection -broke out in the end of September at Bhoodkhak, he was sent by the King -to suppress it: instead of which he organised the rebel force. - -On the return of this chief to Cabul he was put in irons in prison, and -was to have been sent to the fortress of Ghuznee; he obtained his -release when the insurrection of the 2d of November took place. This -said Humza Khan has proffered to the Envoy, for a large consideration, -provisions, if we will hold out; but his reputed bad character for faith -renders him perhaps unsafe to deal with: besides, it may be a mere -_ruse_ to ascertain whether we are sincere or not in regard to the -treaty we have made. There are said to be 2000 men in Mahmood Khan's -fort at present. - -Our sick men were placed in doolies to-day, preparatory to their removal -to Zeman Shah Khan's house in the city; but their departure was delayed. - -Some of our ammunition waggons were taken away by the allies; as also -shrapnell and eight-inch shells. - -Capt. Skinner came in at eleven last night with two Affghans; one, I -believe, was a half brother of Mahommed Akbar's, by name Sultan Khan. At -one this morning they returned to the city on important business. Moussa -Khan was also sent into the city early this morning on some affair -connected with negotiations. - -The 54th, Shah's 6th, and some guns are ordered for a secret service; -which the staff officer who gave the order said was to attack Mahmood -Khan's fort, and from thence to bring away Amenoollah Khan, dead or -alive. This force was ordered on an especial requisition of the Envoy's: -I was present at mid-day, when Capt. Lawrence told Capt. Boyd that he -was to purchase any quantity of grain and provision in his power, even -to the extent of fifty days' supplies; and if it was not required, the -loss would fall on the Government, should we go away and leave it -behind. This conversation took place just previous to the Envoy going -out to meet Akbar Khan, on the plain between the cantonments and the -Siah Sung Hill. - -I remarked that Lawrence styled the chiefs rebels instead of allies; -which, coupled with the order to the commissariat officer to lay in -provisions, looked very suspicious. - -About two o'clock we suddenly heard firing, and all went to the rear -gate to see what the matter was; when I met Mr. Waller, who informed me -that the Envoy had been taken away by the chiefs. - -The clearest account we have yet obtained was from Le Geyt, who -accompanied the Envoy. It seems, when he arrived at the burnt bridge, -the Envoy sent back all his escort except ten men. - -Brig. Shelton having expressed a wish to be present at the conference, -and not having joined the party, Le Geyt was sent back to hasten his -arrival. The Brigadier said he was occupied, and could not go; and when -Le Geyt returned it was too late, and he met the escort, who said that -Lawrence and Mackenzie had ordered them back. - -Many shots were fired, and some of them came into cantonments. Le Geyt's -saces, who had been desired to remain when his master returned to -cantonments, now came up; and reported that on the Envoy's arrival he -found the chiefs seated on a loonghee on the ground; that he sat there -with them and discoursed, whilst Trevor, Mackenzie, and Lawrence -remained on their horses; that after a time two sirdars came, and stood -behind the Envoy, who rose, as did Akbar Khan; that the Ghazeeas came -and cut in between them and the cantonments, and firing commenced; that -one of them drew Lawrence's sword from his side; that Akbar Khan took -the Envoy by the hand, and led him, and all the gentlemen dismounted, -towards the Yaghi fort; but it is generally believed that they are all -safe, but taken into the city; however, great anxiety prevails regarding -their fate, and that of Skinner, Conolly, and Airey, who are in the city -as hostages. - -The regiments were got under arms, the walls manned, &c.; but nothing -was done. Grant declared that it was impossible to say whether it was a -piece of treachery on the part of the chiefs, or friendship to save the -party from an attack by the Ghazeeas. The only certain thing is, that -our chiefs are at a non-plus. - -The Affghans are greatly alarmed at a letter they have intercepted from -Major Leech, political agent: this letter was of an old date, in which -he tells the Envoy to hold out, that reinforcements are coming from -Candahar, and that by hook or by crook he will obtain other aid from -Hindostan. - -There is also a native report, that four regiments are between this and -Jellalabad. A cossid has come in from Macgregor; where he has been -detained we know not; but the letters he brought were of the 16th of -November. There is a general opinion in cantonments that faith has been -broken on both sides, and that the Affghans have made the cleverest -chupao. - -Boyd has seven days' provisions; and says the bazaar can furnish seven -more. - -The bridge is taken up at the rear gate, and the camels that came in -with grain have not been allowed to go out again. Neither is egress -permitted to any respectable-looking Affghan who is in cantonments. The -Meerakhor (one of the hostages, and the general go-between in our -negotiations) has promised to get a letter conveyed to Sir William in -the morning and to obtain a reply: he says there are too many Ghazeeas -about to attempt it to-night. - -The plain was at one time covered with people; but the horsemen seemed -wending up and down trying to quiet them, and they gradually dispersed. - -There was a great crowd about a body, which the Affghans were seen to -strip: it was evidently that of an European; but, strange to say, no -endeavour was made to recover it, which might easily have been done by -sending out cavalry. - -A red flag, said to be Amenoollah Khan's, went with about thirty men to -reinforce the Rikabashees fort; and subsequently a greater number. - -The Magazine fort was crowded with men. - -_24th._--I received a note from Lawrence, enclosing one from Conolly -(Sir William's nephew) to Lady Macnaghten, and had the sad office -imposed on me of informing both her and Mrs. Trevor of their husbands' -assassination: over such scenes I draw a veil. It was a most painful -meeting to us all. - -Numerous reports are current. That of to-day is, that Sir William was -taken to the city, and arraigned before a tribunal there for want of -faith; and that Trevor suffered from the assiduity with which he -executed the Envoy's orders. All reports agree, that both the Envoy's -and Trevor's bodies are hanging in the public chouk: the Envoy's -decapitated and a mere trunk; the limbs having been carried in triumph -about the city. - -A fallen man meets but little justice; and reports are rife that the -Envoy was guilty of double-dealing, treating with Akbar Khan and -Amenoollah Khan at the same time. In justice to a dead man, it should be -remembered that the only person supposed to know the object of the -Envoy's going out on the 23d was Skinner; who is now in the city. Sultan -Khan was, I believe, the name of the person who came in with him, with a -letter from Akbar Khan, on the night of the 22d. In that letter, which -was read by a friend of mine, Akbar proposed that he should be made -wuzeer to Shah Shoojah; he was to receive thirty lakhs of rupees, down, -and four lakhs per annum: our troops to remain eight months; and then -only to go if the King wished them to do so. He urgently requested the -Envoy to come and talk it over with him. - -We must hold in mind that, although we had performed all promises made -on our part, given up our waggons, ammunition, forts, &c., the treaty -had never been signed by the chiefs; nor had they fulfilled a single -condition which had been specified verbally, beyond giving us grain in -small quantities. The sequitur is, that the Envoy was perfectly -justified, as far as keeping good faith went, in entering into any -arrangement by which the condition of the troops could be ameliorated -and the honour of our country be insured. He only erred in supposing it -possible that Akbar Khan, proverbially the most treacherous of all his -countrymen, could be sincere. - -It was a part of Akbar Khan's plan to have Amenoollah Khan seized and -brought to cantonments as a hostage. - -It was a most decided piece of treachery on the part of Akbar. They were -seated on a bank together: Lawrence, a very spunky active man, felt as -if something was wrong; and when urged to sit, only knelt on one knee, -that he might start up on occasion: but his pistol and sword were seized -and his arms secured instantaneously, which rendered him powerless, and -he was hurried away behind a chief on horseback; as was Mackenzie. - -At that time Mahommed Akbar Khan had seized the Envoy by his left wrist, -and Sultan Jan held him by the right; they dragged him down the bank, he -exclaiming, "Az burai Kodar!" (For the love of God!) At the moment he -was laid hands on, Mackenzie, Trevor, and Lawrence were disarmed, and -forced away _en croup_ behind different chiefs. They saw no more of the -Envoy alive. Sultan Jan uttering an opprobrious epithet, calling him a -dog, cut poor Trevor down, as did also Moollah Momind. Mackenzie would -have shared the same fate had not Mahommed Shah Khan, behind whom he -rode, received the cut on his own arm, which went through his postheen. -Lawrence's life was saved by hard galloping: but he received some blows. -This account I had from the surviving principals in the tragedy; so it -may be depended on as the true account. The body we saw from the rear -gate was that of the Envoy. - -A letter has this day been received, signed by several Kohistanees, of -no great consequence, setting forth that they do not care for either -party; that they can muster 400 men, and are ready for a handsome -consideration to escort us down safe to Jellalabad. No notice was taken -of this letter, but the idea was laughed to scorn. - -The original treaty between Sir William and the chiefs has been sent in -again; with three additional clauses:-- - - To leave all our treasure: - - To leave all our guns excepting six: - - To exchange the present hostages for all the married men and their - families; and General Sale's name particularly mentioned. No doubt he - was not forgotten by Mahommed Shah Khan the Ghilzye, whom he defeated - at Jellalabad, and 500 of whose followers were killed. - -General Elphinstone said he might give the officers as hostages; but -that their wives and families were not public property: and, unless the -husbands consented, he could not send them. - -Major Thain was accordingly sent round to ask all the married officers -if they would consent to their wives staying; offering those who did so -a salary of 2000 rupees a month. Lieut. Eyre said if it was to be -productive of great good he would stay with his wife and child. The -others all refused to risk the safety of their families. Capt. Anderson -said he would rather put a pistol to his wife's head and shoot her; and -Sturt, that his wife and mother should only be taken at the point of the -bayonet: for himself, he was ready to perform any duty imposed on him. - -There certainly appears to have been a fatality about the events of -yesterday. I have mentioned that Sir William applied to Gen. Elphinstone -for two regiments and two guns for a secret service, which were in -readiness, but never went out of cantonments: had they done so, it is -more than probable that the surprise never would have occurred. Added to -this, with his usual vacillation, Gen. E. wrote a note to the Envoy, -which never reached him, as it arrived at his house after his departure, -and was not even opened at the time. In this note he stated that we were -too weak to send two regiments out of cantonments; particularly as the -magazine fort was now garrisoned by 400 men instead of 40, the number -the allies had stipulated should be thrown into it: and that if two -regiments and two guns were to go out, the safety of the cantonments -would be endangered. The Envoy had only ordered ten of his escort to -attend him. Lawrence had taken sixteen; but a part of these returned of -their own accord, feigning orders from Lawrence and Mackenzie. They -probably had some knowledge of what was in contemplation; for there can -be no doubt that the Envoy was surrounded by spies and traitors. Persian -notes, that have arrived, have on different occasions been offered for -perusal by his chuprassies--who were unable to read themselves, and -anxious to know the contents--to Capt. Trevor's elder boys, who could -read the characters; but they, imagining it was pure curiosity, and -having no turn of a diplomatic description, refused to read them; and -the notes were probably taken to others who did so, and made bad use of -what intelligence they contained. - -As it appears extremely uncertain whether we shall get on with the -treaty or not, we are busy making up hammocks to carry the sick. They -are making up in Sturt's compound; so light that two men can carry a -heavy man in one easily. - -Reports are assiduously spread that the Envoy's and Trevor's deaths were -the act of the Ghazeeas; and that Mahommed Akbar Khan greatly regrets -all that has passed. - -_25th._--A dismal Christmas-day, and our situation far from cheering. A -letter brought in from Conolly to say, that the Nawaub Zeman Khan had -interested himself greatly in the cause; and had procured the two bodies -to be stolen, and that they hoped to be able to send them in at night. -Trevor's had not been mutilated. It appears probable that the Envoy's -death was not contemplated. Akbar wished to seize him, in hopes, by -making him a hostage, to obtain better terms: but he is a man of violent -passions; and, being thwarted, the natural ferocity of his disposition -was evinced. - -At night there was some firing, and the bugles sounded: all went to -their respective posts, but the party of about 200 Affghans went away. - -There was evidently great commotion in the city at the same time. - -A cossid came in from Jellalabad; but no news later than the 7th. - -_26th._--The bodies were not sent in. The city is in great excitement; -the Affghans fearing we shall not make the treaty good and force our way -down. - -It seems that the original treaty insured to the chiefs thirteen lakhs -of rupees; and they insist on having it paid; not, as was stipulated, on -our safe arrival at Peshawer, but to be given now in bills on -Government, which there are people here who will cash for them on the -spot. We are to be allowed to keep six yaboo loads of treasure; and all -the rest is to be given to them before we go; or else the chiefs fear -they will not get it, as their people would _loot_ it all. - -However, we are informed that the chiefs do not mean to keep faith; and -that it is their intention to get all our women into their possession; -and to kill every man except one, who is to have his hands and legs cut -off, and is to be placed with a letter _in terrorem_ at the entrance of -the Khyber passes, to deter all Feringhees from entering the country -again. A Persian note, without signature or address, was brought by a -common-looking man to the officer on duty at the rear gate; giving -information that the cantonments are to be attacked to-night. We have -also information that the road to Jellalabad is clear; as the Ghilzyes -are all come into Cabul to exterminate us and _loot_ the cantonments. - -The chiefs wish to force us to go down by another route, where our -people say we are sure to be opposed. - -Letters received from Capt. Mackeson, P. A. at Peshawer, state that the -advance with ammunition had reached Peshawer, and the 16th Lancers, the -9th, and 31st, were close behind: it is, however, impossible that they -can arrive here in time to save us from either a disgraceful treaty, or -a disastrous retreat. - -_27th._--The Council--Elphinstone, Shelton, Anquetil, and Chambers, with -Major Pottinger--have ratified the treaty. No one but themselves exactly -knows what this same treaty is; further than that it is most -disgraceful! 14½ lakhs to be given for our safe conduct to Peshawer; -all our guns to be given up save six; and six hostages to be given on -our part; and when they are sent Lawrence and Mackenzie are to return. - -_28th._--Lawrence has come in, looking haggard and ten years older from -anxiety. It appears that the Envoy, when Mahommed Akbar Khan took hold -of him, grappled with him and threw him on the ground. Akbar fired his -pistol at him, and wounded him; and afterwards he was cut to pieces. - -There has been great excitement in the city. Khan Shereen Khan refused -to attend the Durbar; and Akbar's conduct has been generally condemned -by the chiefs. - -Naïb Shureef paid for the interment of Sir A. Burnes's body; but it was -never buried; and part of it, cut into many pieces, is still hanging on -the trees in his garden. - -The Envoy's head is kept in a bhoossa bag in the chouk: and Akbar says -he will send it to Bokhara; to show to the king there how he has seized -the Feringhees here, and what he means to do to them. - -Our guns are brought down to the gate, to be ready for the Affghans to -carry off to-morrow. - -Conolly, Airy, and Skinner are in the city; and Warburton, Walsh, and -Webb have been sent as the other three hostages, to make up the number, -although the treaty is not yet signed by the chiefs. There is much doubt -whether Mackenzie will be given up to us. - -It was reported that the Meer Wallee of Khoolloom was expected with -reinforcements to Akbar to-day; but we have not heard whether he has -arrived or not. - -Many routes have been named for our downward march this morning. We were -to go by Zoormut; but I believe we still go by Jellalabad. - -Amenoollah Khan is now represented as our best friend amongst the -chiefs. - -Whether we go by treaty or not, I fear but few of us will live to reach -the provinces. - -Although there is plenty of carriage for the sick, it is to-day decided -that they are to be left behind; and the medical men drew lots who were -to stay: they fell upon Primrose of the 44th, and Campbell of the -Company's service: the former exchanged with Dr. Berwick, the late -Envoy's medical staff, who, with Mr. Campbell of the 54th, are to go to -the city with the sick men. - -Snow all day. - -_29th._--Mackenzie and Skinner came in, in handsome dresses presented to -them by Mahommed Akbar Khan, who professed to them he had no hand in the -Envoy's death; and, to prove his sincerity, wept for two hours. - -Brig. Shelton has again had recourse to Mahommed Akbar; and has obtained -carriage from him. - -It is said it was the Envoy's intention to have superseded Gen. -Elphinstone, had Gen. Nott arrived: but no such measure would have been -requisite, as the General had summoned Nott to take the command, and -had, in fact, given it over to him from the 1st of November: so that it -is a point to speculate upon as to who is our military chief; and -whether, under existing circumstances, Gen. Elphinstone is empowered to -treat with the chiefs regarding the troops. - -To give an instance of the strange way in which matters are conducted -here: Serg. Deane came and reported to Sturt that he had received orders -to slope the banks of the canal, &c., without any reference to Sturt; -who, of course, ordered his sergeants not to undertake any work without -his orders. Sloping these banks would facilitate the passage of the -enemy; who otherwise must cross the canal at the usual spots, either the -ford or bridge. - -Our sick sent to the city. - -Snow all day. - -_30th._--500 Ghazeeas made a rush at the rear gate; and only desisted on -finding the port-fire ready, which would have sent grape in amongst -them. In revenge, they tore up the small bridge over the canal. - -More of our guns were sent to the chiefs, who now dictate to us, -delaying our departure, which is to be postponed according to their -pleasure. - -More sick men sent to the city to-day. As the camels and doolies that -conveyed them there returned, they were attacked and plundered; the men -were stripped, and had to run for their lives without any clothing, -their black bodies conspicuous as they ran over the snow. The doolies -and camels were all carried off. One of the hostages has written to me, -dated midnight of the 29th, and tells me that they are all well in the -city, and that, from the appearance of affairs, we shall most likely go -down unmolested: that the Nawaub Zeman Khan is very kind; and he or one -of his sons is with them nearly all day: the room they inhabit is -eighteen feet by ten, and all the hostages are together: it is very -uncomfortable, being thus confined; this, however, must be the case for -some time: even the courtyard below is not free from vagabonds. The -night the Envoy was killed the Ghazeeas rushed even up to the door, -determined on Conolly's and Airy's death; and it was difficult to get -rid of them. The poor Envoy's hand was held up to the window, to show it -to Conolly! Ameenoollah Khan seems to be well pleased. The King went to -them the night the letter was written, and took his musicians with him, -who played and sang till eleven o'clock: he is represented as a most -fatherly old gentleman. This alludes to Zeman Shah Khan, and not to Shah -Shoojah. - -The Nawaub's second son, Soojah ool Dowlah, is to go down with us: he is -represented as a very nice fellow, about twenty-two years old. A -postscript, added this morning, informs me that the chiefs are very well -pleased; and do not wish us to go till all our arrangements are -comfortably made, for their suspicions are now at an end. - -Sturt received instructions from Capt. Bellew to scarp the banks of the -canal, by way of rendering them easier for the camels to get over. "To -slope, I suppose you mean?" said Sturt. "You may suppose what you -please," replied Bellew; "but the General's orders sent by me are, to -scarp the banks;--and now do as you like: and you are also to cut the -rampart down, to make a free passage for the troops; as, there being but -one gateway on the face, it would take a long time for the troops and -baggage to pass out." - -When Sturt was first desired by the General to cut an opening, he -proposed making two of twelve feet each, with twenty feet between: this -was objected to, as being too small; and he then said he would throw -down the rampart between, which would make an opening of forty-four -feet: but of course such a breach (for the rampart was to be thrown in -to fill the ditch, twenty feet wide) was a work only to be undertaken at -the last hour; unless the General could give guns and additional troops -to defend it. - -In consequence of these messages, Sturt wrote to Grant to say, that -unless we were to start instanter after the breach was made, or the -General had the necessary means for its defence, it would risk the -safety of the cantonments; particularly after what had occurred this -morning. Grant, by the General's desire, wrote to know what did occur; -and then Sturt wrote an account of the attack of the Ghazeeas at the -rear gate, our cattle having been carried off and the bearers plundered, -&c.: upon this Grant, by the General's desire, wrote to say they did not -know any of the circumstances; and begged nothing might be done to -injure our defences. - -Snow all day. - -_Dec. 31st._--The chiefs say they have no control over the Ghazeeas; -that when they offend we may fire on them; that they will have the -camels, taken from us yesterday, restored. - -Now did they give us even camel for camel, it would be another matter: -but, instead of that, fifteen of the worst of our own were brought back -out of thirty-six; and a present of 100 rupees was made to them for the -trouble they had taken. - -This morning a number of camels laden with grain, &c. were plundered -close to the rear gate. Verbal orders were sent by Brig. Shelton to fire -on these people if absolutely requisite: but no written order to that -effect has been given, and no one will take the responsibility upon his -own shoulders. No orders of any import are transmitted in writing. Some -one, any one, is sent, with a verbal message to the officer it concerns; -and, if any thing goes wrong, what has he to show as his authority for -acting as he has done? Amongst other orders, there is one not actually -to fire, but to make believe they are going to do so; which has -occasioned some ridiculous and harmless flourishes of port-fires. - -There is still negotiation going on; and there seems to be some hints -regarding Shah Shoojah's abdication. The Affghans do not wish to put him -to death, but only to deprive him of sight. - -The chiefs are, we hear, to come into Mahmood Khan's fort with a large -force to-morrow, to be ready to protect cantonments, and we are to march -out the next day. - -Thus ends the year. The bodies of the Envoy and Trevor have not been -brought in; and we hope that the Nawaub Zeman Khan may be able to get -them privately interred in his own garden. - -Sergeant Williams, who died in consequence of his wound, was placed in -the coffin and buried in the grave prepared for the Envoy behind the -barracks. - -Snow has lain on the ground since the 18th of December. - -_Jan. 1st, 1842._--The Naïb Meer came in: negotiations are still going -on. - -The Nawaub Zeman Shall Khan and Osman Khan appear to be honourable men; -as also Mahommed Shah Khan Ghilzye: the former, or his son, sits with -the hostages day and night to insure their protection. The latter is the -person who received the sword-cut on his arm intended for Mackenzie, and -thereby saved his life, on the 23d of last month. - -A party of fifty Affghan workmen, magnified by the General into 500, -have been sent to work on the banks of the canal: they soon said they -were cold and tired, and would finish the rest to-morrow. - -Two men came in to-day with a Koran to Sergeant Deane (who, from having -an Affghan wife, has many acquaintances and friends amongst the people -of Cabul): they report that Mahommed Akbar Khan is false; that 10,000 -Kohistanees are to attack us at Tézeen, and all the Ghilzyes at -Soorkhab. - -Offers have been made of provisions; but it is suspected that it is only -to try our faith, and see if we will lay in provisions on the sly. - -_2d._--Before breakfast Sturt received the following note from Gen. -Elphinstone:-- - - "Dear Sturt, - - "Are we to have the Affghan Bhildars again to-day? If so, they had - better be employed on the other side of the river. Pottinger proposes - our taking on the planks to cross the streams in the Khoord Cabul pass. - He says 250 planks would do. He will explain this to you after - breakfast. Let me hear what was done yesterday. We shall march on - Tuesday, I think: that is the present arrangement. You must settle with - Boyd about the bullocks for the bridge, which we must take on to the - Loghur. - - "Yours, "W. R. E." - -There have been so many clever propositions during the siege, that, if I -succeed in saving my papers, many of the original letters will require -to be appended, to prove that I do not use the traveller's privilege! -To-day's is this. We make a bridge to cross the Cabul river; and carry -on planks to the Loghur, in case that bridge should have been destroyed. -Major Pottinger proposes that we carry 250 planks, to be laid down in -the Khoord Cabul, for crossing the streams, which occur on an average -every 100 yards. Could we afford transport for these planks, the delay -occasioned would render the journey through that pass one of about three -days, as the stream is crossed about thirty times. One word regarding -the carriage of these said planks. A camel would only carry two; thus, -125 animals would be required; and we are unable to take the requisite -quantity of ammunition, for want of carriage. Besides, why is this -stream not to be frozen, as it is but a few inches deep any where? - -There appears to be much commotion amongst the chiefs regarding the -Envoy's death, and Akbar's conduct; who still repeats that he did not -kill the Envoy, but that it was done by the Ghazeeas. He threatens to -attack us on the road; and Osman Khan says if he does he will fight him -all the way down, taking, as his own party, 1000 horse and 500 foot. - -Aziz Khan is to be at Soorkhab ready to exterminate us. We hear from the -city that Sale has been taking forts, carrying off women and provisions, -and greatly annoying the good people about Jellalabad. - -_3d._--The march, which was fixed for to-day, is again postponed. The -Kohistanees have not received any part of the money given to the chiefs. -They have sent an agent to Sturt to say that, if we wish it, they will -bring the chiefs of Kardurrah into cantonments, with four others, as -hostages; that we need not give them any money now, they know that we -have none, and are content with our promise. They wish us to remain -quiet. They will give us provisions; and attack and fire Cabul within -three days. They will also go down and bring up reinforcements for us -from Jellalabad. They assure us that the chiefs are false, and mean to -attack us on the road. All this was represented to our chiefs by Sturt. -The reply he received was, "It was better to keep the matter quiet; as -in the present state of things it might, if known, cause excitement." - -Shah Shoojah is said to have a strong party: and all the roads leading -to the Bala Hissar are watched, to prevent persons joining him; though -Nooreddin has succeeded in doing so, with twenty followers. - -The 40,000 rupees given by us to the chiefs, to raise 2000 men, at -twenty rupees each, to protect us to Jellalabad, have not succeeded. -They have kept the money, of course; but say they cannot get men to go -at this season; and even if they could, the chiefs cannot afford to -weaken their party by sending their followers away. - -The thermometer to-day at sunrise was below zero; in the sitting room, -with an enormous blazing fire, at noon, 40°. Yesterday, with the same -good fire, at 9 A.M., 11°. - -Another excellent project of Major Pottinger's. Among our various -vacillatory measures, there is again a thought, now that the time for -action is long past, to force our way into the Bala Hissar: but how are -we to get our ammunition in? Erect a battery on the Siah Sung Hill (of -course to be the work of fairies during the night), fire our shot from -cantonments into the battery, where of course guardian sylphs would -protect the lives of our men, who were quickly to pick them up, and send -them on, in like manner, into the Bala Hissar! No arrangement made for -transporting the powder. The tale was told from where the conversation -had taken place--at the General's. The narrator was Capt. Bellew. Both -Sturt and I taxed him with joking; but he assured us it was all true, -and only another of the many strange events constantly occurring. Then -ensued a long parley and military discussion on the point, its -feasibility, and its having been tried in some peninsular warfare. But I -never could get Bellew to explain how our men's lives in the battery -were to be saved. - -_4th._--I heard from Sale, dated 19th December. He acknowledged the -receipt of my note, giving an account of operations up to the 9th -instant. He was doubly anxious relative to our situation, from having -heard only the day before that the Kandahar troops were near us, and all -the cossids telling those at Jellalabad that we had plenty of -provisions; and he still trusts in God that the Kandahar force may -arrive in time to save us; and prevent the necessity of terms -disgraceful to our reputation in India. He informs me of the arrival of -the advanced guard of our cavalry at Peshawer with ammunition; and that -the 3d Buffs and 9th Foot had marched; with altogether six regiments of -N. I., and some artillery, sappers, and engineer officers. The news from -Cabul had not then had any effect on the chiefs about Jellalabad, whose -followers are daily diminishing. Our troops were, nevertheless, as hard -at work as ever, making the place as strong as possible. At that time -Mackeson had not sent them any money; of which they were in great want, -not having a rupee to give to the troops, and three months' pay nearly -due. Extracts from my letter had been sent to Government and to the -Commander-in-Chief. The original has been sent to my son-in-law, Capt. -Bund; as Sale writes me that no other person gives them any idea of our -real position at Cabul. - -The Affghans still tell us we are doomed; and warn us to be particularly -cautious of our safety in going out of cantonments. Taj Mahommed says -that Mrs. Sturt and I must wear neemchees over our habits--common -leather ones--and turbans, and ride mixed in with the suwars; not to go -in palkees or keep near the other ladies, as they are very likely to be -attacked. - -The chiefs are to come in to-morrow to take charge of cantonments before -we leave them. Nawaub Zeman Shah Khan is also to come in to see the -General. - -Orders for the first bugle at 6, the second at 7. Sturt inquired if he -was to make the breach, and, when made, who were to guard it, &c.: to -which the following is the reply:-- - - "My dear Sturt, - - "If it is as well as before, the General thinks you need not turn out - the sappers. The Brigadier says you are the best judge as to whether it - is defensible or not. - - "Yours truly, "WM. THAIN. - - "4th Jan. 7 P.M. - - "The General wants to know if the planks which were sent have been - removed. The troops are not to turn out at 6 in the morning as ordered, - but wait till further orders. - - "W. T." - -_January 5th._--Sturt employed in making the breach. The chiefs say we -shall go to-morrow. Orders out for 7 and 8 o'clock. - -Shah Shoojah has sent a message to ask if not even one officer of his -force will stand by him. This message was, I know, delivered by Sturt -himself to several; but circumstances admitted not of their further -adherence. Indeed it is more than doubtful that the King was at the -bottom of the insurrection, never dreaming that it would go so far. - -[2] See Vocabulary for this and other Oriental terms. - -[3] Commonly written Sepoys. - -[4] This letter was lost, together with all the rest of the documents of -the army. (See p. 2.) - - - - -THE RETREAT FROM CABUL. - - -_Thursday, 6th January, 1842._--We marched from Cabul. The advanced -guard consisted of the 44th Queen's, 4th Irregular Horse, and Skinner's -Horse, two H. A. six-pounder guns, Sappers and Miners, Mountain Train, -and the late Envoy's escort. The main body included the 5th and 37th N. -I.; the latter in charge of treasure; Anderson's Horse, the Shah's 6th -Regiment, two H. A. six-pounder guns. The rear guard was composed of the -54th N. I., 5th Cavalry, and two six-pounder H. A. guns. The force -consisted of about 4500 fighting men, and 12,000 followers. - -The troops left cantonments both by the rear gate and the breach to the -right of it, which had been made yesterday by throwing down part of the -rampart to form a bridge over the ditch. All was confusion from before -daylight. The day was clear and frosty; the snow nearly a foot deep on -the ground; the thermometer considerably below freezing point. - -By eight o'clock a great part of the baggage was outside the -cantonments. It was fully expected that we would have to fight our way -out of them, although terms had been entered into with the Sirdar for -our safe escort. Bills were granted on India for fourteen and a half -lakhs of rupees, by the political authority (Major Pottinger) to the -Cabul Shroffs, to be paid to the following Sirdars, who were, on their -part, to protect the force as far as Peshawer:-- - - Mahommed Zeman Shah Khan, three lakhs: - - Amenoollah Khan, six lakhs: - - Khan Shireen Khan, head of the Kuzzilbashes, two lakhs: - - Mahommed Akbar Khan, one lakh: - - Osman Khan, two lakhs: - - The Ghilzye chiefs, half a lakh. - -We started at about half-past nine A.M. The advance party were not -molested; there might have been 50 or 100 Affghans collected about the -gateway to witness our departure. The ladies, collectively speaking, -were placed with the advance, under the charge of the escort; but Mrs. -Sturt and I rode up to Capt. Hay, and mixed ourselves with his troopers. - -The progress was very slow; for the first mile was not accomplished -under two and a half hours. There was only one small bridge over the -Nullah, which is eight feet broad, but deep, situated about fifty yards -from cantonments. - -Great stress had been laid on the necessity of a bridge over the Cabul -river, about half a mile from cantonments. In vain had Sturt represented -over and over again, that as the river was perfectly fordable, it was a -labour of time and inutility: with snow a foot deep, the men must get -their feet wet. However, as usual, every sensible proposition was -overruled; and Sturt was sent long before daylight to make the bridge -with gun carriages. They could not be placed over-night, as the Affghans -would have carried them off: he had therefore to work for hours up to -his hips in water, with the comfortable assurance that, when his -unprofitable task was finished, he could not hope for dry clothes until -the end of the march; and immediately on quitting the water they were -all frozen stiff. I do not mention this as an individual grievance, but -to show the inclemency of the weather, and the general misery sustained. - -The bullocks had great difficulty in dragging these gun-carriages -through the snow, and when the bridge was made it was proved to be an -unnecessary expense of time and labour. The baggage might have forded -the river with great ease, a little above the bridge, where it was not -deep. Mrs. Sturt and I rode with the horsemen through the river, in -preference to attempting the rattling bridge of planks laid across the -gun carriages: but the camp followers determined not to go through the -water, and jostled for their turns to go over the bridge. This delay was -the origin of the day's misfortune, which involved the loss of nearly -all the baggage, and the greater part of the commissariat stores. - -The troops had been on half rations during the whole of the siege: they -consisted of half a seer of wheat per diem, with melted ghee or dhal, -for fighting men; and for camp followers, for some time, of a quarter of -a seer of wheat or barley. Our cattle, public and private, had long -subsisted on the twigs and bark of the trees. From the commencement of -negotiations with the chiefs, otta, barley, and bhoosa were brought in -in considerable quantities; the former selling at from two to four seers -per rupee, and the latter from seven to ten; but neither ourselves nor -our servants benefited by this arrangement: it came to the commissariat -for the troops. The poorer camp followers had latterly subsisted on such -animals (camels, ponies, &c.) as had died from starvation. The men had -suffered much from over work and bad feeding, also from want of firing; -for when all the wood in store was expended, the chiefs objected to our -cutting down any more of the fruit trees; and their wishes were complied -with. Wood, both public and private, was stolen: when ours was gone, we -broke up boxes, chests of drawers, &c.; and our last dinner and -breakfast at Cabul were cooked with the wood of a mahogany dining table. - -When the advance had proceeded about a mile, an order was brought for a -return to cantonments, as Mahommed Zeman Shah Khan had written to say -the chiefs were not ready; but shortly afterwards a counter order -arrived to proceed without loss of time. - -When the rear guard left cantonments, they were fired upon from the -cantonment then filled with Affghans. The servants, who were not -concerned in the plunder, all threw away their loads, and ran off. -Private baggage, commissariat, and ammunition were nearly annihilated at -one fell swoop. The whole road was covered with men, women, and -children, lying down in the snow to die. - -The only baggage we saved was Mrs. Sturt's bedding, on which the ayah -rode; and keeping her close to us, it was saved. - -The Mission Compound was first vacated: and when the force from thence -came into cantonments in order to pass through them, it was immediately -filled with Affghans; who, in like manner, occupied the cantonments as -our troops went out. - -It was the General's original intention to halt at Begramee, close to -the Loghur river, and about five miles from Cabul (reiterated was the -advice of our Affghan friends--alas, how little heeded!--to push on at -all risks through the Khoord Cabul the first day): but the whole country -being a swamp encrusted with ice, we went on about a mile further, and -halted at about 4 P.M. There were no tents, save two or three small -palls that arrived. All scraped away the snow as best they might, to -make a place to lie down on. The evening and night were intensely cold: -no food for man or beast procurable, except a few handfuls of bhoosa, -for which we paid from five to ten rupees. Captain Johnson, in our great -distress, kindly pitched a small pall over us: but it was dark, and we -had few pegs; the wind blew in under the sides, and I felt myself -gradually stiffening. I left the bedding, which was occupied by Mrs. -Sturt and her husband, and doubled up my legs in a straw chair of -Johnson's, covering myself with my poshteen. Mr. Mein and the ayah fully -occupied the remainder of the space. We only went in all six miles, and -had to abandon two H. A. guns on the road: we were also much delayed by -the bullocks that dragged the planks, in case the Loghur bridge should -have been destroyed. We had, however, positive information that it was -all right; and so it proved. - -Previous to leaving cantonments, as we must abandon most of our -property, Sturt was anxious to save a few of his most valuable books, -and to try the experiment of sending them to a friend in the city. -Whilst he selected these, I found, amongst the ones thrown aside, -Campbell's Poems, which opened at Hohenlinden; and, strange to say, one -verse actually haunted me day and night:-- - - "Few, few shall part where many meet, - The snow shall be their winding sheet; - And every turf beneath their feet - Shall be a soldier's sepulchre." - -I am far from being a believer in presentiments; but this verse is never -absent from my thoughts. Heaven forbid that our fears should be -realized! but we have commenced our retreat so badly, that we may -reasonably have our doubts regarding the finale. Nearly all Hopkins's -corps, the Shah's 6th, deserted from this place; as also the Shah's -sappers and miners, 250 in number. - -We afterwards heard that 400 of Hopkins's men went back to Cabul the -next day. - -_7th._--Yesterday's rear-guard did not get up to our bivouac till two -this morning, as there was no attempt to form any lines. As stragglers -came up we heard them shouting out, to know where their corps were; and -the general reply,--that no one knew any thing about it. - -During last night, or rather towards the morning, there was an alarm. -Had it proved the enemy, we were perfectly defenceless; fortunately it -was only camp followers, &c. - -At daylight we found several men frozen to death, amongst whom was Mr. -Conductor Macgregor. - -The reason the rear-guard were so late was, that they did not leave -cantonments till sunset. Previous to their quitting them the Affghans -had entered; and set fire to all the public and private buildings, after -plundering them of their contents. The whole of our valuable magazine -was _looted_ by the mob; and they burned the gun-carriages to procure -the iron. Some fighting took place between the Affghans and our -Sipahees. About fifty of the 54th were killed and wounded; and Cornet -Hardyman, of the 5th Cavalry, killed. A great deal of baggage and public -property was abandoned in cantonments, or lost on the road; amongst -which were two Horse Artillery six-pounders, as before mentioned. - -The officers of the rear-guard report that the road is strewn with -baggage; and that numbers of men, women, and children, are left on the -road-side to perish. Captain Boyd's office accounts, to the amount of -several lakhs of rupees, have been lost. - -Two or three small tents came up to-day. - -The men were half-frozen; having bivouacked all night in the snow, -without a particle of food or bedding, or wood to light a fire. - -At half-past seven the advance-guard moved off--no order was given--no -bugle sounded. It had much difficulty in forcing its way ahead of the -baggage and camp followers; all of whom had proceeded in advance as soon -as it was light. Amongst them there were many Sipahees; and discipline -was clearly at an end. If asked why they were not with their corps, one -had a lame foot, another could not find his regiment, another had lost -his musket: any excuse to run off. - -The whole of what little baggage was left, was not off the ground ere -the enemy appeared, and plundered all they could lay their hands on. - -As the mountain train, consisting of three three-pounders dragged by -yaboos and mules, was passing a small fort close to our back-ground, a -party of Affghans sallied out, and captured the whole. Scarcely any -resistance was offered on the part of our troops, and the saces -immediately absconded. Brig. Anquetil and Lieut. Green rallied the men, -and retook the guns; but were obliged to abandon them, as the 44th, -whose duty it was to guard them, very precipitately _made themselves -scarce_: but this was not done until Anquetil and Green had spiked them -with their own hands, amid the gleaming sabres of the enemy. - -As the troops advanced on their road, the enemy increased considerably -on both flanks; and greatly annoyed the centre and rear. - -It was the General's intention to proceed through the Khoord Cabul pass -to Khoord Cabul; and as it was not above one P.M. when the advance -arrived at Bhoodkhak, having only come five miles, it was with dismay we -heard the order to halt. - -We left Cabul with five and a half days' rations to take us to -Jellalabad, and no forage for cattle, nor hope of procuring any on the -road. By these unnecessary halts we diminished our provisions; and -having no cover for officers or men, they are perfectly paralysed with -the cold. The snow was more than a foot deep. Here, again, did evil -counsel beset the General: his principal officers and staff objecting to -a further advance; and Capt. Grant, in whom he had much confidence, -assured him that if he proceeded he risked the safety of the army! - -On our arrival at Bhoodkhak, the enemy had very greatly increased around -our position; and we heard that Mahommed Akbar Khan was with them. -Scarcely any baggage of either officers or men now remained. In a very -small pall of Johnson's we slept nine, all touching each other. - -We were also indebted to Johnson and Troup for food. They had a few -Cabul cakes and some tea, which they kindly shared with us. - -During this short march we were obliged to spike and abandon two other -six-pounders, the horses not having strength sufficient to drag them on. -We have only two horse artillery guns left, with scarcely any -ammunition. - -Again no ground was marked out for the troops. Three fourths of the -Sipahees are mixed up with the camp followers, and know not where to -find the headquarters of their corps. - -Snow still lies a foot deep on the ground. No food for man or beast; and -even water from the river close at hand difficult to obtain, as our -people were fired on in fetching it. - -Numbers of unfortunates have dropped, benumbed with cold, to be -massacred by the enemy: yet, so bigoted are our rulers, that we are -still told that the Sirdars are faithful, that Mahommed Akbar Khan is -our friend!!! &c. &c. &c.; and the reason they wish us to delay is, that -they may send their troops to clear the passes for us! That they will -send them there can be no doubt; for every thing is occurring just as -was foretold to us before we set out. - -Between Begramee and Bhoodkhak, a body of the enemy's horse charged down -into the column (immediately after the 5th and 37th had passed); and -succeeded in carrying off an immense quantity of baggage and a number of -camels, without experiencing the least resistance. - -_8th._--At sunrise no order had been issued for the march, and the -confusion was fearful. The force was perfectly disorganised, nearly -every man paralysed with cold, so as to be scarcely able to hold his -musket or move. Many frozen corpses lay on the ground. The Sipahees -burnt their caps, accoutrements, and clothes to keep themselves warm. -Some of the enemy appearing in rear of our position, the whole of the -camp followers rushed to the front; every man, woman, and child, seizing -all the cattle that fell in their way, whether public or private. The -ground was strewn with boxes of ammunition, plate, and property of -various kinds. A cask of spirits on the ground was broached by the -artillerymen, and, no doubt, by other Europeans. Had the whole been -distributed fairly to the men, it would have done them good: as it was, -they became too much excited. - -The enemy soon assembled in great numbers. Had they made a dash at us, -we could have offered no resistance, and all would have been massacred. - -After very great exertions on the part of commanding officers, portions -of their corps were got together. The 44th, headed by Major Thain, drove -the enemy off to a short distance, and took up a position on a -commanding height. The cavalry were also employed. Bullets kept whizzing -by us, as we sat on our horses, for hours. The artillerymen were now -fully _primed_, by having had some brandy given them from the 54th's -mess stores, which were being distributed to any one who would take -them. They mounted their horses; and, with the best feeling in the -world, declared that they were ashamed at our inactivity, and vowed they -would charge the enemy. Capt. Nicholl, their immediate commandant, came -up; abused them as drunkards, and talked of punishment: not the way, -under such circumstances, to quiet tipsy men. They turned to Sturt -shortly after their own officer had left them, having showered curses -and abuse on them, which had irritated them dreadfully. Sturt told them -they were fine fellows, and had ever proved themselves such during the -siege; but that their lives were too valuable to be risked at such a -moment: but, if need were, and their services were required, he would -himself go with them. This, in a certain degree, restrained their -ardour; yet still they kept on talking valiantly. These men listened the -more readily to Sturt because they knew him well: he was daily and -hourly in the batteries with them, encouraging them by being ever the -foremost in the post of danger; and on those dreadfully cold nights -during the siege, whilst there was a bottle of brandy to be had at any -price, after his own small store was expended, he gave those men on duty -each one glass to warm and cheer them--a comfort they fully appreciated, -as they had long been without what was now become necessary, though it -is in general the soldier's bane. For myself, whilst I sat for hours on -my horse in the cold, I felt very grateful for a tumbler of sherry, -which at any other time would have made me very unlady-like, but now -merely warmed me, and appeared to have no more strength in it than -water. Cups full of sherry were given to young children three and four -years old without in the least affecting their heads. - -When Major Thain took command of the 44th, he took part of the 37th N. -I. with him. The 44th lines were nearest to the men who were firing into -our camp; which was only saved by the promptness of Thain and Lawrence, -who brought up the escort at a trot in the direction of the firing. He -had to pass to the right of the 44th, and there he found about 150 of -that regiment falling into their ranks. Major Thain was about 200 yards -in advance, apparently reconnoitring the enemy, who were creeping up -under cover of the ravines and hillocks, and keeping up a desultory fire -on our camp. About this time a company of the 37th N. I. formed on -Lawrence's right, and on Thain making a signal all moved forward, and -drove off the enemy in good style. Anderson's horse were formed on the -opposite face of the camp, with orders to keep back the camp followers, -who were rushing towards the entrance of the pass. Major Thain appears -to have acted on the spur of the moment; which is the only reason I can -assign for his commanding the 44th. Lawrence was not under any one's -orders; as the General, before quitting cantonments, told him that his -escort would be an independent body. - -I am by no means certain that our chiefs pursued the wisest course. Had -they, when the enemy first appeared, showed a good front, and dashed at -them, they would probably all have scampered off as fast as they could. -The Affghans never stand a charge. - -The General and Major Pottinger soon discovered that Mahommed Akbar Khan -was there, and entered into communication with him: he agreed to protect -the troops, on condition that he should receive hereafter 15,000 rupees; -and that Pottinger, Lawrence, and Mackenzie should be given over to him -as hostages for General Sale's evacuation of Jellalabad; but that the -troops should not proceed further than Tézeen until information be -received of the march of the troops from that place. These disgraceful -propositions were readily assented to; and the three officers went off -to the Sirdar. - -Capt. Lawrence received a note from Conolly, telling him to be cautious, -to put ourselves as little as possible in Akbar's power, and above all -things to push on as fast as we could: but this note did not arrive -until the conference was over, and all points adjusted. - -We commenced our march at about mid-day, the 5th N. I. in front. The -troops were in the greatest state of disorganisation: the baggage was -mixed in with the advanced guard; and the camp followers all pushed -ahead in their precipitate flight towards Hindostan. - -Sturt, my daughter, Mr. Mein, and I, got up to the advance; and Mr. Mein -was pointing out to us the spots where the 1st brigade was attacked, and -where he, Sale, &c. were wounded. We had not proceeded half a mile when -we were heavily fired upon. Chiefs rode with the advance, and desired us -to keep close to them. They certainly desired their followers to shout -to the people on the height not to fire: they did so, but quite -ineffectually. These chiefs certainly ran the same risk we did; but I -verily believe many of these persons would individually sacrifice -themselves to rid their country of us. - -After passing through some very sharp firing, we came upon Major Thain's -horse, which had been shot through the loins. When we were supposed to -be in comparative safety, poor Sturt rode back (to see after Thain I -believe): his horse was shot under him, and before he could rise from -the ground he received a severe wound in the abdomen. It was with great -difficulty he was held upon a pony by two people, and brought into camp -at Khoord Cabul. - -The pony Mrs. Sturt rode was wounded in the ear and neck. I had -fortunately only _one_ ball _in_ my arm; three others passed through my -poshteen near the shoulder without doing me any injury. The party that -fired on us were not above fifty yards from us, and we owed our escape -to urging our horses on as fast as they could go over a road where, at -any other time, we should have walked our horses very carefully. - -The main attack of the enemy was on the column, baggage, and rear guard; -and fortunate it was for Mrs. Sturt and myself that we kept with the -chiefs. Would to God that Sturt had done so likewise, and not gone back. - -The ladies were mostly travelling in kajavas, and were mixed up with the -baggage and column in the pass: here they were heavily fired on. Many -camels were killed. On one camel were, in one kajava, Mrs. Boyd and her -youngest boy Hugh; and in the other Mrs. Mainwaring and her infant, -scarcely three months old, and Mrs. Anderson's eldest child. This camel -was shot. Mrs. Boyd got a horse to ride; and her child was put on -another behind a man, who being shortly after unfortunately killed, the -child was carried off by the Affghans. Mrs. Mainwaring, less fortunate, -took her own baby in her arms. Mary Anderson was carried off in the -confusion. Meeting with a pony laden with treasure, Mrs. M. endeavoured -to mount and sit on the boxes, but they upset; and in the hurry pony and -treasure were left behind; and the unfortunate lady pursued her way on -foot, until after a time an Affghan asked her if she was wounded, and -told her to mount behind him. This apparently kind offer she declined, -being fearful of treachery; alleging as an excuse that she could not sit -behind him on account of the difficulty of holding her child when so -mounted. This man shortly after snatched her shawl off her shoulders, -and left her to her fate. Mrs. M.'s sufferings were very great; and she -deserves much credit for having preserved her child through these -dreadful scenes. She not only had to walk a considerable distance with -her child in her arms through the deep snow, but had also to pick her -way over the bodies of the dead, dying, and wounded, both men and -cattle, and constantly to cross the streams of water, wet up to the -knees, pushed and shoved about by men and animals, the enemy keeping up -a sharp fire, and several persons being killed close to her. She, -however, got safe to camp with her child, but had no opportunity to -change her clothes; and I know from experience that it was many days ere -my wet habit became thawed, and can fully appreciate her discomforts. - -Mrs. Bourke, little Seymour Stoker, and his mother, and Mrs. Cunningham, -all soldiers' wives, and the child of a man of the 13th, have been -carried off. The rear was protected by the 44th and 37th; but as they -neared the pass, the enemy, concealed behind rocks, &c. increased their -fire considerably upon them. The companies that had been skirmishing on -the flanks of the rear-guard closed in; and they slowly entered the -pass, keeping up a heavy fire on the assailants, who had by this time -got amongst the straggling camp followers and Sipahees. Owing to a halt -having taken place in front, the pass was completely choked up; and for -a considerable time the 44th were stationary under a heavy fire, and -were fast expending their ammunition. The 37th continued slowly moving -on without firing a shot; being paralysed with cold to such a degree -that no persuasion of their officers could induce them to make any -effort to dislodge the enemy, who took from some of them not only their -firelocks, but even the clothes from their persons; several men of the -44th supplied themselves with ammunition from the pouches of the -Sipahees: and many proceeded to the front owing to their ammunition -being expended. Major Scott and Capt. Swinton, of the 44th, had also -gone to the front severely wounded; and the command of the regiment -devolved on Capt. Souter. Lieut. Steer, of the 37th N. I., with great -difficulty succeeded in bringing to the rear a yaboo loaded with -ammunition: but scarcely were the boxes placed on the ground, opened, -and a few rounds taken out, than they were obliged to be abandoned; as, -owing to our fire having slackened, the enemy became bolder and pressed -upon the rear in great numbers. They had the advantage of being covered -by our stragglers, which compelled our men to retire, firing volleys -indiscriminately amongst them and the Affghans. At this time our men -were dropping fast from a flanking fire from the heights; and, seeing it -was useless to attempt to maintain a position in the rear, under such -circumstances, with only about sixty men, they were withdrawn; and with -difficulty forced their way through the crowd to a more commanding -position, where the rear-guard of the 44th was joined by Gen. -Elphinstone, Col. Chambers, of the 5th Lt. Cavalry, with some troopers, -and Capt. Hay, with a few of the Irregular Horse, and the only remaining -gun, one having been abandoned in the pass. The 37th and the camp -followers gradually passed to the front; but the Affghans were checked -from following them. - -After halting full an hour to let the stragglers, &c., get well to the -front, they resumed their march; but, owing to the depth of the snow, -the troops were compelled to assist the gun by manual labour, the horses -being unable to get it on. In this way they reached the encamping -ground, without molestation from the enemy. - -On leaving Cabul each Sipahee had forty rounds of musket ammunition in -pouch, with 100 spare loads--we have now not three camel loads left; and -many Sipahees have not a single cartridge in pouch. - -500 of our regular troops, and about 2500 of the camp followers, are -killed. - -Poor Sturt was laid on the side of a bank, with his wife and myself -beside him. It began snowing heavily: Johnson and Bygrave got some -xummuls (coarse blankets) thrown over us. Dr. Bryce, H. A., came and -examined Sturt's wound: he dressed it; but I saw by the expression of -his countenance that there was no hope. He afterwards kindly cut the -ball out of my wrist, and dressed both my wounds. - -Half of a Sipahee's pall had been pitched, in which the ladies and their -husbands took refuge. We had no one to scrape the snow off the ground in -it. Capt. Johnson and Mr. Mein first assisted poor Sturt over to it, and -then carried Mrs. Sturt and myself through the deep snow. Mrs. Sturt's -bedding (saved by the ayah riding on it, whom we kept up close with -ourselves) was now a comfort for my poor wounded son. He suffered -dreadful agony all night, and intolerable thirst; and most grateful did -we feel to Mr. Mein for going out constantly to the stream to procure -water: we had only a small vessel to fetch it in, which contained but a -few mouthfuls. - -To sleep in such anxiety of mind and intense cold was impossible. There -were nearly thirty of us packed together without room to turn. - -The Sipahees and camp followers, half-frozen, tried to force their way, -not only into the tent, but actually into our beds, if such -resting-places can be so called--a poshteen (or pelisse of sheep skin) -half spread on the snow, and the other half wrapped over one. - -Many poor wretches died round the tent in the night. - -The light company of the 54th N. I., which left Cabul, thirty-six hours -previously, eighty strong, was reduced to eighteen files. This is only -one instance, which may fairly be taken as a general average of the -destruction of our force. - -_9th._--Before sunrise the same confusion as yesterday. Without any -order given, or bugle sounded, three fourths of our fighting men had -pushed on in advance with the camp followers. As many as could, had -appropriated to themselves all the public yaboos and camels, on which -they mounted. - -A portion of the troops had also regularly moved off, the only order -appearing to be, "Come along; we are all going, and half the men are -off, with the camp followers in advance!" We had gone perhaps a mile, -when the whole were remanded back to their former ground; and a halt for -the day was ordered, in accordance with the wishes of the Sirdar; who -had represented to the General, through Capt. Skinner, that his -arrangements were not made either as regarded our security or -provisions. Skinner urged the General to show some mark of confidence in -the Sirdar's promises; which he instantly did by sending Capt. Anderson -to order back the troops and baggage. - -Mrs. Trevor kindly rode a pony, and gave up her place in the kajava to -Sturt, who must otherwise have been left to die on the ground. The rough -motion increased his suffering and accelerated his death: but he was -still conscious that his wife and I were with him; and we had the -sorrowful satisfaction of giving him Christian burial. - -More than one half of the force is now frostbitten or wounded; and most -of the men can scarcely put a foot to the ground. - -This is the fourth day that our cattle have had no food; and the men are -starved with cold and hunger. - -Reports are prevalent in camp that the Irregular Cavalry, and the -Envoy's escort, are about to desert to Mahommed Akbar Khan; and also -that the Affghans are tampering with our Sipahees to leave us and return -to Cabul. The Subadar Major of the 37th N. I. has deserted: he was a -Subadar Bahakur of the Order of British India. - -Shortly after Pottinger, Mackenzie, and Lawrence arrived at the Khoord -Cabul fort with the Sirdar, he turned to Lawrence and said that he had a -proposal to make, but that he did not like to do so lest his motives -might be misconstrued; but that, as it concerned us more than himself, -he would mention it; and that it was, that all the married men, with -their families, should come over and put themselves under his -protection, he guaranteeing them honourable treatment, and safe escort -to Peshawer. He added, that Lawrence must have seen from the events of -the day previous--the loss of Capt. Boyd's and Capt. Anderson's -children, &c.--that our camp was no place of safety for the ladies and -children. Lawrence replied, that he considered the proposition a most -admirable one; and, Skinner coming in just then, he repeated what had -passed to him, who replied, "This is just what I was thinking of -suggesting." On which Lawrence begged he would go off and get the -General's sanction, and bring them all without delay. Major Pottinger -concurred entirely in the expediency of this measure. - -Our present position is one of imminent peril. Immediately on Skinner's -arrival about mid-day, we set off escorted by some chiefs to a fort -about two miles distant, where Mahommed Akbar Khan had taken up his -temporary residence. Capt. Troup, Brigade-major to the Shah's force, who -was wounded, accompanied the party, as did also Mr. Mein of the 13th, -who, having been sent back with a year's sick-leave to Cabul, after he -was wounded in October, followed Mrs. Sturt's and my fortunes, not being -attached to any corps, nor having any duty to perform. - -There can be little doubt but that the proposition was acceded to by the -General in the twofold hope of placing the ladies and children beyond -the dangers and dreadful privations of the camp, and also of showing the -Sirdar that he was sincere in his wish to negotiate a truce, and thus -win from him a similar feeling of confidence. - -Overwhelmed with domestic affliction, neither Mrs. Sturt nor I were in a -fit state to decide for ourselves whether we would accept the Sirdar's -protection or not. There was but faint hope of our ever getting safe to -Jellalabad; and we followed the stream. But although there was much talk -regarding our going over, all I personally know of the affair is, that I -was told we were all to go, and that our horses were ready, and we must -mount immediately and be off. - -We were taken by a very circuitous route to the Khoord Cabul forts, -where we found Mahommed Akbar Khan, and the hostages. Mr. Boyd's little -boy had been brought there, and was restored to his parents. Mrs. Burnes -and young Stoker were also saved, and joined our party. Anderson's -little girl is said to have been taken to Cabul, to the Nawaub Zeman -Shah Khan. - -Three rooms were cleared out for us, having no outlets except a small -door to each; and of course they were dark and dirty. The party to which -I belonged consisted of Mrs. Trevor and seven children, Lieut. and Mrs. -Waller and child, Mrs. Sturt, Mr. Mein, and myself, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. -Burnes, two soldiers' wives, and young Stoker, child of a soldier of the -13th, who was saved from people who were carrying him off to the hills, -and came in covered, we fear, with his mother's blood: of her we have no -account, nor of Mrs. Cunningham, both of the 13th. The dimensions of our -room are at the utmost fourteen feet by ten. - -At midnight some mutton bones and greasy rice were brought to us. - -All that Mrs. Sturt and I possess are the clothes on our backs in which -we quitted Cabul. - -Here I must divide the account. I shall go on with my own personal -adventures; and afterwards, from the same date, follow up the fortunes -of our unhappy army, from the journals of friends who, thank God! have -lived through all their sufferings. - -_10th._--Mahommed Akbar Khan left us, to escort our troops. 500 -deserters are said to have come in to him. It is reported that the -thieves have nearly exterminated our force; and that four of Mahommed -Akbar's sirdars are killed. Akbar is expected back at night; and if the -road is clear, we are to march at night and go thirty miles. Some -officers are said to have taken refuge in a fort near this place. A -letter came from the General, stating that he wished Capt. Anderson and -Capt. Boyd to return: this was in consequence of a representation made -to him that Anderson's making over the command of his corps to Lieut. Le -Geyt, and going away, might have a bad effect on his men, who now showed -symptoms of an inclination to leave us to our fate. But it was decided -by the politicals that for those officers to return would have the -appearance of their faith in the Sirdar's promises being shaken, and -that it would be productive of much evil: they remained therefore with -us. Here was another instance of the General's vacillation. Anderson, on -his return from taking the message to bring the troops back, was ordered -by the General to go off with the other married men and families. -Whatever may have been his own sentiments on the occasion, his opinion -was never asked, and he had but to obey. - -_11th._--We marched; being necessitated to leave all the servants that -could not walk, the Sirdar promising that they should be fed. It would -be impossible for me to describe the feelings with which we pursued our -way through the dreadful scenes that awaited us. The road covered with -awfully mangled bodies, all naked: fifty-eight Europeans were counted in -the Tunghee and dip of the Nullah; the natives innumerable. Numbers of -camp followers, still alive, frostbitten and starving; some perfectly -out of their senses and idiotic. Major Ewart, 54th, and Major Scott, -44th, were recognised as we passed them; with some others. The sight was -dreadful; the smell of the blood sickening; and the corpses lay so thick -it was impossible to look from them, as it required care to guide my -horse so as not to tread upon the bodies: but it is unnecessary to dwell -on such a distressing and revolting subject. - -We hear that Mahommed Abkar Khan offered to escort the army down, -provided the troops laid down their arms; but that the General went on, -upon his own responsibility. - -We arrived at the Tézeen fort, where we were well treated; and where we -found Lieut. Melville, 54th. He had, in guarding the colour of his -regiment, received five severe wounds. He had fortunately seven rupees -about him; these he gave to an Affghan to take him to the Sirdar, who -dressed his wounds with his own hands, applying burnt rags; and paid him -every attention. - -_12th._--We went to Seh Baba; and thence out of the road, following the -bed of the river, to Abdoollah Khan's fort. We passed our last gun, -abandoned, with poor Dr. Cardew's body lying on it, and three Europeans -close by it. - -During the march, we were joined by Mr. Magrath, surgeon of the 37th N. -I., and six men of the 44th. He had been wounded and taken prisoner on -the 10th, whilst endeavouring to rally a party of some forty or fifty -irregular cavalry, and bring them to the assistance of the unfortunate -wounded men, who were being butchered at the bottom of the Huft Kohtul. -On his coming up with this party, and again ordering them to halt, to -his great disgust he found Khoda Bukh Khan, a Ghilzye chief, amongst -them; to whom they were apologising for not having gone over the day -previous, as their comrades had done. Mr. Magrath had several narrow -escapes; and, when surrounded by Ghilzye footmen with their long knives -drawn, owed his life in a great measure to an Affghan horseman, who -recognised him as having shown some little kindness to some of his sick -friends at Cabul. - -At night we had snow. - -Our whole party, ladies and gentlemen, crammed into one room; one side -of which was partitioned off with mats and filled with grain. Here an -old woman cooked chupatties for us, three for a rupee; but, finding the -demand great, she soon raised the price to a rupee each. - -_13th._--We travelled over mountain paths, where the camels found it -difficult to get on with the kajavas, till we arrived at Jugdaluk: near -the Ghavoy there had been fearful slaughter, principally of Europeans. - -We found Gen. Elphinstone, Brig. Shelton, and Capt. Johnson here in -tents. - -Having brought our party safe to Jugdaluk, I now return to the -proceedings of our unfortunate army; taking up the tale at the period -when the ladies and their party took protection. On the 9th a round -Affghan tent was pitched for the ladies; and we felt the courtesy of the -sirdars, who slept in the open air to give us shelter, even such as it -was, for the wind blew in in every direction. - -Immediately after our departure the irregular horse, with the exception -of about eighty men, went over in a body to the Sirdar; and as they were -afterwards seen in company with a body of Affghan horse at about a mile -distance, there was an attack from them apprehended: all was -consternation. Several of our Sipahees absented themselves during the -day, also a number of camp followers. A message was sent to Mahommed -Akbar Khan, and a hope expressed that he would not favour the desertion -of the troops; and he promised that all going over to him should be -shot, which was immediately made known to the men. One of the Mission -chuprassies was caught in the act of going off, and shot. - -Lieut. Mackay, assistant to Capt. Johnson, was sent in the afternoon to -the Sirdar (to the fort where the ladies were), for the purpose of being -the bearer of a letter to Gen. Sale at Jellalabad, to order him to -evacuate his position. This letter was written by Major Pottinger. - -All the dhooley bearers either deserted or were murdered the first day. - -The whole of the camels and yaboos have been either taken by the enemy -or plundered by our no less lawless camp followers and soldiers. - -The greatest confusion prevailed all day; and anxiety and suspense for -the ultimate fate of the army was intense; all expecting that if in a -few hours they were not deprived of life by cold and hunger, they would -fall by the knives of the Affghans; which, had they been then attacked, -must indubitably have occurred; for on the return of the troops after -their set-out in the morning, commanding officers had great difficulty -in collecting sixty files a corps: but even of these many could scarcely -hold a musket; many died of cold and misery that night. To add to their -wretchedness, many were nearly, and some wholly, afflicted with snow -blindness. - -_10th._--No sooner was it light than the usual rush to the front was -made by the mixed rabble of camp followers, Sipahees, and Europeans in -one huge mass. Hundreds of poor wretches, unable to seize any animals -for themselves, or despoiled by stronger persons of those they had, were -left on the road to die or be butchered. - -After much exertion, the advance, consisting of the 44th, the only -remaining six-pounder, and about fifty files of the 5th cavalry, managed -to get ahead of the crowd. The Affghans were appearing on the hills -early: on arriving at the Tunghee Tareekee, a narrow gorge about ten -feet wide and two miles distant from their last ground, Capt. Johnson -was sent with the advance; the heights were taken possession of by the -enemy; who fired down incessantly on the road, from which they were -inaccessible. The snow increased in depth as the army advanced. There is -a gradual ascent all the way from Khoord Cabul to Kubber-i-Jubhar, a -distance of five miles; the progress was necessarily slow, and many poor -fellows were shot. - -After getting through the pass, not above fifty yards in length, they -proceeded to Kubber-i-Jubhar; where they halted for their comrades. - -Latterly no Affghans had been seen, except at a distance; the horror of -our people was therefore the greater when a few stragglers from the rear -came up, and reported themselves as the remnant of the rear column, -almost every man of which had been either killed or wounded: Capt. -Hopkins had his arm broken by a musket ball. There was now not a single -Sipahee left of the whole Cabul force. - -A desperate attack had been made by a body of Affghans, sword in hand: -our men made no resistance, but threw away their arms and accoutrements; -and fell an easy prey to our barbarous and bloodthirsty foe. - -The rear-guard was composed of the 54th regiment. On arriving at the -narrow pass called Tunghee Tareekee, or "the dark pass," a turn in the -road shut out from their sight the enemy, who had followed close on -their heels, but on whom they had received strict orders not to fire; -although the Ghilzyes, from the heights and ravines, had kept up a sharp -discharge, killing many Sipahees and camp followers, and cutting up all -wounded and sick left behind. On arriving at the above-mentioned pass, -the turn in the road allowed the Ghilzyes to close up; and a general -attack was made on all sides: hundreds of Affghans rushing down from the -rocks and hills cut to pieces their now reduced regiment. Here Major -Ewart, commanding 54th, had both his arms broken by bullets from the -Juzails; Lieut. Morrieson, the adjutant, was wounded; and Lieut. Weaver, -of the same corps, slightly. Lieut. Melville, on observing the Jemadar, -who carried the regiment's colour, wounded and dropping his charge, -seized it; and, after vainly attempting to tear it off the staff, to -which it was too firmly attached, made his way on foot (his horse having -been killed), with the colour in his hand. This made him a mark for the -enemy; and ere he had got out of the pass, being nearly, or quite, the -last man of the column, or rather rabble, he received a spear wound in -his back, which threw him on his face: ere well able to rise, a severe -sword-cut in the head again laid him prostrate; but he contrived to -crawl as far as the fast retreating column; when again the knife of an -Affghan wounding him in the neck, and a spear in the chin, he gave up -all for lost. He was now surrounded by a dozen Ghilzyes; and no man, -save the dead and dying, near him; when the enemy, observing a box of -treasure on the opposite side of the pass, left him, for the purpose of -rifling the money, either supposing they had already killed him, or -intending to return when they had secured the more valuable booty. This -pause gave Lieut. Melville an opportunity of escaping and regaining the -column; which, although weak from his wounds, he availed himself of; and -by going through the snow in the ravines, he contrived to reach the -column; where a pony without an owner, or saddle of any description, -presenting itself, he scrambled on to it; and, with the assistance of a -Mehter, gained the centre of the column, where the 44th and one gun -still kept some order. Lieut. Melville was tied on the gun, and was told -by Gen. Elphinstone, that he should be sent over to the charge of the -Sirdar, Mahommed Akbar Khan, on reaching Tézeen, or at any opportunity -of going. - -On a report of a large body of horse being observed in the rear, the gun -was ordered there; and Lieut. Melville was placed on a bank on the -road-side. The column passed on; and he was expecting the fate of the -other poor fellows who had fallen; when, providentially for him, a -horseman rode up, who had known him in cantonments, and who strapped him -on his horse, and took him over to the party of horsemen, consisting of -Mahommed Akbar Khan and his followers; who received him most kindly, -and, binding up his wounds, gave him a loonghee, his regimental cap -being cut to pieces. - -The loonghee is the cloth worn as a turban commonly by the Affghans, and -is generally of blue check with a red border: those worn by the -Khyberries are much gayer, and have a large admixture of yellow. - -Melville gave to Omer Khan, the horseman who saved his life, seven -rupees, being all the property he possessed. - -Every particle of baggage was gone. - -The small remnant of the army consisted of about seventy files of the -44th, fifty of the 5th cavalry, and 1 six-pounder gun. Observing a body -of cavalry in their rear, they determined to bring their solitary gun -into position, and make a last effort for existence. Finding it was -again Mahommed Akbar Khan, Capt. Skinner (Assist.-Com.-Gen.) by -direction of the General, went over, under escort, to him; to -remonstrate on the attack made on our troops after a treaty had been -entered into for our protection. He replied, he regretted it, he could -not control the Ghilzyes (the inhabitants of this part of the country) -with his small body of horse, about 300; but that as the remnant of our -troops was merely a few Europeans, he would guarantee their safety, and -that of all the European officers, to Jellalabad, if the General would -conduct them all disarmed, whilst the Affghans were to have the use of -their weapons. He said his motives for this were, that should they bring -their arms with them, his own followers would be afraid of treachery. To -this proposition the General would not assent. - -Mackay returned with Skinner from the Sirdar, as the road to Jellalabad -was said to be unsafe. - -The troops continued their fearful march: the remnant of the camp -followers, with several wounded officers, went ahead: for five miles -they saw no enemy: all who could not walk were necessarily left behind. -They descended a long steep descent to the bed of the Tézeen Nullah. At -this dip the scene was horrible: the ground was covered with dead and -dying, amongst whom were several officers: they had been suddenly -attacked and overpowered. The enemy here crowded from the tops of the -hills in all directions down the bed of the Nullah, through which the -route lay for three miles; and our men continued their progress through -an incessant fire from the heights on both sides, until their arrival in -the Tézeen valley, at about half-past four P.M. - -The descent from the Huft Kohtul was about 2000 feet; and here they lost -the snow. - -About 12,000 persons have perished! - -A quarter of an hour after their arrival, the Sirdar and a party came -into the valley to a fort higher up belonging to his father-in-law, -Mahommed Shah Khan. A signal was made to his horsemen to approach: two -came, and Capt. Skinner, by the General's desire, accompanied them to -Mahommed Akbar Khan, to devise some means of saving the remnant--about -4,000 people of all descriptions. - -Skinner returned at dusk; and brought back the same message as from -Kubber-i-Jubhar, regarding disarming the Europeans: and again this was -refused. - -The General then decided, weak and famished as the troops were, and -without any prospect of procuring provisions at Tézeen, to march at -seven in the evening (they had left Khoord Cabul, fifteen miles from -Tézeen, half-past six A.M.), and proceed, if possible, through the -Jugdaluk pass by eight or nine the next morning. In this consisted their -only chance of safety; for, should the enemy obtain intimation of their -approach, the pass would be occupied, and the object defeated. Johnson -pointed out to the General that Mahommed Akbar Khan and his party could, -by means of a short cut across the mountains, start long after them, and -arrive before them, ready to oppose them. - -Jugdaluk is about twenty-four miles from Tézeen; the pass about two -miles long, very narrow, and commanded on both sides by high and -precipitous hills. - -At Tézeen Gen. Elphinstone received a note in cypher from Capt. Conolly, -warning him that Mahommed Akbar Khan had quitted Cabul, with the avowed -intention of getting into his hands the person of the General, and all -the married people with their families. - -A message was sent to Mahommed Akbar Khan that they were going to march -to Seh Baba, seven miles from Tézeen (this place is sometimes called -Tukeea-i-Fakeer): the road lies down the bed of a Nullah, with high -hills on either side. The place is only remarkable from having a few -trees and a grave or two under them; and from the latter I believe it -takes its name. - -The camp followers having been the bane of this unfortunate army, they -hoped to move off quietly and leave them behind; but no sooner did they -start, than they found that all who were able to stand were accompanying -them. They left their remaining gun behind; and Dr. Cardew, who was -mortally wounded at the dip into the Tézeen Nullah, was laid on the -carriage to await death, which was rapidly approaching: he was found -dead by Mahommed Akbar's people the next morning. - -The night was fine and moonlit, and they reached Seh Baba about -midnight; here a few shots were fired on them; and the rear being -attacked, the whole remains of the 44th, with the exception of about -nine files to form the advance, were ordered there; and thus the column -remained until their arrival at Jugdaluk; their progress being again -impeded by that evil which always attends Indian armies, the camp -followers; who, if a shot is fired in advance, invariably fall back; and -if in rear, rush to the front. - -_11th._--From Seh Baba the road turns off sharp to the right over the -mountains to Jugdaluk; and across the Nullah is seen the short road to -Cabul, but which cannot be travelled by guns or camels. - -At Seh Baba Dr. Duff (the Surgeon-General to the forces in -Affghanistan), who had had his hand cut off with a penknife at Tézeen, -in consequence of a severe wound, was from weakness obliged to lag -behind, and was two days afterwards found murdered. - -Bareekub is three miles from Seh Baba: there is a clear stream of water, -and several caves cut in the rocks. Here our force observed a number of -people in the caves; with whom they did not interfere, as they did not -molest them. They eventually fired some volleys on the rear. - -At daybreak the advance arrived at Killa Sung, about seven miles from -Seh Baba, where there are some streams of water: this is the general -encamping ground, though very confined, and commanded by hills all -round. - -They proceeded about half a mile further on, and then halted, until the -rear-guard should arrive; but they, having been much molested on the -road, did not arrive for two hours. On their first arrival not an -Affghan was to be seen; but shortly several made their appearance on the -hills, and the number continued every moment to increase. Not a drop of -water was procurable; nor would they get any until their arrival at -Jugdaluk. They had marched for twenty-four hours consecutively, and had -still ten miles to go before they could hope for rest. On being joined -by the rear-guard they continued their march; the enemy in small numbers -watching every opportunity to murder stragglers from the column. - -At two miles from Jugdaluk the descent into the valley commences. - -The hills on each side of the road were occupied by the enemy, who kept -firing from their long juzails; and again the road was covered with dead -and dying, as they were in such a mass that every shot told. - -On arrival in the valley, a position was taken up on the first height -near some ruined walls. As scarcely any Europeans of the advance now -remained, and the enemy were increasing, the General called all the -officers (about twenty) to form line and show a front: they had scarcely -done so when Capt. Grant, Assistant-Adjutant-General, received a ball -through the cheek which broke his jaw. - -On the arrival of the rear-guard, followed up by the enemy, the latter -took possession of two heights close to our position: on which our force -went for security within the ruined walls. The men were almost maddened -with hunger and thirst: a stream of pure water ran within 150 yards of -the position, but no man could go for it without being massacred. - -For about half an hour they had a respite from the fire of the enemy, -who now only watched their proceedings. - -The General desired Johnson to see if there were any bullocks or camels -procurable amongst the followers: he obtained three bullocks, which were -killed, served out, and devoured instantly, although raw, by the -Europeans. - -A few horsemen coming in sight, they signed for one to approach: he did -so, and on being questioned what chief was present, said Mahommed Akbar -Khan. A message was sent to the Sirdar by the General to know why they -were again molested: the chief replied, he wished to converse with -Skinner, who immediately accompanied the messenger. This was about half -past three P.M. of the 11th. - -After marching for thirty hours they lay down on the ground worn out by -cold, hunger, thirst, and fatigue: but scarcely had Skinner taken his -departure, when volley after volley was poured into the enclosure where -they were resting. All was instant confusion, and a general rush took -place outside the walls; men and cattle all huddled together, each -striving to hide himself from the murderous fire of the enemy. - -At this time twenty gallant men of the 44th made a simultaneous rush -down the hill, to drive the enemy off the heights they occupied: in this -they were successful; for, supposing they were followed by the rest, the -foe took to flight ere our men could reach their position. - -In about a quarter of an hour, as so small a party would not admit of -any division, this party was recalled. They again entered within the -broken walls; and instantly our inveterate foes were in their former -position dealing death amongst them. - -About 5 o'clock Skinner returned with a message that the Sirdar wished -to see the General, Brig. Shelton, and Johnson; and if they would go -over to confer with him, he would engage to put a stop to any further -massacre, and also to give food to our troops: and on condition of their -remaining with him as hostages for Gen. Sale's evacuation of Jellalabad, -he would escort all the small remaining party in safety. - -Mahommed Shah Khan, father-in-law to the Sirdar, and whose daughter is -with the Dost at Loodianah, is one of the principal Ghilzye chiefs: he -came at dusk with an escort to receive them; and they started in the -confident hope that some arrangement would be entered into to save the -lives of the remainder of the army. The General and the above-mentioned -officers proceeded to the top of the valley for about two miles, and -found the Sirdar and his party in bivouac: nothing could exceed the kind -manner in which they were received. The chief, on hearing they had not -tasted food for forty-eight hours, had a cloth spread on the ground; and -a good pillau and other dishes, as also tea, were quickly brought; and -they formed a circle round it, and all ate out of the same dish. - -Their hunger, though great, was not to be compared to their thirst, -which had not been quenched for two days. - -The party consisted of the Sirdar, Mahommed Akbar Khan, Mahommed Shah -Khan, Abdool Ghyas Khan (son of Jubhar Khan), and a young lad called -Abdool Hakeem Khan, nephew to the Sirdar. The attention of the Sirdar -and his party was excessive; and after dinner they sat round a blazing -fire, and conversed on various subjects. The General requested that -Mahommed Akbar Khan would early in the morning forward provisions to the -troops, and make arrangements for supplying them with water: all which -he faithfully promised to do. - -The General was anxious for permission to return to his troops; and -offered to send Brig. Anquetil, should the Sirdar require an officer in -his stead. Johnson, by the General's desire, pointed out to the Sirdar -the stigma that would attach to him as commander of the force, were he -to remain in a place of comparative security, whilst such danger -impended over the troops. To this the Sirdar would not consent. At about -11 P.M., the Sirdar promised he would early in the morning call the -chiefs of the pass together, to make arrangements for a safe escort: he -then showed them into a small tent, where, stretched on their cloaks, -they found relief in sleep. - -Our unfortunate force at Jugdaluk this day consisted of 150 men of the -44th; 16 dismounted horse artillery men; 25 of the 5th cavalry. Not a -single Sipahee with arms, no spare ammunition, and the few rounds in -pouch had been taken from the killed. - -_12th._--The English officers arose at sunrise, and found the Sirdar and -his party were up. They showed them the same civility as over night; two -confidential servants of the chief were appointed to wait on them; and -they were warned not to attempt to leave the tent without one of these -men, lest they should be maltreated or insulted by the Ghilzyes, who -were flocking in to pay their respects to Mahommed Akbar. - -About 9 A.M., the chiefs of the pass and the country around Soorkhab -arrived. Soorkhab is about thirteen miles from Jugdaluk, towards -Jellalabad, and is the usual halting ground. - -The chiefs sat down to discuss affairs. They were bitter in their hatred -towards us; and declared that nothing would satisfy them and their men, -but our extermination. Money they would not receive. The Sirdar, as far -as words could prove his sincerity, did all in his power to conciliate -them; and, when all other arguments failed, reminded them that his -father and family were in the power of the British government at -Loodianah; and that vengeance would be taken on the latter if mercy were -not showed to the British in their power. - -Mahommed Shah Khan offered them 60,000 rupees on condition of our force -not being molested. After some time they took their departure to consult -with their followers; and Mahommed Shah Khan mentioned to Johnson that -he feared the chiefs would not, without some great inducement, resist -the temptation of plunder and murder that now offered itself: and wound -up the discourse by asking if we would give them two lakhs of rupees for -a free passage. On this being explained to the General, he gave his -consent; and it was made known to Mahommed Shah Khan, who went away and -promised to return quickly. - -The General again begged of the Sirdar to permit him to return to his -troops; but without avail. - -Johnson, by the General's desire, wrote early in the day to Skinner, to -come to the Sirdar. This letter and two others, it is to be feared, he -never received. A report was brought in that Skinner was wounded, but -not dangerously; the Sirdar expressed much sorrow; poor Skinner died of -his wound the same day. - -Until 12 o'clock crowds of Ghilzyes with their respective chiefs, -continued to pour in from the surrounding country to make their salaams -to Mahommed Akbar Khan, to participate in the plunder of our unfortunate -people, and to revel in the massacre of the Europeans. From their -expressions of hatred towards our whole race, they appeared to -anticipate more delight in cutting our throats than in the expected -booty. However, on a hint from the Sirdar, they changed the language, in -which they conversed, from Persian to Pushtoo, which was not understood -by our officers. - -The Sirdar, to all appearance, whilst sitting with Johnson, endeavoured -to conciliate them; but it very probably was only done as a blind to -hide his real feelings. - -In two instances, the reply of the chiefs was,--"When Burnes came into -this country, was not your father entreated by us to kill him; or he -would go back to Hindostan, and at some future day bring an army and -take our country from us? He would not listen to our advice, and what is -the consequence? Let us now, that we have the opportunity, take -advantage of it; and kill those infidel dogs." - -At about 12, the Sirdar left them, and went on the top of a hill in rear -of the British bivouac. He did not return till sunset; and in reply to -the anxious inquiry when Mahommed Shah Khan would return, they were -always told immediately. Frequent assurances had been given that the -troops had been supplied with food and water; but subsequently they -learnt that neither had been given them in their dire necessity. - -The Sirdar returned at dusk; and was soon followed by Mahommed Shah -Khan, who brought intelligence that all was finally and amicably -arranged for the safe conduct of the troops to Jellalabad. The Sirdar -said he would accompany them in the morning early. By the General's -request, Johnson wrote to Brig. Anquetil to have the troops in readiness -to march by 8 o'clock: he had also commenced a letter to Gen. Sale to -evacuate Jellalabad (this being part of the terms). Suddenly, and before -the first note was sent off, much musketry was heard down the valley in -the direction of the troops; and a report was brought in that the -Europeans were moving off through the pass followed by the Ghilzyes. All -was consternation. At first the Sirdar suggested that he and the -officers should follow them: in this the General concurred. In a few -minutes the Sirdar changed his mind; said he feared their doing so would -injure the troops, by bringing after them the whole horde of Ghilzyes -then assembled in the valley. He promised to send a confidential servant -to Meer Afzul Khan at Gundamuk (two miles beyond Soorkhab) to afford -them protection; and agreed to start with them at midnight, as being -mounted they would overtake the others before daybreak. When about to -separate for the night, the Sirdar again altered the time of departure -to the first hour of daylight. Remonstrances were of no avail; and our -party were too completely in the power of the enemy, to persist in what -they had not the power to enforce. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan told Johnson, after Mahommed Shah Khan went out to -consult with the chiefs of the pass, that the latter were dogs and no -faith could be placed in them; and begged Johnson would send for three -or four of his most intimate friends, that their lives might be saved in -the event of treachery to the troops. Gladly as he would have saved his -individual friends, he was under the necessity of explaining to the -Sirdar that a sense of honour would prevent the officers deserting their -men at a time of such imminent peril. The Sirdar also proposed, that in -the event of the Ghilzyes not acceding to the terms, he would himself, -at dusk, proceed with a party of horsemen to the foot of the hill where -our troops were; and, previous orders being sent to the commanding -officer for all to be ready, he would bring every European away in -safety, by each of his horsemen taking up one behind him: the Ghilzyes -would not then fire upon them, lest they should hit him or his men. But -he would not allow a single Hindostanee to follow; as he could not -protect 2000 men (the computed number).--Johnson interpreted all this to -the General: but it was deemed impracticable; as from past experience -they knew how impossible it was even to separate the Sipahees from the -camp followers. Four or five times during the day they heard the report -of musketry in the direction of our troops; but they were always told -that all fighting had ceased. This was subsequently proved to be a gross -falsehood. Our troops were incessantly fired upon from the time that the -General and the other officers quitted them to the time of their -departure, and several hundreds of officers and men had been killed or -wounded. The remainder, maddened with cold, hunger, and thirst, the -communication between them and the General cut off, and seeing no -prospect but certain death before them by remaining in their present -position, determined on making one desperate effort to leave Jugdaluk. -Snow fell during the night. - -My narrative now continues from information furnished by a friend -remaining with the remnant of this ill-fated army.--They halted this day -at Jugdaluk, hoping to negotiate an arrangement with Mahommed Akbar Khan -and the Ghilzye chiefs, as before stated: but the continual firing, and -frequent attempts made by the enemy to force them from their position -during the day, but too well indicated that there was little or no -chance of negotiations being effectual to quell hostilities, and admit -of their resuming their march in safety: on the contrary, there appeared -an evident determination still to harass their retreat to the very last. - -Near the close of the day the enemy commenced a furious attack from all -sides. The situation of our troops at this time was critical in the -extreme: the loss they sustained in men and officers had been great -during the day, and the survivors had only been able to obtain a scanty -meal of camel's flesh: even water was not procurable without the parties -proceeding for it being exposed to a heavy fire. The men, under all this -suffering, perishing with cold at their post, bravely repelled the -enemy; and would then have followed them from under the dilapidated -walls had they been permitted to do so. During this conflict Capt. -Souter of the 44th, anxious to save the colours of his regiment, tore -one of them from its staff, and folding it round his person, concealed -it under the poshteen he wore: the other was in like manner appropriated -by Lieut. Cumberland; but finding that he could not close his pea-coat -over it, he reluctantly entrusted it to the care of the Acting -Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 44th regiment. - -Great anxiety prevailed amongst the troops, caused by the continued -absence of Gen. Elphinstone and Brigadier Shelton, the two seniors in -command. It was resolved, as they did not return, to resume their march -as soon as the night should shroud them from observation; and Brig. -Anquetil, now in command, ordered the troops to fall in at eight -o'clock: but before the men could take the places assigned to them, the -camp followers, who were still numerous, crowded upon them as usual. At -length between 8 and 9 o'clock they took their departure; which was -rendered a very trying scene, from the entreaties of the wounded, -amounting to seventy or eighty, for whom there was no conveyance; and -therefore, however heartrending to all, they were necessarily abandoned, -with the painful conviction that they would be massacred in cold blood, -defenceless as they were, by the first party of Ghilzyes that arrived. - -The enemy, who seem to have been aware of the intended removal, soon -commenced an attack upon the straggling camp followers: and a number of -Affghans, favoured by the darkness of the night, stole in amongst the -followers that were in column, whom they quietly despatched, and -proceeded to plunder. These daring men, however, were nearly all cut up -or bayonetted by the enraged soldiery; who shortly after came upon an -encampment of the enemy; in passing which they were saluted with a heavy -fire, followed up by a sally upon the camp followers, as usual. - -They proceeded on until they came to a gorge, with low steep hills on -either side, between which the road passed, about two miles from -Jugdaluk. Here two barriers had been thrown across the road, constructed -of bushes and branches of trees. The road, which had been flooded, was a -mass of ice, and the snow on the hills very deep. The enemy, who had -waited for them in great force at this spot, rushed upon the column, -knife in hand. The camp followers and wounded men fell back upon the -handful of troops for protection; thus rendering them powerless, and -causing the greatest confusion; whilst the men, in small detached -parties, were maintaining conflicts with fearful odds against them. - -In this conflict the Acting Quartermaster-Sergeant fell: and in the -confusion, caused by an overwhelming enemy pressing on the rear in a -night attack, it is not surprising that it was found impossible to -extricate the colour from the body of the fallen man; and its loss was -unavoidable. The disorder of the troops was increased by a part of them, -the few remaining horsemen, galloping through and over the infantry in -hopes of securing their own retreat to Jellalabad. The men, maddened at -being ridden over, fired on them; and it is said that some officers were -fired at; but that rests on doubtful testimony. When the firing -slackened, and the clashing of knives and bayonets had in some measure -ceased, the men moved on slowly; and on arriving at the top of the gorge -were able to ascertain the fearful extent of the loss they had sustained -in men and officers. Of the latter Brigadier Anquetil and above twenty -others were missing. The troops now halted unmolested for an hour; -during which time a few stragglers contrived to join them. - -The country being now of a more open description, our small force -suffered less annoyance from the fire of the enemy: but the -determination of the men to bring on their wounded comrades greatly -retarded their marching; and from the troopers having proceeded onwards -the wounded could not be mounted behind them: thus their pace did not -exceed two miles in the hour. From time to time sudden attacks were made -on the rear; particularly in spots where the road wound close under the -foot of the hills, and there a sharp fire was sure to be met with. In -this manner they went on till they reached the Soorkhab river, which -they forded below the bridge at 1 A.M. on the 13th, being aware that the -enemy would take possession of it, and dispute the passage. Whilst -fording the river a galling fire was kept up from the bridge: here -Lieut. Cadett of the 44th and several men were killed and wounded. - -_13th._--From Soorkhab the remnant of the column moved towards Gundamuk: -but as the day dawned the enemy's numbers increased; and unfortunately -daylight soon exposed to them how very few fighting men the column -contained. The force now consisted of twenty officers, of whom Major -Griffiths was the senior, fifty men of the 44th, six of the horse -artillery, and four or five Sipahees. Amongst the whole there were but -twenty muskets; 300 camp followers still continued with them. - -Being now assailed by an increased force, they were compelled to quit -the road, and take up a position on a hill adjoining. Some Affghan -horsemen being observed at a short distance were beckoned to. On their -approach there was a cessation of firing: terms were proposed by Capt. -Hay, to allow the force to proceed without further hostilities to -Jellalabad. These persons not being sufficiently influential to -negotiate, Major Griffiths proceeded with them to a neighbouring chief -for that purpose; taking with him Mr. Blewitt, formerly a writer in -Capt. Johnson's office, who understood Persian, that he might act as -interpreter. - -Many Affghans ascended the hill where our troops awaited the issue of -the expected conference; and exchanges of friendly words passed between -both parties. This lasted upwards of an hour; but hostilities were -renewed by the Affghans, who snatched at the fire-arms of the men and -officers. This they of course resisted; and drove them off the hill: but -the majority of the enemy, who occupied the adjoining hills commanding -our position, commenced a galling fire upon us. Several times they -attempted to dislodge our men from the hill, and were repulsed: until, -our ammunition being expended, and our fighting men reduced to about -thirty, the enemy made a rush, which in our weak state we were unable to -cope with. They bore our men down knife in hand; and slaughtered all the -party except Capt. Souter and seven or eight men of the 44th and -artillery. This officer thinks that this unusual act of forbearance -towards him originated in the strange dress he wore: his poshteen having -opened during the last struggle exposed to view the colour he had -wrapped round his body; and they probably thought they had secured a -valuable prize in some great bahadur, for whom a large ransom might be -obtained. - -Eighteen officers and about fifty men were killed at the final struggle -at Gundamuk. Capt. Souter and the few remaining men (seven or eight) -that were taken alive from the field were, after a detention of a month -in the adjoining villages, made over to Mahommed Akbar Khan and sent to -the fort of Buddeeabad in the Lughman valley, where they arrived on the -15th of February. - - - - -THE CAPTIVITY. - - -We must now return to the General and his party. At daybreak on the 13th -the Sirdar had again changed his mind; and instead of following up the -troops, he decided to move to the position they had vacated, and remain -there during the day; and should the ladies and officers left at Khoord -Cabul arrive in the evening, that all should start the next morning over -the mountains to the valley of Lughman, north of Jellalabad. At 8 A.M., -they mounted their horses; and with the Sirdar and his party rode down -the pass, which bore fearful evidence to the last night's struggle. They -passed some 200 dead bodies, many of them Europeans; the whole naked, -and covered with large gaping wounds. As the day advanced, several poor -wretches of Hindostanees (camp followers, who had escaped the massacre -of the night before) made their appearance from behind rocks and within -caves, where they had taken shelter from the murderous knives of the -Affghans and the inclemency of the climate. They had been stripped of -all they possessed; and few could crawl more than a few yards, being -frostbitten in the feet. Here Johnson found two of his servants: the one -had his hands and feet frostbitten, and had a fearful sword cut across -one hand, and a musket ball in his stomach; the other had his right arm -completely cut through the bone. Both were utterly destitute of -covering, and had not tasted food for five days. - -This suffices for a sample of the sufferings of the survivors. - -About four o'clock Sultan Jan (a cousin of the Sirdar) arrived with the -ladies and gentlemen; also Lieut. Melville of the 54th, and Mr. Magrath, -surgeon of the 37th, both of whom had been wounded between Khoord Cabul -and Tézeen. A large party of cavalry accompanied Sultan Jan, both -Affghan and our irregular horse, who had deserted, as before mentioned. - -_14th._--We marched twenty-four miles to Kutz-i-Mahommed Ali Khan: -started at about 9 A.M.; the Sirdar with Gen. Elphinstone; Brig. -Shelton, and Capt. Johnson bringing up the rear. - -We travelled over a dreadfully rough road: some of the ascents and -descents were fearful to look at, and at first sight appeared to be -impracticable. The whole road was a continuation of rocks and stones, -over which the camels had great difficulty in making their way; and -particularly in the ascent of the Adrak-Budrak pass, where I found it -requisite to hold tight on by the mane, lest the saddle and I should -slip off together. - -Had we travelled under happier auspices, I should probably have been -foolish enough to have expressed fear, not having even a saces to assist -me. Still I could not but admire the romantic tortuous defile we passed -through, being the bed of a mountain torrent, which we exchanged for the -terrific pass I have mentioned, and which was rendered doubly fearful by -constant stoppages from those in front, which appeared to take place at -the most difficult spots. - -At the commencement of the defile, and for some considerable distance, -we passed 200 or 300 of our miserable Hindostanees, who had escaped up -the unfrequented road from the massacre of the 12th. They were all -naked, and more or less frostbitten: wounded, and starving, they had set -fire to the bushes and grass, and huddled all together to impart warmth -to each other. Subsequently we heard that scarcely any of these poor -wretches escaped from the defile: and that driven to the extreme of -hunger they had sustained life by feeding on their dead comrades. - -The wind blew bitterly cold at our bivouac; for the inhabitants of the -fort refused to take us in; stating that we were Kaffirs. We therefore -rolled ourselves up as warm as we could; and with our saddles for -pillows braved the elements. Gen. Elphinstone, Brig. Shelton, and -Johnson considered themselves happy when one of the Affghans told them -to accompany him into a wretched cowshed, which was filled with dense -smoke from a blazing fire in the centre of the hut. These officers and -Mr. Melville were shortly after invited by Mahommed Akbar Khan to dine -with him and his party in the fort. The reception room was not much -better than that they had left: they had, however, a capital dinner, -some cups of tea, and luxurious rest at night; the room having been well -heated by a blazing fire with plenty of smoke, with no outlet for either -heat or smoke, except through the door and a small circular hole in the -roof. - -_15th January._--A bitterly cold wind blowing, we started at 7 A.M.; -crossed two branches of the Punjshir river, which was not only deep, but -exceedingly rapid. The chiefs gave us every assistance: Mahommed Akbar -Khan carried Mrs. Waller over behind him on his own horse. One rode by -me to keep my horse's head well up the stream. The Affghans made great -exertions to save both men and animals struggling in the water; but in -spite of all their endeavours five unfortunates lost their lives. We -passed over many ascents and declivities; and at about 3 P.M. arrived at -Tighree, a fortified town in the rich valley of Lughman; having -travelled twenty miles over a most barren country, without a blade of -grass or drop of water until we approached Tighree. Our route lay along -a tract of country considerably higher than Lughman, with scarcely a -footpath visible the whole way. The road was good for any kind of -carriage. We passed over the Plain of Methusaleh; and saw at a short -distance the Kubber-i-Lamech, a celebrated place of pilgrimage, about -two miles from Tighree and twenty-five from Jellalabad. - -The Sirdar desired the General, the Brigadier, and Johnson to take up -their quarters with him, whilst the ladies and the other gentlemen were -located in another fort. - -A great number of Hindu Bunneahs reside at Tighree. We went to the fort -of Gholab Moyenoodeen, who took Mrs. Sturt and myself to the apartments -of his mother and wife. Of course we could not understand much that they -said; but they evidently made much of us, pitied our condition, told us -to ask them for any thing we required, and before parting they gave us a -lump of goor filled with pistaches, a sweetmeat they are themselves fond -of. - -_16th._--Halted. They tell us we are here only thirty miles from -Jellalabad. It being Sunday, we read prayers from a Bible and Prayer -Book that were picked up on the field at Bhoodkhak. The service was -scarcely finished when a clannish row commenced. Some tribes from a -neighbouring fort who had a blood feud with the chiefs with us came -against the fort: a few juzails were fired; there was great talking and -noise; and then it was all over. - -_17th._--Early in the morning we were ordered to prepare to go higher up -the valley. Thus all hopes (faint as they were) of going to Jellalabad -were annihilated; and we plainly saw that, whatever might be said, we -were virtually prisoners, until such time as Sale shall evacuate -Jellalabad, or the Dost be permitted by our government to return to this -country. - -We had a little hail this morning; and shortly after, at about nine -o'clock, we started, and travelled along the valley, which was a -continuation of forts, until we arrived at Buddeeabad (about eight or -nine miles): it is situated almost at the top of the valley, and close -to the first range of hills towards Kaffiristan. - -Six rooms, forming two sides of an inner square or citadel, are -appropriated to us; and a tykhana to the soldiers. This fort is the -largest in the valley, and is quite new; it belongs to Mahommed Shah -Khan: it has a deep ditch and a fausse-braye all round. The walls of mud -are not very thick, and are built up with planks in tiers on the inside. -The buildings we occupy are those intended for the chief and his -favourite wife; those for three other wives are in the outer court, and -have not yet been roofed in. We number 9 ladies, 20 gentlemen, and 14 -children. In the tykhana are 17 European soldiers, 2 European women, and -1 child (Mrs. Wade, Mrs. Burnes, and little Stoker). - -Mahommed Akbar Khan, to our horror, has informed us that only one man of -our force has succeeded in reaching Jellalabad (Dr. Brydon of the Shah's -force: he was wounded in two places). Thus is verified what we were told -before leaving Cabul; "that Mahommed Akbar would annihilate the whole -army, except one man, who should reach Jellalabad to tell the tale." - -Dost Mahommed Khan (the brother of Mahommed Shah Khan) is to have charge -of us. Our parties were divided into the different rooms. Lady -Macnaghten, Capt. and Mrs. Anderson and 2 children, Capt. and Mrs. Boyd -and 2 children, Mrs. Mainwaring and 1 child, with Lieut. and Mrs. Eyre -and 1 child, and a European girl, Hester Macdonald, were in one room; -that adjoining was appropriated for their servants and baggage. Capt. -Mackenzie and his Madras Christian servant Jacob, Mr. and Mrs. Ryley and -2 children, and Mr. Fallon, a writer in Capt. Johnson's office, occupied -another. Mrs. Trevor and her 7 children and European servant, Mrs. -Smith, Lieut. and Mrs. Waller and child, Mrs. Sturt, Mr. Mein, and I had -another. In two others all the rest of the gentlemen were crammed. - -It did not take us much time to arrange our property; consisting of one -mattress and resai between us, and no clothes except those we had on, -and in which we left Cabul. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan, Sultan Jan, and Ghoolam Moyenoodeen visited us. The -Sirdar assured me we were none of us prisoners; requested that we would -make ourselves as comfortable as circumstances would admit of; and told -us that as soon as the roads were safe we should be safely escorted to -Jellalabad. He further informed me that I might write to Sale; and that -any letters I sent to him he would forward. Of this permission I gladly -took advantage to write a few guarded lines to say that we were well and -safe. - -_19th._--We luxuriated in dressing, although we had no clothes but those -on our backs; but we enjoyed washing our faces very much, having had but -one opportunity of doing so before, since we left Cabul. It was rather a -painful process, as the cold and glare of the sun on the snow had three -times peeled my face, from which the skin came off in strips. - -We had a grand breakfast, dhall and radishes; the latter large hot ones -that had gone to seed, the former is a common pulse eaten by the -natives: but any change was good, as we find our chupatties made of the -coarse ottah any thing but nice. Ottah is what in England is called -pollard; and has to be twice sifted ere it becomes flour. The chupatties -are cakes formed of this ottah mixed with water, and dried by standing -by the fire set up on edge. Eating these cakes of dough is a capital -recipe to obtain the heartburn. We parch rice and barley, and make from -them a substitute for coffee. Two sheep (alias lambs) are killed daily; -and a regular portion of rice and ottah given for all. The Affghans -cook; and well may we exclaim with Goldsmith, "God sends meat, but the -devil sends cooks;" for we only get some greasy skin and bones served -out as they are cooked, boiled in the same pot with the rice, all in a -lump. Capt. Lawrence divides it; and portions our food as justly as he -can. The chupatty is at once the plate and bread: few possess other -dinner-table implements than their fingers. The rice even is rendered -nauseous by having quantities of rancid ghee poured over it, such as in -India we should have disdained to use for our lamps. - -_21st._--The weather cleared up at noon. Major Pottinger is said to have -received information that Zeman Shah Khan and all the Dooranees have -surrendered to Shah Shoojah; and that his Majesty was at the bottom of -the whole affair to turn us out of Affghanistan. - -_22nd._--I heard from Sale, dated the 19th. Our force can hold out at -Jellalabad for six months. It is calculated that Col. Wylde must be at -Jellalabad to-day with 5000 men. Gen. Pollock is coming with an army -across the Punjab. - -We hear that Mahommed Akbar has been offered the Sirdar-i-sirdaranee; -but has refused it. He is said to be gone, or going, to the Khyber. - -_23rd, Sunday._--After prayers Mahommed Akbar Khan and Sultan Jan paid -us a visit: the latter took charge of a letter from me for Sale. He told -me that Abdool Guffoor Khan says that Sale is quite well. - -They say that Shah Shoojah demanded Conolly and three other hostages to -be given up to him to put them to death; but Zeman Shah Khan refused. - -_24th._--A day or two ago the Sirdar sent some chintz to be divided -amongst us. A second quantity was to-day given out; and we are working -hard that we may enjoy the luxury of getting on a clean suit of clothes. -There are very few of us that are not covered with crawlers; and, -although my daughter and I have as yet escaped, we are in fear and -trembling. - -It is now said that the General gave Anderson's horse permission to go -over to the enemy: a circumstance that does not at all agree with his -conduct on the day following our taking protection; when he wished for -Anderson's return lest the men should desert. - -Dost Mahommed Khan took Mrs. Trevor's boys and some of the gentlemen out -walking in the sugar-cane fields near the fort, which they enjoyed very -much. - -_25th._--The Sirdar sent eight pieces of long cloth to be divided -amongst us. I fancy he is generous at little cost; and that it is all a -part of the plunder of our camp. He is said to have received letters -from the Khyber stating that our force has been defeated there; two guns -taken, and some treasure: and that Mackeson is shut up in Ali Musjid -with 300 men. - -_26th._--As soon as the Bukhraeed is over, Shah Shoojah is to send 4000 -men, and all the guns we left in Cabul, against Jellalabad. A Mussulman -force is also now at Balabagh. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan has had a private conference with Major Pottinger; -of which no account has transpired. We had two shocks of earthquake at -night. - -_27th._--A report that Sale has made another sally, and has taken a -number of prisoners. I heard from him to-day: he has sent me my chest of -drawers, with clothes, &c.: they were all permitted to come to me -unexamined. I had also an opportunity of writing to him by Abdool -Guffoor Khan, who brought them to me. I was rejoiced to see any one I -had known before; and especially one who was well inclined towards the -English, though nominally on the side of Akbar. - -_4th._--The irregular cavalry have had their horses and everything taken -away from them; and have been turned adrift. I wrote to Sale, but my -note did not go. - -_5th._--My note to Sale was sent to-day. I got another from him dated -the 29th, and replied to it. - -_9th._--We hear that all our horses are to be taken away; as also our -servants. Rain to-day, as if the clouds wept for our misfortunes. - -_10th._--I received boxes from Sale, with many useful things; and also -books, which are a great treat to us. I wrote to him, but fear my letter -will not reach him, as all notes that came for us were kept back by the -Sirdar; who is very angry, having detected a private cossid between -Capt. Macgregor and Major Pottinger: if we behave ill again, the Sirdar -says, woe will betide us. Abdool Guffoor again came to see us; and I had -again the comfort to hear that Sale was well. We had rain to-day. Major -Griffith arrived, with Mr. Blewitt. - -Major Griffith tells me, that on the morning of the 13th, at daylight, -the miserable remains of the force, reduced to about 100 Europeans of -all ranks, including 20 officers, worn out with fatigue and hunger, and -encumbered with very many wounded, some on horseback and some on foot, -were, when within four miles of the bridge of Gundamuk, surrounded by a -considerable number of the enemy both horse and foot. They had only -thirty-five muskets and but little ammunition remaining; finding it -impossible to proceed further, a position was taken up on a hill to the -left of the road; and a parley opened with the enemy by means of waving -a white cloth. This produced a cessation of the firing; and brought four -or five men up to ascertain the cause. It was unanimously agreed that he -(Major Griffith), as senior officer of the party, should go to the -chief, and endeavour to make some terms for the peaceful march of the -party to Jellalabad. He accordingly went, accompanied by Mr. Blewitt as -interpreter, escorted by one or two of the enemy. On reaching the chief, -they were hurried off without his giving them the opportunity of making -any proposal. The last sight Major Griffith had of the party he had -left, they appeared to be engaged in hostilities with the Affghans, -whose numbers had gradually increased. He afterwards understood that the -waving of a loonghee is considered by them as an act of unconditional -surrender; and as our party would not give up their arms, the Affghans -resorted to force; but were driven off the hill for the time. The few -natives who had accompanied us so far did not go up the hill; but kept -the road, and were seen to be plundered by the enemy. This he was -afterwards told by Capt. Souter; who was brought to the village of -Tootoo some hours after Major Griffith was taken there. This village was -between two and three miles to the right of the scene of action. The -same evening Major Griffith and Mr. Blewitt were taken to the Khan's -fort, four or five miles further on the hills; where they found three or -four European soldiers, who had escaped from the slaughter, wounded and -taken prisoners. Some days after five more Europeans were brought in, -who had proceeded in advance of our party. Major Griffith opened a -communication with Jellalabad; and was in great hopes of effecting the -release of the prisoners on ransom: but, owing to the jealousy and -suspicion of the Khan Ghobam Jan Uzbezee, in whose power they were, -nothing could be arranged. At last, after twenty days' confinement, he -allowed one of their party, Serg.-Major Lisson, 37th N. I., to proceed -to Jellalabad, and endeavour to explain matters. The party in all -consisted of ten: two of these died, and Capt. Souter was left wounded -at Tootoo. - -The man who accompanied the Sergeant-Major returned the third day, and -told them all was right. He was understood to have received 500 rupees -as the ransom of the Sergeant-Major, who remained at Jellalabad. The -party had strong hopes of liberation: but unfortunately the Sirdar, -Mahommed Akbar Khan, heard of their being prisoners and sent to demand -them. After some hesitation it was agreed to; and they were marched off -to Charbagh to the Sirdar, and from thence to Buddeeabad. - -Major Griffiths was severely wounded in the right arm on the 8th of -January, just at the entrance of the Khoord Cabul pass; and, from want -of dressing, the wound had become very painful the day he was taken -prisoner. - -_11th._--Rain. We hear that the force under Col. Wylde have fallen back -on Peshawer; that Gen. Avitabile, the Sikh General with them, has been -obliged to retreat to Attock. - -I had again an opportunity, and wrote to Sale. - -To-day all arms have been taken from the officers, on a promise that -they shall be restored when we go away. I took poor Sturt's sword myself -and begged that the Sirdar would keep it himself; that we might be sure -of its restoration, as being invaluable to his widow. Dost Mahommed -Khan, Abdool Guffoor Khan, &c., desired me to keep it myself; acting in -the handsomest manner, and evincing much feeling on the occasion. - -_12th._--The snow at Tézeen is reported to be knee-deep. A very dismal -day, with gentle rain at night. The Europeans, who have arrived, are all -full of tales regarding each individual's escape. Six of them, amongst -whom was Serg.-Major Lisson, of the 37th N. I., at daylight on the -morning after the final struggle at Gundamuk, found themselves about a -mile and half on the Jellalabad side of Gundamuk; and perceiving some -Ghilzyes coming over the edge of a hill, they betook themselves to a -cave in the neighbourhood, where they contrived to conceal themselves -until about 11 A.M.; when their retreat was betrayed by the neighing of -a horse belonging to one of the men, which caused them to be discovered -by a party of the enemy who were passing near the mouth of the cave. -These men came up, and told them to come outside; which they refused to -do: the Ghilzyes then offered them bread, provided they would pay for -it; and they thus procured three nans for forty-six rupees! The enemy -then again ordered them to come out of the cave; and they replied, "In -the evening, when it gets dusk, we will come outside." They were watched -till then; and at that time gave themselves up. They were immediately -rifled of all the money, &c. they possessed; and then taken to a fort in -the neighbourhood, and afterwards transferred to another, where they -found Major Griffiths; and from whence Lisson was despatched to -Jellalabad, to treat for terms of ransom, as before mentioned. - -_13th._--A fine day. Not content with the arms given up, they pretend -our servants have others, and a general search took place to-day; when -all the poor wretches were fleeced of the few rupees they had succeeded -in securing on their persons. - -_14th._--This is the day that Mahommed Akbar Khan is to go over the -river towards Jellalabad to attack it. The 13th sent a quantity of -clothes for distribution amongst the gentlemen. I received a large -packet of letters, both from my family in the provinces, and also from -England, but no note from Sale; so the Sirdar is still angry about the -private correspondence. It was a very foolish attempt, for there was no -news of consequence to send; and rousing the Sirdar's suspicion is not -the way to make him kind to us. - -_15th._--Firing of heavy guns distinctly heard to-day; supposed to be a -salute at Jellalabad. Shah Shoojah is said to be still in the Bala -Hissar; and Zeman Shah Khan with Amenoollah Khan in the city. They are -said to be raising a force to be sent by the former against Jellalabad; -which force is to be commanded by his son Futteh Jung. To-day we hear -that our horses are not to be taken away from us; and every thing is to -be done to make us comfortable. There is an old adage, that "Fair words -butter no parsnips." - -_17th._--The ground was covered with snow at daybreak; which continued -to fall all day, and also at night. At breakfast-time we distinctly -heard the report from three guns; and about half an hour afterwards -three or four heavy discharges of musketry. - -_18th._--Dost Mahommed Khan came with his son; the family have all -arrived at a neighbouring fort in this valley. There is a report that -Sale has chupaoed Mahommed Akbar Khan's camp at Charbagh, and cut up -fifty of his men. - -_19th._--I heard from Sale. A friend writes me that there will be no -relief before April. At noon I was on the top of the house; when an -awful earthquake took place. I had gone up stairs to see after my -clothes; for, servants being scarce, we get a sweeper, who also acts as -saces, to wash for us; and I hang them up to dry on the flat roof: we -dispense with starch and ironing; and in our present situation we must -learn to do every thing that is useful. But to return to the earthquake. -For some time I balanced myself as well as I could; till I felt the roof -was giving way. I fortunately succeeded in removing from my position -before the roof of our room fell in with a dreadful crash. The roof of -the stairs fell in as I descended them; but did me no injury. All my -anxiety was for Mrs. Sturt; but I could only see a heap of rubbish. I -was nearly bewildered, when I heard the joyful sound, "Lady Sale, come -here, all are safe;" and I found the whole party uninjured in the -courtyard. When the earthquake first commenced in the hills in the upper -part of the valley, its progress was clearly defined, coming down the -valley, and throwing up dust, like the action of exploding a mine.--I -hope a soldier's wife may use a soldier's simile, for I know of nothing -else to liken it to. Our walls, and gateways, and corner towers, are all -much shaken, or actually thrown down. We had at least twenty-five shocks -before dark; and about fifteen more during the night, which we spent in -the courtyard. The end wall of the room Lady Macnaghten and party were -in has sunk about two feet, and all the beams have started. - -_20th._--I wrote to Sale, to tell him we were all safe. At 3 in the -morning we had a pretty smart shock; and constant ones, some severe, and -many very slight, on an average every half hour all day, and five or six -slight ones at night. The gentlemen gave up their largest room to my -party, who were utterly roofless. Nearly all the others slept outside: -but we had only one crack in the roof of our room, caused by part of the -wall falling on it. The cold outside was intense; and the dew completely -saturated the bed clothes last night: added to which, should the -buildings come down, we were safer above, for the yard was so crammed -that, in case of accident, half the people below must be crushed. - -_21st._--At 1 in the morning a sharp shock made us run to the door. We -had numerous slight, and three or four pretty good shocks: they became -more frequent in the evening. Part of our party made awnings in the -courtyard to sleep under; but Mrs. Sturt and myself still preferred the -house as safest. - -Dost Mahommed Khan brought workmen to clear away the _débris_. He tells -us our fort is the best of forty that have suffered in this valley; and -that many are entirely thrown down. In one, a tower fell, and crushed -five women and a man: others have not a wall remaining. - -We have various reports regarding Jellalabad;--that it has been taken, -that the walls and all the defences are thrown down, &c. - -Dost Mahommed says that a man was sent as a spy to Jellalabad: that -Macgregor sent for him; and, with Sale, took the man round to show him -the state of the place: that two bastions had sunk a little; but that -they were not only able to withstand Mahommed Akbar, but, if he came -against them, they would meet him in the plain. It is said that Mahommed -Akbar intends sending Gen. Elphinstone away if he can get a palkee. Lady -Macnaghten has requested she may go with him; being, she says, -differently circumstanced from the rest, who have most of them their -husbands with them. Not even an animal's life was lost in our earthquake -(I mean at our fort). Lady M.'s cat was buried in the ruins, and dug out -again. - -_22d._--My wounds are quite healed. We had earthquakes day and night; -less severe, but equally frequent. A prop was put up in our room to -support the broken roof. We experienced a curious shock in the evening -like a heavy ball rolled over our heads. Some large pieces of hills have -fallen, and immense masses of stone. I miss some large upright stones on -the hills that divide us from Kaffiristan, and that looked in the -distance like large obelisks. - -_23d._--This has been a very close and gloomy day; earthquakes frequent, -and some very sharp ones. We hear that, at Charbagh, 120 Affghans, and -20 Hindostanees were buried in the ruins. - -Capt. Bygrave arrived,with one of his feet severely frostbitten: we were -all rejoiced to see him, having long supposed he had shared the fate of -the many. On the 12th of January, perceiving that our army was utterly -annihilated, he left the road at midnight, turned to the left, and took -to the mountains; where he was out seven days and six nights. During a -part of this time he was accompanied by Mr. Baness, the merchant from -Delhi, who had with him a small bag containing coffee: on this they -subsisted, taking each about six grains a day. When this was spent -Baness proceeded on; and we afterwards heard that he got to Jellalabad, -but so worn out with fatigue that he only arrived to die. Capt. Bygrave -suffered greatly from having his feet frostbitten: he however contrived -at daylight in the morning of the 19th to reach Nizam Khan's village, -called Kutch Soorkhab, about four miles north of Gundamuk, and -twenty-eight from Jellalabad. Here he remained (plundered of course of -what little money he had about him) until the 14th of February; when he -was sent for to the Indian camp, then about six miles from Jellalabad. -He had been demanded some days previously; but Nizam Khan refused to -give him up until the arrival of the second messenger, accompanied by -two mounted followers, when he was obliged to comply. Bygrave reached -the Sirdar's camp in the afternoon of the 15th, and remained there with -him till the 21st, on which day he started for Buddeeabad; and has, as -before remarked, this day joined the other prisoners. - -_24th._--Very few shocks, and those gentle ones: but all last night, and -great part of to-day, particularly late in the evening, there was a -tremulous motion as of a ship that has been heavily struck by a sea, -generally feeling as if on the larboard quarter, and accompanied by a -sound of water breaking against a vessel. At other times we have just -the undulatory motion of a snake in the water: but the most uncommon -sensation we have experienced has been that of a heavy ball rolling over -our heads, as if on the roof of our individual room, accompanied by the -sound of distant thunder. - -Abdool Ghyas Khan came to Buddeeabad. The report is, that Sultan Jan was -sent the day before yesterday with 1000 men to make a false attack on -Jellalabad; in which, on retreating, he lost three men. Yesterday he was -sent to repeat the experiment, an ambuscade being planted by Mahommed -Akbar's order; and it is said that our troops were led on to the spot in -pursuit of the fugitives; and that the enemy lying in ambush attacked -them, and cut up a whole regiment, of which only three men escaped to -tell the tale at Jellalabad. - -General Pollock with 5000 men is said to have arrived at Peshawer, as -commander of the forces in Affghanistan, and with full political power. -The news came from a merchant, who has just arrived from Peshawer. - -_25th._--The earth is still unquiet, constantly trembling, with reports -like explosions of gunpowder, but no severe shocks. - -We hear that the camp followers we passed on the road are eating the -bodies of those that die: eventually they must take their turn; for -frostbitten as they are, they never can leave the places we saw them at. - -_27th._--A man has arrived who confirms the report of a fight, four days -ago, at Jellalabad: and says four of the 13th are killed, and four taken -prisoners; but they do not know whether they are officers or men. Sultan -Jan is said to have had a narrow escape, all his men having been cut up. - -Earthquakes very frequent, but not severe, though worse than yesterday. -The Ameer Dost Mahommed is reported to be on his way up from the -provinces with the army; others say he has escaped from Ferozepore. - -_28th._--In consequence of a message from the Sirdar, our guards are -doubled. The Mirza Bowadeen Khan is to go to him to-morrow. It is said -8000 men are coming from Cabul. A smart shock of an earthquake about 9 -o'clock in the evening; and during the night several slight ones. - -_March 1st._--The Mirza went to the Sirdar. Nothing has transpired. A -smart double shock in the morning, with slight tremulous motion. - -_3rd_ & _4th._--Earthquakes as usual. To-day every servant that is -frostbitten or unable to work has been turned out of the fort: they were -stripped first of all they possessed. I received two notes from Sale, -dated the 11th and 16th. - -_5th._--At 3 A.M. turned out of bed by a smart shock of an earthquake. -Three continuous ones at breakfast-time. Futteh Jung is reported to be -at Tighree. - -_8th._--A letter arrived from Mahommed Akbar Khan; stating that the King -has written to desire that the force at Jellalabad may be withdrawn, and -that Futteh Jung is on his way down with 8000 men. It is stated that -Macgregor has refused to receive the King's messenger; and that our -force have arrived at Jumrood. - -_9th._--Several slight shocks at night; after which, great screaming and -alarm. Husnoo, a sweeper, being a disappointed man, attempted to -strangle Rookeria, a woman of the same cast. The gentlemen searched -every corner; and the delinquent had to jump down the wall; in doing -which he seriously injured his back. There was no other mode of escape, -as we are always locked into the square at night. - -_10th._--The Affghans gave Mr. Husnoo a desperate flogging; and had it -not been for the officers, would have hanged him afterwards: he was, -however, stripped, and turned out of the fort. - -_11th._--Dost Mahommed Khan came. Khoda Bukeh, the half-brother of -Mahommed Shah, has, we are told, left the Sirdar, whose party is -breaking up; and he is supposed to be trying to get Major Pottinger to -make some terms for him with Macgregor, and for him to join the English -against the King. Col. Palmer has sent down to Macgregor the terms on -which he will surrender at Ghuznee; but Macgregor refuses to ratify -them; and has forwarded them to Gen. Pollock, through the Sirdar, who -has sent them here to Pottinger. Meantime the garrison at Ghuznee are to -be provisioned by the chiefs. Dost Mahommed says that the King has -written to Macgregor to vacate Jellalabad; and at the same time sent, by -the bearer of the letter, a verbal communication not to do so. The -messenger had a long conversation with Macgregor, and then started sharp -for Cabul, passing Mahommed Akbar Khan's camp at night; who, on his -part, was expecting to catch him in the morning, and possess himself of -the letters. - -The Mirza Bowadeen Khan is getting a paper signed by us all, to say he -has treated us well: from whence we suspect he thinks our party will -eventually gain the ascendant. - -The Sirdar sent to Lady Macnaghten to say that if she did not require -the services of three Hindostanee saceses that are in another fort, he -will send them, with the Resallah, to Peshawer on rafts, the day after -to-morrow: a demonstration of civility without meaning. The saceses are -useless at a distance; and she does not require grooms for the horses -that have been taken from her, either by him or Mahommed Shah Khan. - -_13th._--Earthquakes as usual. There has been a fight at Jellalabad. A -party were sent out to mine: Sale, having intelligence of their -intention, planted an ambush. The enemy were first attacked from the -fort; and when they fled, they fell into the ambuscade, and were cut to -pieces. Numbers of wounded Affghans have come into this and the -neighbouring forts. - -_14th._--Earthquakes in plenty. Mrs. Boyd was confined early tills -morning; adding another to our list of female captives. In the evening -Affghans came in with many reports; confirming the account that there -have been three fights, in which the Affghans have been worsted; that -after the last battle Mahommed Akbar Khan in his retreat was fired at by -an Affghan, and wounded in the body and arms. - -The Affghans tell two tales: one, that Shah Shoojah had bribed a man -with a lakh of rupees to assassinate Akbar; the other, that Capt. -Macgregor gave Abdool Guffoor Khan (Akbar's cousin) the same sum to -procure the like effect; and that Abdool and all his family have been -put to death. - -They say that Mahommed Akbar Khan chafes like a lion taken in the toils, -with his three wounds,--for he was previously wounded in the thigh. He -allowed no one but Mahommed Shah Khan to enter his tent. - -_15th._--I was made very anxious by a report that Jellalabad had been -taken: it proved to be a piece of wit, to impose on those who were eager -for news. The Mirza, as soon as he heard of it, left his tent to come -and assure me that it was false, and to request I would not make myself -unhappy about it. - -Of authentic accounts the last are, that there was a burj between the -Sirdar's camp and Jellalabad, which Mahommed Akbar wished to establish -as an outpost, and intended taking possession of. "Fighting Bob" (as -Sale is called), having got intelligence of their intentions, sent a -party of sappers and miners with supports during the night, who -destroyed the work and returned; and on the Sirdar's party's arrival, -they found their intended post annihilated. - -Further accounts regarding the Sirdar's wound state, that it was purely -accidental. A favourite Pesh Khedmut, who had accompanied Mahommed Akbar -Khan to Bokhara, and had been with him in all his changes of fortune, -was assisting him to dismount from his horse, when some part of his -dress catching upon his fire-arms, they went off, and the Sirdar was -wounded through the arm and lungs. One account states, that the -unfortunate man was instantly cut to pieces; another, that he was burnt -alive; and that to the last he took his oath on the Koran that the act -was an accident. There is nothing too brutal or savage for Akbar to -accomplish: he is known to have had a man flayed alive in his presence, -commencing at the feet, and continuing upwards until the sufferer was -relieved by death. - -The Mirza has sent for nalbunds to shoe our horses; and there seems to -be an idea that we shall not long remain here. We have lately made -ourselves more comfortable: a temporary shed or two, composed of mats, -have been erected since the great earthquake for the accommodation of -those who were turned out of their rooms at that time, all of course at -their own expense. We have also got stools to sit upon, and charpoys -instead of lying on the ground; and a cujava, with boards nailed on it, -serves me for a table--a decided luxury, there being but one other here. -_Mirza_, in this man's case, denominates a secretary: he is a kind of -under-jailor (Dost Mahommed Khan being the principal one), who issues -out our allowance of food: to some he is civil, and has been so to me: -to some very rude; and has even drawn his knife on one of the officers. - -_18th._--We had two slight shakes, with reports like distant guns or -thunder in the morning; and another during prayers at night. The Mirza -Bowadeen Khan is to leave us the day after to-morrow. The servants have -a report that there have been several engagements, in which Sale has -been victorious; that the Sirdar is wounded in two places; and that the -married people are all to be sent to Jellalabad, and the bachelors to -Cabul. - -_19th._--No earthquake to-day. The Mirza is ordered off; and the Nazir -of Mahommed Shah Khan is come in his place: that is, he is to be our -sub-jailor, Dost Mahommed Khan being the principal one, and answerable -for our safe custody to Mahommed Shah Khan, his brother, who rules all -Mahommed Akbar Khan's councils. - -The Nazir begins well: says the Mirza cheated us of our allowance; that -two sheep and twenty fowls are to be distributed daily, one seer of -ottah, and one of rice to each room, with ghee in proportion; and that -we are to have keshmish, sugar, and tea, monthly. - -It is further reported that the Sirdar never intended the servants to be -sent away; and that it was done by the Mirza in hopes of obtaining -plunder. However, to do him justice, he sent to Capt. Lawrence, desiring -him to make it known that the servants' money was unsafe; and that those -who had any had better intrust it to the keeping of their masters. Now -this he never would have done had he intended to fleece them. For myself -I regret his going away; as he was always very civil to me, getting me -any little thing I required. - -_20th._--During prayers (it being Sunday) about one o'clock we felt -three distinct shocks. - -Numbers of cattle are being driven off towards the hills. The people are -sending their families and property away from the villages. The Affghans -say that it is only the wandering Ghilzye tribes returning, as is their -wont in the spring of the year, towards Cabul; having, as usual, -wintered their flocks in the warmer climate of the Lughman valley. - -_21st._--The no-roz, or vernal equinox. Mr. Melville brought us a -bouquet of narcissuses, which we highly prized, for it is long since we -have seen even a blade of grass. - -The report of to-day is, that troops have at length arrived at -Jellalabad; having lost 1000 out of 3000 men in forcing the Khyber pass. -All the forts about this place are filling fast with wounded men of -Akbar's army; and skirmishes are said to take place daily at Jellalabad, -in which we never hear of the Sirdar being victorious. - -A nalbund is come to this fort, and is shoeing all our horses, we paying -for the same. This looks like preparation for a move; but we trust it -will not be a precipitate flight to Khoolloom with Mahommed Akbar Khan, -as we have heard it hinted. - -Mr. Clarke is stated to have arrived at Peshawer. He is an active -political functionary, and just the man to set things to rights. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan sent 800 men to watch the proceedings at Jellalabad. -Sale is said to have attacked them, and cut them to pieces. This is the -Affghan report of to-day. - -_23d._--A report that the Sirdar is willing to go over to the English; -but that Mahommed Shah Khan is averse to the measure. - -Another report, that all the horses and ponies are sent for by the -Sirdar, has caused a great commotion; which, however, has subsided, on -the discovery that the Sirdar had sent to claim a blue horse he had lent -Mr. Ryley on the march, which he requires for his artillery: it was an -iron grey. - -An earthquake early in the morning, and many slight ones at night. - -Mahommed Shah Khan's people are sounding us, to ascertain whether we -shall be ransomed or not; talking of a lakh and half as our value: the -General, Major Pottinger, and Capt. Lawrence to remain until we are in -safety, and their rupees in hand. A council of officers was held at the -General's regarding this same ransom business: which they refer to -Macgregor. I protest against being implicated in any proceedings in -which I have no vote. - -_25th._--The Nazir says it was only a feeler, and it was a lakh and half -each that Mahommed Shah Khan required from us. Perhaps this is only a -piece of Affghan wit. - -_26th._--Letters from Jellalabad. The 31st, and 9th Queen's, a regiment -of Dragoons, two of Native Cavalry, eight of Infantry, three -eighteen-pounders, three nine-pounders, and six six-pounders, are -expected there on the 1st of April. Gerard has been wounded. Abbott hit -by a spent ball: all well, thank God! - -This news is very different from what we heard this morning, which was -that those left at Cabul and Ghuznee have been sent to Bokhara to be -sold as slaves; and that our turn would come next. - -The thermometer of our spirits has risen greatly. We hear from -Jellalabad that all at Cabul are well, and that Ghuznee has been obliged -to surrender; but that the officers are all well, safe, and taken care -of, as we are here. - -Earthquakes in the usual number. - -_27th.--Easter Sunday._ I wrote to Sale. Four earthquakes before -breakfast, and more at night. - -_28th._--We hear from an Affghan, just come from Jellalabad, that two -regiments have left Peshawer, and advanced two marches; that Capt. -Mackeson, political agent, has bought over the Khyberries; but that -Gholab Sing, the Sheikh general, has claimed the honour of keeping the -pass open for us. - -_29th._--An Affghan reports that our troops have arrived at Lallpoorah. -A trifling earthquake at sunset; the hills enveloped in clouds, which -suddenly assumed a lurid hue, and one sharp clap of thunder much -resembling a gun was heard; after which they cleared off. A little rain -about 8 P.M. when it became very warm, and we experienced a very hot -night. - -_30th._--Sultan Jan and Mahommed Shah Khan are (we hear) gone with 3000 -men to oppose the troops coming up. This force might annoy ours very -much in the Cholah Khyber, between Lallpoorah and Hazar-i-now. - -Another report is current to-day, that we are to be off on Sunday for -Jellalabad. - -Heavy rain in the evening and at night, with rumblings and trifling -shocks. - -_31st._--The weather has cleared up again. To-day's report is, that we -go on Monday to Tagow or Kaffiristan. The people are becoming very -civil; ask if we will spare their lives, and are sending their women -away. We tell them that all who behave well to us will have their -property respected, and be well treated. - -They say that Sultan Jan is really gone with 3000 men to the Cholah -Khyber; that our force coming up gives no quarter; that the Affghans -sent spies in the guise of country people, with things to sell, to see -what loot the Feringhees had. They report that not only the soldiers, -but also the officers, are packed close in small palls, without beds, -chairs, tables, or any thing but the clothes on their backs. - -_April 1st._--A famous hoax went round, that a letter had come from -Macgregor, that government were going to ransom us from Mahommed Shah -Khan for three lakhs of rupees, and that we were to leave Buddeeabad on -Wednesday; that Sultan Jan had been defeated in the Khyber, and that -Mahommed Akbar Khan had fled to Cabul. - -Letters did actually arrive from Jellalabad subsequently, with very -conflicting accounts: Gen. Pollock not expected till the 16th. - -A report that Mahommed Akbar had withdrawn all his outposts, and -hostilities had ceased; that Dost Mahommed had arrived at the Attock; -and that as soon as he entered the country, all prisoners were to be set -at large, and our force to quit the country, leaving the Ameer Dost -Mahommed to prosecute his fortunes as best he may. - -Sale's letter gives no intelligence of a public nature; but as he -proposes getting more shoes made to send to me, it does not look as if -he expected us to leave this country soon. - -_3d._--A report that Macgregor has seized a flock of 200 sheep, twenty -head of cattle, and twenty camels that were passing near Jellalabad; -that Mahommed Akbar Khan, who it seems cannot have withdrawn his -outposts, sent to seize our yaboos when they went out to water, and -planted a party for that purpose. Some of our people who went out early, -saw them stealing along to their position, and immediately reported the -circumstance, when Sale planted an ambush of two companies, one of -Europeans and one native. They then sent out the animals as usual, and -when the Affghans pounced on their expected prey, they were attacked, -and it is said 200 of them were killed. - -_5th._--I wrote to Sale, but heard that the letter will not go till -to-morrow. We are told that three chiefs at Jellalabad are supplying our -army with grain, leaving it at the gate at night. - -_6th._--The Nazir says that a brass six-pounder has been brought in from -the Khyber on a camel, and that it has killed two camels bringing it to -the Sirdar's camp; also, that they have brought in thirty Europeans -heads. Dost Mahommed Khan has returned from Cabul; whither the Sirdar -sent him on business: he reports that there is great commotion in Cabul; -and he has brought all Sultan Jan's family back with him for safety, to -the Lughman valley. The gun above alluded to, is probably one taken at -Ali Musjid; and the Sirdar having brought it to his camp, induces us to -think that he has given up the idea of defending the Khyber. - -Pottinger gives it as his opinion, that we may probably remain here for -six months. - -The Nazir tells us that the gun that has arrived has been a month on the -road, and has killed six camels; that it is the one taken at Jumroad -three months ago, when our people were out foraging; and that Zeman Khan -has ordered Shah Shoojah to send a force down from Cabul. What they are -going to do, and by whom the troops are to be headed, we know not; but -only that the report is that a force has started. The Nazir told -Pottinger that the talk of our being ransomed at two lakhs was only a -feeler, to see what we would offer: that Mahommed Shah Khan would for -that sum allow one gentleman to go to Peshawer to treat with our party -there; but that Pottinger would be held answerable for his safe return. - -News has just arrived to the Nazir from the Kazanchey, who is with the -Sirdar, that all the officers at Ghuznee are killed except eight; that -our troops at Khelat-i-Gilzye hold their ground, though they have been -attacked several times; that the garrison of Kandahar have made frequent -sallies, and scoured the country in every direction for eight or ten -miles; and that they have got in a number of sheep and cattle: also, -that an army is coming up from Shikarpore. - -Further reports assure us that Shah Shoojah left Cabul to proceed to -Bégramee, where his tents were pitched; but that he had not got further -than the Musjed, where John Hicks's tomb is, in front of the Bala Hissar -gate, when he was cut down in his palkee by the son of Zeman Khan, and -was immediately cut to pieces. - -Three Sirdars are said to have come in to-day; but we know of a truth -that the Affghans are burnishing up their arms, and making bullets. - -Our force is reported to have arrived at Jellalabad. Our guards are all -on the alert. A report that Mahommed Akbar is killed; another that he -has fled to Gundamuk. - -Our broken towers are manned, and thirteen men added to our guard. - -_8th._--The first news this morning was, that Mahommed Shah Khan had -been here during the night, and that he has removed his family from the -valley. It is still reported that Mahommed Akbar Khan is dead. The -Sirdar reproached the chiefs for having supplied our garrison with -provisions; and the same night, Abdool Guffoor Khan, Abdool Rahim, and -Aga Jan, went over to Macgregor with 1000 Affghan cavalry, and told him -that the enemy were not prepared; on which a chupao was made on Akbar's -camp, with great slaughter. The three chiefs remained as hostages in -Jellalabad, whilst their men went with our cavalry to chupao the camp. -Akbar's horse was restive; and none of his people waited for him: his -own artillerymen turned the guns against him in their flight; and they -left their camp standing, their arms, and every thing they possessed; -and ran for their lives. Mahommed Shah Khan has escaped; and Mahommed -Akbar Khan is said to be within four kos of Buddeeabad. - -_10th._--We were hurried from daybreak to get ready. Mahommed Shah Khan -has taken away all Lady Macnaghten's jewels, to the value of above a -lakh of rupees; and her shawls, valued at between 30,000 and 40,000 -rupees. He desired to see my boxes; but did not take the trouble of -examining them: he, however, knew that I arrived here without any -baggage. He sent to inquire if we had any valuables; and, if so, we were -to give them up at once. - -The Mirza has returned: he, and the Nazir, promise to send a box, which -I have no means of carrying, as also our servants, who are unable to go -with us, to Jellalabad to Sale: however as they crammed the box into -their own godown, I strongly suspect they mean to keep it themselves. My -chest of drawers they took possession of with great glee--I left some -rubbish in them, and some small bottles, that were useless to me. I hope -the Affghans will try their contents as medicine, and find them -efficacious: one bottle contained nitric acid, another a strong solution -of lunar caustic! - -We did not start till past noon, and then did not take the road we -expected, leading to Tighree; but an upper one to the right, and were -told we were going to Tagow. We had a great number of detentions from -the camels that carried the kujavas; the General's broke down; so did -Mrs. Sturt's; the General was laid on the ground until another could be -brought for him; and Mr. Melville gave his horse to my daughter. Here -the Mirza professed to be very kind and attentive: he took a chogah -lined with valuable fur, which was particularly prized by Mrs. Sturt, as -being her husband's; also his sword; and said he would carry them for -her when she was obliged to ride; but he quite forgot to return them, -which caused much annoyance to us; and proved that the Mirza, despite -his fair speeches, took care not to lose an opportunity of enriching -himself at our expence. - -We had not proceeded far when we met some horsemen shouting _Kalūs -shud_, and we were ordered to turn round: then we heard that our troops -had been beat in the Khyber, and had lost ten guns. The next report was, -that our troops had penetrated into the Lughman valley; another, that -Jellalabad was taken. We went back; and found that the mat houses, and -other little comforts we had put up, were mostly demolished; our scraps -of setringees taken away, as also our mats, &c.: but the soldiers were -very civil to us: one brought back my charpoy, and busied himself in -stringing it for me; another brought me a chiragh; and a soldier's wife -brought Mrs. Sturt and me each a stool to sit on. These little -kindnesses make a deep impression at such times. - -We were told not to unpack; and to be ready to start, if requisite, in -the night. - -A servant who refused to march with us was all activity on our return: -he ran here and there, took our horses, and then, best of all, bought -some fowls and cooked them for us. - -We had been cooped up so long without any exercise, that we were quite -ready for and enjoyed our dinner after the ride. - -_11th._--We got an early breakfast; and soon after started again; -leaving the soldiers, two European women (Mrs. Wade and Mrs. Burnes), -and the child Seymour Stoker, with all the maimed servants, and those -that would not go with us. The women and child certainly ought to have -accompanied us. - -We went to Ali Kund, a rather long march, and found the Sirdar there, -seated in his nalkee, and looking very ill. He was particular in bowing -to us all, making every demonstration of civility. - -Three tents were pitched for us on a pretty and green spot. The valley -was beautiful under cultivation; and to us doubly so, from our not -having seen a blade of grass for so long a time. - -The field pea was in blossom; several sorts of cranesbill, gentian, -forget-me-not, campions, &c. - -Having taken the precaution to have some fowls roasted over night, we -got a good meal; and we design, whenever we march, and can procure them, -to do the same. - -As we marched through the valley, we saw the effects of the late -earthquake: not a fort was entire; very few habitable; and most of them -masses of ruins. - -Sultan Jan arrived this evening from the Khyber. Truly, the Persian -expression of a man's face being blackened is true: he looks very black -upon his late defeat in the Khyber; and has returned with 50, all that -remain to him of 500 men he took there. I had no idea, before our -captivity, that people could become so changed by sunburn; the Europeans -looking like the Affghans, and the Affghans as dark as Hindostanees. - -_12th._--Set out at eight A.M., and arrived at our ground at five P.M.; -a very long march over a sterile country. We only twice met with water, -which was very shallow, and so sandy that our horses would not drink it. -We did not see a vestige of a habitation, nor any cultivation. - -We left the Adanek Beeduck pass to our left; and travelled up and down a -number of very difficult mountain passes. Mahommed Akbar Khan passed us; -bowed, and smiled--"He can smile, and smile, and be a villain." I shook -hands with Moyenoodeen, who is also arrived from the Khyber. He looks -what is vulgarly called down in the mouth. He appeared afraid of -acknowledging his acquaintance with me; and stealthily came to inquire -if my wound was well. He was with Sale in the Kohistan; and then, and -still, professes to be his friend, and the friend of the English in -general. - -_13th._--Made a march of about twelve miles: the country sterile and -rocky; the road rather better than yesterday; only one very awkward -ascent, when all the ladies got out of their kujavas. I always ride; and -have my own saddle: but some of the ladies are obliged to ride gentleman -fashion, sitting on their beddings instead of saddles. - -The road was mostly up and down hill. We passed two small forts, with -patches of cultivation near them, not far from our encamping ground. We -found it very hot in our tent. This tent is one division of a common -Sipahee's pall. We have taken up our places; and always retain them. Our -party consists of Mrs. Trevor and five of her children, and Mrs. Sturt -and myself, on one side; on the other Mrs. Boyd and her three children, -Lady Macnaghten, Mrs. Mainwaring and child, Capt. and Mrs. Anderson and -two children, and Capt. Lawrence. The other tents are similarly crammed: -all spread their beddings (which touch each other) upon the ground. - -_14th._--A very tiresome hill on setting out,--the Bādhpush or Windy -Back: the ascent rather difficult: the descent could be made good for -guns with 100 sappers in a few days. Saw plenty of fruit trees in -blossom on the hill; at the foot of which we halted, dismounted, and sat -on the ground till all our people got over; and found Mahommed Shah's -sons with large bouquets of tulips. I observed the mistletoe, the myrrh, -ilex, &c. The rest of the march was along a tolerably good road. We -crossed the same stream at least twenty times. Saw some purple iris's. -We were detained a long time at the Cabul river; which we crossed on a -_jhala_ (or raft) supported on inflated skins; and encamped close to the -bank, but further down the stream, as the current was very rapid: the -river is said to be twenty feet deep at some places. Here we found -Mahommed Akbar Khan. Our baggage came up at dusk, as also the tents; but -a great deal did not get over, and has to wait for daylight. Several -horses swam over; and their efforts, and those of their riders, were a -source of great interest to us. - -_15th April._--We did not leave our encampment until the middle of the -day; when we found the sand dreadfully hot. We came only four or five -miles to Sehruby; and pitched our tents not far distant from Abdoollah -Khan's fort. There were no kujavas to-day, and great grumbling thereat -amongst the ladies. A report, which we fervently hope is untrue, that -all the hostages left at Cabul are murdered. - -I saw plenty of amaryllis in bloom; as also of the Persian iris (the -orris of the druggists), which quite scented the air with a perfume -resembling that of mingled violets and wall-flowers. - -_16th._--We halted. All manner of reports to-day,--that the King has not -been murdered, but is in power with the Dooranees, the Populzyes, and -Akukzyes, who are in the ascendant; whilst the Barukzyes are at a -discount:--that great commotion exists in Cabul:--that the soldiers, who -were left there, are to remain; but the officers are to come and join us -at Tézeen to-morrow; whither we are to march, and go by roads -impracticable for cattle; all to walk, to Herat: we are to be there in -two months, after which we are to be sent to Balkh. - -_17th._--Halted again, probably waiting for the four kujavas that the -Sirdar has ordered Mahommed Shah Khan to furnish us with. They say we go -to Tezeen to-morrow: the mirza is off in advance, in great haste. Our -troops are said to be near; and the Affghans are going to chupao them. -The Sirdar has fallen back on the river, to confer with the Chief of -Tagow. - -This day I was attacked with fever. - -_18th._--Halted. Mahommed Shah Khan is gone off to Cabul; we are to go -to the hills above Tézeen, and stay there till all is settled. If only a -small force comes up, the Affghans mean to cut them up in the Khoord -Cabul; if a large force come, they will succumb at once. I was worse -to-day: a pleasant prospect, as we daily expect to march. Our troops are -said to be still at Lallpoorah, quieting refractory tribes. - -_19th._--A miserable day, and we marched through heavy rains to Tézeen: -we are told that no supplies were to be had where we were. Kodá Buksh -Khan's fort, close at hand, is full of loot and plate. The earthquake -has brought down part of the fort they have brought us to. - -The Sirdar could only get two camels with kujavas; but gave up his own -palkee to Lady Macnaghten and me. I was utterly incapable of sitting on -horseback: however, as I had to sit backwards, with very little room, -nothing to lean against, and to keep a balance against Lady M. and Mrs. -Boyd's baby, I benefited but little, except in the grandeur of a royal -equipage. My turban and habit were completely saturated by the rain; and -I shivered as I went. On arrival at the fort, I was told to go into the -room where Mahommed Shah's and the other chief's ladies were. They -received us with great kindness; and kept heaping up three large fires -for us to dry our clothes by. The court yard was a deep mass of mud; and -in the evening Affghans carried us on their backs across it to another -apartment, which was nicely covered with _numdas_: our beddings were all -regularly sopped through. The whole of the baggage was sent on to the -camp, with our servants. A dinner was cooked for us,--a huge dish of -rice, with dhye (sour curds) in the centre, and ghee poured over all! -This is a favourite Affghan dish, and therefore my bad taste must be -arraigned for thinking it not eatable. Fortunately I had a little tea -and sugar in a bag, suspended from the crupper of my saddle: they gave -us some milk, and I found tea the most refreshing repast. We stretched -ourselves on the numdas (coarse felt carpets) in our still wet clothes. -In the night I began shivering again; and Capt. Anderson, my nearest bed -mate, covered me with a bed cloak, which, strange to say, soon imparted -warmth to me. We slept, large and small, thirty-four in a room 15 feet -by 12; and we lay on the floor, literally packed together, with a wood -fire in the centre, and using pine torches for candles. - -_20th._--The Sirdar fears if he is taken by us, we shall either hang him -or blow him from a gun. Mahommed Shah Khan is in a great fright also. -Sultan Jan appears to be our bitterest enemy. The Sirdar says _he alone_ -could take us through the country: or, if he wished it, he could -assemble 5000 men at any point to attack us. - -It is said that Mackenzie is to go to Jellalabad on a secret mission. He -will not be allowed to take any letters for individuals. - -We had rain all day; and our wet chogahs, &c. hanging up, increased the -damp. I wrote a few lines in pencil to Sale by a trooper who expected to -go with Mackenzie, recommending both this trooper himself (Oomar Khan), -and the Rajah Ali Bahadur to him: both have been very useful to us. We -had rain all day, and three earthquakes. - -Mackenzie did not go after all. - -Mrs. Waller increased the community, giving birth to a daughter: she, -Mrs. Waller, and Mr. and Mrs. Eyre got a room to themselves and their -children, diminishing our number to twenty-nine. A slight earthquake, -and a fine night. - -_21st._--A fine sunshiny day: we went out to camp; getting on the first -horses we could find: mine was a half-starved beast that could scarcely -put one foot before the other. We had scarcely a mile to go. We hear -that we are to halt here one day; and then to go to Zenganah, where the -snow is four feet deep, and to stay there for four months. Rain in the -evening; and very heavy rain at night. The General, who is said to be -dying, Pottinger, Mackenzie, Dr. Magrath, the Eyres and Wallers, are -left at the fort. - -Major Pottinger expostulated with Akbar; and told him that surely he did -not make war on women and children, and that it was great cruelty to -drive us about the country in the way they are doing; that when the Dost -and the ladies of his family (amongst them Akbar's wife, the daughter of -Mahommed Shah Khan) went to Hindostan, they travelled with every comfort -procurable, and probably many more than they would have experienced in -their own country. To this he replied, I will do whatever you wish: but -Mahommed Shah Khan is gone to Cabul; the very bread I eat I get from -him; and until he returns I cannot do any thing. He however insists that -he has a letter from Hindostan, in which it is asserted that his father -has twenty sentries over him, and offered to show the letter to Capt. -Lawrence; who said he cared not who wrote the letter: it was -untrue:--that the Dost has a guard: but so far from being a close -prisoner, he being fond of hawking, &c., goes out when and where he -pleases, with an escort of horse, which would be given in compliment to -his station, as in the case of the royal families of Delhi, &c.; and -that any restraint the women are placed under, is at the sole desire of -the Dost himself. - -_22nd._--We were roused before daylight with orders to march -immediately; and as we had fully expected to halt for another day or -two, all was confusion. - -I was still too weak to ride; and Mrs. Boyd kindly gave me her place in -the kujava, I carrying her baby. It was my first attempt, and the -conveyance was a particularly small one of the kind; for when the resai -was put in to sit on, there was not one foot and a half square; and I -found (being rather a tall person) the greatest difficulty in doubling -up my long legs into the prescribed compass. - -On inquiry, I found that our departure was occasioned by the arrival of -a letter from Cabul; stating that Futteh Jung, son of the deceased Shah -Shoojah, was coming with 400 horse to carry us off, as a card to play in -his own favour. - -Zeman Shah Khan, acting-King in Cabul, also demands us. Akbar wants to -keep us: but both he and we are in the hands of Mahommed Shah Khan; who -says he never took place or present from us; that he hated us always; -and will be our enemy to the last. - -We came to-day about twelve miles up the bed of a deep ravine, crossing -the stream at least fifty times. From our last encampment we could see -Kodah Buksh Khan's fort, looking very pretty, surrounded with fine trees -in blossom. - -On first starting, we passed on our right a large mountain-slip, caused -by the earthquake near to a cave, where there are a great number of -bodies. The hills were very precipitous on our left, and high on both -sides. We also passed a cave at some small distance, in front of which -were some dead bodies and many bones strewed about: and, from the blood -close to its entrance, there is every reason to believe that the -inhabitants were supporting nature by devouring each other. I saw three -poor wretches crawling on hands and knees just within the cave: but all -we had to bestow upon them was pity, not unmingled with horror at the -evidences of cannibalism but too apparent. These miserable creatures -called to us for that relief which we had it not in our power to afford; -and we can only hope that their sufferings were speedily terminated by -death. - -No guns excepting those of the mountain train could travel this road; -and cavalry and infantry would be greatly annoyed from the heights. - -We did not go direct up the Tézeen valley; but took the right hand -valley, which leads to the Jubhar Khail country, considered as the -strongest of the Ghilzye mountain fastnesses. We passed an old Ghilzye -fort on an eminence on our right; also a small colony of charcoal -makers, resident in mud huts, and encamped at a second place of the same -kind. Ice six inches thick in places close to the road; and plenty of -snow from six to eight inches deep on the sides of it. - -_23rd._--Being still very weak, I am glad to hear we are likely to halt -here eight days. Khojeh Mahommed Khan seems very anxious regarding some -terms being made with the Feringhees: the _bahadurs_ notwithstanding; -and says he can bring two lakhs of fighting men against us. - -The Ghazeeas are getting discontented; and complain that they have had -no food for four days. - -The Sirdar has ordered our horses back to Tézeen: he says he cannot feed -them here. - -_24th._--The General died last night, and his remains are to be sent to -Jellalabad. Mackenzie was sent there on a secret mission just -afterwards. The General's death was hastened by a rumour of a Chupao -from Cabul the very day we left Tézeen. At mid-day all were put on -horseback, and sent off to a fort near at hand. In the general hurry to -save themselves, Mrs. Waller, with her two children, seemed to be quite -forgotten. Mr. Waller went to Major Pottinger, who was mounted on his -horse, and who said all must do the best they could for themselves; but -that no doubt accommodation would be given. On this Mr. Waller, who -cannot speak Persian, applied to Capt. Mackenzie; who went to Akbar -Khan, and represented to him how shocking a thing it was to leave a lady -and two children to have their throats cut. An old kujava was found, and -strung; and some Affghans carried it on a pole. Three wives of one of -the chiefs were also left in a great fright; but they procured some -conveyance also. Pottinger was hurried off in such haste that he could -not remonstrate. - -Mahommed Shah Khan says he will not give us any thing besides ottah. I -suppose he keeps all the good things for the Affghan ladies; some of -whom inhabit two mud huts on the hill, and the others are lodged in -black tents more fragile than our own. Mahommed Rufeek, our present -keeper and purveyor, has purchased twelve sheep on his own account for -us; and Mahommed Akbar Khan has sent twelve camels to Cabul to bring -rice and ghee. We are also busy making chebootras: we hang up our resais -and blankets for roof and walls, and find they make very comfortable -places to sit in all day. - -_25th._--A report that Macgregor is to exchange us against an equal -number of Affghan ladies and children at Loodianah; and that we are to -be released in a few days. - -_26th._--A report to-day that the Jellalabad army are moving upwards and -the Cabul one downwards. The Affghans say that their force consists of -11,000 men. - -_27th._--The Sirdar and Major Pottinger paid us a visit. The former -tells us we are not to be angry; that nothing is procurable here; that -he has sent to Cabul for every thing for us. He brought some native -shoes and cloth for distribution. Miller and Moore, the two soldiers who -attended on the General, have been liberated: but Akbar says that it is -not prudent to let them go at present, as the roads are unsafe! - -_28th._--We have converted our chebootras into arbours made of juniper. -We were driven from ours to-day before dinner by a shower of rain. At -night we had thunder, hail, and showers of rain, that came on in gusts. - -It is said that the Sirdar has intercepted a letter from Conolly to -Macgregor regarding some treaty with Amenoollah Khan for 3 lakhs: and -that Kohundif Khan (the Dost's brother), with 8000 Persians, is moving -on Kandahar. If this is true, it involves a quarrel with Persia. - -A number of the Sirdar's men are said to have gone off to-day; having -struck for arrears of pay. The Sirdar offered them 5 rupees each, but -they demanded 10. A relief guard of seven men has arrived with some -petty chief. - -We have just heard that Miller was disguised as an Affghan to lead the -camel that conveyed the General's body. Moore looked too English to -attempt it. Near Jugdaluk, the party of ten horsemen were attacked, and -the box, which was supposed to contain treasure, broken open. We at -first heard that they had mutilated the poor old man's body; but only a -few stones were thrown, one of which struck the head. - -Miller was beaten a good deal, and wounded with a knife; but saved his -life by saying he was a Mussulman: he had to return. The body was sent -on; but I believe there is as yet no authentic account of its arrival at -Jellalabad. - -Mahommed Shah Khan arrived at night. - -_30th April._--A messenger came in from Amenoollah Khan. The government -have refused to pay the 14½ lakhs; and the Affghans say that -Pottinger and Lawrence are answerable for it. Is not Akbar more -answerable for the non-fulfilment of the treaty? he who went to the -Durbar, booted, (on the 7th of January,) ready to start after our army -for the avowed purpose of its annihilation? - -The Rajah has come in; he goes off to Cabul again to-morrow. Goolam -Moyen oo deen also came to see us: he goes with the Sirdar to Tézeen -to-day. - -All accounts seem to agree in this: that although the Affghans are -raising troops in Cabul, yet they seem to be as likely to fight against -each other as against us. - -Our soldiers who were left at Cabul, have been sent to Logur -(Amenoollah's country). The hostages are placed in the hands of the son -of the high priest, Bucha-i Meer Wyse. - -It is reported that the Dost has written to Akbar Khan to say, that, if -there is any chance of regaining the throne, he was to fight for it; but -if not, not to drive us women and children about the country; as it was -against his interest that we should be ill treated. Perhaps he pities -the wives of all these Ghilzye chiefs, who go wherever we do: they -however have the best and largest kujavas, and plenty of them; whilst -with us, many ladies very unfit to ride, are forced to do so, and even -without side or any saddles; for myself, I would rather walk than be -again packed into a kujava. - -_1st May._--Futteh Jung, Amenoollah, and the Populzyes are in the Bala -Hissar. The new king, Zeman Shah Khan, and Osman Khan, with the -Barukzyes, are in the city. They have sixteen guns; and want the former -party to join them; but they refuse to do so, saying that the others -inveigled Shah Shoojah out, and killed him. - -Neither party will have any thing to do with Akbar; who, they say, plays -a double part, and killed all our army. Mahommed Shah Khan wants to get -Akbar to Cabul: but he refuses to go, from dread of assassination. - -He (Akbar) wishes to be made a consequential chief of some part of the -country; and would probably give us up, had he the power: but Mahommed -Shah Khan is very powerful, and averse to the project. - -_2nd._--All Cabul is in an uproar, the people fighting amongst -themselves. Khojeh Mahommed took some of the officers out shooting: -whilst on the hills, they heard the report of guns; and were told that -the firing was at Cabul; about thirty miles off in a direct line. - -In a conference with Pottinger, Troup, and many other English and -Affghans,--amongst the latter Mahommed Shah Khan,--Mahommed Akbar Khan -became greatly excited. He said, that on the religious cry being raised, -he killed the Envoy, he destroyed our army; and now that he has drawn -down the vengeance of the British upon him, the rest are deserting him: -that he has kept his feelings pent up within his own breast, until they -have preyed upon his vitals; and that, were he in power now, he would -exterminate every one of the recreant Mussulmans who have deserted him, -and left him to obloquy. - -A cossid has arrived from Cabul; where there has been a fight, in which -Zeman Shah Khan has been victorious. One of Amenoollah's sons is killed; -and Hamza Khan is wounded: but Futteh Jung and Amenoollah are still in -possession of the Bala Hissar. - -_3rd._--Amenoollah Khan has been worsted. The Sirdar has sent troops, -under his cousin Shamshudeen, to lay waste the Logur country, destroy -the forts, and capture the women: for all which Akbar promises a reward -of 30,000 rupees. - -It is now reported that we are to go in three or four days to Ghuznee, -where the Sirdar's cousin Shumshudeen commands. I heard from Sale. The -Wallers and Eyres arrived from Tézeen. - -_4th._--The Sirdar is gone or going to Cabul. - -Capt. Troup is just summoned to join him and Pottinger: Magrath remains -at Tézeen; and Mackenzie, they say, is gone back to Jellalabad again. - -Another account states that Amenoollah has fled to the Logur country, -and that Futteh Jung holds the Bala Hissar. Further accounts state that -Amenoollah, although defeated, got safe into the Bala Hissar. 200 -horsemen have been sent from Cabul to the Sirdar: Zeman Shah Khan -invites him to assume the throne. He was sleeping when they arrived; but -the prospect of a crown soon chased his slumbers; and he was quickly on -horseback with Pottinger, leaving orders for Troup, on his arrival, to -follow. Mackenzie was not to go to Jellalabad; but to wait half way for -further orders from the Sirdar. - -The Sirdar has been urgent (but ineffectually of course) with Mr. Eyre -to go to Cabul to lay his guns for him. We hear that the hostages are -all again with Zeman Shah Khan. - -_7th._--I have before adverted to Mackenzie's secret mission to -Jellalabad. It was first, to ascertain what terms our party would -propose: the reply was an offer of two lakhs of rupees for all the -prisoners, and that the sooner we were given up to our own people the -greater would be the friendship of our government; that, in consequence -of the protection afforded us by Dost Mahommed Khan, and Mahommed Shah -Khan, their families and possessions would not be attacked: but that the -grand question of peace or war, and the settlement of the country, must -depend upon replies to be received from the Governor-General. The Sirdar -has sent in his rejoinder by Mackenzie; saying, he does not want money; -nothing but the friendship of our nation; and that if the ladies and -children go, he cannot part with the gentlemen yet. - -Gen. Pollock has issued a proclamation, that whoever remains quiet will -be unmolested. - -Threats are held out that if our troops move up higher than Gundamuk, we -shall also be taken 20 miles further up into the hills. To this there -are two objections: we are now above the Tézeen valley, in the Jubhar -Khail country; these people declare we shall not go further, or if we do -they will themselves take us to our army, for they do not want to bring -down upon themselves the vengeance of our nation; secondly, we have no -carriage: there is little doubt, that Mahommed Shah Khan would care -little for our being obliged to leave behind our clothes and the few -comforts we have, but we cannot be expected to walk; and the Sirdar or -some of the chiefs have taken away to Cabul both our riding horses and -baggage ponies. - -I consider myself fortunate in having had my horse selected to carry -Capt. Mackenzie to Jellalabad: it arrived there lame, and was left with -Sale. We have this day seen the general order with Col. Palmer's -capitulation at Ghuznee; and dreadful was the tale that shortly followed -it. On the faith of the orders received, and the promises of the treaty -with the chiefs, these devoted troops left Ghuznee, under the charge of -Shumshudeen (the Sirdar's cousin). Treachery seems to be inherent in the -blood of this family. - -A Ghazeea shot an officer, another shot the Ghazeea; a fight ensued; the -whole of our troops were cut up; exertions were made to save the -officers, but every Sipahee fell. Seven of the officers are said to be -alive, and poor Mrs. Lumsden. It is exactly the counterpart of what -occurred with the Cabul force. - -Regarding our climate.--The snow has melted on the hills immediately in -our front and rear; but the tops of those within a moderate walk (were -we permitted to go out of the bounds assigned to us for exercise) are -still covered with it. - -This morning, when we were dressing, and long after sunrise, the -Bheestee took his mushk to the stream, not 50 yards from our tents, and -filled it: on his return the water was frozen so hard he could not pour -it out; and we had to thaw it by the fire. - -_8th._--A very gloomy day, and cold: we kept up a good fire in the -bower. A little snow fell. Serj. Deane's wife, a Persian woman, has been -taken by force and married to a younger brother of Mahommed Shah Khan. -Whenever this man enters her presence, she salutes him with her slipper. -It is only within a few days that she has been told of Deane's death: -she appears to have been sincerely attached to him; and is represented -as a very pretty young woman. - -The man who took the General's body to Jellalabad has returned. He seems -highly pleased with the present he has received of 200 rupees: and it -appears to have had a good effect; for he reports in glowing terms on -the grand turn-out for the funeral, the salvoes fired, &c. on the -occasion; and the magnificent appearance of our troops. - -_10th._--Capt. Anderson's little girl was restored, to the great joy of -her parents. - -Parties run high at Cabul: Zeman Shah Khan says he will be King, Akbar -ditto, Jubhar Khan the same, and Amenoollah has a similar fancy, as also -Mahommed Shah Khan, and Futteh Jung the Shah-zada. - -The troops go out daily to fight; Amenoollah's to Ben-i-shehr, and Zeman -Shah Khan's to Siah Sung; they fight a little, and then retreat to their -own positions. Zeman Shah Khan has been driven out of his house, and -Amenoollah out of his; but have part of the town in their favour. - -The citizens are ruined by the perfect stagnation of trade; and would -probably side with us were we to show in force. Now is the time to -strike the blow, but I much dread dilly-dallying just because a handful -of us are in Akbar's power. What are _our_ lives when compared with the -honour of our country? Not that I am at all inclined to have my throat -cut: on the contrary, I hope that I shall live to see the British flag -once more triumphant in Affghanistan; and then I have no objection to -the Ameer Dost Mahommed Khan being reinstated: only let us first show -them that we can conquer them, and humble their treacherous chiefs in -the dust. - -There have been a number of reports to-day, which I believe to have no -foundation in truth: amongst others, that the Ghilzye ladies have been -packing up all night; and are going to give us the slip and leave us, in -consequence of hearing that our force is coming up in four divisions; -one of which arrived at Tézeen at four this morning, and looted the -place: and that we are to be sent forty kos higher up into the hills. -This is, however, contradicted, as some persons who were sent out -yesterday to explore have returned, and say that the snow is two feet -deep and impracticable. - -A letter arrived from the Sirdar; stating that whenever it might be -requisite for us to move, he would send us camels, ponies, and all the -carriage we require; and that we are positively not to move without his -especial order. - -_11th._--Futteh Jung wrote to his brother Timor at Kandahar to come and -assist him: Timor sent him 3000 Juzailchees; and assured him that he was -himself coming up with the British army. - -Major Pottinger writes that there is no present chance of our -liberation. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan professes that he does not want money from us; but -he laughs at our offer of two lakhs for the whole party; and has sent -back to say he wishes for eight. It has been recommended that we should -offer him five; but the general opinion is that we shall remain in -captivity till all is settled. - -_13th._--The Akhonzada says, that, after we left Buddeeabad, all the -natives were turned out, and told they might make the best of their way -to Jellalabad; being first stripped of their clothes and all that they -possessed. Those who had lost their feet of course could not attempt it; -and the greater part of the rest, we are told, have been taken as -slaves. - -We have a slave merchant here now. We learn that men sell for forty-six -rupees, and women for twenty-two, each: they are sent off to Khoolloom. -400 Hindostanees have been entrapped at Cabul, under an assurance of -safe conduct to Jellalabad. - -_14th._--People have come in from the Lughman valley, who report that -the wheat and barley there are ripe, and also the mulberries. Here the -crops have not attained the height of six inches. - -The booming of heavy guns heard: on which the guard here said the Kulma; -hoping that it was something in the Sirdar's favour. - -It is reported that Futteh Jung is King, the Sirdar Wuzeer, and Zeman -Khan Sirdar-i-Sirdaran. About thirty shots were heard in the night. - -_15th._--More of Mahommed Rufeek's people have come in from Cabul: they -say that Mahommed Akbar Khan is proclaimed King, until his father's -return; that he resides at present in the Ben-i-shehr; and that -Amenoollah has free ingress and egress to and from him, for the purpose -of meeting with Futteh Jung. The Sirdar has sent for all our horses, -ponies, &c. The Naib Shureef has sent Mrs. Sturt and me tea and -sugar:--a kind attention and great comfort. - -Akbar says he will fight our army. This is expressed in a letter written -to Suballan Khan, the captain of our guard. Dost Mahommed Khan asserts -that it is Major Pottinger who retards our release: but he is as much a -prisoner as ourselves. - -_16th._--I kept the anniversary of my marriage by dining with the ladies -of Mahommed Shah Khan's family; who told us that Futteh Jung was King, -Mahommed Akbar Khan Wuzeer, and Mahommed Shah Khan the Sirdar-i-Sirdaran. -It was an extremely stupid visit. We had two female servants to -interpret for us. Three of Mahommed Shah Khan's wives and some of Dost -Mahommed's, with the mother of the chiefs, and two of their unmarried -sisters, were present. They were, generally speaking, inclined to -_embonpoint_, largely formed, and coarsely featured; their dress -inelegant, and of the coarsest materials. The favourite wife, and the -best dressed, was attired in a common Cabul silk, with a coarse piece of -chintz inserted behind, evidently for economy's sake. The dress, which -covers the whole person, nearly resembles a common night-dress; and has -tacked on to it coins, or other pieces of silver or gold, such as -crescents, &c., all over the sleeves, the front and sides, from the -shoulders to the feet. A breast-plate is worn, commencing at the throat, -of coins strung together: this descends far below the waist; and when -they sit down, it hangs in festoons on the lap. Only the favourite wore -gold coins; those of the other ladies being of silver. They had nothing -in the way of jewels, properly so called. About seven common-sized -pearls surrounding an emerald full of flaws, the whole set as a nose -ornament, was the handsomest thing I saw in the trinket way. Some of -them had very inferior earrings of gold and silver. They wear their hair -in innumerable small plaits hanging down: these are arranged once a week -after taking the bath; and the tresses are then well stiffened with gum. -The unmarried women bend their hair in a flat braid across the forehead -touching the eyebrows; which gives them a very heavy look. These said -eyebrows, whilst they are maidens, remain as nature formed them: but -when they marry, the hair of the centre is carefully picked out; and the -arch, thus most unnaturally raised, is painted. The Cabul women are much -addicted to the use of both white and red paint; and they colour not -only the nails, as in Hindostan, but the whole hand up to the wrist, -which looks as though it had been plunged in blood, and to our ideas is -very disgusting. A particular plant is often used for this purpose. The -upper part of the leaf sparkles, and resembles the ice plant; but the -lower side is red, and on being pressed gives a fine dye. A chuddah is -thrown over the head and shoulders in the house, as in Hindostan; and -when they go out they wear the bourka, ru-i-bund, and legwraps: -high-heeled iron-shod slippers complete the costume. After a time an -extremely dirty cloth was spread over the numdas in front of us, and -dishes of pillau, dhye or sour curd, and férnéz or sweet curd, were -placed before us. Those who had not taken a spoon with them, ate with -their fingers, Affghan fashion;--an accomplishment in which I am by no -means _au fait_. We drank water out of a tea-pot. A dinner was given to -the gentlemen by Abdoollah Khan at his tents about two miles off, nearer -the snow. - -In the evening Capt. Mackenzie arrived; and I received a letter from -Sale. - -There seems to be no present prospect of release. - -We hear that the force under Gen. Nott has been reinforced by Brig. -England; who had nevertheless been beaten back in the first -instance:--that Gen. Nott was to march towards Cabul as yesterday (the -15th); and that Gen. Pollock was still awaiting orders from Lord -Ellenborough; but that whether they arrive or not, we must now wait -until Nott's force gets near to Cabul to make a simultaneous attack. Now -as Akbar only boasts of 12,000 men against us, and as we have fully that -number at Jellalabad, with 18-pounders, Pollock's force would easily -capture Cabul in the present position of affairs. A short time ago it -would have been still easier, as there was then more division among the -Affghan troops. - -A letter from Mahommed Akbar Khan to Sultan Khan has been intercepted; -in which he acknowledges, that for every rupee he can muster, the -Shah-zada (Futteh Jung) can produce a gold mohur. - -An European and some natives were murdered near our camp at Jellalabad: -and, vigorous measures not being taken, the offence was repeated; and a -duffodar of Tait's horse fell a victim to the Affghans. On the murderer -taking refuge in a village, Tait immediately surrounded it with his men; -and then reported the circumstance to Gen. Pollock; who, after -consulting with Capt. Macgregor, sent to tell the people of the village -that if they did not, within a specified time, give up the malefactor to -be hanged by us, he would burn the village, and put every living being -in it to death. The time had not expired when this news came. Cruel as -an action of this kind may appear, it is probably the best method of -striking terror into these savages, and perhaps of eventually preventing -bloodshed. - -Capt. Mackenzie has brought me intelligence of Sale's having broken -three of his ribs, from his horse falling with him; and that he has -suffered also from inflammation in consequence of the accident; but that -he is fast recovering, if not, as he says he is, quite well and fit for -work again. - -_17th._--I heard this morning that part of my letters regarding the -siege had arrived in England, and been laid before the Court of -Directors. - -_20th._--Lady Macnaghten and a part of the ladies breakfasted with Dost -Mahommed Khan and his ladies. They were told that, if the Sirdar gains -the Bala Hissar, we shall all go there; if not, we go to Jellalabad. - -One report states, that the Sirdar, who is resident at Ben-i-shehr, was -to meet Futteh Jung on amicable terms; but that the latter refused to go -outside the Bala Hissar until Mahommed Shah Khan and Sultan Jan were -given up to him as hostages, which was done: but when Futteh Jung got as -far as the Musjid, finding Akbar at the head of 3,000 men, fearing -treachery, he retreated, shut the gates, and fired on Akbar's party. -Another account states, that when the gates were opened for Futteh Jung -to go out, Amenoollah released the hostages, and then went over to the -Sirdar himself. Mackenzie is supposed to be at Tézeen to-day; and will -be here either to-morrow or in three days. It is worthy of remark, that -during Lady Macnaghten's visit to the ladies this morning, Dost Mahommed -Khan was present the whole time; which was decidedly, according to -Affghan custom, an insult; as the men never are present when their wives -receive company. - -A Kandaharee female servant of these ladies told them in Hindostanee not -to believe a word that Dost Mahommed said to them; as his intelligence -was all false and was intended to mislead them. - -A storm of thunder and rain at dinner-time: in the evening we ascended -the hill, about 150 feet; and then found the view bounded by another: so -we fatigued ourselves to no purpose. A fire beacon lighted on the hill -at night. - -_21st._--Lady Macnaghten and two other ladies breakfasted with Khojeh -Mahommed Khan's family; and on this occasion two men were present. The -rest of us were not invited. - -Khojeh Mahommed sighed much and seemed out of spirits. According to the -statement of their servants, the ladies have not had food cooked for -them for two days in consequence of their grief. In these parties they -do not eat with the Kaffirs; but are profuse of their expressions of -good will; and desire us to ask them for any thing we require. - -Their professions were put to the test; at least those of Dost Mahommed -himself: a gentleman asked for a chillum, and was told to go to the -devil (Goom Shud). - -I received two notes from Sale dated the 15th; informing me that he had -received a highly gratifying letter from Lord Ellenborough, and another -from Sir Jasper Nicholls, regarding the holding of Jellalabad, the -chupao on Akbar's camp, &c.; and stating that the 35th were to be made -light infantry; the Company's troops to have medals, and to bear -"Jellalabad" and a mural crown on their colours: also that Lord -Ellenborough would request Her Majesty's permission that the 13th should -be similarly honoured. - -Chintz, sugar candy, tea, and cheese, distributed amongst the ladies; -they were sent to us by our friends at Jellalabad: also Shalu (Turkey -red cotton cloth) and jean, with boots and shoes for the gentlemen. We -also received the March overland mail. I heard a droll anecdote of Akbar -when he went off to Cabul from Tézeen. His followers asked him what tent -they should take for him: his reply was given with great good humour (he -believed himself on the point of mounting a throne);--"The ladies and -people above have got all our tents here; but you may send my salaam to -Gen. Sale, and ask him to lend me one of those he took from me." - -_22nd._--The first thing we heard this morning was, that ponies had -arrived and that we are going to Cabul. They afterwards told us that we -are going to Shéwakee, a fort near the Pillar. The officers went to Dost -Mahommed and informed him that only thirty-three ponies had arrived, and -no camels; and that it was impossible we could move without more means -of transport: so the order to march at mid-day was rescinded; and we -have been promised animals to start with early to-morrow morning. We are -to go to Khoord Cabul, seventeen miles, as our first march. - -_23rd._--Mules arrived for three kujavas; but no camels, as we take a -road that is bad for these animals. - -Started at a little before 10 A.M., and got to the fort we formerly went -to at Khoord Cabul, at 6 P.M. We travelled fully twenty-two miles, -following the road to Tézeen, by which we came to Zanduh, for some time, -and then turning to the left. Except in a few places the road was -tolerable. We crossed a highly cultivated valley studded with forts; a -perfect oasis in our barren mountain track. The yellow briar-rose is in -bloom, and asphodels of three different colours, yellow, pink, and a -greenish brown, a pretty description of borage, and a plant resembling -sage with a red flower; and blue sage in blossom was found amongst the -wells and stones. The climate here was much warmer than at Zanduh. We -did not strike into the regular road till we arrived at the Huft Kotul; -and here we came upon a sad scene of decaying bodies, amongst which poor -Major Ewart's was still recognisable. - -There is a fort opposite to the point where the short road turns back to -Seh Baba; and another at Thana Tariffa, which is the entrance to the -Thungee on the Jellalabad side. This was also dreadful to go through; -both to the sight and smell equally offensive. - -Immediately after emerging from the pass, we took a short cut to the -left of the regular road, which brought us to the fort. In its immediate -vicinity there was rich cultivation; but a great deal of land formerly -tilled lies fallow this year. - -_24th._--We left the fort at about the same time as yesterday: our march -was eighteen or nineteen miles over hill and dale, with a rich valley -but scantily cultivated on our left. We had a difficult ascent over a -rocky hill; after which we passed a tope which has no appearance of -having been opened. There is a fine tank nearly opposite to it, shaded -by trees, and containing small fish: it is supplied with beautifully -clear water from the Karez, near it; from which, I suppose, it takes its -name of Káreza. We then pursued our way over a plain, covered with -stones, till we ascended a difficult rocky hill, which was surmounted by -the famous Pillar generally ascribed to Alexander the Great. It is -evidently not of Affghan workmanship; and is now out of the -perpendicular, leaning back, as if it shrank from Cabul. The outer -casing is quite gone; and it is not therefore wonderful that no -inscription exists: and the greater part of the square base it rested on -has also mouldered away. From this spot there is a magnificent view. -Immediately below us was a richly cultivated country studded with forts -and fruit trees, the Logur river, beyond it the Siah Sung, and a distant -view of Cabul, and then ranges of hills, the whole bounded by the -mountains of Kohistan and the Hindo Koosh, covered with perpetual snow. -The descent on the Cabul side is rather more difficult in parts; -particularly when you have not an acquaintance of long standing with -your horse; which was my case, having hired for the day a mere baggage -pony, for the large sum of two rupees six anas. The creature was -evidently not used to scrambling; and did not like it. Whenever he came -to a difficult place, he jumped down with his two fore feet; and then -considered whether he should bring the hinder ones after them; and in -this way jumped up on rocks, where kids would joy to disport, but where -he shook with fear. However, riding was less trouble than walking on -such a road; and I got safely through. We passed another tope which had -been opened, and a succession of forts; and at length arrived at Noor -Mahommed, the Meer Akor's Fort: here we were not expected; no notice -having been given. The truth is, that the Sirdar ordered us to be sent -to a fort of Mahommed Shah Khan's, two miles from this one; but Mahommed -is to bring his family hither; and was determined to keep his own fort -for them. We were first told that two open stables or cow-sheds, down a -narrow gulley in the outer square, were all the accommodation they had -to give us. - -As no one would fight for the ladies, I determined to _be Yaghi_ myself; -and I went with Mr. Melville to Dost Mahommed Khan and Mahommed Rufeek. -At length our bower party got a small room over the gateway of the inner -fort; with a promise of better quarters for all to-morrow. - -The reason given for our sudden flitting from Zanduh is an expected -chupao from the two chiefs, Azaid Khan, and Aziz Khan; who offered, if -Macgregor would furnish the cash, to raise 2000 men, and carry us off to -our friends. - -There was firing of guns all day long; and at night very sharp firing, -without much intermission. Being in pain from the arm that was wounded, -and in great anxiety for the result (having heard from the Affghans here -that Akbar meant to surprise and take the Bala Hissar), I never closed -my eyes until after daybreak; when we heard the muezzin call to prayers. - -_25th._--The tables were turned last night; for a sally was made from -the Bala Hissar; and Mahommed Akbar Khan was, they say, nearly caught. -He escaped to a fort near the Shah's camp, behind Siah Sung. - -The females were removed from this fort, and we all got excellent -quarters. In addition to the two rooms apportioned to our party, we have -permission to sit, in the daytime, in a room in a bourj, a small octagon -with oorsees or open-work lattices. There are two flights of steep steps -to mount to it from our apartments, which are upstairs; but the view -from it is so refreshing, looking over all the forts and highly -cultivated grounds; it has the advantage of being always cool; and which -compensates for the trouble in getting there. - -The Sirdar says he will not remain here when our force comes up, but -retire to the Kohistan, and allow the English to take Cabul: after which -he will come forward with an offer to go to Hindostan, and take his -father's place, if they will permit the Ameer Dost Mahommed Khan to -return and rule in this country. - -_26th._--We heard a few guns early in the morning. This day they say the -Sirdar is to have a friendly conference with Futteh Jung; but it is to -be hoped that the latter will not put himself into the power of his -treacherous enemy. - -Khan Shireen Khan, the head of the Kuzzilbashes, keeps neuter. Zeman -Shah Khan seems to be but a lukewarm friend of the Sirdar. - -The gentlemen of Cabul are all disgusted at the treachery that took -place, ending in the murder of Shah Shoojah. - -The shopkeepers and merchants wish for us back; as the circulation of -rupees is much less than in our time: and the cultivators would fain -leave the army and look after their crops. - -Gen. Pollock offers to exchange the captive ladies and children, against -Akbar's family of four wives with their children. One of the former is a -daughter of Mahommed Shah Khan; and another is a sister of Sirballan -Khan's. Capt. Troup came to see us, and brought us a message from the -Sirdar, desiring we would all write to him, and state whatever we -required, that he might send it to us. - -_27th._--Capt. Troup returned to the Sirdar, and took our notes and -lists with him; also a letter for Sale, though he doubts its being sent -immediately. This day was fixed for a conference between Akbar and -Futteh Jung: Akbar required him to vacate the Bala Hissar; and says he -may go into the strongest fort in the neighbourhood, and keep all his -guns; giving up his army, wherewith Akbar is to go down and fight the -British force. No firing heard to-day; but we hope that Futteh Jung will -manage to hold out until our force comes to his assistance. - -_28th._--The advance of our army has arrived at Gundamuk; and the rest -are following, purchasing up carriage at any expense. - -The Kandahar force have been attacked by the Affghans; who have been -signally defeated; which has struck such terror into them, that they are -flying in all directions: this is their own account. - -_29th._--Sujat Dowlut, the son of Zeman Shah Khan, and the murderer of -Shah Shoojah, came to the fort to visit Ali Mohammed Khan. To his -father's honour be it said that he refused to see him for some time -after the murder. It is reported that we leave this place in six days -for--no one knows where. - -_30th._--There was firing late in the evening from the Bala Hissar and -the city. A man of some respectability, with three or four followers, -came to see Capt. Johnson, and bring him some things: they were all -taken away by the Affghans; and the people carried off prisoners to -Akbar. - -The Kuzzilbashes have openly declared in favour of Futteh Jung. They are -throwing provisions into the Bala Hissar; and strengthening the works. - -Our troops have been some days at Gundamuk. There are orders that the -officers are not to go out of the fort, as they did before, to bathe. We -hope we shall not be interdicted walking in the garden, as we always -have guards with us there; and every night we are locked into the -square; and the servants cannot go outside the gate for any purpose -without a guard. - -_1st June._--The Naïb Shureef is obliged to hide for safety. Mahommed -Rufeek is sent away; and Ali Mohammed Khan has now sole charge of us. - -_2d._--It is true that our troops left Kandahar on the 16th of last -month. General Nott's force has given the Affghans a fourth beating at -Khelat-i-Gilzie; and killed 2000 men. Gen. Pollock's division is -expected here on the 15th. - -Sharp firing all day; particularly in the afternoon, evening, and all -night. - -_3d._--The servants have a report that whenever we leave this place, -Futteh Jung means to chupao us; and that twenty men are always on the -watch, mounted, to carry the intelligence of our removal to him. - -_4th._--Capt. Troup came to us; and brought me two parcels from Sale; -one of which was for distribution amongst the ladies. Also letters -enclosing copies of Lord Ellenborough's and Sir Jasper Nicholls' letters -to him. Their contents were so gratifying that I shook off all my -feverish feelings and concomitant weakness; and in the gladness of my -heart felt quite well again. - -Troup seems to think that the Sirdar will succeed in getting possession -of the Bala Hissar. He assures Futteh Jung that he has a mine all ready -to spring; but will not have recourse to it till the last moment. Now -this is an evident _ruse_; for if he had the means he would take the -Bala Hissar at once: and we have heard that he has mined in three places -to the extent of twelve hauts; but has each time come to solid rock, on -which the miners can make no impression. The cossid, who brought our -letters, brought one also for the Sirdar; and another for Futteh Jung -from Macgregor: on the receipt of the latter, Futteh Jung fired a royal -salute and made a sally. - -The Sirdar sent us some coarse cloth, soap, an Affghan chillumchee, and -some tallow candles: others received sundry donations of the like kind. - -_6th._--The Sirdar is said to have possession of the Bala Hissar; and to -occupy the gate nearest to us: while the Kuzzilbashes hold the -Chandowlee gate; and Mahommed Shah another. Futteh Jung is said to have -given up two lakhs of rupees to Akbar. - -The tale of the mine was true; but Futteh Jung had filled it with water. - -Mahommed Shah Khan and Sultan Jan have been daily for three days at the -Bala Hissar, unattended; in conference with the Shah-zada, who gave them -khelluts, &c. He then asked Mahommed Akbar Khan to meet him in friendly -conference in the gateway, each to have only five followers: but the -Sirdar refused to go further than John Hicks' tomb, fearing treachery. -He had previously warned Mahommed Shah not to trust Futteh Jung; who -might easily have secured the two others each of these days: but we -suspect his aim was to lull them into security, to enable him to seize -the Sirdar. - -Here he has shown bad policy: for though Akbar is the superior in rank, -Mahommed Shah has the troops, and what money they can raise at command. -Sultan Jan is the fighting arm of the trio, under the latter; whilst -Akbar sits in durbar, laughs, talks, and squeezes all who are suspected -of having money. He has carefully kept all our notes to him, asking for -or thanking him for things received: no doubt to produce at the last; as -a further proof of his kindness to his captives. Dr. Grant is said to be -alive and safe with some Bunneah; who of course keeps him secreted from -the chiefs, that he and not they may have a reward: but we heard so -positively that he was killed, near the lake beyond Behmaru, that our -hopes are but faint. - -Much firing in the evening and night. - -_7th._--We hear that last night there was a sortie from the Bala Hissar; -and an attack made on two guns of Mahommed Akbar's. They did not succeed -in capturing them; but took some ammunition and camels. An attempt was -made to carry off the camels belonging to this fort, which were out -grazing; but six horsemen went from hence and rescued them. - -Akbar says he does not spring his mine because it will damage the walls -of the Bala Hissar, and make it easier for the English to enter the -place; and that even were the gates open, he doubts the courage of his -troops to enter them. - -Amenoollah Khan has been for some time soliciting permission to leave -the Sirdar, to go to Loghur on important affairs of his own: this has -induced the Sirdar to seize him, which is now supposed to be the cause -of all the firing we heard last night. Whether this will prove for our -advantage or not, remains to be proved. - -This chief is said to have eighteen lakhs of rupees; which Mahommed -Akbar Khan will probably endeavour to squeeze out of him: however, he is -not likely to have it here. If his treasure is secure at Loghur, and his -sons rise in his favour (as he can bring 10,000 men into the field), a -very powerful diversion may be formed, whether they join us or Futteh -Jung: if, on the contrary, Akbar procures even one lakh of ready cash, -he can do much mischief; by raising troops even for a few weeks to annoy -our force. The celerity with which troops are raised is quite -astonishing to us; who are accustomed to see recruits drilled for a -length of time. Here, every man is born a soldier; every child has his -knife,--that weapon which has proved so destructive in the hands of a -hostile peasantry, incited against us by the moollahs, who threaten -eternal perdition to all who do not join in the cause of the Ghazeeas; -whilst heaven, filled with Houris, is the recompence for every man who -falls in a religious war. With them, the only expense attending the -soldier consists in his pay, which is scanty; his horse, if he have one, -is his own; and every Affghan is armed completely with some three or -four of these knives, of different sizes--from that as long as a sword -to a small dagger--pistols, and a juzail; which latter predominates over -the matchlock: they carry much farther than our muskets; so that when -our men are beyond range to hit them, they pour a destroying fire on us. -Regarding these same muskets being better than matchlocks; those who had -only the latter may have taken them of late in exchange; but, generally -speaking, the only useful part to the Affghans are the locks; which they -tear off, and leave the rest. - -Capt. Troup did not return to the Sirdar till this morning. The man, who -went with him, has returned; and states that the Sirdar has blown up the -bastion of the Bala Hissar which is nearest to the Shōr Bazar. There -is, however, some discrepancy in his account; as he states that he saw -the Sirdar's men parading about on the tops of the very bastion that has -been destroyed: he also added, that they were busily employed in -throwing out the dead bodies. - -It is a great pity that Gen. Pollock's force does not move up. Futteh -Jung pays the Hindostanees in the Bala Hissar a rupee a day to keep -watch at the gates; being afraid to trust the Affghans. - -Mahommed Akbar's guns are worked by three Chuprassies, two Buglers, and -a few other of our runaways. - -It is said that whenever we leave this place, there will be great -opposition made to our removal; and that various parties will endeavour -to get us into their power. - -3 P.M.--Further accounts have just been brought in; stating that -yesterday's fight, at the Bala Hissar, was commenced by Sultan Jan. When -he got tired, Mahommed Shah Khan took his place; and when he too was -fatigued, the Sirdar assumed command in person. When he brought his gun -to bear on the mine at the bourj, Futteh Jung ran another gun opposite; -and blew the Sirdar's gun away!--a novel method of firing a train; -nevertheless it seems the mine was fired; and, by some bungling, Akbar -blew up 300 of his own men. But Futteh Jung gave in, and the Sirdar is -supposed to have the Bala Hissar. We only obtain such information as the -Khan and his guard are pleased to communicate; excepting those of our -party who perchance overhear them speaking amongst themselves; when, -however, they generally use Pushtoo, to prevent our understanding them. -Four Coolies have arrived with two tin boxes and two baskets from -Tézeen. They are supposed to have come from Jellalabad; as all were -quickly huddled into a room and locked up; and a man despatched to the -Sirdar to know his pleasure concerning them. - -The packets have been distributed; mostly medicine for Dr. Magrath. - -There were letters and newspapers; but those have been sent to the -Sirdar. - -In the garden in the evening we heard that the Sirdar had sent his -salaam, that he was master of the Bala Hissar: but just as we entered -the gate we heard that, so far from that being the case, he had only -taken the bourj above. Now that same bourj above completely commands the -fort. However Akbar has no guns in it; though by manual labour he could -easily drag them up. The mountain train guns go up on mules well; and I -have seen them myself practising over that very hill. - -There is another report that Gool Mahommed is to chupao us in four days. -We heard the report of some juzails between nine and ten P.M. - -_8th._--The servants declare, that above forty guns were fired last -night between eleven and twelve; but some of the officers, who were -awake, did not hear them any more than I did. On the same authority we -have a rumour of Futteh Jung's having taken two of the Sirdar's tents -and some ammunition; and of his having killed forty of his Ghazeeas. - -They say that the Sirdar sent Zernan Shah Khan to treat with Futteh -Jung; and to propose that the latter should remain king; making Akbar -his wuzeer; and that he should make over all the guns and troops to him, -to go and fight the English with. Futteh Jung has placed Zeman Shah Khan -in confinement, until he gets a reply to his message to the Sirdar, in -which he accedes to his request; on condition that he previously places -all the captives in his hands. - -_9th._--Capt. Mackenzie arrived; and brought some newspapers and -letters,--those which we have been expecting back from the Sirdar: and -we strongly suspect that he has kept many. Mackenzie assures us that -Futteh Jung has surrendered the Bala Hissar to Akbar Khan; who has -demanded all his treasure, as the first step he takes. - -There seems to have been no military necessity for the surrender. One -bourj had been mined; but traverses might have been thrown up to render -the place perfectly secure from any Affghan attack. It is probable that -the Arabs were intimidated by the effect of the mine; _that_ being a -species of warfare they particularly dread. Futteh Jung had held out for -a month--the time, it is said, he had promised to do so; and Pollock's -force not moving to his succour, he probably became disheartened. He now -has not only lost his treasure; but it is likely he may lose his life -also: for he never can feel safe whilst in the power of Akbar and -Mahommed Shah. The latter resides in the Bala Hissar; the former in the -Shōr Bazar. Both Mahommed Shah and Sultan Jan were wounded in the -explosion of the bourj, by stones falling on their heads. - -Pollock's force is suffering from sickness; occasioned by the great heat -of Jellalabad. - -Col. Parsons' arrangements only extend to camels and carriage cattle as -far as Peshawer. Capt. Mackeson, with great difficulty, prevailed on -them to go as far as Jellalabad; but no further: and immense exertions -have been made to enable the force to leave that place. The arrangements -are, we hear, nearly completed: but now that Akbar has money (18 lakhs, -it is said) at his command, he may raise troops to harass ours. - -Gen. Nott is said still to be encamped on this side of Khelat-i-Gilzie. -A week or ten days ago, one brigade might have taken Cabul without -opposition. - -The Affghans are very jealous of any people coming to us; lest we should -obtain information. A young man of great respectability, who came to -bring some things for Capt. Johnson a few days since, has been fined -6000 rupees; and in addition to that has been tortured, and had all his -nails torn out. - -_10th._--A slight earthquake in the morning; and four shocks during the -night. - -_11th._--Our guard is increased by thirty men. - -The fruit in the garden is sold to a Khoord; who says, if we will pay -him a few rupees, we may eat any we like: but the grapes are sour, and -will not be ripe for these six weeks at least. The sour plums make -preserves. - -It appears very uncertain what power Akbar really possesses. The -Kuzzilbashes occupy the gate which commands their quarter. Mahommed Shah -Khan has one. Futteh Jung is still king, and lives in the interior of -the Bala Hissar. Akbar still inhabits a house in the Shōr Bazar. - -_12th._--A Hindostanee was severely beaten at the gate; being suspected -of bringing in news. - -_13th._--A Peshawer-i-Suwar was beaten, and had his horse taken from -him, for attempting to come here: if he had any letters, they were not -discovered. - -Various reports to-day: some, that our troops are at Gundamuk; and -others that the forces both at Jellalabad and at Kandahar, &c. are all -retreating to the provinces, and leaving us to enjoy the gentle mercies -of our captors. - -_14th._--Ali Mahommed Khan says that we shall not leave this fort: that -even if Akbar meditated our removal, the various tribes, by whom we are -surrounded, would look to their own interests; and interfere to get us -into their own hands. This agrees with what Dost Mahommed Khan told us -at Zanduh; that the Sirdar had been peremptory in ordering our removal -to Cabul; but that he had, in so doing, committed a great mistake; as he -would probably find out in three or four days after our arrival at the -capital; and when it would be too late to rectify his error. - -_15th._--In consequence of having yesterday given a rupee to the -Khoordish Baghwan, he had this evening two dallies of the finest -mulberries the garden produced (the Bédanas) ready for us: nicely cooled -by the rill of the stream, and covered with a shower of roses. We filled -our basket; and sat and ate the fruit under the vines; and look forward -to delicious sherbet from the flowers to-morrow. - -_16th._--Towards morning we were awakened by such a noise, that we could -not possibly imagine it to be less than a chupao: on inquiry it proved -to be a row between an ayah and a bearer. - -The _on-dit_ of to-day is, that 4000 Sikhs are to hold Jellalabad, -whilst our troops come up to Cabul. The Affghans say that eight of our -regiments are at Gundamuk. On the arrival of the force it is expected by -the Affghans that Akbar and Mahommed Shah will flee; but that very few -of their followers will accompany them. They will take us with them; -either to Mecca or Room! By the latter they mean Constantinople. - -They tell us that Futteh Jung is a prisoner. - -Late in the evening news arrived that Kamran (who, by-the-bye, we heard -was put to death by his minister, Yai Mahommed, some time since) is -coming with an army from Herat; to form a coalition with Futteh Jung, -Akbar, the Ghilzyes, and all the Affghan chiefs. They are to go down and -fight our force: if they are successful, we are to remain as we are; if -not, to be sent viâ Charekar to Turkistan. - -A report prevalent amongst the Affghans that our force has marched from -Jellalabad; and that we consequently shall soon be removed from hence. - -The Prince Futteh Jung is still in confinement. Mahommed Akbar Khan, -Mahommed Shah Khan, and the Ghilzye chiefs, are bent on having him put -to death. Zeman Shah Khan, and the more moderate party, oppose it: not -from affection for us or him, but as a measure of better policy. The -Ghazeeas, however, are determined to steep the chiefs as deeply in blood -as they can, to prevent the possibility of their making any terms with -us. They say the captives shall not be taken away from Cabul; and that -if the Sirdar or any of the Ghilzye chiefs attempt to fly, they will put -them to death. - -Zeman Khan wishes the Sirdar to send him to Jellalabad to treat; taking -the captives with him. This Akbar will not hear of: and they have had a -quarrel, ending in a fight. The sound of cannon has been heard; also -vollies of musketry. A grand battle is to come off on Sunday. - -_18th._--Waterloo day.--It seems that we are to be sent viâ the Kohistan -to Bokhara. Mackenzie writes, that we are to be prepared for a sudden -move. - -_19th._--A letter is said to have arrived from Gen. Pollock to Akbar; -who, with Futteh Jung and all the chiefs, is going in four days to -Jellalabad to salaam. The Ameer is on his way up to resume the throne. - -_21st._--Henry's birthday; celebrated by a great battle in Cabul; in -which Akbar has been victorious; though he has lost from sixty to eighty -men. - -Zeman Shah Khan is said to have been made prisoner, with both his sons. - -Another report states, they have all three escaped: also, that Zeman was -surrounded in a fort, but contrived to get away from it. He had eighteen -guns out; and the Sirdar had as many: the latter is going down to -Jellalabad, to give battle to the English force there. - -_22d._--Various reports to-day:--That Zeman Khan lost fifteen guns -yesterday, and all his treasure:--that to-morrow there will be a great -fight between the Sirdar and Khan Shireen Khan. - -Later accounts in the evening state that Khan Shireen has made his -salaam; and that we are to go to the Bala Hissar. Plenty of firing heard -by us: said by some to be fighting; by others to be salutes in honour of -Futteh Jung being _declared_ king. - -_23d._--The Dost is not to come up until after the rains. No chance of -our removal at present. - -_25th._--Mackenzie and Troup arrived. - -Colonel Palmer is said to have been tortured at Ghuznee. Mohun Lull has -been seized, and tortured. Humza Khan has been imprisoned by the Sirdar. -Ali Bega, Naïb Shureef, and Jan Fishan Khan have fled: the latter's two -sons have been murdered. Osman Khan (the late wuzeer) has been seized by -Akbar. Nott is said to have returned to Kandahar; after putting to death -all his Affghan captives, and blowing up Kelat-i-Ghilzie. This seems (if -true) to be a strange proceeding, if we are to retain the country; as -the fortress was but just completed; and was considered an indispensable -site for a granary and depôt of troops. Major Rawlinson's opinion is, -that our troops will all be withdrawn in the autumn: but this does not -square with the order, received by Ali Bega from Dallas, to lay in all -the provisions he can possibly store in Cabul. - -Ali Mahommed tells us that the Khyberries have risen; and that we have -sent two regiments and two guns against them: but there is an inkling -that more guns have arrived at Jellalabad; and therefore we might have -sent a force to protect them on their way up. They say, also, that -Pollock has actually moved up as far as Gundamuk; and there is a report -that our men at Buddeeabad have been set at liberty by our troops; who -blew up the fort, and also that at Tighree. - -_26th._--A report that 10,000 Sikhs have come up from Peshawer; that -they are in the Lughman valley; have destroyed Tighree; and, fearing a -chupao on Buddeeabad, all the prisoners there were brought away: they -were fed on bread and water only after we left them. The day after our -departure, Mrs. Wade (wife of a sergeant) changed her attire, threw off -the European dress, and adopted the costume of the Mussulmans; and, -professing to have changed her creed also, consorted with the Nazir of -our inveterate enemy, Mahommed Shah Khan; and gave information of some -plans laid by the men for their escape; which nearly caused them all to -have their throats cut. Having reported to her Affghan paramour the -manner in which her husband had secreted some gold mohurs in his jorabs, -he was of course plundered of them. The Hindostanees were stripped of -every article of clothing they possessed; and had even the rags taken -off their sores, to ascertain there was no money concealed: they were -then turned out. Some got to Jellalabad; through the kindness of a Hindu -Bunneah, who sent them down on a jhala; others have been made slaves. Of -the unfortunate servants, Mrs. Sturt and I left behind us, we have no -tidings. - -The Europeans found it dreadfully hot at Buddeeabad; and most of them -were attacked by fever: their only remedy being bleeding with a -penknife; in which Mr. Blewitt was very successful. One man (Sergt. -Reynolds), who was left there with a broken arm, died of lockjaw. - -Sergt. Fare brought with him the colour of the 44th which has been -before mentioned. A few days after Capt. Souter's arrival at Buddeeabad, -Brig. Shelton expressed a wish that the colour should be given to his -servant. (Moore, of the 44th); for the purpose of sewing it in a piece -of cloth; and to keep it in his possession. Previous to our quitting -Buddeeabad, the Brigadier suggested that the colour should be left with -Sergt. Fare; who, with the party that was left at the fort, would, it -was expected, be released before those who proceeded to Cabul. Sergt. -Fare kept the colour concealed by wrapping it round him; and when he -joined us here (at Shewakee) he made it over to Gen. Shelton; who -retains it in his possession. - -Of so incorrect a personage as Mrs. Wade I shall only further say, that -she is at Mahommed Shah Khan's fort with her Affghan lover; and has -taken with her young Stoker. As he is the son of a man in Sale's -regiment, I am doing all I can to get the Sirdar (through Capt. Troup's -entreaty) to have him brought here; and again placed under Mrs. Burnes's -care. She and her infant are looking very miserable, as are most of the -men. - -Col. Stoddart and Capt. Arthur Conolly are prisoners at Bokhara. The -latter had been enthusiastically employed in endeavouring to effect the -release of the slaves in Kokan. The king of Bokhara conquered the chief -of that country; and placed Conolly in confinement at Bokhara. He and -his fellow-prisoner, by the last accounts, had been 126 days confined in -a dungeon underground, without light: they had never changed their -clothes, nor washed; and their food was let down to them once in four or -five days. A native, who had compassion on them, received a message -through the person who took their food to them; and through him Conolly -has communicated with his family here; who, alas! are now powerless to -assist him. - -We ate the first really ripe apricots (_zerdaloos_) and cherries -(_gulas_) brought in from the city: but the produce of the Kohistan, the -aloo baloo, or sour wild cherry, in the garden, is now pretty ripe; and -the apricots and some of the green plums are ripening. The peach of this -garden is very inferior to what I used to purchase last year. The best -apricot in it is the white one; it is called kysee; and has a flavour of -rose-water. - -The red plum is not permitted to ripen properly: it has some flavour; -and is called turnasook. The green plum looks something like a -greengage; but has no flavour except that of _eau sucrée_. - -It is said, on the authority of Sergt. Wade,--who was informed by his -wife, who professed to have her information from Mahommed Shah Khan's -family,--that we are all going to be sent to Bokhara. There is also a -report, not however traceable to any foundation, that Pollock's force is -not to move upwards until the middle of August. - -_28th._--An earthquake about 11 A.M., and another about 9 P.M.; -sufficient both times to make the roof creak. - -We have heard from undoubted authority that Mahommed Akbar Khan said in -the durbar, before he left Cabul to follow our troops in January, that -it was his intention to go and _kuttle kurra_, or cut the throats of all -our force; _and, after that, let_ THEM _beware_,--meaning the chiefs. He -seems to be now verifying his promise; and is, by all accounts, -squeezing as much wealth as he can out of all those who are in his -power; and disgusting every one of them. - -_29th._--Jan Fishan Khan has escaped to Jellalabad. Khan Shireen Khan, -and many of those friendly to the English, have retired into the hills. - -_30th._--Troup left us; taking part of my journal, and plenty of -letters; as it is said he is to be sent to Jellalabad. Mackenzie is ill -with fever; and unable to go with him. - -_July 1st._--The Sirdar has promised that Stoker shall be sent back to -us; but he has not yet arrived. - -_3rd._--Troup arrived; and brought us a comb and two caps from Mahommed -Rufeek. The Sirdar still talks of sending him to Jellalabad; but says he -must wait four or five days, as he, the Sirdar, is busy collecting his -revenue. The hostages are all coming here to-morrow or next day. I fear -their arrival will crowd us very much; and at present we have Mackenzie, -Waller, and Melville laid up with fever. - -Timor Shah says that if the English will support him on his father's -throne, well and good; if not, that he will prefer going to Loodianah, -on a pension. - -A man has just come in, and reports that our troops are in the Lughman -valley. We conclude they are foraging parties, collecting grain. - -_4th._--The Cabullees say they will cut Akbar in pieces, before they -will permit us to be taken away. The hostages are sold to Akbar for 400 -gold mohurs. - -Sultan Khan, said to be made Sirdar-i-Sirdaran. - -_5th._--The Wuzeer Akbar Khan went to reside in the Bala Hissar. Troup, -who left us, had to follow him there with Pottinger. - -_6th._--All the hostages are to come here; except Conolly, who is to -remain with the Wuzeer in the Bala Hissar. There are reports that our -troops have left Kandahar; having received a number of camels from -Sindh. When the cossid started, they had made three marches -hither-wards. As a cossid takes eight or ten days to come, they must -have left Kandahar about the 26th or 28th. They have twenty-two marches -thence to Cabul; which, with the detention at Ghuznee, and on the road, -if they have any fighting, will retard the arrival of the force until -from the 25th instant to the 1st of August. - -Akbar has ordered the ditch round the Bala Hissar to be cleaned out; and -proposes sending 6000 men, under Mahommed Shah Khan, to occupy the -passes between this place and Jellalabad. But his grand battle is to -take place here, on the plain in front of the Bala Hissar. Akbar has -ordered every one to be fined who addresses him, or speaks of him, -otherwise than as the wuzeer. Mrs. Burnes' child died; and was buried -under the hill: the service was performed by Mr. Eyre. - -_7th._--The news we heard yesterday is confirmed by Troup and Conolly; -with this addition from the Khan, that Timor Shah is proclaimed King of -Kandahar. Col. Palmer is said to have died at Ghuznee. When Mahommed -Akbar Khan went to the durbar the day we left Cabul, prepared for his -journey, and publicly declared that it was his intention to _kuttle -kurra_ all the English, Zeman Shah Khan sent to Conolly, who wrote off -to Major Pottinger, to put him on his guard. This letter arrived at -Bhoodkhak while Pottinger and Akbar were in conference: the treating -went on notwithstanding, and the result was the hostages being given. At -this time, the people at Cabul all supposed that, as Akbar had only -about 300 men with him, we should make him prisoner. - -When Shah Shoojah was killed, a letter was found on him from Capt. -Macgregor, dated in April; telling him to hold out fifteen days longer, -and he should have assistance. - -The Nawaub Zeman Shah Khan has spent two lakhs in raising men on our -side; and in feeding troops to act against Akbar. He has still 1000 men; -but now wants money. He also fed hundreds of wretched Hindostanees, who -were starving in Cabul; great numbers of whom were seized, sold for one -and two rupees each, and sent to Turkistan. Zeman Shah Khan did every -thing in his power to put a stop to this. - -_8th._--Mishdeen, in the Ahmedzye country, S.E. of Tezeen, belongs to -Sultan Khan. This is the place we are likely to go to, if we are removed -from hence. When little Tootsey (Capt. Anderson's child) was carried off -in the Khoord Cabul pass, she was taken direct to Cabul: and the Khan -rode up and down the streets with her; offering her for sale for 4000 -rupees. After some negotiation regarding the price, Conolly purchased -the child; who was in the hands of Amenoollah Khan. A plot was laid to -take Conolly's life, and that of the other hostages; but Taj Mahommed -Khan gave them timely warning not to attend the King, should they be -sent for. The restoration of the child was a good pretext: and -Amenoollah tried to persuade them to go and thank the king for his -kindness; when, as soon as they reached the door, they were to have been -assassinated. They made some excuse of ill health; and escaped. Nothing -could exceed the kindness of Zeman Shah Khan, both to the hostages and -the little girl; who became much attached to her new friends. Taj -Mahommed Khan, Khan Shireen Khan, the Naïb Shureef, and many others, did -all they could, consistently with the safety of both parties, to make -them comfortable. - -_9th._--Two men have come in; who repeat the old story of ten days -since;--that there has been a great battle at Peshbolak; where every -man, woman, and child was killed; that at Ali Baghan the men were all -killed, but the women and children spared; and that the slaughter of the -Affghans has been great. By the account of another cossid, who came in -yesterday in twelve days from Kandahar, Nott's force ought to-day to be -at Mookkoor. - -_11th._--The Wuzeer is to be married to one of Amenoollah Khan's -daughters. - -Our fever cases to-day consist of Mackenzie, Waller, Freddy Eyre, Mrs. -Waller, Magrath, two ayahs, one or two Hindostanee servants, and several -soldiers. - -An earthquake at night. - -Major Pottinger arrived. Troup went to Jellalabad the night before last. -There is a report that we are building a fort at Jugdaluk: also that -70,000 men are collecting at Ferozepore; 25,000 of these are to form a -corps of observation there; 15,000 are now at Kandahar; and 20,000 at -Jellalabad; and 10,000 are coming from England. These are independent of -Gen. Brookes's force in Sindh. - -_13th._--The Wuzeer had all the kujavas ready to move us in two days; -but the Cabullees would not let him. - -Yai Mahommed, who is supreme at Kandahar, having, it is said, Shah -Kamran in _kyde_, has invited Akbar to go to him at Herat: but he, good -man, has other views; such as friendship and alliance with the -Feringhees. He _only_ asks to be acknowledged King of Affghanistan; and -to have a subsidiary force with which to conquer Bokhara. - -_14th._--Shumshudeen Khan refuses to give up the Ghuznee prisoners. Only -Lumsden and his wife are killed. Col. Palmer is said to have died of a -fever; but whether brought on by the torture said to have been inflicted -on him, or not, is not known. - -Four of our regiments are at Gundamuk; erecting a fort. - -Mrs. Trevor gave birth to another girl, to add to the list of captives. - -Two earthquakes to-day. - -_15th._--Mr. Campbell, assistant surgeon of the 54th, who was left at -Cabul with the sick of the various regiments, came here a few days since -to consult regarding Capt. Mackenzie's case. It is now decided that he -remains here; as the men at Cabul are very healthy, and we have got what -seems very like a gaol fever amongst us. - -_16th._--Conolly and Airey came to pay us a visit. A letter has been -received by the former from Gen. Pollock; who offers to exchange all the -Affghan prisoners in Hindostan against the captives that are in this -country. He writes, that if Conolly thinks his going to Jellalabad will -facilitate arrangements, he is to go thither, accompanied by all those -who appear to have been foremost in civility to us,--Khan Shireen Khan, -Mahommed Shah Khan, &c. (How our friends and enemies are here mixed up; -for the latter chief is our most inveterate foe!) He tells him also of -the force now in the country, and of that expected from Hindostan and -England; the army of observation to be commanded by Sir Jasper Nicholls: -and states that if we are driven to extremities against the Affghans, -their punishment will be fearful. Also, that if Akbar wishes to make -friends with us, he ought to give up all our guns. As far as I can -understand, the captives on both sides are to be placed in the hands of -the Sikhs. - -_18th._--The Wuzeer, Mahommed Akbar Khan, and the Sirdar-i-Sirdaran, -Sultan Jan, Mahommed Shah Khan, &c., paid a visit here; and sat in the -garden, which was quickly despoiled of all the fruits: no doubt greatly -to the Khoord's disgust; although some small sum was given to him as a -recompence. - -We received letters and papers from Jellalabad which must have been -lying with Akbar for above a month. - -Lady Macnaghten has had a part of her jewels restored to her; but in a -sadly broken condition. They _talk_ of giving back the rest. - -_19th._--Half rations issued to us, and no meat. This is to repay Ali -Mahommed for the expense of feasting the great people yesterday, I -suppose: though he saved all the expense he could; sending to one person -for tea, to another for sugar; and saying it was for the Wuzeer, who -sent his salaam for it. I believe Akbar pays high prices that he may -have plenty of the best of every thing; and is of course cheated by his -purveyors: but he would never send to us to supply his wants. - -_20th._--Ali Mahommed Khan reports that 1000 men are gone to defend the -passes: he also hints that we shall be released soon. - -_22d._--Dost Mahommed Khan came. He says we shall be kalôss in twenty -days; that there is to be an exchange of prisoners; and that the guns -are to be given up. - -_23d._--Commemoration of the capture of Ghuznee; over which, in its -recaptured state, we groan in spirit. An earthquake at night. - -_24th._--At two P.M. Mrs. Sturt presented me with a -grand-daughter;--another female captive. Capt. Troup and Hadje Bukhtian -are accepted by Pollock; who will have nothing to do with Major -Pottinger. It seems all the Politicals are set aside. The terms are, -that Akbar gives up the guns and all British subjects attached to the -camp, in exchange for the ex-Ameer and all the Affghan prisoners. A -truce agreed to for a month: the agents to remain at Jellalabad, until -Gen. Pollock hears from Lord Ellenborough whether he will enter into an -alliance. - -_26th._--They now require that all Shah Shoojah's family be given up to -Akbar; to be dealt with as best pleases him and Mahommed Shah Khan. A -report that our force is coming up. - -_27th._--Troup arrived from Jellalabad. Akbar has deceived us: there is -no armistice; no collection of revenue by him where our troops are. On -the contrary, we have taken supplies to the extent of six months' -provisions, without payment, in the neighbourhood of Jellalabad. - -Nothing had been decided on which tends towards our release. - -_28th._--Troup, who purchased a quantity of things of all kinds for us -at Jellalabad, _opened his shop_; and I procured arrow root, cotton -gloves, reels of cotton, tape, soap, jalap, and cream of tartar. - -Troup left us in the evening, and went to the Wuzeer. He expects to be -sent to Jellalabad; and I gave him more of my Journal, to take to Sale. - -_30th._--At two this morning Troup and Lawrence left us for Jellalabad. -We hear that orders have been sent to the Kandahar force to move up; and -that there has been some fighting, and a great many Affghans killed. On -inquiry being made, the Affghans told the following tale:--That one -regiment was out beyond Lughman, foraging; that in the night the people -rose, and our troops retired; on which we sent 12,000 men! with a park -of artillery! against which, of course, the Affghans could not stand. -There has been probably some trifling skirmish. The Kandahar troops are -ordered up; and the Wuzeer told Lawrence (who says he never saw him -appear so angry before) that if our troops advance, he should take us -all to Bameean, and make a present of us to the chiefs of that place: so -that our prospects appear gloomier than ever. I cannot understand the -motive of moving up the troops both ways. Nott is to go to Ghuznee to -receive the prisoners: not to fight, but only to defend himself if -attacked; and then to come here and join Pollock: and, having received -us, all are to walk back hand in hand. We are not to attack Cabul, &c., -but to evacuate the country; with Akbar, the Ghilzyes, the Barukzyes, -and all the other _Zyes_ hanging on our flanks and rear: and if they can -but get us to procrastinate, so as to give them the advantage of their -faithful ally _the snow_, the Affghans will have the satisfaction of -destroying another and still larger army this year. - -_31st._--Had Skinner lived, he would have thrown more light than any -other person upon the late events; as he was the bearer of the messages, -more especially of the one sent on the night before the Envoy's death. -It is as nearly certain as such an event can be, that poor Skinner, who -was evidently a dupe to Akbar Khan, was put to death by his orders. At -Jugdaluk, after the General, the Brigadier, and Johnson were in the -Sirdar's power, Major Thain went to the other officers and said, "I fear -there is treachery: poor Skinner has been shot; and had the object of -the Affghan only been to kill a Feringhee, he would not have passed _me_ -to shoot _him_." There can be little doubt, that the Sirdar was anxious -to put out of the way one who could give such fearful evidence against -him. Trevor was also much in the Envoy's confidence; and he also became -a victim. I have, however, heard that Skinner was not in reality the -dupe he appeared to be: and that he had expressed to the Envoy his -conviction that the Sirdar was not trustworthy. Yet, if so, it is -strange he should have placed the faith he did in him during the -retreat; and have advised our going over to him;--unless indeed he saw -further into Akbar's policy than others; and believed that we should be -treated with honour and kept by him as a _dernier ressort_. What will -now be our fate seems very uncertain: but I still think he will not cut -our throats;--not out of love to us, but because the other chiefs would -resent it; as, having possession of us, they could at least obtain a -handsome sum as our ransom. - -The last time Troup came from Jellalabad, three ponies were sent from -thence loaded with different articles for us: but money was put in one -of the boxes; and this was known to the Affghans in charge; and ponies -and all disappeared. I have lost my letters from England and the -provinces, and from Sale; and also newspapers and medicine: the latter -invaluable; as we are very sickly, and have scarcely any. A part of the -things coming were clothes for the captives, sent, by subscription, from -the provinces. But the medicine is our greatest loss; as this gaol fever -seems to be going though all the party, ladies, children, officers, men, -and servants, both male and female. I think it arises in great measure -from malaria. This valley is full of rice cultivation; which is all -under water in a stagnant state: and we are also devoured by musquetoes, -which breed there. - -At first we hoped that though the money, probably not more than 300 or -400 rupees, would be abstracted from the boxes, we should recover the -parcels: but now we have give up that hope. - -A letter has been received by Ahmed Khan; stating that every fort from -Tighree to Buddeeabad has been sacked by the force that have entered the -Lughman valley: some say they are a part of a foraging party of ours; -others conjecture that they are our Sikh allies. - -Should the Wuzeer attempt to remove us to Bameean, Goolam Mahommed, the -father of Taj Mahommed, as also the latter, the high priest of Cabul, -and Khan Shireen Khan, have determined to prevent it: but Khan Shireen -Khan is the very man who had charge of the hostages some time since; and -assured them nothing should induce him to give them up:--yet he did so -the very next day, on the Sirdar sending him 4000 rupees. So, much -dependence cannot be placed on _him_. - -The Kuzzilbashes ever side with the strongest party; and therefore, if -our troops come up, it is likely that Khan Shireen Khan may keep his -word. He has many friends in the Huzara country, through which we must -pass; and he may direct them to seize us. In that case we shall -probably, during the conflict with our guards, lose the few comforts of -clothing, &c. which we now possess. - -A kafila is going down to Jellalabad; and at the same time Akbar sends -2000 men towards that place to line the passes. He sent 3000 some time -since; but their commander did not proceed further than Bhoodkhak; -whence he wrote to the Wuzeer, that his force was too weak to cope with -Pollock's. - -_August 2nd._--Reports that all the forts from Tighree to Buddeeabad are -destroyed. - -_3rd._--An earthquake. - -_4th._--Three more fever cases; and Conolly very ill. We hear that -immediately on Troup's arrival at Jellalabad, all our outposts were -withdrawn. - -Zeman Shah Khan's party is increasing again: and it is thought, if our -troops come up, that the owner of the fort may side with us; and give us -arms to resist being taken away. - -_6th._--Mohun Lull says, that letters have passed through his hands from -several chiefs to Gen. Pollock; stating, that if he will forbear from -injuring the city of Cabul, and respect their lives and possessions, -they will engage that we shall not be taken from Cabul. Amongst these -chiefs are, the high priest, Zeman Shah Khan, Khan Shireen Khan, and -Goolam Mahommed Khan (father of Taj Mahommed): the latter is in hopes, -should we obtain the ascendency, that he may obtain office, as of old; -his family being the hereditary Wuzeers. - -_7th._--John Conolly died, at thirty-two minutes past noon. The Wuzeer -has sent a Khan to order his coffin; and offers to send the body to -Jellalabad. - -_8th._--Ahmed Khan informs us, that the baggage, of the army at -Kandahar, has been sent out eight miles on the road towards the -provinces; and that our eighteen-pounders at Kandahar have been -destroyed. Some days since we had a report that the force there, -consisting, as the Affghans say, of 8000 men, have been exterminated, -with every man, woman, and child thereunto appertaining; and Kandahar -taken and burnt. - -Three regiments have been sent from Kandahar to reinforce Quetta; and -the story concerning the baggage is probably true; and Gen. Nott has -taken advantage of this force to send down all superfluous baggage, and -also the sick; preparatory to a move upwards. - -_8th._--Camels have come; but none of them are strong enough to carry -the coffin; and they say they will send mules at mid-day to carry it. - -_9th._--Major Pottinger arrived. - -The Wuzeer refuses to allow Conolly's body to go to Jellalabad until -Troup returns; and then, if all is not peace, he says he will not allow -him to go, alive or dead. - -There is a report to-day amongst the Affghans, that Pollock has written -to say, that if it is attempted to remove any one of us from Cabul, he -will lay the city in ashes. - -We hear that the Kandahar force is coming up; and it is expected that -the one from Jellalabad will do the same. - -The Sappers and Miners have long been at Charbagh; and they generally -precede the army. - -Conolly was buried at sunset in the garden of the fort. - -Hadje Bukhtian writes to his brother Ahmed Khan, that Gen. Pollock has -written to say it is all one to him whether it is a day or a month; but -that immediately on the arrival of the prisoners he will return to the -provinces. - -The servants have a report that we are forthwith to be taken away, to, -or towards, Bokhara. For two days there have been eight camels here, -with their surwans ready; which looks as if the Wuzeer meditated our -removal, in case of the force coming up; or to send us to our friends, -should the negotiation prove unsuccessful. - -We heard to-day that the Sappers had advanced as far as Gundamuk. - -_10th._--Troup and Lawrence arrived. I received letters, &c. from Sale. -No present hope of release: nor fear of a move, I trust. Nothing appears -to have been done beyond _talk_. Pollock, has threatened, if we are not -sent down in eight days, to come up and destroy Cabul: but Akbar knows, -as well as he does himself, that Pollock has no carriage. The 1st -brigade are gone to Jellalabad. Sale writes me, that, in addition to it, -he has with him the 3d dragoons and a troop of horse artillery: but it -does not appear that they are coming up further. Indeed, without more -troops to back them, or rather to flank them, they cannot come through -the passes. They might do it well with three brigades, having one on -each flank keeping the heights and adjacent country. - -A durbar held by Mahommed Akbar, Mahommed Shah, &c. to consult on the -steps to be taken regarding Futteh Jung, Amenoollah, the Meerwyse, Zeman -Shah, &c. who all wrote advising the immediate advance of our troops. A -letter from Futteh Jung to Gen. Pollock, to that effect, had been -intercepted: but, until Troup's return, it was not safe to make any stir -in the affair. - -_11th._--There was a report last night, that two Europeans (officers) -had been taken prisoners in Cabul; having come from Kandahar, disguised -as natives of the country, with thirty followers: and that they had been -purchasing up all the gunpowder. - -To-day it is said, the same persons are now with the hostages; and that -they are either adventurous persons, who have come up from Nott's -brigade, for some purpose, as yet unknown; or that they are part of the -Ghuznee prisoners, attempting to escape. - -Late in the evening we heard that the above tale has arisen out of the -arrival of an Arab Hadje. He calls himself a soldier of fortune; and -offered his services to Gen. Pollock; who declined them. He is suspected -of being a spy; and has just come from Hindostan. - -The deliberations in the durbar have ended in Futteh Jung's being placed -in confinement. - -_12th._--All the hostages have come over to our fort; and there is a -talk of our being all sent away,--some say to Soorkhab, four marches -off, on the confines of the Loghur country; others say to the Kohistan, -or Bameean. - -We know that Sale's brigade, the 3d dragoons, and a troop of horse -artillery, were to leave Jellalabad for Futteabad on the 6th; which -would bring them only fifteen miles nearer to us. The women are being -sent out of the city; and we have packed up our little all, to be ready -whenever the _hookm_ arrives: we have moreover purchased two ponies. - -_13th._--The republic has only endured a day. Zeman Shah Khan is again -Shah Zeman Shah. We heard guns, probably in honour of the event. This is -news to mark my birthday; which is not likely to be spent much as a -_jour de fête_ by a prisoner. - -I fear Zeman is too much in the hands of Akbar and Mahommed Shah for him -to do us any good; although he is, and ever has been, well disposed -towards us: he acted with the greatest kindness to the English left with -him; and when he had no longer power to protect them, and they were -forcibly taken from his house to that of the Bucha Meerwyse or high -priest of Cabul, he took off his turban, placed it at his feet, and -protested against the measure: and finally sent his eldest son with -them; that, in case evil befel them, his family should not shrink from -sharing in it. The priest's professions were great; but he ended in -giving the hostages up to Akbar for the value of 4000 rupees. As they -were sold for that sum, we tell them they are Akbar's slaves. - -There is now an idea,--whether only the fertile emanations of prisoners' -brains or not, time must unfold,--but an opinion prevails, that Akbar is -so ungallant as to be heartily tired of dragging the women and children -about the country at his heels; and that, if any flight is designed, it -will be that of himself and four hostages; Pottinger, Lawrence, and -Troup, to be decidedly three of them: we are not so certain of the -fourth; but at present we have selected either Gen. Shelton or Capt. -Johnson. - -_15th._--The news of to-day is, that Nott's force has left Kandahar; -taking Timor Shah with them. They are said to have taken the route -leading to Dera Ismaël Khan; but it is thought possible they may, about -ninety miles from Kandahar, at _Gulnarye_, strike to the north, and -pursue that road to Ghuznee; which would be far preferable to crossing -the mountains by the Gholary pass, near the river, and that they will -thence cross over to the left again to the Abistadeh lake, and fall into -the regular road to Ghuznee at Mookkoor. This is a wild and roundabout -tract of country; which is probably not feasible with guns. Akbar says, -that 5000 men have been sent to oppose them. He also says, that our -force at Jellalabad is _in statu quo_; but that if it moves up, we shall -be sent off at half an hour's notice, to a fine climate, with plenty of -ice; which we conclude to be Bameean. - -_16th._--Futteh Jung has made his escape. - -Our troops are reported to have made sixteen marches from Kandahar. -Akbar ordered 5000 men to go and meet them; but it is said, he has -mustered 400 only. - -_17th._--Mrs. Smith (Mrs. Trevor's servant) died of fever and water on -the chest. - -_19th._--We hear that the men, who went towards Kandahar, have been -beaten; and that more are to be sent. - -Futteh Jung escaped through a hole made in the roof; from whence he let -himself down by a rope. The Wuzeer says he is gone to Tagow; but the -general opinion is that he is gone to Jellalabad. Troup went to see the -Wuzeer to-day; who told him, he purposes sending for him and Pottinger, -to stay with him in the Bala Hissar. - -A thunder-storm at night, with heavy rain; the lightning vivid; but it -was all over in an hour. This storm was immediately preceded by an -earthquake, between 10 and 11 o'clock. - -Akbar has written to Lord Ellenborough to say he will only treat with -him; and that he will not have any thing to do with Gen. Pollock; who is -"a fool!" This is complimentary. - -_20th._--We heard a great deal of firing in the evening. - -Futteh Jung is said to have been taken on the road to Jellalabad: but -Abib Khan declares it is not true. They also say that there has been a -fight at Gundamuk; that our troops have arrived there; and that the -Affghans have lost several men in their defeat; that one of the -fugitives has just arrived; and that Akbar will send 5000 more men -there. They also say, that the Kandahar force is within two marches of -Ghuznee. Three horses are kept ready saddled to start with messengers at -a moment's notice, night or day; and the Khan says, he thinks we shall -not be here more than three days longer. - -_21st._--The late newspapers have not a little amused me. They show that -the editors catch at every expression, used in any letters they have -read; or on any comments they hear on news from Affghanistan. A regular -controversy has arisen between one, who asserts that Lady Sale in her -letters evinces a strong prepossession in favour of Mahommed Akbar Khan, -and another, who thinks Lady Sale wrote, as she did, because she was a -prisoner: to which the first rejoins, that he does not think Lady S. -would, under any circumstances, write that which was false. _There_ he -is right: but I would not have written on the subject at all, unless I -wrote as I thought: if people misunderstand, it is their fault and not -mine. Again, they say it were better I had never written at all. Perhaps -so: but it seems that details were wanting; my letters to Sale gave -those; and he thought them of sufficient consequence to send them to the -Governor-General and the Commander-in-Chief. They were afterwards sent -to England by the former; and, if the papers tell truth, excited some -attention in the highest circles. As to my "great prepossession" in -favour of Akbar, my greatest wish is, that Gen. Nott's force should -march up to Ghuznee; release the prisoners there; and then that a -simultaneous movement should take place of Nott's and Pollock's forces -upon Cabul. Once again in power, here, I would place Akbar, Mahommed -Shah, and Sultan Jan _hors de combat_; befriend those who befriended us, -and let the Affghans have the Ameer Dost Mahommed Khan back, if they -like. He and his family are only an expense to us in India; we can -restore them, and make friends with him. Let us first show the Affghans -that we can both conquer them, and revenge the foul murder of our -troops; but do not let us dishonour the British name by sneaking out of -the country, like whipped Pariah dogs. Affghanistan will become a byword -amongst the nations. Had we retreated, as poor Sturt proposed, without -baggage, with celerity (forced marches to get through the snow), and had -the men stood by us (a doubtful point,--they were so worn out and -dispirited), we might have figured in history; and have cut out -Xenophon's account of the retreat of the 10,000. - -As to the justice of dethroning the Ameer Dost Mahommed, and setting up -Shah Shoojah, I have nothing to say regarding it: nor regarding our -policy in attempting to keep possession of a country of uncivilised -people, so far from our own; whence all supplies of ammunition, money, -&c., must be obtained. Let our Governors-General and Commanders-in-chief -look to that; whilst I knit socks for my grand-children: but I have been -a soldier's wife too long to sit down tamely, whilst our honour is -tarnished in the sight and opinion of savages. Had our army been cut to -pieces by an avowed enemy, whether in the field or the passes--let them -have used what stratagems they pleased,--all had been fair. Akbar had -shone as another William Tell; he had been the deliverer of his country -from a hateful yoke imposed on them by Kaffirs: but here he stands, by -his own avowal freely made, the assassin of the Envoy;--not by proxy, -but by his own hand. I do believe, he only meant to make him prisoner; -for the purpose of obtaining better terms and more money: but he is a -man of ungovernable passions; and his temper when thwarted is ferocious. -He afterwards professed to be our friend;--we treated with him;--great -was the credulity of those who placed confidence in him: still they -blindly did so;--even after the letter was received from Conolly, at -Bhoodkhak, confirming the previous warnings of his intentions towards -us. He followed us, with his bloodthirsty Ghilzyes. Mahommed Shah Khan, -his principal adviser, I might almost say his master, is the most -inveterate of our enemies. Akbar is a jovial smooth-tongued man; full of -compliments and good fellowship; and has the knack of talking over both -kaffirs and true believers. - -To our cost, he did talk our chiefs over; and persuaded them of his -friendship; but said that those sugs (dogs) of Ghilzyes were intent on -murder and plunder; and totally unmanageable. In this way he hovered on -our flanks and rear: and when our people were massacred and his -bloodhounds in human shape were tolerably glutted with their blood, the -scene was changed; although it was constantly reacted. In the distance, -a group of horsemen invariably appeared: they were beckoned to; -questioned as to what chief was present,--it was invariably Akbar, who -always pretended good faith, said his 300 horsemen were too few to -protect us from the Ghilzyes, &c.,--and then, the following day -witnessed a repetition of the slaughter, and pretended friendship; for -that this friendship was a mere pretence, was acknowledged by him when -he said, "I was the man who killed your Envoy with my own hand; I -destroyed your army; I threw aside all ties of family, deserted every -thing, for the faith of Islam; and now I am left to bear the opprobrium -heaped on me by the Feringhees, whilst no one supports me: but were I in -power, I would make the chiefs remember it!" and then he uttered -maledictions on their heads. He has kept his word; has been a bitter -enemy to all who have shown the slightest kindness to us; and grinds -their money out of them by threats and torture. - -A woman's vengeance is said to be fearful; but nothing can satisfy mine -against Akbar, Sultan Jan, and Mahommed Shah Khan. Still I say that -Akbar, having, for his own political purposes, done as he said he would -do--that is, destroyed our army,--letting only one man escape to tell -the tale, as Dr. Brydon did,--and having got the families into his -possession;--I say, having done this, he has ever since we have been in -his hands, treated us well:--that is, honour has been respected. It is -true that we have not common comforts; but what we denominate such are -unknown to Affghan females: they always sleep on the floor, sit on the -floor, &c.--hardships to us. We have bought common charpoys at two -rupees each; that is, a bed formed by four poles and ropes tied across -and across them. Had we tables and chairs, we have not space for them; -so many inhabit the same apartment. Individually I have no right to -complain on this subject; as Lady Macnaghten, Mrs. Mainwaring, Mrs. -Boyd, Mrs. Sturt, and I, occupy the same apartment. Capt. Boyd makes his -bed on the landing-place of the stairs, or on the roof of the house; so -that we have no _man_-kind amongst us, except the Boyds' two little -boys, and Mrs. Mainwaring's baby. This little fellow was born just -before the insurrection broke out in Cabul (in October): his father had -gone with Sale's brigade; and we always call him Jung-i-Bahadur. - -After so long enduring the misery of having gentlemen night and day -associated with us, we have found this a great relief. - -The Wuzeer gives us rations of meat, rice, ottah, ghee, and oil; and -lately fruit. At first our food was dressed for us; but it was so greasy -and disgusting, that we asked leave to cook for ourselves. That again -was a matter of taste: one person likes what another does not. By us, a -strong cup of coffee is considered a luxury; whilst an Affghan the other -day, who had some given to him (he had never tasted any before), -pronounced it bitter and detestable. - -It is true, we have been taken about the country; exposed to heat, cold, -rain, &c.; but so were their own women. It was, and is, very -disagreeable: but still we are, _de facto_, prisoners; notwithstanding -Akbar still persists in calling us--honoured guests: and, as captives, I -say we are well treated. He has given us common coarse chintz, and -coarse longcloth, too, wherewith to clothe ourselves;--I must not use -the word dress: and making up these articles has given us occupation; -increased by having to work with raw cotton, which we have to twist into -thread for ourselves. We suffered more from uncleanliness than any thing -else. It was above ten days after our departure from Cabul, before I had -the opportunity to change my clothes, or even to take them off and put -them on again, and wash myself: and fortunate were those who did not -possess much live stock. It was not until after our arrival here (at -Spéwakee, near Cabul) that we completely got rid of _lice_, which we -denominated infantry: the fleas, for which Affghanistan is famed (and -particularly Cabul), we call light cavalry. - -The servants, of course, were worse off than ourselves; and, not having -as good wardrobes as we had, communicated their pests, of the insect -tribe, to the children they carried about; and thus the mothers obtained -a double share. Bugs have lately made their appearance; but not in great -numbers: the flies torment us; and the musquitoes drive us half mad. But -these annoyances, great as they are, are the results of circumstances -which cannot be controlled; and when I say this, I suppose I shall again -be accused of prepossession in favour of the Wuzeer. We ought, however, -to bear in mind, that the Affghans are not addicted to general ablution: -they wash their hands before and after their meals, which is but _comme -il faut_, as they eat with their fingers; and they constantly wear the -same clothes a month. This is not economy. The Wuzeer will take his bath -perhaps once a week; and change his clothes: and the women never think -of doing so oftener; and only open their hair at such times; which is -kept smooth for that period by the application of gum to its innumerable -plaits. Here again is a difference between their tastes and ours, who so -enjoy bathing twice a day. - -The garden, or rather vineyard and orchard, I consider a great luxury: -we walk in it every evening for an hour or two. A strong guard is placed -there: but, except when it has been lately changed, the men do not annoy -us. At such times they dodge about after us; but otherwise do not. Last -evening, for instance, sixteen men, armed at all points, sat down in a -row in the centre walk; and laughed and joked together: five or six were -sitting eating grapes on the top of the summer-house; and a few were -posted, seated on the walls; whilst we walked here and there where we -pleased. - -When we have marched since we left Buddeabad, Mahommed Shah's family, -and some others, have accompanied us; and the best camels, largest -kujavas, &c., have been selected for them; and when carriage runs short, -they are served first. But this is only what we must expect. Mahommed -Shah Khan, too, preferred Mrs. Sturt's riding-horse to his own; and took -it. Mine was sent to Jellalabad. When Mackenzie went there, he rode, and -lamed it; and it was left behind. There I was fortunate; as Sale has got -it. Luckily I had a few rupees; and the only day I was not provided with -a horse to ride, I hired one for two rupees six anas, a mere baggage -pony; but it carried me safely. - -Nothing can exceed the folly I have seen in the papers regarding my -wonderful self;--how I headed the troops, &c. &c. It puts me in mind of -Goldsmith's verses on Mrs. Blaze; in which he remarks, that "the king -himself has followed her, when she has gone before:" and certainly I -have thus headed the troops; for the chiefs told me to come on with them -for safety sake: and thus I certainly did go far in advance of the -column; but it was no proof of valour, though one of prudence. - -Troup and Pottinger have been told to be in readiness to go in to-morrow -morning: so I now make up my packet, in case an opportunity should offer -by which Troup can send it to Sale. - -The only thing that has given me pleasure in the Indian papers, is a -subscription set on foot by the civilians, to purchase a sword, to be -presented to Sale; because it shows that they appreciate his conduct; -and I know that he will value it most highly. I hear that after Futteh -Jung was placed in confinement, his family had all their jewels, &c. -taken away; to the value of twenty lakhs. Some say this was done by -Akbar and Sultan Jan; others, by Mahommed Shah Khan. The latter had -taken a lesson in such actions, when he despoiled Lady Macnaghten of her -valuables. - -_22d August._--Our friends went back to the Wuzeer; and took my packets -with them. - -The Affghans still talk of some defeat they have experienced near -Soorkhab: whence the celebrated miner has returned discomfited and -wounded; and says he will not attempt to cope with our force. The Wuzeer -has made the people of Cabul take their oath on the Koran to stand by -him; and great excitement prevails in the city. Futteh Jung has arrived -safely at Jellalabad; and has written from thence, that, if Akbar is his -father's son, he will meet him in fair fight; for which purpose there is -said to have been held a grand muster of troops on the Siah Sung plain; -amounting to 25,000 infantry and 5,000 horse, who are to be headed by -Akbar in person. I can scarcely believe that he will set his fortunes on -the issue of a battle. A fair field and no favour is what we want: but -he would be mad to meet our disciplined troops on the plain; when he -knows that the fastnesses of his country give him every advantage over -us, with any rabble he can collect. Besides, he is all but supreme now. -He wishes to be king: but Zeman Khan has again got a strong party in his -favour; and is endeavouring to regain the throne. - -_23d._--The prisoners from Ghuznee arrived quite unexpectedly:--Col. -Palmer, Capt. Burnett (54th), Harris, Nicholson, Poett, Alston, -Williams, Crawford, and Thompson. - -Akbar says, he will send us away in three or four days, either to -Bameean, Zoormut, or Soorkhab; twenty miles off, on the borders of the -Loghur country. - -_24th._--Sultan Jan left Cabul with 300 men; to reinforce Shumshudeen, -who has been signally defeated, we hear, at Carabagh; escaping with only -twenty men. Some say Nott's force achieved this victory; but others that -the Huzaras rose against him: so probably British gold has been weighed -in the balance, and found more ponderous than the hatred of the Kaffirs. - -Being greatly in want of medicine, Mr. Campbell went to the Sirdar to -get some from Cabul; and he told him we were to move to-night or -to-morrow. Mrs. Anderson, being too ill to travel, remains here. - -_25th._--A sudden order arrived for our removal; with a report, that -Futteh Jung's and all the female royal family were to accompany us. -Capt. Troup arrived in the evening to see us off, by Akbar's command. -Mrs. Anderson, her husband and children, remained at the fort. Akbar has -ordered every attention to be paid to her and the gentlemen; Mr. -Campbell being left with the party to afford medical aid. Mrs. Trevor -and eight children are also left here, in consequence of her being -seriously ill with fever; as also one of her children. A man of the 44th -died of fever to-day; and was buried in the garden. Soon after the moon -rose we left the fort; camels for kujavas and fifty ponies having been -sent for our accommodation. All our ponies, &c., were taken from us; and -on our removal, a certain number were sent. We fortunately purchased two -ponies to carry our baggage. We were told we were to go to Killa Kazi, -about seven miles from Cabul: but we made a long _détour_ to avoid the -city; and crossed the Loghur river: the road was very tolerable. After -proceeding about five miles we came to several forts on our right; the -first a large one; and were told it was called Killa Kazi. We passed a -succession of forts on either side; but there was scarcely any one to be -seen except a few men watching their grain heaps in the fields. On the -right appeared much cultivation; judging from the dark shade; which, -with an ill-defined line of irregular mountains, was all we could even -speculate upon in the way of scenery. We had with us ten soldiers; so -ill with fever as to require to be carried in kujavas: and Capt. -Mackenzie and Lieut. Eyre were also suffering. - -I was the only lady who rode; the others preferring the kujavas; on -account of their children. - -_26th._--At daybreak we were still travelling; and near sunrise found -ourselves just opposite to Cabul; and about two miles distant, as the -crow flies, from Baber's tomb. We saw the wall on the hill quite -distinctly. We did not arrive at our ground till past seven: and took up -our stations under some trees near the fort; which, I have been told, is -called Kundah. Here there was no admittance; as Sultan Jan was in it, -with his reinforcements for Ghuznee. This disproves a report of -yesterday; to the effect that the people of Cabul had insisted on having -Sultan Jan as a hostage for our safety. He had a number of good horses -with him: and we recognised the Envoy's grey. His army consisted of -about thirty men; but Inshallah! he is to be joined by lakhs. We are -said to be guarded by 1000 men; but 300 were nearer the mark. During the -morning we were joined by Dr. Berwick, Lieut. Evans, and the European -soldiers who were left sick when we evacuated Cabul: they form a total -of thirty-seven; but a few have been left for want of carriage, which is -to be furnished; and they are to be sent after us; as also Lieut. -Haughton. We this morning recognised the summer-house above Baber's -tomb, Kerghah and the Pughman hills. - -Judging from the time that we were travelling, about twelve hours; and -taking the rate of the camels at about two miles per hour, deducting a -fourth for halt; we estimate the distance we have gone at eighteen -miles. - -A letter has been received from Kandahar: Nott has marched in three -columns with only 6000 men. He sent his camels out to graze the 3d -March; and lost 2000. He left Kandahar on the 28th. - -Shumshudeen has retired on Ghuznee: and, by the last accounts, Gen. Nott -was within ten miles of that fortress. He is expected at Cabul on the -1st. Pollock's force is to move on the 20th. We are to march at -moon-rising. We witnessed a parade of telling off the guards, &c.; and -heard the retreat beat off at sunset. They use our drums and fifes; and -have some bugles with which they sound for us to halt or advance. The -sentries planted round our camp are a perfect farce. These men are the -Pultans; who have no knives, and are mostly armed with our own muskets: -I saw them place their pickets, in imitation of ours; and sentries -walked backwards and forwards, with a ramrod in their hand; having stuck -the butt end of the musket in the earth at their posts: so that, were it -of any use, we might easily overpower them. We asked to be admitted into -the fort: but though they said we might occupy one room when vacated by -Sultan Jan; after his departure, they insulted the gentlemen who went to -get it ready for us; and asked, how the Kaffirs dared to wear their -shoes there. We, therefore, spread loonghees to form a shade, as the -heat was excessive; and at night it was very cold. At eleven the -_réveillé_ was beat by the drums, and performed by the pipes; a kind of -repetition of one, two, three: and at midnight we were all ready to -start. - -_27th._--We left camp soon after midnight. The Meer Akhor Ahmed Khan was -very anxious that all the riders should follow the advance guard of half -the infantry; the rest of which closed on our rear: then came the -kujavas, followed up by the baggage; and their rear was closed by a -strong guard of Affghan cavalry. - -Another body of horsemen, about twenty in number, joined as riders; and -kept near the Meer Akhor; who desired Lady Macnaghten's kujavas to be -kept as the leading ones; and the camel had fine trappings, as if to -mark it particularly in case of an attempt at escape. - -We were between eight and nine hours on the march over a barren broken -slip of land, bounded on either side by the hills for a considerable -distance, until we passed a fort and chokey at Urghundee on our left; -soon after which the road turns off to the left to Ghuznee. The ascent -to Bala Maidan was long, but not difficult; and the view from the top of -it, looking down on the plain above named, was very pretty; comprising a -narrow valley, thickly studded with forts and diversified by -cultivation; with lines of willows and poplars marking the water cuts; -which here serve as hedgerows. We were taken to a fort; but not admitted -into it: and after a time had tents pitched for us. Lady Macnaghten, -Mrs. Boyd and three children, Mrs. Mainwaring and child, Mrs. Sturt and -child, and I, occupied one division of a Sipahee's pall: there was -another tent for the other ladies; two more for the gentlemen, and one -for the sick soldiers. - -We hear that Gen. Nott has arrived at Ghuznee, has blown up the new -bourj in the city, and has put to death nearly every man, woman, and -child found there. We cannot be surprised at the men taking signal -vengeance; but we fear the news is too good to be true. We met on our -road two horsemen; whom we supposed to be expresses. We met, also, -several camels, bullocks, and donkeys, laden, for the most part, with -assafœtida. - -It seems a plan was proposed this morning, and negatived. I only heard -of it by chance; so no thanks are due for courtesy to those, who, had -the measure been carried, would have come to us for our share. The plan -was, to get Ahmed Khan to make short marches, or halt; so as to allow -Gen. Nott to hear where we are, and rescue us: and should it succeed, -Ahmed was to receive two and a half lakhs. The scale before proposed -was, I believe, again to be brought forward: Lady Macnaghten 10,000 -rupees, Lady Sale 5000, Mrs. Sturt 5000, Capt. and Mrs. Boyd and family -5000, &c. This scale is said to be prepared according to rank and means; -which I deny: the other captives are not wealthy any more than -ourselves; and where the money was to come from, I know not. The Indian -Government, it is said, offered to ransom us for that sum; and I believe -would have given more: but this seems to have been a private and most -_zubberrdust_ arrangement. - -There is a report, that all Cabul is in confusion, and the natives -fighting against each other; and that our force has passed Gundamuk. - -_28th._--We left our encamping ground about two o'clock; and reached -Tarkhana between eight and nine. Had I taken the ride for my own -amusement on a good horse, instead of being driven about as a captive on -a sorry baggage yaboo, I should have enjoyed it very much. The narrow -vale we passed through was highly cultivated; the fields divided by -willow and poplar trees, and the forts frequent. Near to Julraiz (the -head of the spring) the scenery was particularly beautiful; the trees -well clumped together; and the river, here clear as crystal, rapidly -flowing to our left. The hills, also, assumed a novel aspect; having a -foreground of lower hills of most uncommon form. Nearly opposite to the -town was a triangular one, sharp as though it had been scarped -purposely; next to it a semicircular one, &c.; with the usual chain of -mountains behind. Julraiz appears to be rather a large town, surrounded -by forts. The scenery was varied; but the land always under cultivation -until we reached our halting ground; where we bivouacked on the green -sward, sheltered from the sun's rays by a double row of poplar trees; -between which rippled a stream that empties itself into the Cabul river, -which bounds our resting-place on one side. This river is at this place -as famed for its clear limpid waters, as it is at Cabul for its dirty -hue, being there quite red. We here got some small fish like gudgeons, -some bad small apricots, sour grapes, and apples and pears, that had -just arrived by a caravan. Here General Saleh Mahommed's troops looted -five camels. - -_29th._--Marched at daybreak; and shortly afterwards saw a curious stone -on the hill to the left. At about three miles passed Sir-i-chushm on the -right; a fortified town, with a fort in front of it. Here are three -preserves full of sacred fish. The name of this place signifies the -"head of the spring." The road becomes daily more rugged. - -On our right we passed a fine fort; called Mustapha Khan Ke Killa. It -was built by a person of that name. He is dead; but his son lives there; -a very gentlemanlike man, wearing spectacles. As we passed he gave us -_nan_ (bread), and apricots prepared as a paste. - -We halted at Killa Naziri; eight miles from our last resting-place. Here -our troops again looted two camels. - -_30th._--Marched at two A.M., sixteen miles to Gurdundewar, on the -Helmund. At first we passed through a narrow defile with a stony road; -after which the road was excellent, fit to drive carriages upon; except -in a few places where there were rather awkward descents. - -There were three steep ascents; one of which was very long. Very little -cultivation; and but few forts seen on our route. - -A man was met on the march, who said he was a cossid from Ghuznee: that -that fort was in our possession; and that a force was to be sent to -release us. - -Shortly before we arrived at our destination, ten or twelve Huzaras were -set upon by about 300 of our guard. They fired about fifty shots at -them: killed one, wounded one, took two prisoners, and some loot. - -There are two Yaghi forts here: the rest are subject to Akbar. - -_30th._--Left the Hah-i-Baba to our left: there was snow in the clefts; -but none on the top, which is 18,000 feet above the level of the sea. - -We marched about eight miles to the foot of the Hadje Gurk pass. The -road led the whole way through a defile; at first very narrow and stony; -with a tributary stream to the Helmund occupying nearly the whole of it. - -There were several rocks which assumed the appearance of gigantic -statues. One on the right representing a man seated on a bull couchant: -another on the left, at first resembled a man clothed in the _toga_, -standing on a pedestal. There were others, also, that it was difficult -to suppose natural: they may have been ancient Buddhistic or Brahminic -remains. After arriving at some forts and two tombs near a ruined fort, -the valley became wider and fertile; being all planted with wheat, some -perfectly ripe and some quite green. - -On nearing our destination, the valley again closed up. We came to a -fort dilapidated, but still inhabited. Every breach in the walls was -filled with armed men. Our troops were drawn up in due form; our two -drums and one fife struck up; the bugle sounded at intervals; and the -men marched to this discord in the most appropriate manner; invariably -missing both cadence and step, until we arrived at our tents. - -Twice during the day's march there were shots fired in front; and much -talk of battle, which never took place; though each time there were a -number of Huzaras posted on the heights. These men have been for some -time past besieging the forts here. The damaged one has been partially -rebuilt; and the one opposite to it appears to be in perfect repair. - -Our commandant is going with his army to fight: but I am not sure which -side he takes. There was a skirmish this morning; one party posted -behind a sungah on the hill, which was forced, and the brave troops -fled. - -_31st._--Marched to the forts of Kaloo. Found the road bad and stony; -with constant steep ascents and descents. Ascended the Hadje Gurk pass, -which is 12,400 feet above the level of the sea; the hills barren; grain -was cultivated in the bed of the valley, where a silver serpentine -stream meandered; and the hay, freshly thrown into cocks, reminded me of -England. We crossed the river twice; and with difficulty conquered a -steep ascent to the fort, near which we encamped. A report that Akbar -has been fighting with the chiefs at Cabul; and that our force must be -at Bhoodkhak to-day. - -_1st September._--Marched at daylight over the Kaloo pass. It is nearly -four miles to the top of it. The road at first is narrow and -precipitous; and for the most part little more than a steep path. From -the top the view is very grand; resembling the waves of a very troubled -sea, and composed of barren hills of every variety of shade and hue. We -saw Bameean from thence: but though a magnificent scene was before us, -it presented no pleasing object to those who expected to remain captives -in that desolate region. The only plant here is the Koole-Huzara, or -Huzara Cass, a kind of furze that is very prickly, and grows in bunches: -it is used for fuel. As we neared our destination (Killa Topchee), we -entered a very narrow but highly cultivated valley: the grain short in -the stalk, but particularly fine in the ear. This day's march was seven -miles. - -_3d._--Marched at daylight seven miles to Bameean. The road wild and -uneven, with narrow paths and many ascents and descents. This valley is -nowhere more than a mile broad; but it is very fertile, and produces -particularly fine grain. Plenty of beans and pease are cultivated here; -the former very small, the latter small and hard. The tamarisk and -barberry were abundant, and a shrub with yellow berries. We halted for a -short time opposite a fort, near which were many cows. Here we got some -mast (curds), which we found very refreshing. Looking back from hence, -we saw Zohak behind us, on a high point. At Bameean they refused to take -us into the fort; and we pitched our tents just under the ancient -fortress and city which were destroyed by Jhenzhis Khan; when upwards of -300,000 persons perished. The caves, ruins, and towers, extend for -miles. There are two large images which have been described by former -travellers: opposite to the largest was our encampment. - -We had scarcely settled ourselves in the tents ere the General beat, in -consequence of the people of the fort and the regiment disagreeing: so -we went on about a mile, to such a wretched fort, that we asked leave to -remain in tents; which was with difficulty obtained: but the Khan said -he would endeavour to get a better fort for us to-morrow. - -_4th._--Saleh Mahommed Khan's lady came to visit Lady Macnaghten. She is -young and fair, with a fat round face; and comes from Loodianah; where, -it is said, she was a dancing girl. Her information is, that Futteh Jung -is a prisoner, or has been put to death: his family, she says, are -expected here in a day or two. - -From the 5th to the 9th we made excursions to see the caves, &c. At -first some difficulty was made: but the General sent about thirty men to -guard us and our pencils; for several went intent on sketching. I only -copied the frescoes that were on the walls and ceiling near the large -image; but Mr. Eyre made some very pretty and correct sketches of -Ghoolghoola (the ancient city), &c. - -_9th._--I have daily been begging hard for permission to go and see the -ancient city; but am at last put off by a direct refusal: the soldiers, -it seems, are overworked in keeping watch over us in camp; and to -relieve them we are to be taken into one of these horrid forts. - -We went to the fort formerly occupied by Dr. Lord. - -Long ago, to prevent a recurrence of disputes which had formerly arisen -amongst us regarding distribution of accommodation, &c., we elected, by -vote, a committee of three gentlemen, whose fiat was indisputable--Major -Pottinger, and Capts. Webb and Lawrence: the latter also undertook to be -our purveyor; portioning out our rations generally with his own hands -(servants being scarce), as well as the food for the soldiers. - -On our going into the fort, the committee, having examined the miserable -sheds built round the square of high walls with corner towers and a -gateway, at first decided that the five best rooms, or rather most -convenient ones as regarded privacy, &c., should be destined for the -ladies; and we were to draw lots for them, or arrange amongst ourselves. -Finally, it was requested that the choice might go by seniority. Lady -Macnaghten of course had the first choice. I had the second; and took a -dark cow-house; the only light admitted being from a door down a long -narrow passage and a hole in the roof. This was for Mrs. Sturt, myself, -the ayah, and _the dog_; and was decidedly the best apartment there, to -my taste. We soon _set to_: and by dint of hard working with sticks and -stones, in which I bore my part, assisted by Mr. Melville until both of -us got blistered hands, we knocked two small windows out of the wall; -and thus obtained darkness visible. - -_10th._--We were fortunate in our selection; although our nightly -visitant, in the shape of the largest bug I ever saw, was sufficiently -disgusting: but Lady Macnaghten, Captain and Mrs. Boyd, and Mrs. -Mainwaring, with the children, had no rest in the three rooms they had -taken; which all communicated with each other. They had capital _shikar_ -all night: and in the morning got leave to pitch a tent at the gate, and -reside there. - -_11th._--When we were at Tai Khana on our way to this place, a Sipahee -came to us and said that there were about fifty Hindostanees, amongst -our guard, who were willing to join us; and that Saleh Mahommed Khan was -a man who would do any thing for money. This was told to Capts. Johnson -and Lawrence; and they agreed to sound him on the subject; which they -did: but he laughed at their offer; and pretended to imagine they were -only joking. - -This morning early, Capt. Lawrence came to ask if we would allow a -conference to take place in our room, as being the most private place. -We assented. Saleh Mahommed Khan, the Syud Morteza Khan, Major -Pottinger, Capts. Lawrence, Johnson, Mackenzie, and Webb, assembled; and -our bed, spread on the floor, formed the divan. Here in the course of an -hour all was settled. The gentlemen present signed their names to the -paper; in which we promised to give Saleh Mahommed Khan 20,000 rupees, -and to insure him 1000 rupees a month for life; and that if the -government did not extricate us from this difficulty, we would be -answerable for the money. Thus they held the promise of five British -officers as sacred. In heading the paper, they insisted that we should -do so in the name of Christ; as rendering it perfectly binding. Saleh -Mahommed declared to us, that he had received orders to remove us -farther (to Khooloom), and to set out that night: also, that he had -another letter from Akbar, ordering all who were not able to march to be -put to death. He seems anxious that we shall not receive any news from -others; and had his two drummers severely flogged, for telling us that -the Kuzzilbashes with Khan Shireen Khan had risen against Akbar, and -that the latter had fled to the Kohistan. - -_12th._--Saleh Mahommed Khan hoisted the standard of defiance on the -walls,--white, with a crimson edge and green fringe. - -Two Huzara chiefs have tendered their allegiance to Major Pottinger; as -also Zulficar Khan, the Naïb of the province, who, we heard, had fled. -Another man has been appointed in his room; and has paid 1000 rupees to -Saleh Mahommed for his appointment: which money was laid out in -purchasing khelluts (for the chiefs who came in to us) from a Kaffila -fortunately passing by. - -A report that the Andersons, Trevors, and Bygrave have got safe to our -troops: but as this is coupled with Troup's having gone to Ghuznee, we -fear it is not true; more especially as we are told that our force is -still on the other side of the Khoord Cabul pass; and the last accounts -from Ghuznee are, that Gen. Nott was one march on the other side of it. - -_13th._--A large party travelling by, supposed to be the Meer Hadje and -his family. Saleh Mahommed Khan determined to seize them. They pulled -the Moollah off his horse; who only proved to be a Sheikh somebody, a -relation of the Hadje's; so they were all _bien quittés pour la peur_, -and proceeded on their way in double quick. There is a talk of arming -our men, if we can get muskets. Our valley is now almost hermetically -sealed at both ends. Akbar is at Bégram in the Kohistan; the Meer Hadje -and Zeman Shah Khan quiet at Cabul. - -The Meer Akhor went off at night with his Juzailchees; taking with him -sundry ashurpees which he had received from myself and others to change -for us. This is particularly inconvenient; as we are about to purchase -all the ottah procurable, in order to lay in a little commissariat of -our own; and, if Akbar sends troops against us, hold out till our own -people come to relieve us. We have appointed Capt. Johnson our -commissariat officer. - -Kurrim Beg came over to us, and Meer Hassun; and with much form and -ceremony swore on the Koran to be faithful to us. The latter is the -person whose fort Dr. Lord burnt; and on which subject there was much -angry discussion, _pro_ and _con_, in the Indian papers. He offered his -fort to us: it has a name, which the wits pronounce as _fool-hardy_; and -say it is synonymous with our attempt. The only persons who are against -the measure are Gen. Shelton and Col. Palmer. As the latter has already -been tortured at Ghuznee, he possibly fears a repetition of barbarity, -should we not succeed. The former says, we are precipitating matters -with Akbar; whom he considers as our friend. I believe both have at -length signed the paper. They could scarcely do less; as our signatures -were to exonerate the five officers whose names were superscribed as -answerable for the whole account, which we were of course to pay our -shares of. - -I wrote to Sale to-day; informing him of our resolution to hold out till -we received assistance, even should we be reduced to eating the rats and -mice; of which we have a grand stock. - -_14th._--Zulficar Khan, Salamid Khan, and other chiefs, joined us. - -It would be great injustice to Major Pottinger not to mention the active -part he took in affairs. From his perfect knowledge of the Persian -language, and his acquaintance with the manners and customs of the -people, he well knew how to manage them, and take advantage of the -slightest opening on their part in our favour. His coolness and decision -were only equalled by the promptness with which he met the wishes of the -chiefs; giving them _barats_ on the neighbouring lands, empowering them -to receive the government rents, &c.; all which documents, though he -executed them with an air of great condescension and with the gravity of -a judge, he well knew were mere pieces of waste paper: yet they had a -magic charm for the time; which was all we required. I had again an -opportunity of writing to Sale; as another messenger is sent, in case -the first should not reach his destination. - -At night we were roused by the sounding of the cracked trumpet, and the -drums beating to arms; which, in our _yaghi_ (rebellious) position, was -a little astounding. It seems that a body of horsemen were hovering -about the ruins near the images; and were suspected to be some of -Akbar's troops. Saleh Mahommed sent out his men in skirmishing order, or -rather disorder: however, it answered our purpose; for, whoever they -were, they _made themselves scarce_. - -_15th._--A letter was received from some one, whose signature in cypher -was not to be made out; stating that all Cabul had risen against the -Wuzeer; that Nott's force was at Maidan last Wednesday, and Pollock's at -Bhoodkhak; that Akbar had fled to the Toba mountains towards Kandahar to -the Ghilzyes, and Shumshudeen Khan to the Kohistan. - -Another letter came from Mohun Lull, corroborating the account of the -insurrection in Cabul. He himself had fled to the Kuzzilbash quarter -with his family: Zeman Khan had fled to either the Kohistan or -Kuzzilbash quarter; and the Kuzzilbashes have taken a decided part in -the business. A light force is said to have been sent to our aid: it is -therefore decided that we are to march to-morrow; taking with us two -kurwahs of ottah, which is all (out of four) that we can carry; being -very short of cattle. This ottah was purchased by the subscription I -before mentioned. - -_16th._--We marched to Killa Topchee on a fine sunshiny morning; which -we hailed as a presage of the future. We were not, however, without -considerable anxiety; for our present state was replete with danger. We -had every reason to believe that the Meer Akhor, on leaving us, had gone -to Akbar, and revealed our plans; and consequently every man we saw was -suspected to be the _avant courier_ of troops sent to reclaim us: and -the cheering hope of an escape was considerably clouded before we had -been an hour on the road. Those who travelled in kujavas, of course, -could not keep pace with those who rode: our equestrian party, of which -I formed one, had halted; and, to screen themselves from the sun, had -taken shelter under some huge masses of rock. Here Saleh Mahommed Khan -came up to us; and speaking in Persian to Capt. Lawrence, told him that -he had succeeded in getting a few muskets; which, together with -ammunition, he had brought with him on a camel: and requested that he -would ask the men, which of them would take them; it being his wish to -form a small advance guard of Europeans, as a _show_. Capt. Lawrence -then said, "Now, my lads, here's Saleh Mahommed Khan has brought arms -and ammunition for some of you: who volunteers to take muskets?" - -I blush to record, that a dead silence ensued. Thinking the men might be -shamed into doing their duty, I said to Lawrence, "You had better give -_me_ one, and I will lead the party;" but there was still no offer: and -he told our General, that it was useless; and he had better take them -on. It is sad to think the men were so lost to all right feeling. - -We encamped near the small forts. Here a letter was received; stating, -that on Tuesday Pollock's force fought from mid-day to midnight; and -eventually forced the Khoord Cabul pass, charging the enemy as far as -the hills north of Cabul to the Jurra Tunghee, leading to Tagow; that on -Wednesday morning Nott attacked and pursued the enemy as far as Siah -Sung; that meanwhile the Kuzzilbashes seized the city, and partially -looted it. - -Mahommed Akbar Khan and Mahommed Shah Khan are said to be--_nowhere_! - -Sultan Jan and Shumshudeen Khan had been previously defeated at Maidan; -as also Sultan Ahmed Khan. - -Reports have just arrived that 2000 horse from Khoolloom are following -us up to take us thither. - -_17th._--At two in the morning we were roused by the arrival of a -horseman with a letter from Sir Richmond Shakespear; who is coming with -600 Kuzzilbash horsemen to our aid. - -We marched eleven miles to the forts at the foot of the Kaloo pass; -again admiring the silvery serpentine stream and the haycocks near it. -We arrived at our ground at mid-day, and were sitting under the walls of -one of the forts, sheltering ourselves from the sun until the arrival of -our tents; when, at three o'clock, Sir Richmond arrived; and was -received, with _one_ exception, with heartfelt pleasure. That one, Gen. -Shelton, could not forget the honour due to his rank as the senior -military man; and was much offended at Sir R. not having called on him -first, and reported his arrival in due form. Even were this a military -duty, Sir Richmond was perfectly exonerated in its omission; for the -greater part of us ladies and some gentlemen had seated ourselves where -he must pass, anxious to offer our acknowledgments to him for his prompt -assistance. - -He told us, that Gen. Nott had gained two victories on the 28th and -30th, at Ghuznee and Maidan; and that Gen. Pollock had beaten Akbar at -Jugdaluk and Tézeen. He also, most considerately, informed me of Sale -having been struck by a spent ball without injury; and congratulated me -on our gracious Queen's bestowal of the highest order of the Bath upon -my gallant husband;--a distinction, I believe, unparalleled in his -present rank; and therefore the more dearly prized. - -We now have accounts we can depend upon of the position of our armies. -Pollock is encamped at Siah Sung; and Nott expected to march on to Cabul -to-morrow. Akbar is supposed to have taken refuge in the Ahmedzye -country. - -_18th._--We marched to Gundundewar over a very stony road, having a -serpentine river on our left. Crossed the Hadje Gurk pass; which is at -an elevation of 12,400 feet above the level of the sea; but lower than -Kaloo, which is 14,000. At the end of the pass, the river appears to -gush through immense portals of solid rock. - -During this march, many curiously formed rocks were seen at a distance; -one bearing a strong resemblance to a giant climbing up the precipice; -another, so perfect when near, as to render one doubtful whether the -bull couchant was not the remains of ancient Hindu sculpture. We did not -fail to drink of the mineral spring as we passed it; and whilst so -employed, attracted the attention of a party of Affghans; to whom Major -Pottinger recommended a hearty draught of this sparkling liquid; which, -however pleasing to the eye, is far from being so to the palate; being -very like ink. The grave Affghans drank a full cup of it; exclaiming, -"Shookr!" and "Joor Ustie;"--praise be to God! and they would grow -strong upon it. They then stroked down their beards; and wended their -way with great satisfaction. The latter part of our road lay among a -narrow path, on either side of a tributary stream, bounded by a high and -precipitous range of slatestone rocks. We soon came to the Helmund; -which we crossed, and encamped on its bank. Nearly opposite to us, a -part of the rocks presented the form of a seated figure of Boodh. - -_19th._--We marched two hours before daylight, and crossed the Onai -Kotul; a succession of ascents and descents, and some of them very -steep, ending in a defile: after which the road was very stony. The -grain was still green in many parts; but some of it was not only cut but -carried away. We passed Killa Onai, Killa Suffard, and Killa Mustapha -Khan: at the latter, breakfast was prepared;--_nan_ (native sweet cakes) -and tea for all who chose to partake of it _en passant_. The proprietor -of this fort is a friend of Saleh Mahommed Khan's; and had given us -bread and preserved fruit as we passed before. From hence we went on to -Sir-i-Chushm; and diverged from the road to see the preserve of fish -there. I asked the name of the fish; but all they knew was that they -were fish; that they were held sacred, and fed; and that any one who -caught, or even touched, one would die shortly afterwards. The streams -were very clear, and the fish innumerable. Four miles from this place we -took up our old ground under the poplar trees at Tarkhana. We were not -yet considered as safe even here, and Sir Richmond Shakespear felt much -anxiety at not receiving any accounts of troops coming to our aid; as he -had written to Gen. Pollock to send a brigade to meet us. As Sultan Jan -was believed to be hovering near, there were some thoughts of our going -into a fort: however it was decided that we should remain in our tents. - -We had proceeded but a short way on our journey, when a horseman arrived -with a note informing us, that Sale was close at hand with a brigade. I -had had fever hanging about me for some days; and, being scarce able to -sit on my horse, had taken my place in a kujava; the horrid motion of -which had made me feel ten times worse than before I entered it. But -this news renovated my strength. I shook off fever and all ills; and -anxiously awaited his arrival, of which a cloud of dust was the -forerunner. Gen. Nott was near Urghundee, and consequently close to us; -and Gen. Pollock requested he would send a brigade to our assistance. -This he refused, much to the disgust of his officers, alleging that his -troops were fatigued. On this, Gen. Pollock sent Sale with a brigade, at -a few hours' notice. He left Siah Sung two miles east of Cabul; and made -a forced march on the 19th (his sixtieth birthday) to Urghundee: he -halted there that night; and on the following morning left his camp -standing, and marched to meet us. At the pass near Kote Ashruffee he -left his infantry to hold the position, and proceeded at the head of the -3rd dragoons. A party of Sultan Jan's men were in this neighbourhood; -and some Kokhes in the immediate vicinity were driven off by the -Juzailchees. Had we not received assistance, our recapture was certain: -but as it was, they dared not attack the force they saw. It is -impossible to express our feelings on Sale's approach. To my daughter -and myself happiness so long delayed, as to be almost unexpected, was -actually painful, and accompanied by a choking sensation, which could -not obtain the relief of tears. When we arrived where the infantry were -posted, they cheered all the captives as they passed them; and the men -of the 13th pressed forward to welcome us individually. Most of the men -had a little word of hearty congratulation to offer, each in his own -style, on the restoration of his colonel's wife and daughter: and then -my highly-wrought feelings found the desired relief; and I could -scarcely speak to thank the soldiers for their sympathy, whilst the long -withheld tears now found their course. On arriving at the camp, Capt. -Backhouse fired a royal salute from his mountain train guns: and not -only our old friends, but all the officers in the party, came to offer -congratulations, and welcome our return from captivity. - -_21st._--We marched to Killa Kazee; and great was the contrast of our -present happiness and comfort, compared with what our state had been, -when we last bivouacked under the trees at this place. The obnoxious -fort was deserted; but the troops obtained forage there; and the place -was destroyed by fire: as also a fort of Sultan Jan's. But guards were -sent to the Kuzzilbash forts near us, to protect the property of our -friends. A reward has been offered for Capt. Bygrave, and it is supposed -he will be brought in to us shortly. At three o'clock we resumed our -march to Cabul; and passed through the great bazaar; where the shops -were shut, and all looked very desolate, and unlike the busy city it was -when we were here last year, and the inhabitants found their trade -prosper under our rule. We were greeted, on our arrival at the camp at -Siah Sung, with a salute of twenty-one guns. - -And now my Notes may end. Any further journals of mine can only be -interesting to those nearly connected to me. - - - - -ADDENDA. - - -On the 20th of October, the Envoy wrote to Sir Alexander Burnes, in -consequence of information he had received from Capt. Trevor, which -indicated an unquiet state of feeling among the people of Cabul. But Sir -A. Burnes, on whom the intelligence department devolved, assured him -that Trevor must be mistaken; as _he_ knew nothing of any meditated -rising of the people: and that all was as it ought to be. -Notwithstanding this, Trevor assured the Envoy that a number of Ghilzye -chiefs had left Cabul for hostile purposes. - - -On the 1st of November, Sir A. Burnes congratulated Sir William on the -prospect of soon leaving Cabul in a perfect state of tranquillity. We -might attribute his anxiety to calm the Envoy's mind, by assurances of -the peaceful feelings of the people of the country, to anxiety on his -part to succeed to the situation to be vacated by Sir William: but it -appeared questionable whether he would permanently have done so; as Col. -Sutherland had, it was said, been nominated for the appointment. - - -There can be no doubt, from what we have since heard from the Affghans, -that Sir A. Burnes wrote to Sir William Macnaghten for a regiment: and -that no aid was given, either to him or Trevor, Anquetil or Mackenzie, -is well known. Where the blame rests, it is not for _me_ to determine. - - -Not only did Taj Mahommed Khan, but also the Naïb Shureef, warn Sir -Alexander. The latter was very intimate with him; and they were both -well known to most of those officers who at all associated with the -Affghan gentlemen. - -Mention is made of the Naïb in one of the Bombay papers; in which he is -represented as a very respectable person,--a Naïb in Capt. Johnson's -office. Khan Shireen Khan is the head of the Kuzzilbashes; and Mahommed -Shureef was his Naïb, or the governor under him;--a man of large -estates; who, from his adherence to our cause, has had to fly his -country, with what little he could save; but leaving landed property, -worth above two lakhs of rupees, to the mercy of his enemies, the -Barukzyes. Naïb Shureef paid a large sum for the interment of the bodies -of Burnes and his brother. It was asserted that he was deceived, but his -intention was equally good. After the return of the British force to -Cabul, the bodies were reinterred. - -Taj Mahommed Khan and Naïb Shureef have both paid every attention in -their power to the hostages, left in Cabul: and, as far as regards Mrs. -Sturt and myself, they sent us, whenever they could obtain a secret -conveyance, various little comforts. Tea, sugar, stockings, gloves, and -money we received: and much, which they sent, never reached us. - -Taj Mahommed Khan is the son of Gholam Mahommed Khan; who formerly -assisted Shah Shoojah in his fruitless attempt to gain the throne. His -family were long the hereditary Wuzeers of the country. That family are -so influential, that they can hold their ground with all parties. We -leave him in the Wuzeerat. Jan Fishan Khan is now, as he says, only the -poor Syud Mahommed. Two of his brothers have fallen in battle: one son -was burnt alive, when a child: another has had his throat cut; though he -begged hard for life, stating that he was a little child, and never -could have harmed any one. The wretched father, with the remnant of his -family, accompanies us to India. He never was rich. He possessed lands -in the Pughman valley; a fertile vale, with magnificent vineyards and -orchards. Despoiled of them, he is all but a beggar; but looks for the -favourable consideration of the Government of India. - -A trifling subscription was raised by Sale and some officers, to enable -him to purchase camels, &c., that he and his family might travel with us. - - -In the absence of actual returns, I believe that the force, which left -Cabul, was nearly as follows:-- - - 4 Horse Artillery guns. - 3 Mountain Train do. - Bengal Sappers & Miners 20 - Shah Shoojah's do. 250 - Queen's 44th 600 - 1 Troop H. A. 80 - 5th Cavalry 260 - 1st Local Horse 70 - 4th Local Horse 70 - Envoy's Escort 70 - 2nd Shah's Cavalry 500 - Half Mountain Train 30 - 5th N. I. 700 - 37th Do. 600 - 54th Do. 650 - 6th Shah's 600 - -At the last stand, on the hill at Gundamuk, there remained-- - -20 Officers. -50 men of the 54th. -6 of the Horse Artillery. -4 or 5 Sipahees. -300 Camp followers. - -Amongst them all about twenty muskets. - - -In reading over these Notes, I believe I have not done justice to some -of the men who were our fellow-captives. The day after that on which -Saleh Mahommed Khan offered them the arms, a few men of the artillery, -and perhaps, in all, half a dozen others, asked for and obtained them. -Swords were difficult to procure for the officers: Lieut. Eyre, not -being able to get one, took a musket; which was very troublesome and -heavy; as, from the wound he received at Cabul, he has lost the use of -one hand. - - -It is now said, that though we all at the time believed Saleh Mahommed's -assertion, that Akbar ordered the death of those who could not march, it -is probable that this was a fiction. No one actually _read_ the letter, -that I can discover: and he probably wished to enhance the value of his -releasing us. The order for our being sent to Khoolloom was read by -several of the officers. - - -Here follow copies of a few notes that have been recovered. The first is -not dated; but, if I mistake not, I have made allusion to the order for -cutting away the weeds that grew on the ramparts; lest they should -facilitate the enemy's entrance into the cantonments. The Affghans had -first to cross the ditch, twenty feet wide. - - - No. I. - - TO LIEUT. STURT. - - Has the breastwork on the Musjid been improved? This Lieut. Sturt was - to have done yesterday. It must be, and as effectually as circumstances - will admit, done to-day. - - The bridge at the rear gate does not seem to be understood. The planks - must be always kept ready to lay down. The breach of the captured fort - ought to be strengthened. (The officer must be told, on the appearance - of any people near it, to warn them off, and immediately let a party - fall in near it); this latter does not apply to Lieut. Sturt. - - Can any thing be done to the magazine or other forts during this quiet - day? - - Weeds on ramparts to be cut. - - My dear Sturt, - - I send you the above for your attention and consideration, to do what - you can. - - Your's, - (Signed) W. K. E. - - - No. II. - - LIEUT. STURT. _Immediate._ - - _3d Dec._ - My dear Sturt, - - On my return from the Envoy's I heard you had taken out a gun at the - Bazar fort. I hope there is no risk, although I feel rather uneasy - about its having been done before the work for its protection was - completed; but as it has been done, you must look to the work, and - carry it on without the least delay. See that this is carried on. - - Your's, - (Signed) W. K. E. - - I was not aware you intended to take it out, and I hear the Brigadier - was opposed to it. I hope, however, for to-night the gun is safe: to - lose it would be disastrous. - - - No. III. - - My dear Sturt, - - It is deemed too bad that we should suffer ourselves to be bullied in - the way we have been to-day outside the Siah Sung gate, to say nothing - of people being fired at every night coming to us with supplies; - therefore it is determined that you throw up some sort of flêche, or - other work, to hold a dozen men or so, which would keep these fellows - at a more respectable distance, protect our animals and camp followers, - save our bridge, and do away with the necessity of a cavalry piquet. If - we have a quiet night, the General wishes you would plan out such a - work on paper, and have it marked out on the ground, ready for the 200 - Sappers and Miners to commence on the first thing in the morning, and - as many other workpeople as can be got. The Brigadier has spoken to you - about a trench across the road from our ditch to the Captured fort. - [No. 1.] The enemy set us a good example last night. You must have - thought it necessary when you went to it and returned this evening. - - Your's truly, - WM. THAIN. - _4th Dec._ 8 P.M. - - Another line for the last-named trench is mentioned, which would be - shorter than from our ditch, viz., from a barricadoed door in the old - bazar near the S.W. angle. - - W. T. - - - No. IV. - - My dear Sturt, - - In rear of the old commissariat godown the rebels have prepared a - platform to-day, about twelve feet by four. Hay says they were looking - at them all day from the Bala Hissar; that they began it at about one - P.M., and seemed to have finished it before dark, and left it then; and - that they seemed to be trying it, by walking on it, before they went - away; it seemed to be a contrivance for crossing our ditch. The enemy - appeared more numerous to-day than for some days past. - - Your's truly, - (Signed) WM. THAIN. - _10th Dec._ 8½ P.M. - - - No. V. - - My dear Sturt, - - Have we the means, by taking the beams of some building, of making a - bridge over the canal? and how long would it take? - - The guns, I fear, cannot cross otherwise, or the carriages for the - bridge over the river. - - The scarping the bank of the canal would render it practicable for the - cavalry and baggage, and save some time. How long will it take to - complete the opening for the egress of the troops? Pray attend to all - this. I have told Pottinger to ask for a guard to protect our party; - but the bridge might be prepared directly, ready to lay down the - morning we go. Send for the Sappers, and see what you can do as to - this. How many bullocks will be required to draw the carriages to the - river? This we must get assistance to do just before we march. - - Your's, - (Signed) W. K. E. - - [No date, but, from the context, a few days previous to our leaving the - cantonments, and Sturt making the bridge of gun-carriages, which was - effected the day we started (the 6th of January).] - - - No. VI. - - My dear Sturt, - - The General wishes to know what you have done about cutting a passage - through the rampart for our exit; if the Sappers are unable to do the - job, you might have an European working party, if you will let me know - the number you require; and the work should be done to-night, if - possible. - - Your's sincerely, - (Signed) W. GRANT. - _30th Dec._ - - - No. VII. - - My dear Grant, - - A party of forty Europeans with the regular Sappers will do the job in - about three hours: all inside is cleared away. - - I cannot help giving the warning before doing this to-night. If we do - not march to-morrow, we shall want a gun and a very strong guard, to - prevent the Ghazeeas entering. - - Perhaps the General is not aware that about 500 men were on the point - of forcing the gate to-day, and, being prevented, tore up the remaining - portion of the canal bridge, which now no longer exists. While giving - this warning, I have ordered the work to be begun now; therefore, if it - is desired to be stopped, send to me; if not, send the Europeans. I am - not answerable if accident happens, as I now wish you to tell the - General that, in my opinion, no other than concealed measures should be - used for moving out, until a few hours before that event takes place. - If we march to-morrow, it should be done or commenced now; if not, it - is my deliberate advice--do not execute it, or you endanger cantonments. - - Yours ever, - (Signed) J. L. D. STURT. - _Thursday, 30th Dec. 1841._ - - The dhooley bearers just returned are specimens of what can be, is, and - will again, be done by these men, if we place even the smallest - unguarded confidence in them. - - -When Istalif was taken, the book of Gen. Elphinstone's Orders was found -there. - -To show how inaccurately it was kept, I am told, by those who saw it, -that the orders of the 11th and 12th were inserted before those of the -10th of December. The book was made over to General Pollock; and does -not agree with General Elphinstone's last memoranda regarding Brigadier -Shelton; as he is there thanked for the assistance always given by him -to General Elphinstone. - - - - -APPENDIX. - - -TREATY. - -ARTICLES of the Treaty entered into between Sir William Macnaghten, -Envoy and Minister, on the part of the British Government, at Cabul, and -the Sirdar Mahommed Akbar Khan, Mahommed Osman Khan, Sultan Mahommed -(half-brother of Mahommed Akbar), Mahommed Shureef, Kuzzilbash, Mahommed -Shah Khan and Khoda Buksh Khan, Ghilzye Sirdars, and the principal -Chiefs of the Tribes:-- - -1. Immediate supplies to be furnished to the troops, to any extent -required, as also carriage cattle. - -2. The British troops to evacuate Affghanistan. - -3. An offensive and defensive alliance to be formed. - -4. The Ameer Dost Mahommed Khan and all his family to be released. - -5. His Majesty Shah Shoojah Ool Moolk to have the option of remaining in -the country as a private individual, to be treated with all honour and -respect, and have a guaranteed stipend of a lakh of rupees annually, or, -if he so wishes it, to be allowed to accompany the British troops to -Hindoostan, taking all his property and family with him, only giving up -such effects as had formerly belonged to the Ameer Dost Mahommed. - -In the event of carriage not being procurable for his family, they are -to remain in the Bala Hissar, and be treated with all honour and -respect; and on the arrival of the Ameer and all other Affghans -imprisoned in India at Peshawer, the former are to be transported with -safety to India. - -6. All the sick and wounded to be left under the care of the Sirdars at -Cabul and to be treated as guests. - -7. All the ammunition, guns, and small arms, if the means of transport -are not procurable, to be made over to the Sirdars. - -8. All surplus property of officers, for which carriage might not at -present be procurable, to be left in charge of Zuman Khan, and be -forwarded to India the first opportunity. - -9. No man to be molested on either side for his actions during the war. -Such chiefs as had stood stanch to the King to be allowed either to -accompany his Majesty, taking with them all property, or remaining in -Affghanistan, to be treated with every respect. - -10. Any British subject wishing to remain in Affghanistan, for the -purposes of trade, to be in no way molested. - -11. The troops at Jellalabad to evacuate that fort, ere the Cabul force -commences its march. - -The forces at Ghuznee and Kandahar to quit those places as soon as the -season would admit of their marching. - -12. The Sirdars, Mahommed Akbar Khan and Osman Khan, or any other chiefs -wishing to do so, to accompany the troops on their march to Peshawer. - -13. Four hostages to be given by us for the full performance of the -above articles, to remain until Dost Mahommed Khan arrives at Peshawer. - -[Capt. Trevor accompanied the Sirdars back as one of them.] - -_11th December, 1841._ - -On the 12th, Major Pottinger was informed by the Envoy that he was to be -a hostage. - - -THE END. - - -LONDON: - -Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE, -New-Street-Square. - - - - - [Illustration: map of the Kabul Pass? - _J & C. Walker, lith. 9. Castle Street._] - - - [Illustration: - PLAN of the - CANTONMENTS - and the _SURROUNDING_ - COUNTRY. - - _Published by John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1843_ - _J & C. Walker, lith. 9, Castle Street._] - - - - -MR. MURRAY'S RECENT PUBLICATIONS. - - -DUKE OF WELLINGTON. - -SELECTIONS from the DISPATCHES and CORRESPONDENCE of FIELD MARSHAL the -DUKE of WELLINGTON; during his various Campaigns from 1799 to 1815. By -LIEUT.-COLONEL GURWOOD. 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