176

A PRECOCIOUS SAVAGE.

and one faint groan. He heard no footsteps or scuffling, and was therefore unable to form a guess as to how many of the savage wretches had attacked the poor fellow; but there must have been several to give him so many wounds in so short a time.

There is a ferocity about the Affghans which they seem to imbibe with their mother's milk. One of the officers of the 9th regiment related to me an occurrence which took place during the action when they forced the Kyber pass. In storming one of the heights, a colour sergeant was killed, and from some cause or other his body was left where it fell. A soldier of the same corps happening to pass by the spot some time after, saw a Kyberee boy apparently about six years of age with a large knife, which his puny arm had scarcely sufficient strength to wield, engaged in an attempt to hack off the head of the dead sergeant. The young urchin was so completely absorbed in his savage task, that he heeded not the near approach of the soldier, who coolly took him up on his bayonet, and threw him over the cliff.

Various rumours and reports were at this time constantly floating about the camp. One day it

was said that we were immediately to proceed to Cabul; on the next, perhaps, some story would gain credit that we were to return without striking a blow, and that the prisoners were to be obtained by negociation. Supplies of every kind had become very scarce; and a merchant who had ventured up with a small quantity of wines and liquors, sold them by auction at an extravagant rate. Wine, brandy and beer, fetched twenty shillings a bottle, sugar six shillings, and tea, thirty-two shillings a pound. The Jellalabad garrison had tasted nothing of this kind for upwards of a year. There was scarcely a bottle of wine or liquor in any mess in camp; while the water of the Cabul river which ran near was of the most deleterious quality. It was no wonder that the hospitals became crowded and numbers died of dysentery, brought on by drinking this polluted water, combined with the effects of bad food and tainted air. The stench of the camp was, indeed, enough to breed a pestilence, and much we rejoiced when the 4th brigade received orders to proceed to Pesh Bolak, and bring the Shinwarrees and some other hostile tribes to an account for their behaviour on divers occasions.

178

PESH BOLAK.

CHAPTER VIII.

March to Pesh Bolak-Destruction of forts-Death of two officers-Their graves outraged-The Shinwarrees-Battle of Mazeena-Heroic conduct of four soldiers of H.M. 31st regiment-Return to Jellalabad-Sickness in campMarch towards Cabul-Remains of the 44th-Forcing the Jugdulluck pass-Dead bodies in the pass-Narrow escapes-Kuttasung-A take in for the Affghans-A forced march-Arrival at Tezeen.

The

PESH BOLAK is situated three marches from Jellalabad. We marched on the 17th of June, and arrived at Goulai on the 20th. Goulai is situated about three miles from Pesh Bolak. people of that place were very penitent for their misconduct, and I believe gave a sum of money to be let off. The tribes about Goulai, however, had all absconded, leaving numberless forts and villages at our mercy. These we pulled down and

utterly destroyed. Their wells, by means of which, they irrigated the land, were blown up with gunpowder and rendered useless. These people lived, in a great measure, on dried mulberries, as the land would not produce sufficient corn for their consumption. There were beautiful topes* of mulberry trees around the forts. Every morning and evening two companies from each regiment were sent out to cut them down.

We found out that by cutting rings through the bark into the heart of the tree, it was as effectually destroyed as if cut down; and it was a more expeditious plan as well as lighter work. It was, therefore, adopted after the first few days. We became quite adepts in the work of destruction, and a greater scene of devastation was perhaps never beheld. The Goulai people had, however, richly deserved it all. They behaved most treacherously and infamously to Captain Ferris and also to General Sale, and could, therefore, expect no better treatment when the game was again in our hands.

From Goulai we made short marches in various directions, levying contributions and destroying

* Woods.

180

DEATH OF OFFICERS.

the strongholds of those tribes who were refractory, while those who had behaved well, were rewarded and protected. We found plenty of forage for our cattle, and corn was to be had for the taking, so that in comparison to Jellalabad we were well off; and, as we continually shifted our encamping ground, we did not experience the same horrible stench and continual torment from the flies. Our cattle recovered their condition quickly.. They had scarcely been able to stand under their loads when we left Jellalabad, but in the course of a fortnight they became quite fat. The heat, however, was dreadfully oppressive; many men sank under it, and the effects of the pestiferous air of Jellalabad. One of our captains and one of the 33rd, N. I., died the same day, and were interred at a place called Katee. We buried them inside their tents, and picketed horses over their graves, in order that the Affghans might not be able to find out where the ground had been opened after we had gone, it being their constant custom to outrage the graves of their enemies. But in spite of our exertions to cover over the spots, we heard afterwards that they had discovered the graves, and having disinterred their ghastly ten