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.