they were ably seconded by the 26th native infantry and some others. Hundreds of Kyberees

had been mowed down by the shrapnel shot from

the artillery, and altogether they had sustained a severe defeat.

PESHAWUR.

151

CHAPTER VII.

Arrival at Peshawur-General Avitabili-EntertainmentsNautch girls-Hurree Singh-The Kyber pass-Ali Musjid--Scarcity of water-Heroism of a Sepoy-Brigadier Monteath-Skirmish with Kyberees-Jellalabad.

WE arrived at Peshawur on the 21st of April where it was necessary to halt for a few days in order to obtain some baggage animals to replace those which we had lost, and to make arrangements for the sick to be left behind. Our baggage was reduced to the smallest compass possible, in order that we might be impeded as little as need be in the narrow defiles through which we should have to fight our way.

Peshawur is a fine fortified city, and when we were there, was governed by an Italian general in the service of the Maharajah Shere Sing. His name

was Avitabili, and he seemed just the sort of person to keep the turbulent and lawless population of Peshawur in order. At every corner of the city was erected a large treble gibbet, each of which had seventeen or eighteen malefactors hanging on it, as a gentle hint to the inhabitants to be on their best behaviour. I believe there was very little ceremony made with them. If a man looked sulky, he was strung up at once, in case he should be disaffected. Murder and robbery took place every day in the streets of the city, until the General used such energetic measures. Even when we were there it was not safe to leave the camp without being well armed. From all I heard, I imagine that Peshawur contains the most villanous population in India, and their governor, whose office it is to keep them in order, has no sinecure.

General Avitabili has a fine palace, and he kept open house to all the officers of the British Army. He gave splendid dinners, with abundance of wines and liqueurs of the finest quality, which were relished no little by us after the fatigues and privations we had undergone in the Punjab. After dinner, there were always twenty or thirty sets

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of Nautch girls in attendance, who danced pretty nearly the whole night. The old General seemed delighted with his guests, and did everything in his power to amuse them. I believe that all the expenses of the entertainments were defrayed by the Maharajah; but he could not have had a better deputy than we found in the jolly old General.

Many bloody battles have been fought near Peshawur between the Seiks and the Affghans : one in particular, at Nowshera, in which, after a long and doubtful conflict, the former were victorious, but with the loss of their gallant general, Hurree Singh. This brave leader had both his legs shattered by a cannon shot while the issue of the combat was yet uncertain. He refused to leave the field, and, being unable to sit on a horse, had himself placed on the back of an elephant from which he still continued to encourage his troops, and died just as their shouts of victory proclaimed that the day was won. The King was much affected when he heard of his death, and vowed he would rather have lost half his kingdom than his general. "The one," he said, "I might with his assistance have re-conquered, but I can never have another Hurree Singh.”

I was fortunate enough to be able at this place to purchase two Cabul camels. These animals, although small, were far superior to those from Hindostan which accompanied us. Being born and bred in Affghanistan, they carried their loads without difficulty in narrow paths and over dizzy heights where the Hindostanee camels were continually losing their footing, and rolling down into the abysses below. It was another of their good qualities that they would not touch the foxglove (digitalis) which abounds in some parts of Affghanistan, and which the camels from Hindostan eat with the greatest avidity. This plant is a deadly poison to the camel, and we lost hundreds from its baneful effects.

After halting about five days at Peshawur, we proceeded a double march to Jumrood, which is about a mile from the mouth of the Kyber pass. This place was the most desolate looking spot I ever beheld. It was a large stony plain without a particle of vegetation of any kind, and bounded on all sides by bleak rugged hills which seemed to frown upon us in defiance. The pass itself is a very formidable looking place, and the day was spent by the soldiers in getting their arms well