RESCUE OF THE PRISONERS. 235 zilbashes to a fort some marches off, and was fortunate enough to recover the whole of the prisoners taken by the Affghans from the late unfortunate force, with the exception of Captain Bygrave, who however was very generously sent back in a few days afterwards by Akbar Khan, who, finding his game was up, nobly observed, it would be a poor revenge on his part to keep a solitary individual from his friends, and bade him go and join his countrymen. I believe he even furnished him with the best escort his altered fortunes would allow to protect him on the road. The Bala Hissar was taken possession of by a detachment from the different regiments of the army on the day of our arrival, and the British flag hoisted on the highest pinnacle of the ramparts. Many brass and iron cannon, in all seventy or eighty pieces, were found inside. Some were very beautifully ornamented with various figures of fish and other animals, while the muzzles were shaped like alligators' heads which, when they were fired, would seem to emit thunder and flame. One of the pieces was about eight 236 RECOVERY OF A WILL. feet long, made of iron, of an octagon shape and rifled. This extraordinary cannon would carry a three or four pound ball, and was doubtless an excellent and most destructive mountain gun. It was made in a remarkably light and tasty manner. There was also a very beautiful Dutch brass twenty-four pounder among them. How Mynheer got there, I cannot imagine; but it certainly was as fine a piece of ordnance as I have ever seen. We also searched all the forts in the vicinity, and found a most miscellaneous collection of articles in all of them. Numberless packets of letters and office papers, wearing apparel, hair brushes, and all sorts of things belonging to the late unfortunate force were discovered. Among other things was found the copy of the will of Captain S., of our own regiment, who died near Pesh Bolak. This will had been sent for from lower India at that time; but the dâk in which it was forwarded had been intercepted by the enemy. Singularly enough, that after having gone through Akbar's hands it should again turn up and fall into those of the deceased's friends. Quantities of grain and lucerne grass, twisted into ropes for winter's consumption, were found, and such of our cattle as were now |