Chapter I: Front Matter

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SCENES AND ADVENTURES IN AFFGHANISTAN,

by

WILLIAM TAYLOR,

Late Troop Serjeant-Major of the Fourth Light Dragoons.

London: T. C. Newby, 65, Mortimer St., Cavendish Sq. And T. & W. Boone, 29, New Bond Street. 1842.

T. C. Newby, Printer, 65, Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square.

TO

FLORENTINE LADY SALE,

THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE INSCRIBED

AS A

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION

FOR THE

HEROISM BY HER DISPLAYED

DURING THE LATE

CAMPAIGN IN AFFGHANISTAN.

CONTENTS.

Preface.

CHAPTER I.

Proclamation of Lord Auckland. The Ghauts. Fatal
Practical Joke. Embarkation at Bombay. Mishap at
Sea. Landing at Bominacote. Review of the troops
by Sir John Keane. Suicide of Lieutenant Fyers.
Advance upon Scinde. Tattah. The Moslems and
Hindoos. Tombs of Tattah. Hindoo Superstition.
Adventure of a Dak, or Native Postman. Death of
a Smuggler. Jurruk. Belochee Thefts. Feat of a
Native Trooper.

CHAPTER II.

Singular fate of Three Officers of the Queen's
Royals. Evacuation of Jurruk by the Inhabitants.
Desertion of Camel Drivers. Preparations for the
attack and defence of Hyderabad. Submission of
the Ameers. Consternation of the Natives at the
arrival of a Steamer in the Indus. Baida.
Accident to a Dragoon. The Lukkee Pass. Kotiah.
Loss of Two Soldiers of the 17th Foot. Sehwan.
Arrival of Sir Henry Fane. Asiatic Jugglers.
Conversion of a European Soldier to the
Mahommedan Faith.

CHAPTER III.

Larkhana. Departure of the Commander-in-Chief
for Candahar. Capture of Belochee Thieves.
Ludicrous scene in the Bazaar. Tremendous
Hurricane. An Irish Colonel's appeal to his men.
Murder of Cooks belonging to the Army. A Native
Funeral. The Bholun Pass. Massacre of Camp
Followers. Ill-timed Merriment. Animal Instinct.

CHAPTER IV.

Skirmish with the Enemy. Belochee Waggery.
Cleverly planned Capture of a Bruhee. Sufferings
from want of water. Valley of Shawle. Quettah.
Belochee Cruelties. Adventures in a Stone
Quarry. Treachery of the Khan of Khelat. Murder
of another Cook. Poisoning of the Wells.
Fortunate Discovery.

CHAPTER V.

The Khojuck Pass. Descent of the Troops.
Shocking Death of a Camel Driver. Detection and
Escape of an Affghan Thief. Loss of Cavalry
Horses. Candahar. Arrival of Shah Soojah.
Condition of the Troops. Attempt of the Natives
to cut off a Convoy of Provisions. Asiatic
Mendicants. The Mosque at Candahar. Arrival of
Affghan Auxiliaries.

CHAPTER VI.

Installation of Shah Soojah. Attack on the Camel
Guards. Heroism of an Affghan Youth. Murder of
Cornet Inverarity of the 16th Lancers. Departure
from Candahar. The Ghiljie Hills. Locusts.
Arrival of new Auxiliaries. Camel Batteries.
Hyder Khail. Arrival at Ghuznee. Tomb of
Mahommed. Remains of the Old Town of Ghuznee.

CHAPTER VII.

Reconnaisance of the Fortress. Skirmish with the
Enemy. Rejoicing of the Garrison at our Supposed
Defeat. Preparation for a Coup de Main. Engineer
Operations. Storming and Taking of the Fortress.

CHAPTER VIII.

An Affghan Heroine. Capture of Hyder Khan the
Commandant of Ghuznee. Escape of Ghool Mahommed
Khan. Singular Discovery of a Map on the person
of an Affghan Chief. Description of the Affghan
Women. The Ruling Passion. Treasuretrove. The
Golden Shield. Chase of the Enemy. Just
Retribution.

CHAPTER IX.

Attempt to Assassinate the Shah. Court Martial
on an Affghan Chief. Visit to the Hospital at
Ghuznee. Hatred of the Affghans towards the
Native Troops. Departure from Ghuznee. Capture
of a Battery. Fatal Accident. Summary
Punishment. Arrival at Cabul. Pursuit of Dost
Mahommed and Treachery of a Native Chief.
Description of Cabul. The Balar Hissar. Mosque
of the Emperor Baber. The Bazaar.

CHAPTER X.

Triumphant Entry of Shah Soojah into Cabul. The
Cabul Races. Death of Brigadier General Arnold.
Sale of the General's effects. Arrival of Prince
Timour. The Sikhs. Murder of Colonel Herring.
Arrival of money and supplies from the Upper
Provinces.

CHAPTER XI.

Institution of the Order of the Doorannee
Empire. Murder of a Private of the 13th Light
Infantry. Departure from Cabul. Return to
Ghuznee. Accident to the Revd. Mr. Pigot.
Discovery of the Skeletons of British Soldiers.
Horse-steaks. Treachery of some Ghiljie Chiefs
and destruction of their Fort. Adventure of a
Dragoon. Loss of a Cook.

CHAPTER XII.

Arrival at Quettah. Storming of the Fortress
of Khelat. Suicide of a Trooper belonging to the
Horse Artillery. Departure from Quettah. The
Bholun Pass. Dadur. Bagh. Breaking out of the
Cholera. Death of Doctor Forbes. Shikarpoor.
Death of Captain Ogle. Sukkur-Bukkur. Death of
Lieutenant Janvrin. Wedding Ceremonies of the
Natives. Breaking up of the Bombay Column.
Departure of Brigadier Scott. Boar Hunt.
Larkhana. Sehwan. Kurrachee. Feast of the
Mohurrum. Embarkation and Arrival at Bombay.