ther they might not both have contested for the possession of the Pass;-great caution was required in risking an advance without the means of an immediate support. (37) The Bombay column halted at Larkhana nine days (from 3rd to 11th March), and 10 days at Gundava (21st to 30th March) after the treaty had been signed at Hyderabad: and if Sir J. Keane could have pushed on with his escort from Larkhana, (38) he would have reached Quetta by the time we did whereas we had to halt there, from the 27th March to the 6th April 1839-11 days, by which we consumed our supplies, and were obliged to be put on half rations. (39)

19. Shikarpoor.-The town of Shikarpoor contains about 6,000 houses and 30,000 inhabitants, the houses are all built of mud, and it is a dirty place. It is a place of much resort, and the first of importance between Rohree and Dadur, near the entrance to the Bolan Pass. It has some pretensions to trade, but none to consideration from its

tance from Cabool to Candahar is 29 marches. Had he done so he might have effected more for his cause than making a stand at Ghuznee!

(37) From the nature of the pass, the cattle would have been starved had any force been kept many days in it. The pass was known from the written report of Mr. Masson. In a Mily. point of view, a Brigade of Infy. and a few guns could have defended the Head of the pass!

(38) Leaving Larkhana on the 4th of March he might have reached Shikarpoor by the 8th, then Dadur (10 marches) on the 18th March, while we only marched from Dadur on the 16th March, 1839.

(39) His Excy. was anxious to ascertain the practicability of the Gundava Pass, which it was desirable to do. It is to be regreted that he did not join us sooner, as we did not obtain one day's supplies either at Bhag or at Dadur, nor even at Quetta, where we awaited his arrival.

The Bombay column made 12 marches from Larkhana to Dadur, and the Bengal column 10 marches from Shikarpoor to Dadur, so that the march was a little shortened by moving by the Gundava Pass, but much time was lost. Capt. Outram (Rough notes, &c. p. 39) makes the distance from Larkhana to Shikarpoor, 52 miles, equal to four marches, so that about two marches were saved: but from 15 to 17 days more time were consumed by the route viâ Gundava, while the Bengal troops were already in advance from Shikarpoor.

F

buildings. There are a number of Jews here, from whom Bills can be obtained or negociated, on any place in India, or even on Constantinople, China or any place almost in the world :-in fact money transactions are the chief employment of the wealthy people of the place, and the merchants will contract to furnish large quantities of grain. Being so near the Indus, whenever the free navigation of the river increases the commerce of Sindh and Afghanistan, Shikarpoor will become a place of great commercial importance.

When Shah Shoojah visited Sindh in his last expedition to try to recover his throne in 1834, (40) he obtained possession of this place, with the consent of the Ameers of Hyderabad. He tried to obtain money from Ameers, which they would not at first comply with. The Shah threatened to plunder Shikarpoor and Larkhana, if not supplied with money. A very severe action took place on the 9th Jan. 1834, seven koss (14 miles) beyond Rohree. The Sindhians lost 1,370 horse and foot soldiers, and a considerable number were killed and wounded on the Shah's side. The army of Talpoorians fairly fled from the field of battle; and the Shah obtained firm possession of Shikarpoor. They consented to the pecuniary aid in preference to hazarding another battle and agreeded to farm the place from the Shah at from 5 or 7 lakhs of Rupees. (41) There were, now 15,500 troops at Shikarpoor; so that with camp-followers, there must have been nearly 100,000 people to feed.

(40) His departure from Loodianah was reported to Government as having taken place on the 17th Feb. 1833.

(41) The only European officer with the Shah, was a Mr. Campbell, who was made prisoner by Dost Mahomed Khan on the defeat of the Shah at Candahar on 2nd July, 1834, and afterwards entered his service.

CHAPTER III.

MARCH FROM SHIKARPOOR TO DADUR NEAR THE BOLAN PASS.

1. Preparations to leave Shikarpoor, (20th Feb. 1839.)On the arrival of the Head Quarters with Maj. Genl. Sir W. Cotton at Shikarpoor, the whole of the Bengal column, and the Shah's contingent, were present,-a force amounting to about 15,500 men. Consultation was held between Sir W. Cotton and Mr. MacNaghten, the Envoy and Minister, the principal staff being present, as to the time of marching onwards to the Pass. Mr. MacNaghten had received a report that the Bolan Pass (10 marches distant) was occupied by the enemy; (1) he, therefore, on the 18th Feb. had addressed a dispatch (2) to Lieut.-Genl. Sir J. Keane, Commander-in-Chief of the army of the Indus, then in Sindh, pressing him to push on. It was resolved to march towards the Pass, at once, to secure its possession. The Dy. Commy. Genl. had represented that it was necessary to remain at Shikarpoor for about 20 days, to enable the commissariat to obtain the greatest possible quantity of supplies for all the troops; while halting at this place, the troops would not consume their stock of supplies, but procure their grain, &c. from the city, where a large quantity had been collected; and more was procurable for the rear columns, Bombay troops, &c. on the arrival of an expected convoy, with wheat, gram, &c. coming from Mooltan, &c. The Bengal Commissariat were to supply the Bombay troops, not only with grain

(1) It turned out to be a mere report.

(2) It reached Sir J. Keane on the 23rd Feb. 1839, when he was about 12 marches distant from Shikarpoor.

but with Camels. (3) Before the resolution to move on immediately, was known, the Dy. Commy. Genl. had detached 4,000 camels to bring up from the rear grain, &c. He was also led to expect 10 days' supplies would be ready at Dadur (4) (10 marches in advance), and 20 days' supplies at Quetta (5) (18 marches in advance); while Candahar was 32 marches distant from Shikarpoor: so that, including halts, &c. 45 or 50 days' supplies were required for the troops up to Candahar: (6) and as we marched with carriage for and with only a month's supplies from Ferozpoor, (7) more carriage was required than could be procured at the time, both for the Bengal and Bombay columns, (8) as well as for the Shah's force.

(3) It was well known that the Bombay troops had great difficulty in procuring 3000 camels in Sindh. As on their march from Shikarpoor they would be deprived of their Water-carriage, it was estimated that 10,000 would at least be required for the Bombay Army alone. Of grain there was plenty to be had, but the difficulty was, thus unexpectedly, to supply the camels for the Bombay column. Undoubtedly, the supplies and cattle were properly to be used by both columns. The Bengal Commissariat did not know, till now, that it would have to supply both columns-or previous arrangements would have been made, of course, in due time, to procure a greater number of camels. It was not to be expected that the Ameers of Sindh would be very zealous in their exertions to supply camels; but if the Govt. of Bombay could not well rely on the army procuring carriage in Sindh, it would have been better to have intimated to the Bengal (supreme) Govt. their fears on this head. Sir J. Keane could do nothing less than share the supplies and cattle, between the two columns. I say thus much to exonorate, as is but just, the Bengal Commissariat from any supposed want of exertions. Neither do I attribute any blame to that of Bombay; they could not bring with them any cattle but horses-by sea. The error committed was, timely notice not having been given. Between Shikarpoor, and up to the time of the Bombay column leaving Cabool, on its return, the Bengal Commissariat supplied it with 6,830 camels. (4) And even at Bhag, eight marches only in advance.

(5) We were deceived in our expectations. We only obtained about 300 maunds there.

(6) Not one day's supplies were obtained between Shikarpoor and Candahar, at any one place!!!

(7) See p. 8.

(8) We left Shikarpoor, leading column and Hd. Qrs. on 23rd Feb.

Supplies taken with the Bengal Column.-The Bengal Column marched from Shikarpoor with one and a half month's supplies, and a similar quantity remained in depôt there, to follow if required. Rum for three months, accompanied the Bengal column.

2. Order for march from Shikarpoor, (21st Feb. 1839.) -The troops of the Bengal column were directed to march in the following order, in columns, and on the following dates : 1st. On the 22nd Feb.-The Engineer Dept., Ressalah of Local Horse, and a Company of Infy.

2nd.

On the 23rd.-The Head Quarters. Cavy. Brigade and Horse Arty. and a wing of Native Infy.

3rd. On the 24th.-1st Brigade Infy. and Camel battery, 4th. On the 25th.-4th Brigade of Infy. and a Regt. from 2nd Brigade (temporarily attached.)

5th. On the 26th.-The Park, 4th Local Horse, and a Coy. N. I.

6th.

On the 27th.-Field Commissariat stores, escorted by one Ressalah of Local Horse, and one Coy. of Infy.

7th. The 2nd Brigade, with H. M. Shah Shoojah-oolMoolk. (9)

8th. The field hospital with the 4th Brigade. A portion of treasure, and a party of Local Horse, attached to each Brigade.

Maj. Genl. Sir W. Cotton, inspected the Park of Arty. and the H. A. Cavy. and Infy. Brigades and Camel battery, on the 21st and 22nd Feb. previous to the march of the troops.

Review of Troops.-The troops were paraded in Review order before H. M. Shah Shoojah-ool-Moolk, who was and reached Candahar on 26th April, 1839, a period of 63 days thus elapsed; and our staying 11 days at Quetta, partly, and not obtaining supplies on our march, were the causes of our being so early placed on half rations.

(9) Though His Majesty took the lead up to Shikarpoor; it was decided that the British troops should move in advance, being better able to cope with an enemy. Had any check been given to the contingent raised but recently, it might have been serious; and besides, we should have been deprived of the best of the little forage to be expected, and we had more cattle to provide for.