Indian Antiquary Vol 15

SR No.: 032507
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 446
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 308

266
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(SEPTEMBER, 1886.
of regulars with two pieces of artillery on living in Tashqurghân, and had come to Kabul wheels, under the command of Lieutenant when he heard of the rebellion-as will be Walker, was sent up the hill, the top of which narrated in the Memoirs of the adherents they reached with extreme difficulty. When of the Amir Dost Muhammad Khan, if it the fighting began, the Kōhistâni foot-men pleaseth Allah the Most High-was with Shah succeeded in gradually withdrawing from the Shuja'a in the Balà Hişar, when the English range of the cannons, so that the balls could in the Cantonments had begun negotiations not strike them, whilst their own bullets laid with the Afghans, and messengers were going low all the artillerists. On this occasion" forwards and backwards between them. *Abdu'llah Khan Achakzâi, who was a lion in the | When Macpaghten had obtained a substitute field of valour, and who had in his morning and desired to return to Hindustan, he wrote prayers asked God to grant him martyrdom, to Shah Shuja'a that the further stay of the rushed forth in the company of a number of latter in Kabul would be unsuitable for him, braves with the war cry :-"Assistance from and that if he were to go with him to India, Allah, and a speedy victory,"" and overturning the (East India] Company would grant him & the cannons made an attack upon the sawars of pension of four lakhs of rupees per annum. the English risalah. But alas, whilst doing so, The Padsbâh replied, that if his hands had not the valiant 'Abdu'llah Khân, having tasted the been tied by a feeling of honour and by his sherbet of martyrdom, was received into the family he would have done so, but could not, Almighty's proximity of mercy and repose. All according to the saying : the Musalmans, especially the Afghans, tore the "O ye that are encumbered by a family collar of grief for his loss, and it was confidently
Must no longer hope for tranquillity." thought, that had not the Khân been overtaken He also advised Macnaghten that it would by the decree of fate, the Cantonment of the be better to be on his guard, and likewise to English would on that day have fallen into the take refuge in the Bald Hişar, and when he possession of the gházís.
heard that Macnaghten had been killed, he After that the English, having evidently no was very sorry." Then the English army more power and strength to fight outside, marched in command of Mr. Pottinger-whom were besieged in their Cantonments, and they had made Lord [Commander] after the began to negotiate for peace with the Afghans. murder of Macnaghten, on account of the scarcity On the sixteenth of the month Shawal [1st of provisions, in the direction of Jallalabad," December 1841] Wazir Muhammad Akbar but all perished during their march from the Khân, son of the Amir Dost Muhammad Khan, extreme cold and in consequence of the attacks who had escaped from Bokhârâ and had been of the gházís," -a9 will be narrated in the
21 Emboldened by impunity, the Afghan cavalry but commanded by General Elphinstone and not by charged down upon the British bayonets with irresistible Pottinger, as stated above in our text. force. No dispositions were made to receive them. For S' The arrival of the army from K Abul was anxiously & while all was papio snd oonfusion.--Kaye, Vol. II. expectod in Jallalabad :-"At last on the 13th of PP. 60-61.
January, when the garrison were busy on the works, * This was, according to Kaye, Vol. II. p. 88-89, another toiling with are and shovel, with their arms piled and action, but in the same locality, fought on the 23rd accoutrements laid out close at haad, & sentry, on the November, which was one of the most disastrolis :-"On ramparts, looking out towards the Kabul road, aw that day a battle was fought which ended in the dis
Bolitary whito-food horseman struggling on towards the graceful and onlamitous defeat of the British troope."
fort .... . A budder ran through the garrison. Kaye also mentions the death of the chief alluded to Thatsolitary horseman looked like the messenger of death. above in our text. 33 Quran, ch. lxi. v. 13.
Few doubted that he was the bearer of intelligence that *+ "At this moment, when the enemy were in flight, would All their souls with horror and dismay. Their and our guns had been recaptured, Shelton might bave worst forebodingu seemed confirmed. There was the one brought back his foroe with credit to Cantonments. man who was to tell the story of the massacre of a great But the opportunity was lost .... The rout of the army. A party of cavalry were sent out to sucoour him. British foroe was complete. In one oonfused mass of They brought him in wounded, exhausted, half-dead. Infantry and Cavalry-of European and native soldiers- The messenger was Dr. Brydon, and he now reported his they fled to the Cantonment walls."-Kaye, Vol. II. belief that he was the sole survivor of an army of Pp. 89-90.
sixteen thousand men."-Kaye, Vol. II. p. 217.-The *** On the 28rd December 1941 the Envoy summoned detailed account of this disastrous march, terminating Capts. Trevor, Lawrence and Mackenzie to socompany with the extermination of the whole army, ooours ibid. him to a meeting with some Afghan chiefs :-" After Book VI. Ch. II. from p. 218 to p. 250. Readers, the conference had begun, on a given signal Akbar Khån however, who expect a chronological sequence of the endeavoured to seize Sir William, and meeting re- facts narrated, will be a little surprised that it is not sistance, shot him dead with the pistols which he had a always obeerved in this work and that the tragio day or two before received as a present from him. Calc. arrival of Dr. Brydon at Jallólábed has been narrated Rev. 1844, Vol. II. No, iii. p. 260.
before, and not after the account of the extermination * The army left Kabul" on the sixth January 1842, of army is given.