spheres of influence of Russia and Great Britain on the Pamirs was also defined by treaty in 1895.
The Chitral Expedition, 1895.—In the beginning of 1895 a dispute occurred beyond the extreme north-western angle of India for the succession to the rulership of Chitral. The British political officer then at Chitral found himself involved in the struggle, was besieged in the Chitral fort, and defended himself with great gallantry against overwhelming odds. A powerful force was advanced from the Punjab to relieve him, while a smaller body of Indian and Kashmir troops marched to his aid across the snows from Gilgit. After the two expeditions had overcome great physical obstacles, from the height of the passes and the then almost inaccessible situation of Chitral, the enemy abandoned the siege of the fort. Our political officer at Chitral and his little garrison were saved, and the British influence was confirmed in that remote mountainous corner which, by the recent agreement with Russia, had come within fifty miles of the Russian sphere of influence in Central Asia.
