ders committed a murder for plunder inside our border, and burnt a water-mill. Under the circumstances, permission was obtained to blockade the whole tribe; and in furtherance of the object, neighbouring tribes were also induced to close their markets to them. At the end of nine months the Shiranis were collectively rather straitened for food and clothes, and consequently in a humble and penitent frame of mind. They sent in their representatives, and gave security for the payment of compensation for all their past misdeeds. The blockade was at once raised.
Now then was the time to show silver, to jingle rupees before their eyes, and promise them a handsome reward should they engage to conduct a party of surveyors to the Takht, and give hostages. They readily agreed in a general way to the proposal, provided that they should not be held responsible should some of their young bloods oppose us. Having gained their formal consent, and reduced it into the form of a solemn written engagement, I reported to Government that a better opportunity would never be obtained for exploring the Takht, as the tribe had promised assistance, and agreed to give hostages. On such terms, then, Government consented to let a survey-party ascend the Takht with a military escort.
A "military escort" is variously interpreted. To a charming girl it means one good-looking officer; to my civilian mind it meant a few hundred sepoys; but to the General it meant an army. On October 20th last, that formidable personage – another Scotchman of note, by the way[1] – came quietly into the station. I was soon closeted with him.
"And what about carriage?" said he, after some talk.
"Why, you have 800 mules," I replied.
"Yes, for ordnance stores and regimental baggage, but not for commissariat purposes. "We shall want in round numbers a thousand camels or their equivalent."
"Well, General," said I, rather astonished at such an unexpected requisition, "I'll do my best. How to manage it all in three weeks is the difficulty."
A day or two afterwards I rode out to the Dràband outpost, facing the pass of the same name, up which lay the direct route to the Takht. The Shirani representatives ought to have been in attendance there, as they had been invited to come in some days before. Instead of coming, however, they sent a reply that they were busy cutting their autumn crops, and required time to consult together. It was clear they were in no hurry, whatever I was. Messengers were now despatched to them, ordering them in. This time they replied by sending a deputation of their moolahs (priests), devout and peaceful men, whose mission generally is on such occasions to incite the faithful to war against infidels such as we are. I treated this deputation with the greatest respect. I fed them with fat mutton. I honoured the oldest priest with a chair, and, addressing him as Moolah Sahib, asked why the Shirani tribe had become so suspicious; did the Sarkar Angrez (English Government) ever lie?
"Well, Sahib," he replied, "you said you would come with a guard only, and now we hear that an army is collecting, and that the General Sahib will command it."
I replied that it was true that
- ↑ Brigadier-General Kennedy, C.B.
