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Title: Raiders of the Sarhad - Being an Account of the Campaign of Arms and Bluff Against the Brigands of the Persian-Baluchi Border during the Great War
Author: Dyer, R. E. H. (Reginald Edward Harry)
Language: English
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Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
THE RAIDERS OF THE SARHAD
[Illustration: A TYPICAL GORGE IN THE SARHAD.]
THE RAIDERS OF THE SARHAD
Being the Account of a Campaign
of Arms and Bluff Against the
Brigands of the Persian-Baluchi
Border during the Great War
by
BRIGADIER-GENERAL R. E. H. DYER, C.B.
With Numerous Photographs and Two Maps
London
H. F. & G. Witherby
326 High Holborn, W.C.
1921
PREFACE
With the greatest diffidence I have at last made up my mind to write
the story of my small campaign with the Sarhad Raiders in 1916.
This campaign sinks into utter insignificance when compared with the
great deeds done in other theatres of war by men who said nothing
about them. But, insignificant as it was, it forms part of the mosaic
of the Great War, and for this reason may be of some general interest.
I take this opportunity of paying a tribute to all the officers who
took part in this little campaign. Their untiring devotion to duty,
and their efforts to do their utmost under conditions that were often
more than trying, accounts for its success.
I would like, in particular, to mention Major Landon of the 35th
Scinde Horse, whose great knowledge of the people and their country
was invaluable; Major Sanders of the 36th Sikhs; Colonel Claridge of
the 28th Light Cavalry; Captain Brownlow and Captain Hirst, both of
the 28th Light Cavalry; Major Lang; Captain Moore-Lane; Lieutenant
Bream of the Hazara Pioneers, and Captain English, R.A.
In addition I would mention how much, not only I, but the old country
owes to Khan Bahadur, the Sarhad-dar, and to Idu, non-commissioned
officer of the Chagai Levies.
The photographs are from snapshots taken by various officers during
the campaign.
R.E.H.D.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
ORDERS FOR THE WEST
PAGE
I receive my orders--German agents and India--Their
routes--A deal in chauffeurs--Concerning an appetite
and sausages--Nushliki--The last of civilisation--Further
information--Sand-holes and digging--Petrol
in the desert 15
CHAPTER II
THE ROAD TO ROBAT
Mushki-chah--The native contractor--An evening
rencontre--Idu of the Chagai Levies--The native idea of an
airship--Idu the invaluable--Robat 30
CHAPTER III
A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
An "intelligent" officer--Matters political--Three tribes
and a fourth--Their women and inter-tribal laws--Sarhad
conditions--A summons to the Chiefs--A bid
for rank--Telegraph wires and Sheitan--Two first-class
liars--A strategic scheme--An ungazetted
General--Lost kit--Swallows and flies--Forces available--
Communications freed--The Kacha levy and a shock--Mirjawa 37
CHAPTER IV
BLUFF AND ARMS
Ladis and its fort--A force without arms--First sight of
the enemy--Shah Sawar and more bluff--Battle--Bluff
succeeds--Casualties--Bad news from the North--Idu's
proposition--Jiand's stragglers--Jiand's white flag 55
CHAPTER V
KHWASH AND MORE BLUFF
Jiand's surrender--A political lecture--Jiand's
oath--Bluff for Khwash--The army moves forward--Khwash
and its fort--Mahommed-Hassan comes in--Beetles as
scavengers--Halil Khan comes in--Rifle prices, a
comparison--Idu's warning--News of Izzat--Order of
march--Bluff for Bampur--The meteor hole 69
CHAPTER VI
A FULL BAG OF PRISONERS
The march to Kacha--The food supply--Flowers in the
Wilderness--Galugan--Repeated strategy--Juma Khan comes
in--The bag is full--The throne of the dancing
maidens--Landon declines--Idu's doubts--Suspicions
aroused--Halil Khan closes up--Kacha, oaths, and
thumb-marks--The Chiefs depart--Bad news 87
CHAPTER VII
THE RACE FOR KHWASH
Plans and routes--Car versus legs--An equestrian
interlude--The trap in the gorge--More digging--Rendezvous--
Mrs Idu and gastronomy--A reinforcement--A message to
Landon--Izzat's men--Idu's romance--A "British
Bulldog"--The car abandoned 103
CHAPTER VIII
KHWASH AND THE SECOND SURRENDER
Doubts dispelled--Organisation for defence--Idu's
"Exiat"--And its result--Jiand arrives--Idu's second
visit--The Sarhad-dar arrives--Landon at last--Jiand's
visit of ceremony--The Gul-Bibi--Shah Sawar's
treachery--We call on the "Rose Lady"--A carpet and the
Sarhad-dar's advice--Another Durbar--Returned
loot--Temporary peace 122
CHAPTER IX
TREACHERY AND ITS SEQUEL
Further reinforcements--Entrenchments and gardens--
Government inquiries--Food supplies--An offer to
Jiand--Murad and straw--Shah Sawar again--Sentence--Idu's
suggestion--Re-enter the Rose Lady--News of Jiand's
intentions--A vital moment--A round-up--The Sarhad-dar's
advice--A Bhusa hunt--Distrustful wives 143
CHAPTER X
FAILURE AND FRESH PLANS
Slave buying--A diet discovery--Poetic justice--Disposition
of prisoners--Incredible news--The Sawar's story--Disposal
of forces--The march to Kamalabad--Jiand gains his
freedom--Retreat to Khwash 165
CHAPTER XI
SUCCESS IN MINIATURE
The night attack--The Hazaras arrive--Jiand retires--We
march on the Sar-i-drokan valley--Cavalry strategy--
"Gushti's" decision and opinion--"The Hole of
Judgment"--Attack and retirement--A lost and regained
water-supply--The Sarhadis as humorists--The mud
fort--Halil Khan's arrival--The fight at dawn--Exit
Halil Khan--A prophet--The Hazaras' request 181
CHAPTER XII
VICTORY AND PEACE
News of the herds--Towards Dast-Kird--Water!--Mutton for
all--Dast-Kird--A stampede--Back to Khwash--On the track
of the Gamshadzais--Twice a prophet--The Sarhad-dar's
roost--Before Jalk--Rejected terms--More strategy and a
bloodless victory--Remain only terms and sick leave 201
INDEX 221
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
A TYPICAL GORGE IN THE SARHAD _Frontispiece_
IN DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN NASARATABAD AND ROBAT _Facing_ 25
"A GOOD LIAR," LANDON'S ORDERLY AND CHIEF SPY " 49
QUESTIONING A SARHADI PRISONER " 59
JIAND'S MEN COMING IN TO PARLEY " 71
KHWASH FORT " 75
SURRENDERED RAIDERS, (CENTRE) JIAND,
(RIGHT) SHAH SAWAR, (LEFT) HALIL KHAN " 89
CAMEL CORPS SAWARS AT THE TERMINATION OF AN
EXPEDITION " 97
THE DURBAR AT KHWASH " 141
RAIDER CHIEFS AT THE DURBAR AT KHWASH " 141
RAIDED SLAVES ON THE WAY TO THEIR HOMES " 167
A PERSIAN GIRL CAPTURED BY JUMA KHAN " 167
CAPTURED RAIDERS ON THE WAY TO KACHA " 173
ON THE MARCH TOWARDS GUSHT, AND THE MORPEISH HILLS " 185
HAZARAS ON A PICKET POST BELOW WHICH HALIL KHAN
WAS KILLED " 197
WATER! ON THE MARCH TO THE SAR-I-DROKAN " 203
HAZARA PIONEERS WIDENING A PASSAGE FOR LOADED CAMELS " 215
CHAHGIRD FORT IN JALK " 217
MAPS
PAGE
SKETCH MAP OF THE PERSIAN-BALUCHI-AFGHAN FRONTIERS _Facing_ 15
SKETCH MAP OF THE FIGHT IN THE MORPEISH HILLS " 181
[Illustration: _Sketch Map of the Persian-Baluchi-Afghan frontiers_]
THE RAIDERS OF THE SARHAD
CHAPTER I
ORDERS FOR THE WEST
I receive my orders--German agents and India--Their
routes--A deal in chauffeurs--Concerning an appetite and
sausages--Nushliki--The last of civilisation--Further
information--Sand-holes and digging--Petrol in the desert.
Towards the end of February, 1916, General Kirkpatrick, Chief of
Staff at Delhi, sent for me and gave me orders to take charge of the
military operations in South-East Persia.
Although Persia, as a country, was neutral during the War, there is
a certain district in the South-East, abutting on to the frontiers
of Afghanistan and of Baluchistan, and known as the Sarhad, which is
occupied by a number of nomad tribes who claim absolute independence.
At this time these tribes were causing considerable embarrassment and
difficulty to the Indian Government.
The Germans and their agents, who were past masters in the art of
propaganda, were still endeavouring, as they had done for years
before the outbreak of hostilities, to work upon the discontented
portion of the Indian population in the hope of rousing them into
open rebellion. They believed this to be quite possible, in spite of
the magnificent way in which India had offered her resources of men
and money to the British Raj, and hoped thereby to handicap us still
further in our great struggle in the West.
They were pouring their agents, with their lying propaganda, into
India via Persia and Afghanistan. Afghanistan, like Persia, was
nominally neutral, but she was breaking her neutrality by many open
acts of aggression, and was offering every facility in her power
to the German agents in their passage through her territories, and
thence into the Punjab.
To reach Afghanistan, however, the German agents had to pass through
some part of Persia. The Persian Government placed no restrictions on
the movements of either British or Germans, of which fact the latter
took full advantage.
A glance at the map will show that apparently the easiest route for
them to take across Persia was in the North, in the Russian sphere of
influence, and to approach Afghanistan through Korasan; or, failing
this, by a route rather farther South, across the Lut Desert, in the
direction of Birjand. As a matter of fact they had tried both these
routes, but without much success, owing to the inhospitable nature of
the country through which they had to pass and also to the opposition
they met with from the Hazara tribes round Herat, who, belonging
as they do to the Shiah section of the Mahommedan religion, are at
daggers drawn with the Afghans, who belong to the Sunni section.
Therefore the Germans had to try yet another road, and succeeded
farther South where they had failed in the North. By taking the
longer route through Kerman and Narmashir in the South and South-East
of Persia, they found easy ingress into Afghanistan.
To effect this, however, they had to make friends with the nomad
and war-like tribes of the Sarhad. These tribes were traditionally
friendly to the British, but the Germans had bribed them heavily
and had moreover assured them that Germany had turned Islam and
that the Kaiser William himself was a convert to their religion. As
the Sarhad tribes were always out for a good thing for themselves,
and as they believed the lie about the German conversion, they had
allowed themselves to be tricked into helping the Germans. This
they were doing not only by permitting them to pass through their
territory, but also by harassing the lines of communication between
the inadequately small British frontier posts.
The story of Germany having turned Mahommedan, farcical as it was,
was nevertheless a potential source of grave danger for us in India.
It must be remembered that Germany's ally, Turkey, was Mahommedan,
and that in helping us against Germany, the Mahommedans of India were
already being called upon, indirectly, to fight against their own
co-religionists. When, in addition, India was assured that powerful
Germany was winning, so her agents avowed, in every theatre of war,
it was inevitable that in time her loyalty to us must suffer.
It was vital to stop this lying but insidious propaganda, and the
first step was to prevent German agents from entering India at all.
To do this the nomad tribes of the Sarhad must be brought back into
line with their old policy of friendship with Britain. Hence my
orders from General Kirkpatrick.
He instructed me to proceed without a moment's unnecessary delay to
Quetta, where I was to receive more detailed instructions.
On leaving him I hurried, with car and native chauffeur, to the
railway station, and asked for a truck on which to place the car
for entrainment to Nushki. The station-master assured me I was
asking for an impossibility. A great Maharajah, then travelling, had
commandeered every available truck for his suite, luggage and cars.
I told him that the Government business on which I had been sent was
all important, and, by a little persuasion, soon had myself on the
way to Pindi and the car on the way to Nushki.
Arrived at Pindi I found I had exactly one hour left in which to
catch the train for Quetta. There was no time to pack, sort out kit,
or decide what should, or should not, be taken on a campaign which
might last only a few weeks or many months, and which might assume
a political aspect sooner than expected. My servant, Allah-dad, was
therefore directed to take everything for sorting out when time could
be spared, and I rushed off to try and "do a deal" with General Sir
Gerald Kitson, before starting.
I realised that a motor-car might play an important part in this
prospective campaign, as it would be necessary to travel for long
distances in a land of no railways and no regular roads, the best
road to be hoped for probably being a sandy track used by camel
caravans. I had already had some experience of difficult motoring
with an inefficient chauffeur, so naturally wanted to secure the best
man that could be got.
I must here explain that I possessed an English chauffeur, Allan
by name, and that General Kitson employed his brother in the same
capacity. Now, without any disparagement of _my_ Allan, I knew his
brother to be a more practical and experienced man. General Kitson
generously gave his consent to an exchange of chauffeurs.
I may as well say, at once, that it was a lucky day for me that saw
Allan of the 9th Middlesex Regiment enter my service, for, during
the months to come, he was as cheery and full of resource as he was
ready for any event, however untoward. His appetite stood forth as
the only thing that ever caused me uneasiness, and I must admit that
I have never met a man with one of such colossal proportion. As an
instance--on one occasion, when camped out in the desert, between
Nushki and Robat, and supplies were none too plentiful, we cooked
twelve sausages for breakfast.
I had one, and then was persuaded by Allan to attempt a second. I
only succeeded in disposing of half of it. I then got up and left
Allan to have his own breakfast. Allah-dad, being a Mahommedan, of
course refused to touch sausage.
At lunch-time Allah-dad asked what I would have to eat, and got the
answer, "Oh, some of the cold sausages left from breakfast."
Allah-dad replied, "But there are no sausages, Sahib. Allan has eaten
them all."
I expostulated, maintaining that it was impossible. No normal man
could have eaten ten and a half large sausages. But Allah-dad was
not to be shaken. It may be well imagined that the feeding of my
chauffeur during the months to come loomed up as one of my minor
anxieties.
From Pindi I went to Quetta by train, my car, with the native
chauffeur having gone direct to the then rail-head at Nushki, in the
North of Indo-Baluchistan.
At Quetta I laid in a store of petrol, spare tyres, a few personal
necessities, reported to General Grover for orders and information,
and then proceeded to Nushki; which place was reached, and the car
picked up, on, if I remember rightly, the 25th of February.
This day in Nushki was to prove the last in a civilised town for
many months to come. The look of the country lying before us so
intimidated my native chauffeur that he came to me, a short time
before we were due to start, with a countenance torn with grief and,
with lamentations and protestations of sorrow, told me that both his
father and mother were ill, and that it was vital for him to return
and succour them. As I had been in two minds as to the advisability
of taking the rascal with me, this sign of the white feather at the
very outset at once decided the point, and I gave him to understand
that he could go and bury as many of his relations as he pleased.
With a countenance swiftly transformed to cheerfulness he left me.
Just before starting a wire was handed in from a high political
official at Quetta informing me that the Baluch Raiders had already
cut our lines of communication, were right across my path, and he
advised, if not ordered, me not to proceed.
However, as explicit military instructions were to endeavour to reach
Robat (near the Koh-i-Maliksia), a hill at which the Baluch, Afghan
and Persian frontiers meet, as well as that of the district known as
the Sarhad, with the least possible delay, and as I knew the Raiders
were across my path even before I left Quetta, I saw no reason for
altering previously made plans or for delaying my departure.
Accordingly I started on the journey to Robat early on the morning of
the 27th. I reckoned it would take at least five days to reach that
town, as the route it would be necessary to follow would be fully
three hundred and seventy-five miles. I already knew that it would
be essential to make many long détours round freshly formed sand
dunes and other obstacles, for it must be remembered that there was
no proper road but only a rough camel-track continually blown over
and obliterated by sand, along which supplies were taken from India
to Robat, and the small garrison posts which we had established at
various points Northward.
The mention of small garrison posts may lead the reader to suppose
that this area of wild activity was fairly well policed, but, as a
fact, one battalion of Indian infantry, a regiment of Indian cavalry
and, I believe, four mountain guns, constituted the entire force
of regulars holding a front of close upon three hundred miles. It
was small wonder, then, that the Sarhad tribes, commonly known as
Raiders, from their raiding proclivities, who knew every inch of the
country, could climb like cats, and could do long marches on short
rations, had succeeded in cutting our lines of communication, and in
carrying off our supplies.
I could, therefore, look for no further help for the time in the
matter of supplies and so took with me all that I thought would be
necessary for our three hundred and seventy-five mile trek across the
sandy wastes lying between Nushki and Robat.
Petrol was, at the moment, the most important of our needs; we had,
therefore, to carry with us all we should require, making allowance
at the same time for mishaps. Moreover, we had to take enough food
and water to last Allan, Allah-dad and myself for five or six days.
As regards personal luggage we travelled absolutely light, leaving
all kit to follow at a slower pace on camels, together with my horse,
Galahad. I had some compunction in leaving the latter behind, but my
orders were concise and urgent--to reach Robat, endeavour to get into
touch with all our scattered posts, and effect a combination against
the Raiders at the earliest possible moment.
A start was made very early in the morning, but the first day's
journey proved disappointing. Instead of doing the ninety miles
planned, we only accomplished thirty. The track was even worse than I
had expected, for we constantly ran into sand-hills, and had to dig
the car out. I have never done so much digging in my life as I did on
that journey to Robat. Sand-hills were, however, only a portion of
our afflictions, for, in addition, there were many water pools and
small shallow lakes--due to recent rain--which had to be taken at a
rush, or somehow circumvented.
So serious, at last, did our rate of progress become that, as we
approached what seemed to be the hundredth of these wide, shallow
pools, I lost patience and ordered Allan to drive straight through.
He attempted to carry out the order, but about half-way we sank up
to the axle and stuck. No power on earth would induce the car to
budge another inch, and, though we all three got out into the water,
and lugged, pushed and dragged at the wretched car, no impression
could be made upon her.
So we remained till, at last, about two a.m., I caught sight of a
light on a small hill not very far away in the west, and, on going
over to it, found a sort of recluse, or holy man, quietly cooking his
food. After the usual courtesies I asked him to come and help me to
pull my car out. He replied that he was an old man and could not do
much by himself, but that a caravan of nomads, who had arrived the
evening before, were encamped close by. So off I went again, flushed
my "quarry", and, with the help of large bribes, persuaded all the
able-bodied men to come back to the car. Fortunately we carried a
good strong rope as part of our kit, so soon had the car out and
running again.
Allan was never again ordered to drive through water on that route.
[Illustration: IN DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN NASARATABAD AND ROBAT.]
On the second day our troubles recommenced, for we had barely done
a dozen miles than we stuck in another sand-hill, and the laborious
digging-out process had to be done all over again. Fortunately, the
party who had got the car out of the lake the night before were close
behind, and for an obvious reason. They had been given so many rupees
for their timely help that, knowing the difficulties lying ahead,
they had followed in the hope of further largesse. They got it.
Once safely out again I made a tour of inspection round the car, but
only to find more trouble.
"Hullo, what on earth is this, Allan? She's leaking!"
Allan smiled a superior smile. "I don't think so, sir. My cars don't
leak."
But a moment later his superiority turned to consternation, and he
was burying his head in the bowels of the car.
After a moment's inspection he showed a face of such utter dismay
that it would have been comical had not the situation been so serious.
"Great Scott, sir! I must have left the petrol tap turned on, and the
tank is nearly empty."
Here, I'm afraid, my language was violent, and it was some minutes
before Allan was able to ascertain exactly how much petrol we had
left. His calculations established the fact that we had lost some
fourteen gallons. This meant that we should have to walk the greater
part of the last two hundred miles of our journey. A pleasant
prospect in that forbidding country. But orders were to go on, and go
on we did.
That day we made good time, and before evening had done the ninety
miles set as a day's march. But, as we had lost so much ground the
previous day, I determined to go on as long as Allan could stick at
the driving wheel, and we went on--to a post called Yadgar.
I should explain that in this barren, townless, roadless district
there are occasional small rest-houses, very modest types of Dâk
bungalows, established by the Indian Government for the benefit of
travellers, or soldiers on their way to frontier duty. They are quite
bare except for a camp bed or two, a tub, a table, a few chairs and a
wash-hand basin, with a _chokidar_, or keeper, in charge.
Such a rest-house we found at Yadgar, and being not only very tired
and dusty, but filthily dirty, as the result of our struggles with
the car, we pulled up to try and get a superficial wash.
I jumped out and tried the door. It was locked, and I banged loudly
without getting any answer. It would not do to lose an unnecessary
minute, for the many miles we should have to walk later on loomed
unpleasantly ahead, but I knew there were pretty certain to be water
and washing-basin behind that door, and did not intend to leave them
unused if I could help it, _chokidar_ or no _chokidar_. So, I took a
butting run with my shoulder, the door gave, and I set out in search
of the water tub.
An open door on my right showed me a small room, absolutely empty,
except for a row of tins against the wall. Knowing that petrol was
carried in such tin drums I went and examined them. The next moment
Allan heard a shout that brought him hastily inside, wondering
whether I had gone mad, had been bitten by a wild beast, or was
being murdered.
"Look!" I cried, as he came running up to me. "Look at those tins and
tell me what's inside!"
Allan seized hold of one of the drums, read what was written on it,
gave it a shake, and we could both hear the blessed sound of lapping
inside.
"It's petrol, sir," he whispered in an awed voice.
Petrol in the desert--petrol where one would as soon have expected to
find a Bond Street jeweller!
At first we could neither of us believe it. Personally I imagined we
had both got temporary jim-jams, but Allan, with his usual stolid,
common sense, opened one of the drums, tested the contents, and
pronounced it to be first-class petrol. There were seven drums, each
containing four gallons.
"This means we'll motor, not walk into Robat after all, sir," said
Allan, with a grin and sigh of relief. The thought of those miles of
desert--nearly two hundred of them--which confronted us after the
mishap had been haunting us both like a nightmare.
At this moment the _chokidar_ returned, in great trepidation, fearing
a dressing-down for being absent from duty. But I was far too elated
at the turn of events to want to swear at anyone.
I asked him where the petrol had come from, and whose it was. He
shook his head, and said he had no idea. It had always been there. It
belonged to no one, and no one had put it there, so far as he knew.
He had never seen a car there before; in fact, he had never seen a
car anywhere before, and could not understand how it was that men
could travel on a thing which was not alive, which was not like any
horse or camel he had ever seen.
This was all very good hearing, so I proceeded to tell him that the
petrol belonged to me, and, as he quite cheerfully acquiesced, I gave
him a receipt which he could show to any Government official in case
of needed absolution in the future. As we now had means to finish our
journey by car, I decided to spend the night at the rest-house.
After a simple camp meal Allan, worn out with the strenuous work of
the past two days and night, was quickly snoring in the deep sleep of
exhaustion, so I went for a stroll.
As I paced up and down I tried to draw up some preliminary plan
for the coming campaign. But such occupation was somewhat futile,
as, until I could reach Robat, I had no knowledge at all as to the
strength and composition of the force that would be at my disposal.
But upon one thing I made up my mind--even at that early stage--I
would do my utmost to show these Raiders, who were doing us so much
harm, that they could not do this with impunity. The lesson once
driven home, an endeavour should be made to become friendly with
them, to win them back to our side, and, so to speak, appoint them as
doorkeepers of the Baluchistan frontier; but doorkeepers with their
rifles pointed at our enemies instead of at ourselves.
In the midst of these meditations I found myself stumbling with
fatigue, so, with a last look at the beauty of the night, I turned
indoors, and in a few minutes was sound asleep, and making up for the
"whiteness" of the night before.
CHAPTER II
THE ROAD TO ROBAT
Mushki-chah--The native contractor--An evening rencontre--Idu
of the Chagai Levies--The native idea of an airship--Idu the
invaluable--Robat.
On the third day we made good progress, fate being kind in helping us
to avoid the sandy pitfalls which had hitherto been our undoing, and,
by nightfall, we found ourselves approaching the post of Mushki-chah.
Here we found the road blocked with a number of camel caravans
carrying Government food supplies for our scattered posts along the
frontier. These posts were already in difficulties owing to the
Raiders' interference with their commissariat.
As can be imagined there was a great deal of noise, the native
drivers gesticulating and talking in a way which proved that
something was afoot. I got out of the car and asked who was in charge
of the caravan. A huge native contractor was pointed out to me, and,
summoning him to my side I asked him what all the hubbub was about.
He was in a state of great agitation and told me that he had received
information from several reliable sources that the whole of the
countryside ahead of them was in the hands of the Raiders, and that,
therefore, it was useless to go a step further.
I expostulated with the man, pointing out that, by the terms of his
contract, he must go on, and that if he did not the soldiers for whom
he was bringing supplies would die of starvation.
But he was dogged. He knew too well the methods of the Raiders with
the men they captured.
"It's no use, Sahib," he said, respectfully but firmly. "My men will
not go on as they are unarmed, and a single armed Raider is enough to
hold up the whole caravan."
I knew the man was right, but persisted in my efforts to persuade him
to chance it, pointing out that he might be lucky enough to elude the
Raiders and to win through.
"If the Government will give me a military escort I will go, but not
without," was his final word.
I had no authority to compel him to go on, so gave up the struggle.
But I realised more than ever how imperative it was to endeavour
to reach Robat without a moment's unnecessary delay, and start
conclusions with the Raiders, whose menace was growing more dangerous
every day.
We were, therefore, on the road very early next morning, for I hoped
to make Saindak that night. I had intended to go by Borgar, but now
that I knew--for I had verified the contractor's statements, and
believed them to be correct--that that place was in the hands of
the Raiders, I elected to go by an alternative route, known as the
_Webb-Ware_ route, which is practically out of use nowadays, hoping,
thereby, to avoid the enemy.
It was still dark when we set off on the most strenuous part of our
journey; climbing, making détours, digging the car out again and
again till we were all three worn out in body and temper. We hardly
halted that day, for the necessity for speed was as fully realised by
Allan as by myself.
When night fell we had not yet sighted Saindak, but I knew we could
not be very far off, and cursed the coming of the night which made
it impossible to see where we were. I knew we had got off the camel
track somehow, for the ground was even more bumpy than it had been,
and was frequently intersected by nullahs or rocky ravines, which
made the going positively dangerous. If the car were knocked right
out of action our difficulties would reach the last stage of disaster.
At last, in despair, Allan stopped, saying it was useless going on
any further. We might overturn the car at any moment and smash it as
well as ourselves. He submitted that the only sane thing would be to
camp just where we were and wait for daylight, when we might regain
the camel track.
I knew he was right, but said I would make one final effort on foot
to find the track, and directed him to give me the hurricane lamp we
carried on the car.
Stumbling and slipping over the broken ground in the pitch darkness,
the lamp barely lighting up my immediate path, I had wandered some
distance from the car when I heard voices. Instantly I thought of the
Raiders who were over-running the district. It would be too galling,
too humiliating to be captured by them before the campaign, on which
I was building such high hopes, had even begun.
Noiselessly I put out the lamp and listened in the dense darkness.
There was absolute silence for some minutes, and I stood stock still.
Then voices sounded again, and I conjectured that there were not more
than two, or at the most three, speakers.
I thought rapidly, and finally decided that there would not be many
men in front of me. Had there been anything approaching an encampment
of the Raiders in the neighbourhood, there would have been lights,
camp fires and considerable noise. The voices I had heard probably
belonged to men who had seen the lights of the car, and had come to
find out what it was.
I turned swiftly and made my way back to the car, where I had
foolishly left my revolver. Recovering my weapon I warned Allan in a
whisper of the voices I had heard, and told him to be ready to stand
by. Then I made my way back in the darkness, and when I had regained
the spot, called out loudly, in Hindustani, "Who's there?"
Instantly a voice answered, "I am Idu of the Chagai Levies, friendly
to the British Government."
I then called out who I was, and, immediately, three fully armed men
came forward in the darkness.
I asked them what they were doing there, and the voice that had
answered me before replied that they were all three members of the
Chagai Levies, and that they, and about fifty others, had come out to
fight me.
"To fight me?" I exclaimed. "Whatever for?"
"Well, Sahib," returned the man who had said his name was Idu, "we
thought you were a German airship." And he went on to explain that
for a long time he and his companions had been watching powerful
lights floating about in the sky, and as they knew that Germans were
the only people in the world who had _hawaiijihaz_ or airships, they
were convinced the lights they had seen belonged to one of these. And
when it had alighted on the hill in front of them, the majority of
his companions had been so terrified that they had run away, and only
himself and his two comrades had had the bravery to stay where they
were and face the unknown danger.
Then it dawned on me what he was driving at. The flashing electric
lights of the car, lighting up the distant, rising slopes of the
desert, had appeared to these men to come from the sky, and my
harmless motor-car the dreaded German airship. Cars, of course, along
this route were as great a novelty as airships, and doubtless not one
of the men in front of me had ever seen one before.
I reassured them as completely as I could, adding that I was
delighted to meet such redoubtable warriors, and hoped that now they
would come with me and help me, as my business was to fight Germans,
airships and all. This was strictly true, for, but for German
influence, there would have been no need to wage war on the Raiders
who had only been induced to become our enemies by lying German
propaganda.
Idu said they would be only too glad to go with the Sahib and to help
him fight the enemies of the British Raj. He also told me that he had
already saved my life once that evening.
"How was that?" I asked, my spirits rising as I gazed through the
darkness at my first three recruits.
"Well, Sahib," returned Idu, "when the airship, which you say is
no airship, stopped, in a little while we saw the figure of a man,
carrying a lantern moving towards us, and Halil here," laying his
hand on the shoulder of one of his pals, "lifted his rifle and was
about to shoot. But I said, 'Nay. See, it is but one man. Let us wait
and see who he is.' And then the lantern went out and there was no
longer a target."
"You did well, Idu," I said solemnly. "You have most certainly saved
my life, and as you seem to be as intelligent as you are brave, I
shall appoint you to my personal staff. I am the officer who has
been sent out to take command of the forces along the Sarhad, and in
Seistan. But at the present moment my chief concern is to find the
right road to Saindak. Can you show it to me?"
Idu laughed. "I could lead you there blindfold, Sahib."
I felt the difficulties of the road were now over, and, piloted by
these three stalwarts, the car--a source of the utmost excitement
and wonderment to them--Allan, Allah-dad and my weary self were, ere
long, safe in the rest-house of the small mud fort at Saindak.
The following morning, after a good night's rest, I had a long talk
with Idu, and the very favourable impression I had formed of the man
the night before was greatly increased. I found him by daylight to be
a highly intelligent-looking, splendidly proportioned fellow of about
five feet eight, with a big black beard. I had glimpses, even then,
of the keen sense of humour which was to do so much to lighten the
difficulties of the ensuing campaign. Never once in all the months to
come did I find his wit and humour fail.
As after-events proved he was absolutely invaluable. In fact, I often
called him, and told him that I called him, my "head." Not only did
he know every yard of the country, but he knew by name practically
every one of the Raiders, knew their peculiarities and their weak
points as well as their strength. Idu was a man in a million, and I
should like to think that, some day, this public appreciation of him,
and of what he did to help in this campaign, may reach him.
After breakfast and my talk with Idu, we set out on the last march of
the first phase of my journey, and reached Robat by two o'clock in
the afternoon.
CHAPTER III
A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
An "intelligent" officer--Matters political--Three tribes
and a fourth--Their women and inter-tribal laws--Sarhad
conditions--A summons to the Chiefs--A bid for rank--Telegraph
wires and Sheitan--Two first-class liars--A strategic scheme--An
ungazetted General--Lost kit--Swallows and flies--Forces
available--Communications freed--The Kacha levy and a
shock--Mirjawa.
My first visit in Robat was to the officer who had been commanding
the scattered British forces up to that date. He was a very sick man,
and had been holding out with the utmost difficulty until he could be
relieved. Here I met Major Landon of the 35th Scinde Horse, one of
the three Intelligence Officers employed by the Indian Government in
Persia.
I very quickly realised that Landon was an officer of very high
intelligence, as well as an Intelligence Officer, and that he had a
fund of information concerning the country, and the conditions and
characteristics of the inhabitants of both Persia and Baluchistan. In
fact, I judged that he would be such an asset that, then and there, I
invited him to become my Brigade-Major, although I ruefully remarked
that I had, at present, no brigade!
He was keen to accept, but did not know how the authorities at Simla
would view his acceptance of such a post, and asked me whether I
should be willing to shoulder the responsibility of annexing him for
the campaign. Considering that my shoulders were broad enough, I
promptly replied that my orders had been to take command of all the
scattered forces I could find and co-ordinate them, and that I looked
upon him as my second "find," Idu and his two companions being the
first. Further, that he was here as Intelligence Officer and would
acquire no intelligence sitting down in Robat, whereas, if he came
with me, he would get all he wanted at first hand!
I set myself to pick up all the information I could about the
conditions of British "influence" in this part of Persia, and on
the borders of Afghanistan. To make it in any way clear why we had
any influence here at all we must revert to the old fear of the
threatened advance of Russia on India, in the days before Russia
became our ally in the Great War.
Slowly and gradually Russia had been extending her influence in the
Pamirs until her outposts on the Oxus River were only eight marches
from Chitral. Evidently, as a wide counter, strategic move, the
Indian Government had sought to increase its own influence with
Persia and Afghanistan by pushing forward her outposts to Robat and
Nasaratabad.
Consequently, at the time of which I am writing, Robat, Nasaratabad
and Birjand were held lightly by chains of small posts composed
entirely of Indian troops and some local levies commanded by British
officers. Our lines of communication running from Birjand to Nushki,
a distance of about six hundred miles, were held, in widely scattered
posts, by only one battalion of Indian Infantry and one regiment of
Indian Cavalry and four mountain guns. Thus it will be seen that it
was very difficult to obtain any troops for a movable column.
A British Consulate had also been established at Nasaratabad, which
is on the borders of Afghanistan and Persia. During the War the
importance and influence of the Consul increased considerably, as he
was in a position to gather information which was of great value to
the military commanders, who constantly sought his advice.
There was also a Baluch Political Officer, known as the Sarhad-dar,
who worked under orders from the British Political Officer at Quetta.
The Sarhad-dar, to a certain degree, controlled the Sarhadi Raiders,
occasionally with the help of the Chagai Levies, which were raised by
the Indian Government for this particular work.
Supplies were brought to these scattered posts by camel caravans from
India.
Communication with India was maintained by means of the telegraph.
Later on it became necessary to send out a wireless troop from India
to establish communication between my force at Khwash and Saindak.
At the same time I did my best to learn all I could about the tribes
amongst whom I was going to operate, their ways and customs, and the
nature of the country in which they lived.
A glance at the map will show the situation and boundaries of the
Sarhad--literally meaning boundary. It will be seen that it extends
from Jalk in the East to Galugan in the West. The Eastern part, from
Jalk to Safed-koh, is held by a tribe known as the Gamshadzais, under
their notable leader, Halil Khan.
The central portion is held by the Yarmahommedzais under Jiand
Khan, an elderly man, who has been undisputed chief, and a sort of
over-lord of the whole of the Sarhad, for very many years. He has
been looked upon by his own and neighbouring tribes as well-nigh a
demi-god. As Jiand enters later, and largely, into this narrative all
further description of him will be reserved till actual contact is
established with him.
Khwash--known also as Vasht or Washt--is the capital of the Sarhad,
and is situated within Jiand's jurisdiction, although he is not the
actual owner of the town. The word Khwash literally means "sweet,"
and, I believe, owes its name to the water, which is, by the way,
quite warm when it appears at the surface of the ground in the
immediate vicinity.
The Western portion of the Sarhad, extending roughly from Khwash to
Galugan, is held by the Ismailzais under their redoubtable leader,
Juma Khan.
All three of these tribes possess approximately one thousand
families apiece, and, of course, each family has many members, as
well as large numbers of camels, and herds of sheep and goats.
Each of these tribes, at the time of which I write, could muster,
roughly, from one to two thousand riflemen, chiefly armed with Mauser
rifles and modern ammunition.
South of Robat lay a fourth tribe, the Rekis, fewer in number than
any one of those already mentioned. This tribe was entirely friendly
to the British, and, although nominally under a leader called
Ibrahim, paid more heed to Idu, who, as I have already said, was one
of the most remarkable men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
He was also a Havildar (Sergeant) in the Chagai Levies; a local force
raised by the Indian Government.
These various tribes all belong to the Sunni branch of the Mahommedan
religion, and are of Arab origin. As a whole they are a fine-looking
set of men, slim and graceful, with fine, intelligent faces, and
aquiline features. Their hair is allowed to grow unrestricted,
and falls in long black ringlets, on either side of the face, in
true King Charles I. style. In fact, one of these men, with whom I
afterwards made good friends, was nicknamed Charles I. on sight, as,
with his flowing ringlets and short pointed beard, he bore such a
strong resemblance to the pictures of that unfortunate monarch.
These men are fine skirmishers, and will fight with the utmost
bravery when well led, and have confidence in their leaders. Being
nomads, they possess but few villages, such as Khwash, Gusht, and
Jalk; which consist of a mud fort or forts and a few houses. Their
lives are spent for the most part in tents, called Jugis, which
are made of camels' hair, dyed black, and are pitched wherever a
convenient spot can be found.
Wives, families and herds accompany them on their wanderings from
place to place. Their womenkind are often good-looking, and usually
lighter skinned than the men. The women's endurance, too, is
wonderful, for they can climb the precipitous hills with as much
agility as the men, bear the hardships of long marches, the violent
summer heat and the intense cold of the winter nights with great
fortitude. They go unveiled, and appear to be treated well by their
husbands and sons. In fact, in some notable instances, the women
of the Sarhad exercise great influence over their husbands, and,
when this is so, rule with the proverbial "rod of iron." Each man
is allowed four wives, and, though he does not always acquire this
number, he never exceeds it.
The tribes literally live by raiding. They know no fear, and seldom
show mercy. They not only raid travellers but villages, and, on
occasion, large towns. These raids have been known to be pushed as
far as Meshed, the sacred town and "Mecca" of Persia, which lies
far away in the North upon the Turkestan border. Such expeditions
are carried out with immense skill and cunning, and are seldom
unsuccessful. The raiders not only loot jewels, carpets, food, cattle
and herds, but women and children, whom they subject to a life of
utter misery.
Persian ladies are frequently carried off in this way, to become
eventually abject slaves subject to inter-tribal barter. The prices
paid for such slaves naturally vary according to quality, age and
looks. As much as three hundred rupees may be taken as an average
price for a young woman, and as little as twenty-five rupees for a
small child.
But, although they are utterly lawless in regard to other people,
their few inter-tribal laws are fairly strictly observed. These laws,
however, chiefly consist of the doctrine that Might is Right and
Success pardons all Sins. In the Sarhad a man is expected to tell the
truth--unless a lie better suits his purpose. Any oath given on the
Koran is binding, provided a Mullah or priest is present. Otherwise
such an oath is as often honoured in the breach as in the observance.
They have, however, some standards of honour to which they strictly
adhere. If, for instance, they come as invited guests to your camp,
or if you go as an invited guest to theirs, treachery is not thought
of. The laws of hospitality, as in nearly all Eastern countries, are
strictly maintained.
Their food consists mostly of flour-cake, made, as a rule, of barley,
though occasionally of wheat, and goat-flesh and wild herbs. As their
herds always travel with them, except when fighting or raiding,
there is always a plentiful supply of meat and milk. Their slaves,
on the contrary, are half starved, and present the most pitiful
contrast to their own women and children, who are well fed, healthy
and provided with ample clothing.
Their country, the Sarhad, is very arid, sandy, sparsely cultivated,
and crossed by range upon range of bare volcanic hills, with rugged
peaks and precipitous sides. Some of these hills rise to considerable
heights, as, for example, the Koh-i-Bazman, overlooking Bampur in
the South. This peak reaches an altitude of eleven thousand four
hundred feet. The Koh-i-Taftan is another, of something over thirteen
thousand feet, and is snow-capped in Winter and early Spring, despite
the fact that it is an active volcano. The word Taftan signifies
boiling. Its crater possesses two main outlets, from which clouds
of sulphur-smoke are constantly being emitted. The whole summit is
in consequence covered with white ash, so giving it a wonderfully
imposing and picturesque appearance from a distance, especially at
sunset or sunrise. The effect is very like that of Fuji-Yama, but
certainly on a grander scale.
The hills of this district are all of volcanic origin, and, for this
reason, rich in sulphur and sal-ammoniac deposits. The low-lying
country obviously once formed the bed of a sea, for the fossils to be
found here in quantity are of marine origin, and the soil is thickly
impregnated with salt. Fresh water is very scarce, though large salt
water lakes are fairly frequent.
It is interesting to think how much could be done with this country
were some scheme of irrigation introduced. The natives have a simple
method of supplying water to meet their wants. This is done by means
of karezes, underground channels which tap underground springs and so
bring the water to where it is wanted.
Trees are occasionally planted by these karezes, in the towns, but
otherwise are scarcely ever seen in this inhospitable, arid region,
where it is even hard to find sufficient food for camels, horses or
herds, when on the march. There are occasional valleys through which
a small stream may flow for a certain distance, but which, very soon,
disappears again into the sand. In those rare spots where water is
plentiful the luxuriance of the vegetation is phenomenal, proving how
fertile the country might become were it irrigated in the same way
as are certain parts of India. Wheat, barley, spinach, cucumbers,
pumpkins and green vegetables grow readily where water exists.
Climatic conditions in these regions are curiously extreme. Great
cold prevails in the Winter, but the heat in Spring and Summer is
terrific. There is, too, a curious feeling of intense lightness in
the atmosphere which induces a queer feeling of "emptiness" in those
unaccustomed to its rarified quality. A hot wind, impregnated with
sand, blows in Seistan more or less continually from April to July,
so adding to the general discomfort of the white man. This wind is
known as the Sad-o-bistroz (literally, "wind which blows for one
hundred and twenty days"). But, though disagreeable and irritating,
this wind saves the health of the Seistani inhabitants during the
most trying months of the year, as it checks malaria by blowing away
the mosquitoes.
This rather vague, and very incomplete, attempt at a sketch of the
people who were causing such serious trouble to our Government,
and of the country in which they lived, may, at any rate, serve to
give some idea of the foe, and his terrain, in this small but terse
campaign which I shall make an attempt to describe in the following
chapters.
It grew more evident daily that it was necessary to organise a
movable column to operate against the Raiders as soon as possible.
There were more troops at Nasaratabad than at any other post,
and I considered that some of these might well be taken for the
purpose. Moreover, there was a British Consul there whose advice
and information would be very valuable. Accordingly, Landon and I
arranged to go there by car on the first possible day.
But I thought it would be a good preliminary move to find out exactly
how the land lay with regard to the Raiders, and to force them, so
to speak, to declare their policy towards us.
I therefore told the local Baluchi political officer to send out
notices to Jiand Khan, the leader of the Yarmahommedzais, to Halil
Khan, the leader of the Gamshadzais, to Juma Khan, leader of the
Ismailzais, and to the leader of the Rekis, to meet the new British
General, just arrived from India, so that counsel might be taken
together on a certain date at a small post called Kacha.
Of course, from all I had heard, I did not for one moment expect
these Raider Chiefs to keep the _rendezvous_. But if, by some amazing
chance, they did, we might come to some amicable arrangement and so
avoid actual fighting. If, on the other hand, they refused to do so,
it would be tantamount to a declaration of war.
A few days later I kept the appointment I had made, but, with the
exception of the Reki leaders, who assured me of their consistent
loyalty to the British, not a single Raider Chief turned up.
Thereupon I returned to Robat and planned my campaign.
Already I could see I was going to be badly handicapped by my lack of
rank, and determined to make a bid for the rank which would give me
more authority. With this object in view I sent a telegram to General
Kirkpatrick--already mentioned as Chief of Staff at Simla, and acting
as Commander-in-Chief in the absence of General Sir Beauchamp
Duff--asking him to make me a General, and stating baldly that I
considered it necessary.
It may seem strange that, in this wild, desolate country, largely
in the hands of lawless, rebellious tribes, it was possible to send
a telegram at all. But a fine telegraph line, right across Persia,
connecting Europe with India, has been in existence for over fifty
years. The concession to erect this line was obtained from the Shah
by Mr Eastwick in 1862, then British Chargé d'Affaires in Teheran.
There had been long negotiations over this concession, which had
been consistently refused by the Persian Government; but the Shah's
personal friendship for Mr Eastwick prevailed where diplomatic
negotiations had failed. It was a particularly advantageous
arrangement for us, as, by the contract drawn up by the Persian
Government in 1864, that Government undertook to construct a
telegraph line from the Persian frontier, near Baghdad, to India, at
the expense of Persia, but to place it under the control of British
officers. This and other telegraph lines had not been interfered with
or cut in any way by the Raiders, for the simple reason that they
have strong superstitious fears of telegraph wires, and imagine them
in some way to be in close communication with Sheitans (devils).
[Illustration: "A GOOD LIAR."
_Landon's orderly and chief spy._]
Whilst I was awaiting a reply to my urgent request for an advance in
rank, Idu, Landon and I took counsel together. I asked Idu whether he
had two first-class liars amongst his friends, in whom he could
place implicit trust. His eyes twinkled as he assured me he had many
friends on whose complete fidelity, as well as on whose absolute
qualifications, he could rely.
I then unfolded to him my scheme. It was quite obvious that it would
be utterly impossible to defeat the Raiders in open fight. They
numbered several thousands of fully armed men, amply equipped, and
supplied with all the ammunition and food they needed. They were also
in their own country, every yard of which they knew well.
In a straightforward fight any small force we could muster would be
wiped out in a few minutes. But as it was necessary to fight and beat
those Raiders, who were doing us such immeasurable damage, bluff must
be used to strengthen our arms.
I suggested to Idu that he should procure his two skilled friends
and tell them, at the outset, that if they succeeded in the plan
entrusted to them their pockets would be literally lined with rupees.
They were, then, to run away from me to the two principal Raider
Chiefs, Jiand and Halil Khan, and their story was to be that they
had managed to escape from the great and famous British General who
had just arrived with five thousand fully armed troops. Also, that
this General Dyer was greatly incensed at their disobedient method of
treating his summons to meet him at Kacha, and that he was starting
in great force to attack them, but that he was planning to march
first against Halil Khan in the direction of Jalk.
If Idu's men succeeded in making the Raiders swallow all this, the
immediate stroke I had in view, namely, an attack on Khwash, might
hope for some success. It would at any rate draw the Raiders off the
lines of communication and so enable supply caravans to proceed to
Robat.
Idu was greatly taken with the idea. It appealed to his sense of
humour, and he had soon produced his two spies, on whom, he assured
us, he could rely as on himself. Their mission fully explained, Idu's
friends started off at once.
Meanwhile, though I was not yet a General I determined to act the
part. The 28th Light Cavalry made crossed swords for my shoulders and
the necessary red tabs. The former were considerably bigger than the
regulation pattern, but were otherwise well made. Then Landon and I
went off by car to Nasaratabad.
We found the place to be a small mud-walled enclosure with walls of
great thickness. Inside the enclosure were something like a hundred
shops, for the most part kept by Persian soldiers, whose military
duties are not usually onerous. We made our way to the Consul's
house, and had a very interesting interview with him. Whilst we were
there a telegram arrived from Simla informing me that I had been
promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. This was a great relief,
for I now no longer felt an impostor.
As a set-off against this bit of good news, I heard that the whole
of my kit, which had followed me from Nushki, had been captured by
the Raiders. In addition they had killed my horse, Galahad, robbed
the groom of all his clothing and torn his golden ear-rings from
his ears. On my return to Robat he came to me stark naked, with his
nerves utterly shattered, and absolutely useless for any further
service.
We also met Colonel Claridge, who was commanding the 28th Cavalry
and the troops at Nasaratabad. I asked him to send to Robat as soon
as possible all the food supplies he could collect, two mountain
guns, a squadron of cavalry, and as many infantry as he could spare.
I was very disappointed, however, at the few troops available at
Nasaratabad for the expedition, but I realised that the situation
in Afghanistan demanded the presence of a fairly strong garrison at
Nasaratabad itself.
On the way back to Robat we stopped at a post where I was
accommodated in a room with a domed mud roof, which had been
whitewashed. As I lay on my blankets in the morning, gazing up at the
roof, I noticed that the dome was covered with small black spots. As
the light grew stronger I realised that they were flies, thousands of
them, in a comatose condition, owing to the cold of the night.
As the morning advanced, swallows flew in by the open door, and,
fluttering round the dome, picked off the helpless flies one by one,
until not a single one was left.
Directly we reached Robat Landon and I set to work on our plans.
After considerable thought we determined to make an attempt to
capture Khwash, the capital of the Sarhad, and so endeavour to entice
the Raiders off our lines of communication. But it took some time
to get the guns and food supplies to Robat, for Robat was quite
one hundred miles from Nasaratabad. It was also necessary to get
in enough supplies for a month at least, as it was useless placing
reliance on anything reaching us from India. In other words we had to
be quite independent of all lines of communication.
At last the two guns, and supplies, under Major MacGowan, reached
Robat, where were now collected about a dozen or fifteen of Idu's
Chagai Levies, and seventeen Sawars of the 28th Light Cavalry under
Lieutenant Hirst. But I still had no infantry. That, however, I hoped
to get at Kacha, the garrison of which consisted of a hundred sepoys
of the 19th Punjab Infantry, and two maxim guns.
Therefore, Landon and I arranged to go to Kacha for the infantry,
while MacGowan proceeded with his two guns, seventeen cavalrymen and
supplies, direct to Mirjawa, via Saindak. We would then join him
there, as soon as we had collected the infantry for our advance on
Khwash.
Our real movements had been kept marvellously secret, whilst the
news of the five thousand fully armed troops under my command had
been spread far and near by Idu's spies; the consequence being that
the Raiders were all quietly retiring, from raids upon our lines of
communication, to organise their own _lashkars_ (armies), and their
own defence.
Thus, and at any rate temporarily, the lines of communication of our
scattered frontier posts were cleared, and without striking a blow.
One small objective had at least been accomplished.
While MacGowan's little force was making its way to Mirjawa, Landon
and I rode to Kacha, reaching that place on the 2nd of April. There
Lieutenant Yates, of the 12th Pioneers, paraded all the men he could
lay his hands on in front of the mess-house, and, as we rode up, gave
the order for the men to present arms.
The result was a shock.
I dismounted and called on all those men who had ever fired a shot in
their lives to fall out.
To my dismay only nine men obeyed.
Lieutenant Yates told me that he had done his best with the men,
but the greater proportion of them were mere raw recruits. It was a
bitter disappointment, and it was very obvious that a great deal of
brick-making had to be done without straw. But there was nothing else
for it. These were the only men, trained or untrained, available for
the expedition, and I had to be thankful for them.
I took the nine trained soldiers, sixty-five of the untrained
recruits, and two maxim guns belonging to the 12th Pioneers, and,
with these, Landon and I made our way to the _rendezvous_ at Mirjawa,
where we all met on the evening of the 6th of April.
CHAPTER IV
BLUFF AND ARMS
Ladis and its fort--A force without arms--First sight
of the enemy--Shah Sawar and more bluff--Battle--Bluff
succeeds--Casualties--Bad news from the North--Idu's
proposition--Jiand's stragglers--Jiand's white flag.
The following day we marched to Ladis, reaching that place just
before nightfall, and without incident.
Ladis is a camping place situated in a comparatively fertile tract of
country fully four thousand feet above sea-level on the slopes of the
famous Koh-i-taftan. A considerable stream flows through the valley.
If this stream were exploited for irrigation purposes the whole
district could be made most productive and profitable. The climate is
far better than in the greater part of the Sarhad, and there is an
abundance of chikor and other partridges, ibex, and wolves.
On the right bank of the stream is a fine old deserted fort, which
is far more substantially built than the occupied forts of Khwash
and Jalk, but it has been ruined by the disintegrating effect of the
water on the banks on which it is built. A passage at the base of it
indicates that at one time an underground tunnel connected the fort,
which lies on the right bank, with the left bank, thus affording a
means of escape, or of reinforcement, for the garrison.
We found, waiting for us at Ladis, a band of about fifty Rekis, who
had come to join the expedition in answer to an urgent appeal from
Idu.
I found they had no arms, ammunition or equipment, and asked them
where their rifles were.
"We have none, Sahib," their spokesman replied. "We thought the
General Sahib would give us rifles."
I was obliged to tell them that we had no spare arms, but as every
extra man would be an asset in our great game of bluff I was not
going to let them go, and would find some means of utilising their
services.
At first they were greatly disappointed to find that they were not
going to be awarded a free issue of British rifles, and commented on
the absurdity of a force of the size they saw before them attempting
to attack the great Raider Chief, Jiand Khan.
"Why, Sahib," the spokesman said, "Jiand has fully two thousand
well-armed men, all out to meet you. They will wipe you out in about
two minutes."
If it came to an open fight we all knew that this was literally true.
But we were relying on bluff and luck.
The local political officer, a Baluch, was entirely of the Rekis'
way of thinking, and did his utmost to persuade us to turn back and
save our skins. But we had not come so far to turn back. Orders were,
therefore, given to go forward.
Fortunately for us, and before we struck camp early on the following
morning, another political officer arrived to supersede him--a man of
totally different calibre. Khan Bahadur, the Sarhad-dar (the chief
political officer of all matters concerning the Sarhad) was full of
fight, greatly taken with our game of bluff, and fully prepared to
enter into its spirit, the only spirit which could possibly bring
such an enterprise as ours to a successful conclusion.
From Ladis the force marched South in the direction of Khwash,
covering about eighteen miles. This was not bad going when it is
remembered that the average rate for a camel caravan over rough sandy
country of this sort is about ten or twelve miles a day. We camped
that night in a narrow valley, surrounded by hills, and with a good
water supply.
The following day the march was resumed, and we were beginning to
wonder how soon we should get in touch with Jiand's forces when our
advance scouts reported that the enemy was just ahead, and encamped
on the low hills running out in spurs from the Koh-i-Taftan.
Our force was halted, and, riding forward myself, I dismounted and
took a good look at the enemy's position. This appeared to be, as I
had to admit to myself, a very strong one, and, as far as I could
gather, it looked as if it had been no idle report that Jiand's
force numbered something like two thousand men. In any case we were
in for it now, and must take our chances as they came.
I rode back, ordered the mountain guns to be brought up to some low
hills on the left, and the cavalry to move forward under cover to the
right.
The transport camels, numbering about six hundred, now came up,
under cover, and were put in charge of the sixty-five untrained
infantrymen. The two machine guns were brought up to a favourable
position in the centre, and our little force was now fully deployed
for action.
At this moment a man mounted on a camel was seen coming from the
enemy's camp, accompanied by a man on foot carrying a white flag of
truce.
When the messenger had approached nearer the Sarhad-dar exclaimed,
"Why, it is Shah Sawar himself!"
[Illustration: QUESTIONING A SARHADI PRISONER.]
Now Shah Sawar was a very famous Raider Chief, and a relation of
Jiand's. At one time he had been the owner and governor of Khwash,
but it appears that he had greatly coveted, as a bride, a very
beautiful lady known as the Gul-Bibi, or Rose Lady. As usual,
negotiations were conducted between the prospective bridegroom and
the lady's nearest male relative, who, in this instance, happened to
be a somewhat weak-charactered man named Mahommed-Hassan. The price
that Mahommed-Hassan placed on the Gul-Bibi was no less than the
ownership of Khwash itself. Shaw Sawar's infatuation drove him
to pay the price, though, from what I came to know of the ruffian
afterwards, I am perfectly convinced that he had every intention
of recovering his patrimony as soon as a favourable opportunity
presented itself.
When he rode up to me, preceded by the flag of truce, I was struck by
his fine appearance.
He announced that he had come with a message from his kinsman, Jiand
Khan, to the effect that, "If the General Sahib, accompanied by only
one man, would meet Jiand half-way, Jiand, also accompanied by one
man, would meet him and discuss the situation."
Of course the very last thing I wanted to do was to prolong any
negotiations. Every moment that passed increased the danger that
our bluff would be discovered, for it was quite obvious that, up
to date, Jiand believed in the existence of the great force being
brought against him under a British General, as reported to him by
Idu's spies. Therefore, it was necessary to bluster, and answer
indignantly, "How dare you come to a British General with any such
proposal from a scoundrel like Jiand? Go back and tell him that I am
coming, not half-way, but the whole way, and at once. I will give you
time to take him my message. I will then fire a shot into the air as
the signal that hostilities have begun, and the attack, which will
wipe him out, will commence."
Shah Sawar was visibly impressed, and, after a few moments'
hesitation, beckoned to the man who had come with him. After a
whispered colloquy the latter returned to Jiand with the General
Sahib's message. Shah Sawar himself said that he intended to remain
with me.
He was obviously cowed and bewildered. He firmly believed we had a
great army in the low hills behind us, and deemed it safer to remain
with us as a prisoner than to return to Jiand's camp and engage in a
battle against five thousand troops--which he could not see from his
present position!
Whilst the messenger was racing back to Jiand the seventeen
cavalrymen were ordered to show themselves, and as they topped the
hills, apparently the advance guard of a great force, their big
horses looked most imposing.
Lieutenant Hirst, commanding them, was directed to make a pretence of
threatening the left flank and rear of Jiand's position, but ordered
not to go too close!
Then, as soon as information came that Jiand's messenger had reached
his camp--some six hundred yards distant--and had had time to deliver
his message, one of the Chagai Levies was ordered to fire a shot into
the air as a signal that the battle had begun.
He pulled his trigger, but nothing happened.
I told him to try again.
Again he pulled the trigger, and this time with the desired result.
The battle had begun.
The order to charge was given. The cavalry moved rapidly to the
right, the machine guns rattled, and the infantry--nine trained men
and a handful of Chagai Levies, rushed forward in the centre.
What happened in the enemy's camp I only learned afterwards, but it
appears to have been as follows: Jiand, seeing the cavalry advancing
as if to threaten his retreat, really believed that the mythical
army of five thousand was commencing its attack in full force, and,
mounting his own camel, he gave an order which literally amounted to
a "_sauve qui peut_." In any case, and in a moment, his force was
scattered in a frenzy of terror, and in full retreat, amongst the
hills and valleys.
For a moment Landon and I looked at each other. Then, as we realised
that the great bluff had succeeded, we rushed forward, with a loud
whoop, closely accompanied by the Sarhad-dar. As we were mounted, we
got ahead of the others, and actually overtook a number of Jiand's
men retreating down a nullah. We emptied our revolvers into them, and
some of our infantry coming up, their terror was increased, for they
thought they had been trapped by overwhelming numbers.
The enemy had suffered a loss of seven killed. On our side we had one
man wounded, and I honestly believe he was wounded by one of our own
untrained infantrymen, who, in the excitement and enthusiasm of the
moment, had disobeyed orders and joined in the chase.
By the evening there was no one left in sight to chase, so we halted
and made preparations to camp where we were. Only a few hours before
we had known that if the truth of our numbers had leaked out not one
of us would live till night to tell the tale. Fortunately the secret
had been well kept, and, although we had only accounted for seven
of the enemy, it was obvious we had won a decisive victory. Jiand's
entire force was scattered and demoralised, and it would take him a
considerable time, even when he did learn how he had been tricked, to
collect them again.
He was a very notable man, with enormous power and prestige, not
only with his own tribe, the Yarmahommedzais, but with all the
nomad tribes of the district, and was regarded as a personage by
the Governments of both India and of Persia. His defeat would be
a very bitter pill for him to swallow. Although he was looked on
by the Ismailzais and the Gamshadzais as a sort of over-lord, even
of their own Chiefs, there was always great rivalry between the
various tribes, and he would know that Juma Khan, whilst outwardly
sympathising with him, would, in reality, be jubilant.
Accordingly, and for the sake of his own prestige, he must make the
most of the forces brought against him. That very evening I learned
from one of his men, who had been overtaken and brought back as a
prisoner, that he had given out that he had had seven hundred men
killed and amongst the number was his own favourite son. The death
of this son, I afterwards found, was a bitter blow to the famous old
Chief, and I have always been sorry that he credited my hand as being
the one which had struck him down, though this was absolutely untrue.
Seven men multiplied by a hundred was not bad as a free
advertisement. But I determined to go one better.
"Seven hundred!" I retorted to the trembling prisoner. "Nonsense! If
you had said seven thousand, it would be far nearer the mark."
Now the great thing was to make the most of our almost bloodless
victory near Koh-i-taftan, and pursue Jiand and his men as far as
possible amongst the rocky fastnesses of the hills into which they
had fled. If only the old ruffian could be persuaded to surrender
before the bluff was called, it would be just possible to make the
other tribes think that the whole game was up, and so make terms with
us; thus obviating a long and harassing campaign.
So we pursued him for two days, as far as Kamalabad, his own special
winter headquarters, nearly overtaking him. But he just eluded us as
we entered the place by riding out at the other end, and so escaped
into the Morpeish Hills, where it was quite hopeless to think of
following him with our very small force.
On the other hand, if we left him there, he became an hourly menace.
It could be only a question of time before Jiand would be bound to
learn how he had been duped. He would then collect his men once more,
summon the other tribes to his assistance, and wipe out our little
force as he might have done, had he only known, at Koh-i-taftan.
Moreover, news had just reached us of an untoward little incident
which had occurred away to the West of Robat. A small British force
had been operating in the vicinity of Nasaratabad-sippi (not to
be confused with Nasaratabad in Seistan) and this force had been
attacked in overwhelming numbers by the Ismailzais, under Juma Khan.
It had suffered considerable loss, not only in men, but in mules,
rifles, and, most important of all, ammunition. The British officer
commanding had fought ably and had averted disaster, but the losses
had been sufficient to create a rumour that Juma Khan had scored an
exaggerated victory.
This must undoubtedly be avenged, and the only hope of doing so was
to strike at once, and whilst Jiand's forces were still scattered and
demoralised.
Landon, the Sarhad-dar, Idu and I immediately took counsel together.
We discussed the reports of the various scouts who had been sent
out in every direction. It appeared that the redoubtable Jiand
had received a great shock, and that his nerves were thoroughly
shattered. He had dearly loved his son, and the loss was a great
grief. He also firmly believed he had lost a great number of his
followers in killed and wounded, and his pride was suffering badly in
the loss of his prestige as a practically unbeaten Chief.
Then Idu evolved a brilliant scheme by which he believed we should
be able to lure Jiand, in his present broken state, to surrender.
Kamalabad, where we were at present encamped, and which was Jiand's
favourite winter residence, is one of the few spots in the Sarhad
well irrigated and consequently well cultivated. The place is freely
intersected with karezes, from which the fields are systematically
watered. Moreover, the valley is watered on its Western side by
a stream which gushes out of the ground, and, after flowing past
Gazo, winds round the Northern slopes of the Morpeish Hills and the
Sar-i-drokan, to lose itself soon afterwards in the sand.
Kamalabad is not, strictly speaking, a village, as there are no
houses there. But it becomes densely populated when Jiand's nomad
families camp there in their _jugis_ during the winter months.
Beyond this fertile valley, which for half the year is teeming with
life, though it is practically deserted during the summer months, the
Morpeish Hills rise abruptly and precipitately out of the plain to a
height of ten thousand feet.
On the farther side of these hills, and shut in beyond by the
Sar-i-drokan Range, rising to about the same height as the Morpeish
Hills, and running parallel with them for a distance of about
seventy-five miles, is another valley, Jiand's favourite summer haunt.
It will thus be seen that it was utterly impossible to think of
attempting to drive Jiand out of his refuge. Even supposing that
we succeeded in dislodging him from the Morpeish Hills he would at
once make for the Sar-i-drokan, a range which would be still more
difficult to negotiate, apart from the fact that it would draw us
farther and farther from our base and any hope of supplies. But it
was evident that something must be done, and done quickly. Idu's
proposal was, therefore, the only one offering any hope of success.
All the crops of wheat and barley in the Kamalabad Valley were then
at their full growth, though still green, and it was upon these
crops, when harvested, that Jiand and the entire Yarmahommedzai tribe
relied for their yearly bread supply.
Idu's idea was substantially this, that we should send a message to
Jiand, whilst he still believed himself pursued by a vast force,
summon him to surrender forthwith, and tell him that, if he failed
to comply with the instant summons, the whole of his crops would be
destroyed. Anyhow the idea was worth trying.
Accordingly, trustworthy messengers were sent to him telling him that
if he surrendered himself on behalf of his tribe, before sundown on
the following day, the lives of himself and his followers would
be safe, and his crops would be spared. If, however, he failed to
surrender by the appointed time, six hundred camels, which had
already arrived with the advance guard of the great force operating
against him, would be turned loose in his fields, and, as he well
knew, would make very short work of his crops.
The hours that passed between the sending out of the messengers, and
the time limit for Jiand's surrender, were very anxious ones. Would
bluff continue to carry us through, or had the bubble been pricked?
During that day news reached us from stragglers, who came trembling
to join us at Kamalabad, that many of the old people and women of
Jiand's tribe were in great distress. During the headlong flight of
himself and his fighting men the weaklings were left behind, and, in
their terror, they had fled into all sorts of hiding places where
there was neither water nor food. Orders were immediately given
that they were to be reassured and succoured in every way, and that
food and water were to be supplied to them, also _jugis_, wherever
possible, to shelter them.
The day passed and the time limit was rapidly running out when,
between four and five o'clock in the afternoon, we saw a little group
of men emerge from the Morpeish Hills, carrying a white flag.
These men approached and announced that they had come as emissaries
from Jiand Khan, who was on his way to surrender. He admitted his
defeat by the overwhelming numbers brought against him, said he knew
it was no use continuing to fight against them, and that his heart
was broken by the loss of his son. For the sake of his people he must
save the crops or they would surely die. Therefore, if the General
Sahib swore on his honour that the lives of himself and his men would
be safe, and that his crops would be spared, he would surrender.
CHAPTER V
KHWASH AND MORE BLUFF
Jiand's surrender--A political lecture--Jiand's oath--Bluff
for Khwash--The army moves forward--Khwash and its
fort--Mahommed-Hassan comes in--Beetles as scavengers--Halil Khan
comes in--Rifle prices, a comparison--Idu's warning--News of
Izzat--Order of march--Bluff for Bampur--The meteor hole.
At five o'clock Jiand arrived riding a camel, and followed by a few
attendants.
I went forward to meet him, and treated him with all the courtesy due
to his position.
He dismounted and offered his salaams. He was a fine but
pathetic-looking figure--a tall, spare man--but the weight of years,
and the strain of recent events, were beginning to bow his shoulders.
His thick beard was quite grey, but his eyes could still flash with
passion and anger, though, at present, they were dulled with grief
and humiliation.
I immediately offered him my condolences on the death of his son,
and told him I had heard that he believed that I personally was
responsible for his death. I assured him that this was not so, and
that I greatly regretted that so valiant a father should suffer the
loss of a valiant son. I then invited him to sit down on a small rise
of ground where a few sparse bushes offered some shade from the sun,
and as we had no seats we sat down on the ground round him.
I pointed out to Jiand his folly in having proved false to the
traditional friendship which had existed between him, his tribes
and the British Raj. I also told him that I knew perfectly well he
had been misled by German lies as to the breaking of British power,
coupled with advice to harry the British lines of communication, and
to help himself to all supplies upon which he could lay his hands
before the German forces advanced into India, for, when they did,
nothing much would be left to take. But, I asked him, how could a man
of his intelligence have ever allowed himself to be gulled in such a
manner? Had he thought, he must have known that British might was far
too firmly established to be overthrown by anything so despicable as
the German race, and he must have known too that, in deserting his
old friends the British, and in fighting against them, he was only
courting disaster.
I further asked him if he had ever, with his own eyes, seen one
of the German airships which they had been boasting were flying
everywhere, destroying enemy's lands, towns and herds. Jiand admitted
that he had not.
[Illustration: JIAND'S MEN COMING IN TO PARLEY]
I asked him how it came about that, if he had really believed
so much in the strength and power of the Germans, not one of them
was to be found in the district to come to his help in his present
difficulties? Either they were cowards and had run away, or they had
lied to him and there had never been any German forces sweeping on
victoriously to wipe out the British Raj.
Jiand admitted the force of all my arguments, and replied that he,
and all the Sarhadis, had been grossly deceived, but pleaded that he
himself had done his best to restrain his men from interfering with
the British lines of communication, warning them that it was neither
safe nor wise. However, he could not seriously have expected that I
would swallow this excuse, as he was known to be held in such awe by
his followers that not one of them would have dared to dispute his
authority.
I demanded the return of all government camels and stores and of
my kit, captured between Nushki and Robat, and he assured me that
everything should be sent back in full.
While we were talking I noticed his eyes kept wandering round, and,
at last, he could restrain his curiosity no longer, and asked me
point blank where the vast mass of troops was which had conquered his
own.
I replied, "It was not necessary to bring all my men to Kamalabad. I
only came here with my advance guard to make you my prisoner. We have
yet to capture Khwash."
The rest was left to his imagination.
His parole was then demanded, which he promptly gave, and solemnly
swore, on the Koran, that neither he nor any of his tribe, would
raise a hand again against the British Raj.
Neither he nor the handful of men he had brought with him, were
disarmed. We had to continue our game of bluff and had to show that
we were not in the least afraid of him.
After I had dismissed him, telling him he would accompany me wherever
I went under open arrest, Landon, the Sarhad-dar, Idu and myself took
counsel together as to the best way to obtain the surrender of Khwash
with its fort, the main stronghold of the Yarmahommedzais.
We decided to send a couple of Landon's scouts direct to
Khwash--about nineteen miles distant--with a message to
Mahommed-Hassan, telling him that Jiand was a prisoner in my hands,
and that he himself admitted a loss of seven hundred men killed in
open fight with my forces, but that the figure was an under-estimate.
Shah Sawar was also a prisoner in my hands. I called on him,
therefore, to surrender the fort of Khwash to me before twelve, noon,
on the following day, or warned him I should blow the whole place to
the skies. Nor should I hold myself responsible for the future action
of my troops.
Idu's eyes twinkled. "Just suppose, General Sahib, that
Mahommed-Hassan refuses; may I ask how you propose to blow Khwash to
the skies--or anywhere?"
I replied with becoming dignity that I should of course blow it to
the skies with my artillery.
Idu roared with laughter. He said he had seen my pop-guns firing and
he was afraid that, unless our bluff could do the trick, I should be
unpleasantly surprised at the strength of the walls of Khwash.
The next morning our entire force of two mountain guns, two machine
guns, seventeen cavalrymen, nine trained and sixty-five untrained
infantry and a handful of Chagai Levies, moved forward to the
assault of the Raiders' stronghold. By eleven o'clock, and while we
were still about three miles distant, we came into full view of the
fort. Even from that distance I could see that Idu's boast as to its
strength was no idle one, and that if Mahommed-Hassan elected to put
up a fight we could not possibly expect to be able to take it by
assault.
Our anxieties were now further increased by rumours that Halil Khan,
with all his Gamshadzais, was on the way to reinforce Jiand, of whose
personal surrender he had not yet heard.
Our objective, Khwash, lay on a plateau about six miles wide,
bordered on either side by two ranges of hills. These hills have
an altitude of some six thousand feet and run parallel to each
other on the North-East and South-West sides of the fort. The fort
itself is somewhere about four thousand five hundred feet above
sea-level. This plateau was at one time well populated, well wooded
and cultivated with some seventy-three karezes running along it, all
tapping the great underground stream which flows from the Southern
slopes of the Koh-i-taftan.
We were hot and played out after our sixteen-mile march, so halted to
rest, and to speculate as to whether Mahommed-Hassan would surrender
on, or before, the time-limit given him.
We had not long to wait, however, for hardly had we halted when we
saw a messenger, on foot and carrying a white flag, coming towards us.
He salaamed as he reached us and said he bore a message from
Mahommed-Hassan, imploring me not to blow Khwash into the skies,
as he had heard all about the defeat of the Yarmahommedzais under
Jiand, and that, under the circumstances, he recognised the folly of
attempting to oppose my advance. Moreover, he was now on his way to
surrender himself and the fort.
So bluff still held the day!
And sure enough, a few minutes later, Mahommed-Hassan, a
miserable-looking creature, arrived and tendered his formal surrender.
[Illustration: KHWASH FORT.]
As we marched forward in style to enter the fort the Yarmahommedzai
garrison marched out and joined the local population of "Khwashis,"
who have lived in and around the fort for many generations. These
latter are peaceful cultivators of the soil, and are allowed to
exist because they are useful servants to Jiand and his fighting men.
They and their womenfolk are graciously allowed to keep a certain
proportion of the crops they grow, the bulk of which goes to Jiand.
These Khwashis are a much lower type of humanity than the Raiders,
and only ask to be allowed to exist in peace.
The fort, on closer inspection, proved to be some seventy yards
square, with two gates, one to the South-East and one to the
North-West. The outer walls rise to about thirty feet with towers at
the four corners, three of which are about thirty-five feet high,
while the fourth is probably fully fifty feet. This latter tower was
the one occupied by the garrison.
Of the seventy-three fine karezes originally existing in and around
the fort we could only find two. But one of these was a particularly
good one whose waters came to the surface and flowed outside the
South-East walls in an extraordinarily clear and limpid stream, in
refreshing contrast to so many of the tepid, brackish streams found
throughout the Sarhad.
But the one feature of the neighbourhood which struck me most
forcibly was the quantity of beetles to be found everywhere. Never
in my life have I seen so many. They were of the variety commonly
known as dung-beetles. This kind is larger than the ordinary
house beetle, round and flat, jet black, and can fly, which adds
to its unpleasantness. Directly occasion offers it flies from
every direction and is soon rapidly and effectively at work. As a
scavenger, unpleasant as it is, it undoubtedly represents a provision
of nature to keep the place--where sanitation is unknown--clean and
healthy.
A few trees are scattered round Khwash, and a welcome sight these
were after unending vistas of sandy waste and bare hillside.
The country in the close vicinity of Khwash was well cultivated,
whilst I noted with satisfaction that some of the hill slopes were
covered with a tall grass. This would prove invaluable as fodder for
the horses.
That same day another piece of good news reached us, to the effect
that Halil Khan, the great leader of the Gamshadzais, had just heard
of the surrender of Jiand, also the full details of his great defeat,
and loss of seven hundred men. But beyond this the news ran that he
was coming himself to surrender, and to tell me that he had seen the
folly of his past actions.
Upon receipt of this news Landon and I looked at each other and
then roared with laughter. We began to realise that the Battle of
Koh-i-taftan had indeed been a decisive victory!
That same evening Halil Khan, and about fifty of his chosen men,
arrived, and, formally salaaming, surrendered themselves. I was
immensely impressed by the appearance of this Raider Chief. He was
not very tall, but was magnificently proportioned and developed,
with an intelligent, handsome head, and a peculiarly alert look. He
certainly looked what he was well known to be, namely, one of the
best fighting leaders in the Sarhad.
He and all his men were armed with Mauser rifles and an abundance of
ammunition. Halil Khan seemed wedded to his, and when he was informed
that the General Sahib was going to extend to him the same terms as
to Jiand and allow him to keep his rifle, his joy was very apparent.
These German rifles had either been provided by the Germans, and sent
direct across Persia, or were the outcome of the gun-running in the
Persian Gulf prior to the War.
The price of a Mauser in the Sarhad, at that time, was about one
thousand one hundred rupees, though I was glad to learn that the
British Lee-Enfield was valued at one thousand two hundred rupees.
The real cost of manufacturing these rifles is, I believe, from six
to ten pounds or sixty to one hundred rupees, so that it will be seen
what sort of a price the Raiders are prepared to pay for their arms.
Halil Khan was particularly anxious to learn how we had managed
to defeat Jiand, and was of course curious to know where the vast
British forces were. But he gathered no more information than Jiand
had done.
My own private opinion is that Halil Khan was disgusted with Jiand
for surrendering, and that he himself would have dearly loved a
fight, for--as I was afterwards to learn to my cost--he was not only
a magnificent fighter, but did not know the meaning of fear.
The only way in which I can account for his own surrender--for only a
day or so previously he had been fully prepared to fight us--is that
he had just become aware of the fact that Jiand was a prisoner in our
hands. He was afraid, therefore, that if he attacked us the proud
old Chief might suffer, and that, on the whole, it would be wiser to
appear submissive--for the moment.
But Idu warned me at the time, and again and again in the immediate
future, "Jiand and Halil Khan will never rest until they have fought
you again. Unless you can get a much larger force, at the very first
opportunity, and almost certainly when they learn that you have at
present practically no troops, they will turn and attack you. Place
no reliance on their word or their oath, even though it be given on
the Koran."
That same evening I learnt of a great raid that had recently been
made into Persia by a section of the Yarmahommedzais, under a leader
called Izzat. As an outcome of this raid hundreds of Persian ladies
and children had been dragged from their homes and brought by Izzat
into the Sarhad, there to be bartered as slaves. Their sufferings,
both from the indignity and shame of their present state, and the
hardships they must inevitably have undergone amongst their nomad
captors, after the comparative luxury of their own homes, can well be
imagined.
The Sarhad-dar, a well-educated and sensitive man, as well as a brave
fighter, was so overcome by the picture drawn of the sufferings of
these wretched women and children that he burst into tears, and
sobbing like a child, pleaded with me to ignore everything else and
to at once set about returning these Persians to their homes.
Strongly as my own wishes coincided with his, I knew such a course to
be impossible. I had still more important things to do. Moreover, our
own situation might become desperate at any moment. Although Jiand
and Halil Khan, with a handful of their followers, were prisoners in
my hands, their tribes were at large, and at the first suspicion of
the trick that had been played on them would be on us like a swarm
of bees. It must be remembered too, that Juma Khan of the Ismailzais
was still at liberty, in a position to learn that we really had no
troops, and might bring his men against us at any moment.
It was obvious, therefore, that I had to deal with him before I dared
attempt the rescue of any Persian women, though the thought of them
and their plight, and the determination to endeavour to rescue and
return them to their homes at the first possible moment never left
me.
The following day I decided to hold a Durbar, so gave orders that all
the Sarhadi Chiefs were to be present, and that they could bring as
many of their followers as they chose.
The Durbar was held on the banks of the stream, just outside the
fort, and under the shade of one of the trees. We all sat on the
ground, and I opened the Durbar as I thought a commissioner might
do in India, though, truth to tell, I knew very little indeed about
Durbars!
I explained to the Sarhadi Chiefs, Jiand, Halil Khan, Shah Sawar,
and Mahommed-Hassan, that the Sirkar (literally, ruling power) was
not represented in force by what they saw at Khwash. They might be
interested to know, however, that some four millions of the very
finest troops in the world were then fighting under the British flag
in various theatres of war all over the world, and that, as surely as
night follows day, Germany would be defeated, because right and might
were on our side.
I explained to them collectively, as I had explained to Jiand
individually, that they had been misled by German lies and propaganda
into believing that Germany was winning, and also that the Germans
had turned Mussulmans. I told them that it was quite the other way
about, for, in point of fact, their own fellow-Mahommedans, the
Turks, had really become Germans, taking their orders from their new
masters, and had taken to drinking wine and to doing other acts
absolutely contrary to the teachings of the Koran.
I told them that Christians never became Mahommedans, though it was
easy for them to say so to secure their own ends. I also told them
that I would give them a lakh of rupees for every German they could
produce who had really become a follower of the Prophet. I advised
them that on such matters they should look for decision to the Sherif
of Mecca as their spiritual head, and that he was entirely on the
British side.
They were then recommended no longer to make fools of themselves, for
I had originally come to the Sarhad as their friend, and that, though
they had fought against me, I was willing to let bygones be bygones
and to be friends with them in the future. I also pointed out that
all their interest lay in retaining the friendship of the Sirkar, for
they would surely lose their country for ever if they persisted in
the mad course of opposing us.
I asked them why their new friends had not helped them to oppose me,
with advice if with nothing else? And, if these friends had really
been sweeping victoriously on to overcome the British Raj, why they
were not there with them?
Jiand, Halil Khan, Shah Sawar and Mahommed-Hassan all expressed their
keen regret at what had occurred, promised that they would return to
their old allegiance, and that, instead of fighting me any more, they
would help me to restore order in the Sarhad. They also promised to
bring Juma Khan and his Ismailzais to book.
I then explained my plans for the immediate future. I told them of my
intention to retain Khwash as a pledge for their good behaviour, and
until such time as a benign Indian Government might see fit to return
it to them. But I promised that I would send in a faithful report of
their repentance for their past misdeeds, and of their promise to
assist us in the future, and told them they might rest assured that
the Government would do all that was right and fair.
The following day we marched out once more with the object of
attacking Juma Khan at Galugan, leaving the head of the Reki clan
(I think his name was Mirza Khan) in command of Khwash, with a few
of his own tribe, and five of my nine infantrymen who could handle
a rifle. Not, it will be considered, a very formidable garrison to
leave in charge, but it was impossible to spare any more men.
We marched in the following order: Shah Sawar and his men were in
front as advance guards, Halil Khan and the Gamshadzais on the left
flank, and Jiand and his Yarmahommedzais on the right flank. Our
infantry went with the baggage, and the guns and ammunition brought
up the rear. The cavalry and a few infantrymen formed my personal
escort.
I hoped by this arrangement to keep the various Sarhadi Chiefs well
apart so that they might be unable to compare notes. My own small
force was kept in the rear, and well together.
I was asked by the Raiders why I was making all these careful
arrangements to protect my camels.
I replied that in war one had to be prepared to meet any emergency,
and that I was not at all satisfied with what I had heard concerning
the conduct of the Khan of Bampur, for there had been rumours that he
might be foolish enough to try conclusions with me.
Bampur is situated in Persian Baluchistan, fully six marches away to
the South of Khwash, and is overlooked by the Koh-i-Bazman. Bampur,
it will be remembered, was the old capital of Baluchistan, but to-day
it is only a squalid collection of mud-built huts and deserted
gardens, clustered round a semi-ruined fort standing in an unhealthy,
malarial district.
It was held at this date by a Baluchi Chief, apparently as cowardly
as he was arrogant. The fear I expressed of his intention was to
lull any possible suspicion of the Sarhadi Chiefs--nominally my
prisoners--as to the formation of my battle array; but there remained
a modicum of truth behind the reason given.
When we halted that night Landon, the Sarhad-dar, Idu and myself,
as usual, took counsel as to the next day's movements, and finally
decided to send two of Landon's spies to Bampur. Arrived there they
were to tell the Khan that they had run away from us to warn him,
because my mighty army, now on the march, might possibly take Bampur
in its stride. In addition they were to tell him that, whilst it was
true that the General commanding had given out that he was only going
to march along the borders of the Bampur district in order to reach
Galugan, where he intended to crush Juma Khan, they fully believed
this to be only a blind, and that Bampur was to be first destroyed.
Khwash itself had recently been threatened, and had only escaped
destruction by surrender. It was now left in charge of five hundred
of the British General's best troops, with ample supplies for a month.
It was only later on that I learned the success of this mission. The
two spies arrived on a certain night at about one a.m. and did their
part so well that, by two a.m., the terrified Khan had mounted his
camel, and set forth for Makran.
Makran is an arid region lying along the shores of the Persian Gulf,
and stretching inland for a distance of about sixty miles. It is
filled with bare, dry mountains, and hills with curiously serrated
edges. From the more fertile parts large quantities of dates are
grown and exported.
Arrived at the headquarters of the British political officer, Colonel
Dew, the Khan flung himself on his mercy, and implored him (so I have
been told) not to allow General Dyer to attack him, though I have
never seen Colonel Dew since to obtain an authentic account of the
interview.
But this was another potential enemy cleared from our path, at any
rate for the moment, and this was all that mattered to us.
On, or about, the 15th of April we continued our march towards
Galugan, and on the second day came in view of the Koh-i-Bazman, an
extinct volcano. This is an imposing mountain of between ten and
eleven thousand feet, covered with snow and rising, a sheer, solitary
peak, out of the plain.
At one point on the march Idu asked me whether I would like to see a
curious hole in the ground lying only a little way off our line of
route.
We turned aside for a few hundred yards, and, on a plain as flat as a
billiard-table, with a surface coated with hardened clay--obviously,
at one time, the bed of a lake--we came upon it. The perfectly level,
smooth lips of the hole offered no suggestion that it had been
excavated by human agency. On the contrary, it gave the appearance of
having been punched in the ground by some tremendous force. The hole
was about one hundred and fifty feet long, one hundred and twenty
feet wide, and about fifty feet deep, with absolutely perpendicular
sides.
Idu asked whether I could suggest any explanation of this formation,
and, after examination, I admitted I had none to offer, asking him in
turn whether any tradition was attached to it.
He replied that the hole had once been only half its present size,
but twice as deep, and that his grandfather remembered how and when
the hole was made.
The old man had told him that, one night when he was a youth,
something had exploded in the sky and fallen to the earth, punching
a hole one hundred feet deep in the plain. Owing to weather and
climatic conditions, the sides of this hole had gradually fallen in,
hence its present width and shallowness.
There can, therefore, be little doubt that an enormous meteorite
fell here, and that it lies buried at the bottom of this hole. Its
locality is about seven hundred yards from a hill called Gwarko, and
could easily be found by anyone interested in such phenomena.
This is not the only natural feature which would repay a visit from
those interested in natural science, for, though I am no geologist
or scientist myself, I was greatly interested in the numerous gorges
in the vicinity of Kacha, a post in the hills near Robat, where, at
certain seasons of the year, violent spates occur, and the rushing
water has so burnished the sides of the rocks that they glisten
in the sun like polished, variegated marble. The sections so made
show a close mass of fossils, which, apparently, were once oysters,
centipedes, crabs, etc.
CHAPTER VI
A FULL BAG OF PRISONERS
The march to Kacha--The food supply--Flowers in the
Wilderness--Galugan--Repeated strategy--Juma Khan comes
in--The bag is full--The throne of the dancing-maidens--Landon
declines--Idu's doubts--Suspicions aroused--Halil Khan closes
up--Kacha, oaths, and thumb-marks--The Chiefs depart--Bad news.
The march from Khwash to Kacha was over constantly ascending ground,
and the higher the altitude reached the more abundant did the
vegetation become.
On the third day I noticed that a great many of the Raiders were
carrying bunches of green stuff under their arms, plucked along the
line of march, and I asked Idu what they were going to do with it.
He replied that they would eat it raw, and supplemented this
information with the further news that, beyond a few dried dates,
the surrendered Raiders had brought hardly any rations with them.
Consequently, and very shortly, I should be called upon to feed them.
This was an alarming prospect. We had left a generous supply of food
behind for the garrison of Khwash, thus reducing our own rations to
a bare sufficiency for the considerable distance to be covered.
I instructed Idu to ward off the evil day as long as possible, but
told him that, in the last extremity, our food supplies would, of
course, be fairly and evenly shared with the Sarhadis.
At this stage in the march we reached a height of some seven thousand
feet, and I was struck with the beauty of the scene. Around us
the slopes were covered with a profusion of flowers of every hue,
forming, so it seemed, a vast, variegated carpet. Although I know
nothing whatever of flowers from a botanical point of view the
beauty of many of them struck me so much that, later in the year, I
collected some of the seeds and preserved them carefully with the
idea of home cultivation. These seeds remained with me in all my
wanderings, but, unfortunately, on my journey home the pocket-book
containing them was lost.
One plant in particular, the asefœtida (locally known as hing), is
very striking, and most effective in the distance. The lower leaves
are very big, and the plant throws up a tall, yellow shoot, two or
three feet high, topped by a cluster of the most brilliant flowers of
the same colour. This plant is much valued by the Baluchis, and I am
told that large quantities are exported from this district to India.
[Illustration: SURRENDERED RAIDERS: HALIL (left), JIAND (centre),
SHAH SAWAR (right).]
We were lucky in finding cool camping places on the third and fourth
nights of the march. On the fifth we commenced our last march on
the plain to Galugan, the territory belonging to the Ismailzais under
their leader, Juma Khan.
Galugan is like Kamalabad, a district only populated during certain
seasons of the year, when the Ismailzais make a regular encampment
there, live in jugis, and settle down for a time to the cultivation
of their crops. The place is well watered, with a very fertile soil
capable of bearing magnificent crops of wheat and barley.
As we approached the camping ground of Galugan our scouts came back
to inform us that Juma Khan had deserted Galugan, and had gone,
with all his tribe, into the high hills surrounding the place. He
had heard of the defeat of Jiand at Koh-i-taftan, of his subsequent
surrender, and of the capture of Khwash. He had also seen our forces
approaching, and had no hope of success if he had remained to offer
battle.
As a matter of fact we really did present quite an imposing
appearance by this time. Our numbers had been augmented by small
groups of Jiand's and Halil Khan's men who had joined us at intervals
all along the route.
We accordingly marched, without any opposition, into Galugan, and
found it, as reported, absolutely deserted, with the exception of
one old woman who had utterly refused to desert her crops, and was
eventually discovered hiding in a field.
As the threat of destruction to his crops had been so successful
with Jiand we determined to try the same threat on Juma Khan.
Accordingly, messengers were sent summoning him to surrender at once,
with all his force, under a similar penalty. I told the messengers
to impress upon him the fact that he and his tribe were now quite
isolated, that the Gamshadzais and Yarmahommedzais had surrendered,
but that they, and their leaders, had been well and generously
treated, their lives and crops spared, and that the same generous
treatment would be accorded to him if he delivered himself up without
delay.
Very shortly he sent back a message to say that he realised he
was in a hopeless position, and was quite prepared to surrender
unconditionally. He also offered to restore all the plunder he had
taken in the direction of Nasaratabad-sippi. But he asked for a
definite guarantee that his life would be spared.
I sent back word that he need have no fear on that score. My mission
was to make him see the error of his ways and to re-establish good
relations between his tribe and the British; also, that he would be
treated exactly as I had treated Jiand and Halil Khan.
That same evening he came into camp, with some thirty of his
followers as a body-guard, and formally surrendered.
He was a somewhat different type from both Jiand and Halil Khan.
Juma Khan was of medium height, and slightly built. He had a very
pleasing, well-cut, high-bred face, always full of smiles and
laughter, as though life were one huge joke.
Idu, who, as I have already said, knew all about the Sarhadi Chiefs
and their characteristic points, said to me after I had interviewed
Juma Khan, "If Juma Khan gives you his oath on the Koran he will keep
it. He is well known throughout the Sarhad as a man who abides by his
word. Any promise, therefore, that he makes to you he will faithfully
keep."
I was especially glad that Juma Khan had come into line, and
for a very good reason. The easiest route for German emissaries
into Afghanistan lay through his territory. On all routes across
Persia water-supply is one of the most vital considerations, the
consequence being that many an otherwise convenient road had had to
be abandoned owing to lack of water. Now the stream which runs from
Galugan, piercing the hills and running into the Persian district of
Narmashir, offers an excellent supply, so making this route an easy
one for German agents--if not opposed by Juma Khan. But with Juma
Khan on our side it would be practically impossible for such to get
through the Sarhad. It was, therefore, my policy to treat him with
special consideration. To be plain, I wished him, though an unwilling
captive, to be a real convert to our interests.
All the Sarhadi Chiefs were now prisoners, but the problem arose
as to the best and safest method of transporting them, and all
their followers, back to Kacha, fully eighty miles distant. Our own
food supplies were already running very short, yet I was obliged
to promise the Raiders a fair and equal share of these. We were,
therefore, immediately obliged to go on half rations.
To add to our troubles the weather was beginning to get very hot on
these plains, and I well knew that, at any rate on some days--owing
to water difficulties--it would be necessary to make long marches.
The first march out of Galugan proved to be heavy uphill work, our
route lying up a steady, steep incline. But at night we found a
suitable camping ground by the side of a stream. Here again the
ground was covered by a mass of beautiful flowers. The following day
we descended to the Duzd-ab plain, and had only crossed some five
miles of it when a hill of such extraordinary appearance came into
view that Landon and I simultaneously exclaimed. This looked for all
the world like a huge mushroom with flattened dome and very thick
stem--obviously a hill whose upper part was of a harder formation
than the lower, thus resisting with better success the attacks of
time and weather.
Idu cantered up on his pony and pointed to the hill with pride.
"That, Sahib," he said, "is called the Takht-i-Jinikan" (throne of
the dancing maidens).
"Why was it given that name?" I asked. "Do maidens live there alone?"
Idu grinned. "Listen, Sahib, and I will tell you the story of the
Takht-i-Jinikan. On beautiful moonlight nights immortal maidens are
supposed to dance on the flat top of this hill. If a young man is
really very good he may climb to the top of the hill alone, while
they are dancing, in the hope of obtaining a bride. But he must be
very good to be sufficiently worthy to win the love of one of these
immortal maidens. If he succeeds she becomes mortal, and they are
married."
I asked Idu if he had met anyone who had obtained an immortal bride.
Idu smiled. "I fear there is no young man in the Sarhad good enough
to be worthy of the honour!"
I persuaded Landon, who was unmarried, to climb the hill with me--but
not by moonlight! On our return Idu asked Major Landon if he had seen
the Jinikan.
Landon replied regretfully that he had not, but was sure
it was because he had not been able to ascend the hill by
moonlight--certainly not because he was not good enough. He, however,
had seen some very large footprints, which he sincerely trusted,
for the sake of the beauty of the legend, did not belong to these
immortal damsels!
But what pleased me more than the romantic hill was the discovery
of a stream only a short distance away. This afforded not only an
unexpectedly good supply of water, but, from a quantity of dry
bushes along its banks, an abundance of fire wood for cooking.
On each day of the march we held counsel with the Sarhadis and soon
became on friendly terms with them. We found them a very interesting
crowd, full of adventure and the joy of life. They informed me that,
as they had now thrown in their lot with me, they were quite ready
to take part in any raid with me, if only I would organise one. Nor
did the objective matter. Persia, Afghanistan, or, in fact, anywhere
where there might be excitement and adventurous doings. So friendly,
indeed, were we all that I began to think my work, and the whole
object for which I had been sent to the Sarhad, accomplished.
But Idu was never optimistic on the subject. He invariably shook his
head, and warned me, in and out of season, against Halil Khan and
Jiand. He, at last, so infected me with his own anxiety, that I began
to wonder whether the two Chiefs might not take it into their heads
to wipe out our little force one night. They could have done this
with the utmost ease. This change of mind induced me at last to make
my camp dispositions with redoubled care. The Raiders were given to
understand that they must take part in organising the camp against
some unknown foe who might make them, as well as myself, an object of
attack.
My suspicions were further aroused by the minute way in which
they questioned me as to the individuality of that foe, and the
direction from which it would be possible for him to come. I told
them that habit in soldiers becomes second nature; that it was a
soldier's habit to take the utmost precaution in self-defence, and
that neglected precaution might always bring possible disaster.
But I could see that they accepted the explanation with doubt, and
obviously disbelieved in my mythical foe.
The third day's march across the Duzd-ab valley was a very trying
one. We had to make a double march, for our food supplies were
almost exhausted, and it was obviously imperative to reach Kacha as
soon as possible. It must be remembered, too, that we had been on
half rations since leaving Galugan, and already there had been much
grousing amongst the whole force.
That night we encamped at the base of a hill which Jiand proudly
announced as "Koh-i-Jiandsiah," or the "Hill of Black Jiand." I asked
him who Black Jiand might be, and he replied that his father's name
was Jiand, though he was not black, and that the hill had been named
after him. The old fellow was obviously proud of the honour which had
been conferred on his father.
Here Landon and I spent an anxious night, for both Idu and the
Sarhad-dar were very nervous and depressed. The latter said that a
rumour had got about amongst the Sarhadis that all my promises and
protestations to them were false, and that I was really leading
them into a trap at Kacha, where they were all to be killed.
Consequently, the idea had been discussed as to whether it might not
be safer, and wiser, to attack our small force, overwhelm us during
the night, and escape before daybreak.
As may be imagined, the prospect was scarcely a pleasant one, but we
could take no stricter precautions than had already been done, and
our sole remaining action now was to show an absolutely untroubled
and confident front to men who, though nominally our prisoners, held
us in the hollow of their hands. In other words to "trust to luck."
Fortunately for us the Raiders, who still could not make head or tail
of the real situation, determined on a pacific course, and the night
passed without incident. So luck stood with us, and on the following
morning we were early astir for the last march south of Kacha.
It was evident that the situation had now become one of the "touch
and go" order, so I determined to emphasise my supposed confidence in
the Raiders, by this means restoring theirs, and convincing them that
there was no trap. I, therefore, gave orders that none of them were
to march in advance, but in the rear, as I wished to have a clear
view of my covering troops.
As we drew in towards Kacha I noticed that Halil Khan and his band
gathered as close in behind me as possible, and I learned afterwards
that he had said, "If we are to be led into a trap I will see to it
that the General Sahib does not escape me."
[Illustration: CAMEL CORPS SAWARS AT THE TERMINATION OF OPERATIONS.]
I had already given orders that, the instant we entered Kacha, the
advance guard of infantry, also the cavalry and guns, were to march
straight off to their respective barracks. This order I learned
afterwards greatly relieved the anxiety of the Sarhadis, who had
actually talked themselves into an honest belief of the existence
of a trap. They themselves encamped in the vicinity of the British
Political Officer's house. He himself was absent at that date.
Ample food supplies were dealt out to them. Now that our lines of
communication were clear of the Raiders food was coming through again
from India.
For the moment all need for anxiety seemed at an end.
On the 1st of May I summoned a Durbar, to be held, on the following
day, close to the Political Officer's house. Idu was not present, for
he had asked for leave to go to Robat on important personal business.
I suspected this important business was a visit to one of his
numerous wives, though the rascal always disclaimed the suggestion
that his absences ever had anything to do with a woman.
The Durbar was an impressive affair. Several bags of money were
brought from the Government Treasury by the Sarhad-dar and placed at
my feet. These were to be given to the Chiefs as rewards for future
good conduct. After delivering an address--more or less a repetition
of what I had said at Khwash as to the folly of deserting the British
for the Germans--I called on the Chiefs to sign an agreement whereby
they handed their country over to the Sirkar, and promised in future
to be loyal to the Indian Government. Further than this, and under
this agreement, they were to give timely warning of the approach of
German agents from any direction.
As most of the Raiders could not write, their thumb-marks were duly
impressed on an imposing looking document produced by the Sarhad-dar,
and the Chiefs swore on the Koran to abide by the agreement. They
were then handed the money rewards promised them, Jiand receiving the
largest amount--two thousand rupees.
I then announced to them that they were all free to return to their
homes, and that if ever any of them needed a friend, or would like me
to adjudicate between them on any local quarrel, they were at liberty
to call upon me for the purpose.
They professed themselves as very grateful for all that had been
given them; admitted they had been treated generously, and promised,
on oath, that there should be no more trouble in the Sarhad, nor
should any German or German agent be permitted to pass through their
territories.
Thus, when they left for their homes, on the morning of May 3rd, all
parties were, apparently, on excellent terms.
I wrote a despatch to headquarters at Simla, giving a short account
of the expedition and its results, at the same time bringing forward
the names of various officers, and other ranks, for good work done. I
also mentioned the fact that I did not know what to do in regard to
the traffic in slaves.
That evening Idu returned. He came straight to my room and told me I
had acted unwisely in disregarding his repeated warnings as to the
unreliability of Jiand and Halil Khan. He further added that some of
his own chosen men, who had been scouting around and picking up all
possible information, had met him, on his return to Kacha, and had
given him the following authentic and disquieting news. It was to the
effect that, hardly had Jiand got out of Kacha, that morning, with
promises of devotion and loyalty still hot upon his lips, than he
had halted and called a meeting of the Raider Chiefs, urging them to
repudiate their oaths, to collect all their fighting men as quickly
as possible, attack and take Khwash, and then to turn their attention
to my force, which he now openly said he knew to be a contemptibly
small one.
This was bad news indeed. We naturally knew that Khwash could be
captured in a few minutes. There were only five men there. We were
also quite conscious of the fact that we could be wiped out in less
than the same time if attacked in any force.
But the bad was leavened by the good, for the same report told us
that Juma Khan had resolutely and absolutely refused to fall in with
Jiand's plans. He was also reported to have said that the General
Sahib had kept every promise made to them, had spared their lives
and crops when he could have destroyed them, had treated them, from
the commencement of hostilities, as honourable foes, and later as
friends, and had finally given them considerable sums of money. He
had never broken his word, and he did not intend to begin doing so
now. Therefore, he was to be counted out of any plans of treachery
which Jiand might be meditating. Upon which expression of opinion he
had ridden off to his own country with his following.
But, even with Juma Khan eliminated, the situation was serious
enough, for I saw no chance of obtaining reinforcements from any
quarter in time to prevent a disaster. However, it was no use crying
over spilt milk. Things must be faced as they were.
After all, as I pointed out to Idu, Jiand could not do the
impossible. He and Halil Khan could not collect their scattered men
in a moment. The one thing left for us to do was to set off on the
morrow, march back to Khwash, endeavour to reach it before Jiand, and
organise our defence against his coming.
I have often since been blamed for an apparent foolhardiness in
trusting the Raiders sufficiently to let them go. But it must be
remembered that I had not come out to fight the Raiders--unless
events made it absolutely necessary to do so--but, rather, to make
friends with them and to keep the Germans, or their agents, from
coming through their country. Moreover, the force at my disposal was
very small indeed, and quite insufficient to keep these Raiders in
check when once the bluff was called. In other words, I should soon
lose the game if I persisted in treating them as enemies.
It must be understood, too, that the Sarhad was only the Southern
portion of my command, and that rumours were constantly coming in
that Germans, who had failed to get through into Afghanistan via the
South, were not only moving North towards Birjand, but were trying to
cross the border in that direction.
I knew, also, that it would soon be necessary to move North in order
to induce the Russians to keep a more careful guard than they had
been doing in the district North of Birjand, a district within their
sphere of influence in Persia.
Nor must it be supposed that I had not quite realised, before I let
the Raiders go, that I had not obtained all the safeguards I could
have wished. But I did not then, nor do I now, see that I had any
other alternative.
In any case I had gained one very definite advantage. I had won over
Juma Khan to our side; and it was through his territory that the
Germans would first have to pass in order to get through the Sarhad.
But, though Juma Khan had already given a practical example of his
determination to be loyal to his oath, I recognised that he would
be bolstered up in his loyalty if he felt there was apparent some
show of strength on our side. The loss of Khwash to Jiand would,
therefore, be a terrible confession of weakness.
Landon and the Sarhad-dar fully concurred with me that the one and
only wise plan to follow would be to march at daybreak with all
the forces we could command, and endeavour, by a series of forced
marches, to reach and enter Khwash before Jiand could take it.
CHAPTER VII
THE RACE FOR KHWASH
Plans and routes--Car versus legs--An equestrian interlude--The
trap in the gorge--More digging--Rendezvous--Mrs Idu and
gastronomy--A reinforcement--A message to Landon--Izzat's
men--Idu's romance--A "British Bulldog"--The car abandoned.
Time was obviously the chief factor to be reckoned with for any hope
of ultimate success; I wondered, therefore, whether the car might not
be utilised in this dash back to Khwash.
Considering the nature of the ground over which we had marched, it
seemed rather a mad idea, but Idu pounced on it.
"The very thing, Sahib," he said excitedly. "You remember how
astonished even I was when I first saw it? How much more will it
impress Jiand's ignorant men! They will think it a new sort of devil,
and it will be more useful than a dozen guns!"
"I believe Idu is right," Landon said. "Why don't you go in the car,
whilst I take charge of the army?"
After further details had been discussed, we decided to adopt this
plan. The car was still at Robat, about twenty-four miles distant,
with Allan in charge. I, therefore, sent a telegram, and also a
duplicate message by a sawar on a mari camel, telling Allan to
provision the car, bring all the spare tubes and tyres he possessed,
and start early the following morning on the track to Saindak, where,
at a spot to which the sawar would guide him, about nine miles out of
Kacha, Idu and I would meet him on horseback.
Landon, who would be able to use a far more direct route to Khwash
than the car could take, was to start with the army--the same old
army of seventeen cavalrymen, four trained infantrymen (it will be
remembered five had been left in Khwash), sixty-five untrained men,
with two mountain guns, two machine-guns, and six hundred camels. He
was to endeavour to reach the Raiders' stronghold in seven marches.
Six hundred camels for so small a force would seem out of all
proportion. But it must be remembered that transport for provisions,
and everything else we should need for at least a full month, was
required; that we could not depend on keeping open any sort of lines
of communication; and that whenever a Durbar or meeting was held,
all those attending it expected to be fed, and well fed. Our very
existence depended on an ample supply of food. Further, the presence
of so many camels helped to uphold the game of bluff it was still
necessary to play, and a distant view of these six hundred camels
gave an appearance of numbers out of all proportion to our real
fighting strength.
Landon's route would take him by a comparatively short cut, though,
even by this--over the western slopes of the Koh-i-taftan--he could
not hope to accomplish the march in less than seven days.
Very early in the morning Idu and I rode off on a couple of small
ponies provided by the former, and he assured me that it was only
a very special breed of pony that could hope to cope with the
difficulties of the nine hilly miles lying between us and the
meeting-place arranged with Allan and the car.
Idu was fully justified in his criticism of the track we had to
follow, for it grew steeper and narrower as we proceeded, until, at
last, we were negotiating a mere cleft in the hill, with our elbows
almost touching the rocky sides.
Suddenly, my pony, who had probably been deciding that he had had
enough of it, stopped dead, quivered all over and--sat down! Idu, who
was immediately in front, turned round to see what had happened, and
his pony promptly rolled backwards on the top of us.
I got clear as well as I could for laughing, helped Idu--who was very
badly shaken--to extricate himself from the ponies, and then, between
us, got the ponies out of the crevasse into which they had managed to
jam themselves. This took some time, and when we got them up we found
the poor beasts so frightened that we had to walk them the greater
part of the way.
At eleven o'clock, perspiring from every pore, we reached the
_rendezvous_ arranged, and to our great relief found Allan
waiting, stolid, imperturbable, reliable as ever, with the car in
spick-and-span order. Poor Allan little knew what he was in for. He
had, of course, seen nothing of our recent little campaign, as he had
remained at Robat during the past few weeks. He was, therefore, quite
delighted at the prospect of a little activity.
We gave our ponies to the camel sawars who had acted as guides to
Allan, with instructions to take them back to Kacha, so Idu and I
took our places, thankful to be in the car once more, and set off on
our journey South.
We soon passed through Saindak, and, as the going was not quite as
bad on that first day as we had expected, we got farther than we had
hoped, reaching a halting place called Jujak, where there was an old
ruined sarai (rest-house) and a good spring. Here we slept out in the
open, and set off early on the following morning. Idu was greatly
impressed with the powers of the car, and began to think it could go
anywhere, scale any height, and slip through any opening, however
narrow. This was flattering to the Overland, but it led us into
future difficulties from which only great good luck extricated us.
We had intended going via Mirjawa, but Idu pointed out that there
was a much shorter way through the hills, which, he was quite
certain, the car could manage. But we were to prove once more that
the longest way round may often be the shortest way home!
The car entered the hills by a gorge which rose steeply to their
summits, and, though we had to get out occasionally and push, it
really was astonishing how well she took the inclines. But it was
when we descended that our troubles began, for, in doing so, we
entered another gorge which grew narrower and narrower, till, at
last, Allan stopped the car dead, declaring that we could go no
farther. And a glance at our route did seem to show that we had
manœuvred ourselves into a hopeless impasse.
Ahead the gorge was too narrow to allow of going on. Behind it was
so steep that the car could not back out. On the right we were
completely shut in by the high steep sides of the gorge, on the left
it looked as impassable; whilst it was quite impossible to turn!
There remained nothing for it but to dig a way out, so we set to
work, and, after working till we were wet through, managed somehow to
get the car through the wall of earth shutting us in on the left, and
out on to the open hill-side.
Idu openly expressed his disgust and disappointment with the car. He
had given her credit for being capable of doing anything and going
anywhere, and this failure to pass through "the eye of a needle"
diminished his respect for her.
There was still no direct way down the hill, and we had perforce to
go many miles out of our course, in a long hair-pin loop, to reach
anything like decent going. No one who has not attempted to take a
car over trackless hills of rough, broken surface, and filled with
blind gorges, can have any idea of the difficulties that confronted
us here, and during the greater part of our journey to Khwash.
By dint of ceaseless pulling and pushing, and digging the car out
again and again, we managed to reach the _rendezvous_ with Landon
before nightfall. He marched in a few minutes after we arrived,
and was as frankly pleased as astonished to see us. He had just
come through another section of those hills himself. He had not,
therefore, expected the car would get through, and was wondering how
on earth I should ever rejoin him and the army. So we all camped out
in the open, grateful for the coolness of the evening, for the heat
of the day had been terrific.
Before sunrise on the following morning Landon marched out, and, as
soon as we had lost sight of him, Idu, Allan, and myself set off in
the car.
I do not propose to give a detailed account of the remainder of our
journey. One day was very like another, and the bad surface only
differed in quality and degree. The heat was very great by day, and
the glare over the sandy wastes and hills almost blinding. Here and
there, especially in the Galugan valley, we came across groups of
human beings, mostly of a low type of humanity, who bolted in terror
at sight of the car.
One evening we halted at a settlement of Rekis, Idu's own tribe, and
received a very warm welcome, for one of Idu's wives was amongst
his people. The rascal always maintained that he had no interest in
women, but, nevertheless, seemed to me to be a very good understudy
to the proverbial sailor, for he appeared to have a wife in every
village and encampment.
This particular Mrs Idu was delighted at the unexpected reunion with
her husband, and did the honours of the camp right royally. Following
accepted custom, I, first of all, bought a few sheep from the
Jugi-dwellers, and then presented these to them so that they could
prepare a feast. Mrs Idu, a very unprepossessing-looking, but highly
amiable lady, acted as hostess, and we all squatted round the camp
fires while the meat was roasting.
Allan's face was a picture as he watched the tribesmen cook and eat
their meat. They hacked chunks of flesh from the dead carcasses of
the sheep with the knives they always carried, spitted them on the
cleaning rods of their rifles, and roasted them over the fire. These
they ate voraciously, as though very hungry, and, as a matter of
fact, food in that district is both scarce and monotonous. In any
case they devoured the meat whilst it was still nearly raw. Even Idu
ate his meat half-cooked, maintaining that it was far more tender in
such a state.
Of course, the car was a source of intense interest and excitement.
At first the tribesmen were too afraid of it to go anywhere near it,
but when they saw it stand quite still at Allan's orders, and that it
had no bite, curiosity overcame fear, and, one by one, they crept up
and nervously touched it. At this stage Allan sounded the Claxton,
and, with shrieks of terror, they all bolted. But Idu, who had come
over the mountains in it, and, therefore, had lost all fear of the
monster, felt a devil of a fellow, and, with a flourish, assured
them it was not the roar inside which made it go, and that it would
do no one any harm. So they came back to it once more, and, after
some persuasion, were induced to sound the Claxton themselves. Once
familiar with it, they laughed like children each time it barked, and
I began to wish I had taken the thing off before we started.
After supper Idu prepared my blankets under the shelter of a small
bush, but, before turning in, I sat down on the ground for a final
smoke, placing the hurricane lamp from the car on the hard smooth
earth in front of me.
The light naturally attracted myriads of insects of all sorts, many
of which I had never seen before, and which are, I feel sure, unknown
in India. Beetles of many sorts swarmed around, both in the air and
on the ground, whilst a scorpion, the biggest I have ever seen,
darted out from the darkness to inspect the light. He was a brown
fellow, not an iridescent blue, like the Burmese variety, though he
was quite as big. With his tail curled right over his back, and sting
ready to strike, he looked a formidable person, and it was comic to
watch the haste with which all the lesser fry scuttled out of his
way, and, though he made many attempts to secure his supper, I did
not see him succeed, so swift were his intended victims in escaping
from their dreaded enemy.
We were, as usual, up in the morning before daybreak, and en route
before the rest of the camp was astir. The going that morning proved
fairly good, the chief obstacle being huge clumps of a coarse, rank
grass, which we had to circumvent.
We had proceeded some distance when Idu, whose eyes seemed able not
only to see in the dark, but through hills and fields of crops,
suddenly exclaimed, "I can see men in front of us. We had better halt
while I go forward and find out whether they are friends or enemies."
We stopped the car, for we were now on the borders of Jiand's
territory, and these men might be his followers treating us to an
ambush. Idu leapt out, and, advancing under cover with the eel-like
movements all these Raiders possess, reconnoitred the position.
Obviously all was well, for, shortly afterwards, he sauntered back
in the open and told me that it was quite all right. The men he had
seen were Rekis, and they were now coming to speak to me.
Soon afterwards fifteen well-armed, powerful-looking men on camels
ambled up to us, and I was grateful indeed to know they were
friendlies and not Jiand's men.
They, however, kept at a respectful distance from the car, which was
still retaining its moral effect, and implored me, as the friend and
protector of Idu and of themselves, to go back.
"Jiand is advancing on Khwash, Sahib, with a big lashkar," they
said. "He is probably already there, and he will kill you and your
followers unless you run away on the devil which has brought you
here."
I expressed a hope that their information was wrong, and that, as it
was not certain that Jiand was already in Khwash, I still hoped to
get there first. I pointed out to them that if we could only get into
Khwash we could, with their help, hold it or even bluff Jiand into
surrendering without a fight. After a little further persuasion by
Idu--who told them what wonders the car could do, and what rewards
they would gain--and after considerable talk among themselves they
decided to throw in their lot with us.
"We shall want all the help they can give us with the car", Idu
whispered to me, "for the ground we have to pass through between here
and Khwash is far worse than anything we have crossed yet."
I could imagine nothing worse than the first two days amongst the
hills. But Idu knew what he was talking about, as we were to discover
during the next twenty-four hours.
At this point I sent one of these men back to try and find Landon
and the army. As Idu had sketched out the best route for them to
follow he was able to tell him the exact direction in which to go.
In the interval I wrote a message to Landon urging him to use his
best speed, for it had now developed into a race between Jiand and
ourselves, and telling him that I hoped to reach Khwash myself before
the following evening.
I of course knew that nearly everything hung upon getting to Khwash
first. If Jiand got in with his men, he could hold it as long as
he chose against us, and vice versa. It was clear, too, that the
holder of Khwash was master of the Sarhad. Moreover, I felt a grave
responsibility for the lives of the five Sepoys I had left there, for
they would meet with short shrift at Jiand's hands.
The message dispatched, we set off once more, with our new cavalcade
in attendance, and had gone some twenty or twenty-five miles when
Idu again asked for a halt as he believed he saw men camped in a
little nullah straight ahead of us. Were he correct they would be
Yarmahommedzais, and so our enemies, for we were now right in the
heart of Jiand's territory.
Allan was, therefore, directed to drive the car into the mouth
of a nullah close at hand, where the car, and the Rekis with
their camels, could be concealed, and where we could fill up our
water-bottles and the radiator, from a small stream that trickled
through it. The banks of the nullah had been hollowed out by the
action of the water, so affording a certain amount of shade, for
which we were very grateful after the burning heart of the open sandy
plain.
After rest and a drink Idu went out to reconnoitre, and presently
returned with a glum face.
"They are Izzat's men," he said. (Izzat, it will be remembered,
had been the ringleader in the recent raid into Persia, which had
resulted in the capture of so many women and children). "Izzat is a
great fighter, and we are in for a scrap."
"How many men has he with him?" I asked.
"About eighteen," Idu replied.
"Only eighteen?" I felt relieved. "Why, then we are about equal in
numbers, to say nothing of the car. If they want a fight they shall
have it."
Idu looked dubious. "In any case it would mean the loss of many of my
tribe, and we shall want them all if we are to hold Khwash. Will the
General Sahib permit me to go and see if I can persuade Izzat not to
fight?"
Knowing Idu's persuasive qualities I gave a ready consent, but warned
him to take no personal risks. With his great knowledge of the
country, and of all the Sarhadis with their different peculiarities,
he was absolutely indispensable to me, and I have no hesitation in
making the admission. Furthermore, I had conceived a very genuine
affection for the man, whose utter devotion and loyalty never swerved
from the moment he joined me.
"Have no fear, Sahib," he said with a grin. "You know the law of our
tribes. It is the one law we never break."
Idu then went forward, and, from safe cover, shouted out to Izzat,
explaining who he was, and asking for a safe conduct. This was
instantly given.
I have said before in this narrative, and I proved again and again,
that whilst the Raiders would break every other law and oath, even
when given on the Koran, the one law they never break is that of
hospitality. If they promise safe conduct it is absolutely observed
in letter and spirit.
Accordingly, Idu went forward boldly, quite certain, according to the
code of his enemies, that his life was safe until he returned to his
friends.
His conversation with Izzat proved a lengthy one. Izzat was hard to
convince. But, at last, and as usual, Idu's wily tongue won the day.
When he returned it was to tell me that he had persuaded Izzat and
his men to come along with us, if not as friends at any rate not as
enemies.
He gave me a _résumé_ of the arguments he had used. These were
original, even for Idu, with whose methods I was beginning to be
familiar. The conversation must have been something as follows:
"What are you doing here, Izzat? Your home is a long way from here."
"I have come to fight the British General, and I am in command of a
reconnoitring party to report to Jiand, who is advancing on Khwash."
"Do I understand you?" said Idu. "Do you seriously mean that you have
come with the intention of fighting the General Sahib?"
"I do," replied Izzat.
"Then," said Idu scornfully, "all I can tell you is that you will
be wiped out in a couple of seconds. If you fight, you will prove
yourself a liar. The General Sahib captured you and could have killed
you and all your men. Instead he treated you well, gave you back your
rifles, large sums of money, and let you go free. Moreover, you swore
on the Koran at Kacha that you would never fight against him again,
and put your thumb-mark on the agreement. You are a fine kind of
Mahommedan to break your oath given on the Koran. Besides, you fool,
don't you know that the General Sahib has brought a wonderful devil
with him? Come over here and look."
He led Izzat to a spot whence he could see the car.
"Do you see," he went on, "that queer thing there? And do you see
that the front part of it is filled with hundreds of little holes?
The General Sahib has only to press a button and a hail of bullets
will come out of those holes, and you, and all your men, will be
killed. He is only waiting till I go back. I have come out to try and
save your lives. If I tell him that you are going to fight he will
press the button, and there will not be one of you left. Your only
hope is to go and fall at his feet and ask him to forgive you."
Izzat was deeply impressed, and, after consultation with his men,
told Idu that he would accept his advice. If, therefore, he would go
back and beg the Sahib not to destroy them with his motor-car they
would follow a few minutes later and surrender!
Allan roared with laughter at Idu's explanation of the radiator, but
after a few moments grew serious.
"Do you think it's safe to let them come, sir? They seem a pretty
brutal lot; and when they find out that Idu has been spoofing them
they may attack us, and cut our throats before we can do them much
damage?"
"I know, but we'll hang on to Idu's bluff about the radiator as long
as we can. Besides, we are nearly man to man. Remember, the one thing
to do is to show no sign of fear or doubt of them. That impresses
them more than anything."
So Allan and I remained seated in the shade of the overhanging bank,
whilst Izzat and his men came and sat in a circle in front of us. I
then proceeded to tell Izzat, in very plain language, what I thought
of him.
His mind was still visibly working under the impression Idu had
produced, for he appeared quite cowed in his apologies for his
conduct.
After a long dressing-down I thought it advisable to make a show of
magnanimity, so promised to forgive him on condition that he and
his men came along with me, and helped me when I needed assistance
with the car. I explained that, though it was a devil, yet the sand
sometimes obstructed it and then it needed human help.
Izzat promised anything and everything I asked, even volunteering to
fight for me if I wanted him.
This latter promise, however, I utterly discounted. It was not in the
least likely that he would fight against his own tribe, and I knew
that we should have to be perpetually on the look-out for treachery,
especially until Landon and his little force arrived.
But I had got out of Izzat, whilst still uncertain of his fate, the
information that Jiand's preparations for the taking of Khwash had
been quicker than I had expected; also that he was already on the
march in full force, and would surely reach Khwash the following day.
This meant that we had not a moment to lose. I had hoped that by
arriving on the following evening I should be in time. But now we
must make a dash for it, and, by hook or by crook, arrive by the
morning.
Evening was already approaching, but instead of camping for the night
as I had intended, and getting by daylight through the hills lying
between us and the valley in which Khwash stood, it would now be
necessary to negotiate them by night.
Allan looked dubious when I told him of my decision.
"I can't guarantee to get the car through, sir," he said. "Idu says
these hills are far worse than the hills near Ladis, and you know
what a job we had getting through them by daylight. But I'll do my
best."
And if ever a man did his best Allan did his right nobly that night.
A whole series of hills, without any tracks over them, intersected
with nullahs, valleys filled with sand-drifts, and marshy tracts, had
to be negotiated in the darkness, lighted only by the stars and the
car's lamps.
On the lower slopes we got stuck again and again in the narrow
steep-sided nullahs, and it took the combined efforts of the Rekis,
Izzat's men and a stout rope, always carried on the car, to drag her
out. Over and over again it seemed as though we must give up the
attempt and wait for daylight. But Allan came of the right stock. He
also knew well how vitally important for British prestige throughout
the Sarhad it was to be first in Khwash, and so confirm our supremacy
there.
So Allan stuck to his job, muttering repeatedly when the difficulties
seemed insuperable, "I'm a British bull-dog, sir, and I am not going
to be beat."
This expression of Allan's afterwards became a saying amongst our men
when any difficulty arose.
But if Allan wasn't beaten the car very nearly was at one point
when negotiating the worst bit of ground I have ever passed over
in my life--for there was no going round it. The strata here were
up-ended, and consisted of alternate layers of shale and quartz.
Weathering had done its work more easily on the shale, hence the
quartz, which was much thinner than the shale, projected upwards in
great dagger-like points in every direction, and over a long distance.
Of course tyres and tubes were cut to ribbons in a few minutes, and,
as it would have been futile to replace them, the car was literally
dragged over the ground on her rims.
As may be imagined, when we had left this awful bit of ground behind,
my poor car was in a pitiable condition. Luckily, Allan had plenty
of spare tubes and four fresh tyres. With these adjusted, we started
again, but the ground was still so bad that every mile or so we were
badly punctured, and tubes had to be replaced or patched. It must be
understood, too, that the heat was intense, even at night time. I can
safely say that that one night's journey was the very worst I have
ever experienced in any part of the world.
We were all utterly exhausted long before daybreak, and, every now
and again, despite our desperate anxiety, eyelids closed and heads
nodded. As for Allan, sturdy bull-dog though he was, nature was too
strong for him.
Just as dawn broke his heavy eyelids closed for a second as he sat at
the wheel. But that second proved fatal. The car swerved a fraction
from the course we had been following by the light of the lamps,
and, in an instant, it was over the edge of the track and firmly
embedded in a sandy nullah-bed.
A few minutes later the sun rose over the plain below us, lighting up
the walls of Khwash, a bare five miles away.
Allan was in despair at the position of affairs and cursed himself
for his momentary relaxation. But the damage had been done, and, as
we knew by experience how long it would take to extricate the car, we
decided to abandon it and press forward to Khwash with all speed.
I invited myself on to Izzat's own camel, as it looked the most
comfortable! Allan was induced to get on to another, and Idu invited
himself on to the next best-looking animal.
I ordered Izzat to ride close beside me, for I did not trust him for
a moment, more especially since the failure of the car, whose first
impression had been so satisfactory. And then, as fast as we could
urge the animals, we ambled on towards our "Mecca," with the question
ever before us, "shall we be in time or has Jiand forestalled us?"
CHAPTER VIII
KHWASH AND THE SECOND SURRENDER
Doubts dispelled--Organisation for defence--Idu's "Exiat"--And
its result--Jiand arrives--Idu's second visit--The Sarhad-dar
arrives--Landon at last--Jiand's visit of ceremony--The
Gul-Bibi--Shah Sawar's treachery--We call on the "Rose Lady"--A
carpet and the Sarhad-dar's advice--Another Durbar--Returned
loot--Temporary peace.
As we approached the fort, still in doubt as to whether Jiand
occupied it or not, Allan turned round on his camel and asked, "Which
way shall we run, sir, if we have to run?"
I laughed, though I could not help approving his foresight. "There's
no more running, Allan. If Jiand is not in Khwash, all will be well.
If he is--well, you can take it from me, the game's up. There'll be
no running for any of us."
We were now near enough to see a man standing on the top of one of
the towers. Was he one of the men I had left, or a Yarmahommedzai? A
few minutes later we could distinguish his uniform.
We were in time! We should be first into Khwash after all!
In my joy I took off my helmet and waved it to show the man I was not
one of the enemy, for he might easily have mistaken us, seeing that
we were all mounted on camels. He paused a moment, then, recognising
the signal, tore down from the tower, quitted the walls and rushed
out to meet us, nearly beside himself with excitement and relief.
"You are only just in time, Sahib," he said. "Shah Sawar has already
arrived with a large force and is encamped close by. We have been
expecting him to attack all the morning. Come quickly into the fort,
or, even now, you may be too late."
We needed no second bidding, but, urging the camels forward, pressed
on, and were soon all safely contained within strong mud walls.
Without a moment's delay the place was organised for defence. This
was done as well as it was possible to do, pending the arrival of
Landon with his force.
The five infantrymen till now constituting the garrison were put in
the highest tourelle, where I also took up my quarters. From this
vantage-point I not only had the best view of the whole plain but
could command every inch of the fort's interior. Idu's men manned
the three remaining tourelles, whilst Izzat's band were placed, all
together, in the centre of the Square, where a watchful eye could be
kept on them. Izzat himself I kept close by my side, for Idu, who
knew him too well to trust him a yard, advised me to keep a close
personal watch on him.
The place was now as secure as our limited numbers could make it,
and no more could be done but await developments.
Idu, who had never left my side, now asked permission to leave the
fort for the purpose of questioning the Khwashis outside the walls.
He also asked for some money with which to bribe them.
"A very little will open their mouths, Sahib," he said persuasively.
"And they will surely know all about the movements of Shah Sawar and
of Jiand."
As no enemy had yet appeared in sight I gave him leave to go, and all
the money I had in my pocket.
On his return he informed me that he had learned exactly where Shah
Sawar and his men were encamped, and proposed that he should go out
and confer with him.
At first I refused point-blank. Idu could not go on bearing a charmed
life, and Shah Sawar was a treacherous scoundrel. I pointed out
that even if Shah Sawar did not kill him he might take and keep him
prisoner, and I could not possibly do without him. His loss would be
irreparable.
Idu was obviously pleased and flattered at my appreciation of him,
but persisted that his was the wiser plan.
"You have seen, again and again, Sahib, that what I have told you is
always true. No Sarhadi will break his oath of safe conduct to an
enemy."
"I know," I replied. "But you have not got that promise from Shah
Sawar, and without it I will not let you go."
Idu, who had the utmost faith in his own powers of persuasion, was
not to be done. He argued that it would be easy enough to bribe one
of the Khwashis, encamped outside, to go over to Shah Sawar and get
the necessary safe conduct.
At last, and with great reluctance, I consented, provided Shah Sawar
sent every assurance and guarantee that there would be no treachery
if Idu went as an emissary.
In due course these assurances arrived. I had, therefore, to keep
my word to Idu, and give my consent, though, even then, I did not
trust Shah Sawar. However, once again Idu's confidence in that one,
all-sacred law of hospitality was justified.
From my tower I watched him start, but he was very quickly lost to
view amongst the sand dunes and fields with their tall-grown crops
which lay between the fort and Shah Sawar's camp, some three miles
distant.
He was away something like three hours, and I was beginning to get
desperately anxious, when, to my great relief, I saw him ambling back
on his Mari.
He was highly pleased with the success of his mission, and gave me a
full and detailed account of his meeting with Shah Sawar. As usual he
had taken a high tone, and, on arriving at the camp, had immediately
and scornfully approached the Chief.
"So I see you are about to make a fool of yourself again. But what
do you think you are going to do? The General Sahib is in Khwash
waiting for you!"
At first Shah Sawar refused to believe this, saying that it was
impossible to have got there from Kacha in the time. It was evident
that the Khwashi sent as a messenger had faithfully kept the oath
Idu had exacted from him, i.e., that he would give Shah Sawar no
indication whatever of my presence, or any reason for Idu's request
for a safe conduct to his camp.
But when Idu persisted that, possible or not, I was there with
a considerable force, and that a large army was approaching to
reinforce me, and would be in Khwash at any minute, Shah Sawar asked
how on earth it had been done. He well knew the country lying between
Kacha and Khwash, and he could not believe the distance had been
covered since he himself had seen the General Sahib in Kacha.
Idu replied that it was nevertheless true, and that he had come in a
motor-car, also that he, Idu, had come in it too!
"What is a motor-car?" asked Shah Sawar, "and how could it come over
the hills?"
"A motor-car," replied Idu (this is his own account), "is an infernal
machine which climbs any hill as fast as you like. It can spread
bullets in every direction. Neither you nor anyone else has the
slightest chance if you try to fight against it."
It appears that Shah Sawar did not know whether to believe or
disbelieve Idu's strange statements, so produced a Koran which all
Sarhadis carry concealed somewhere under their robes.
"Will you swear on the Koran that the General Sahib is in Khwash, and
that he really came over the hills in this strange thing which you
call a motor-car, also that this motor-car is at Khwash?"
Idu grinned when he told me that he had sworn to all these facts. "Of
course I knew, Sahib, that we had left the motor-car away up in the
sandhills, but I know how you loved it, and I guessed that you would
have sent parties of Khwashi to fetch it in."
This is exactly what I had done under Allan's guidance, for he
had been heartbroken at the thought of leaving the car to become
derelict. She had therefore been dragged out by the docile Khwashis,
and had only a short time before been brought triumphantly into the
fort.
"Well, is Shah Sawar coming to attack us?" I queried.
"No, Sahib. He is coming, it is true, but when he comes, he will
speak fair, he will pretend that he never meant to fight against you,
but that he only came out with his men to do you honour!"
So in due course Shah Sawar arrived, and when Idu brought me word
that he was approaching, I went outside the fort to meet him. I had
not the slightest desire that he should see how few men were inside
the walls, neither did I wish him to have the chance of speech with
any of Izzat's men. He was received with all the dignity I could
muster, and I outwardly accepted his assurance that he had only come
on a friendly mission, in fact for the purpose of doing me honour. I
told him, however, that for the present he must remain with me as my
prisoner--or guest--anyhow until his over-lord, Jiand, had arrived
and vouched for his permanent good conduct. I then asked him casually
when he expected Jiand to arrive.
He replied that the old Chief would be outside the walls of Khwash
that evening, and that he was then only a very few miles distant.
I then dismissed Shah Sawar under escort, and ordered Idu to select
one of his trustiest men. This man I told to choose the swiftest
camel in the place, to set off at once, find our approaching force,
and give a letter to Major Landon. In this letter I asked Landon to
send on the cavalry at once, at whatever time the message reached
him, as they must, without fail, be in the fort that night or early
next morning if the situation was to be saved. The infantry and
supply camels must follow as soon after as possible without the
protection of the cavalry.
These orders were sent because I knew perfectly well that, at any
moment, our true strength, or rather our weakness, might be betrayed
by some ignorant Khwashi, or worse still, by some unsuspected traitor
within the walls. It does not need much imagination to understand
that if Jiand had got to know the truth before reinforcements could
reach us, he and Shah Sawar's men combined, would have been able to
take the fort in a very short time.
Just at nightfall, to our dismay, we learned that Jiand himself, with
a large following, had arrived in the immediate neighbourhood, had
camped close at hand, and was preparing to attack us at once.
Once again Idu volunteered to do a conjuring trick. It was a race now
against time. If Landon could reach us during the night we could snap
our fingers at Jiand. If he failed, well--we were done. To gain time,
even a few hours, meant everything.
So having, as usual, obtained the promise of safe conduct, Idu went
out to visit Jiand, and to endeavour once more to play the great game
of bluff.
But when he returned he seemed very doubtful as to the success of his
mission. He told Jiand that I was already in Khwash, having arrived
by motor-car, on whose supernatural powers he enlarged once more;
also that my whole army was in Khwash, having come in motor-cars,
which were quite wonderful, though not so wonderful as mine (Idu's
powers of imagination were on the up grade!). Jiand was, moreover,
acquainted with the fact that Shah Sawar had already seen the folly
of attempting to fight, and had paid me a visit of ceremony and of
submission. Idu went on to say that I had heard of his treachery,
and the fact that he was marching towards Khwash to attack me there;
also that I was in a towering rage about it, and was fully prepared
for him. His urgent advice to him (Jiand) was that he should present
himself at the fort at eleven o'clock the following morning, make
his profound apologies to the General Sahib, and that, meanwhile, he
would himself plead with the General not to be too severe with the
Chief when he came to surrender!
"Do you think he'll wait till then?" I asked.
"I don't know, Sahib," Idu replied. And for once his cheery good
spirits seemed to have deserted him. "I am not at all sure that Jiand
believed a word I said. If he did not he will attack us to-night,
and----" he stopped significantly.
We all understood. Here were we, a mere handful of men, in that old
mud fort (which meant so much to both sides) with two large enemy
camps outside. Either of them, if they once learned the truth, could
obliterate us in a few hours. Combined, our chances would not be
given even that amount of rope.
It was a desperately anxious night. Everything now depended upon
Landon getting my message. If an accident, or any other untoward
happening, held up his force, or delayed it, we might reckon that
all was up. We could not hope to rely on bluff beyond the following
morning. Some of the Khwashis would, as certain as to-morrow's sun,
be questioned by the Yarmahommedzais, and, if so, the truth as to the
fort's garrison would be dragged from them.
I warned the five infantrymen of the great danger threatening us,
and told them that there could be no sleep for anyone that night.
Everyone must keep his eyes skinned for any movement in the darkness
which might be the forerunner of a sudden night attack.
I myself made no attempt to sleep, but continually patrolled to see
that every man was awake and in his place, and that no movement or
talking occurred amongst Izzat's men.
Interminable though it seemed, the night at last wore itself out,
and, as the dawn broke, I climbed to the top of the highest tourelle,
like Sister Anne, to see if anybody was coming.
So far not a sign of the army, which must approach from the
North. My spirits sank, and I anxiously turned towards the East,
and South-East, on which sides Jiand's and Shah Sawar's men were
encamped. No signs of movement there, but this meant little, for I
knew that, under cover of those well-grown crops, their men could
stealthily approach, almost to the walls, before being observed.
Once again my eyes turned to the North.
The hours went by, and with every one that passed my anxiety grew.
What had happened to Landon? Had he been able to make good time, or
was he, as he easily might be, if anything had gone wrong, still a
day's march away?
Suddenly I saw a small cloud of dust stirring in the plain to the
North, and my heart bounded.
Out of the cloud of dust there presently emerged the solitary figure
of a camel with a man on his back. The camel devoured the plain
until it was close to the walls, and I rushed down to the gate to see
who the rider might be.
It was my friend the Sarhad-dar, and I was more touched than words
can express by the manner in which he met me, embarrassing though
it was at the moment. He flung his arms round me and embraced me
with the utmost affection, for he said that he had not hoped to see
me alive. My urgent message had reached Landon, who was now pushing
forward at his utmost speed. They had also had numerous confirmations
of the information I had given as to the numbers Jiand was bringing
against Khwash, and of his intention to retake and kill its
defenders. The Sarhad-dar's early arrival was explained by his action
in telling Major Landon he could not wait to ride at the slower
pace of the army, but must forge on ahead to see whether he could
do anything to help me. The Sarhad-dar's action was one of great
bravery, for he rode quite alone through territory which he was fully
aware might have been swarming with enemies, and who were actually
only a short distance from his path.
When he saw Shah Sawar he turned and cursed him volubly, telling him
he was an accursed liar and traitor, and that, one day, he would see
to it that he got his full deserts.
Once again I mounted to the tourelle, and this time the dust raised
by the approaching cavalry could be plainly seen.
Idu, who was with me, looking in the opposite direction, announced
that men were moving in Jiand's camp. But, though I have very
good eyesight, and though I looked hard and long in the direction
indicated, I could see nothing. Idu's sight was certainly phenomenal,
but he could not tell whether this movement foretold an attack or a
friendly visit. In any case it was very lucky that Landon's relieving
force was so close at hand.
A few minutes later Landon himself arrived with the cavalry, hot,
fagged out, and covered with sand, but much bucked at the fact that
he had arrived in time. The camels and infantry were only a short
distance behind, for, as we knew by bitter experience, the last stage
of the route had been so bad, that, until the plain had been reached,
five miles away, the cavalry could make no better going than the rest
of our small force; hence the short distance separating them.
As a matter of fact the whole force arrived very soon after, full of
fighting spirit, despite the fact that, for over a month, it had been
continually on the march.
I felt we could now snap our fingers at Jiand.
As may be imagined it was a very cheery morning, for, now that the
guns had arrived, we knew that Jiand had about as much chance of
taking Khwash as of grasping the moon. We had beaten him in the race
with only an hour or two to spare, but since we had won, the game
was up for Jiand, at any rate for the moment--and he knew it!
In due course the old ruffian, for he was not lacking in pluck
whatever he might lack in truth, arrived to pay a ceremonial visit,
which he said was merely for the purpose of doing me honour. He had
heard, he said, that it had been represented to the General Sahib
that he had come on a warlike mission. This rumour was quite untrue.
He had merely come, with about a hundred of his tribe, to repeat
the assurances he had already given of his absolute loyalty to the
British Raj! As a matter of fact he had left the bulk of his men at
the camp because he was afraid that they would be disarmed.
He then asked whether he might see the motor-car, about which he had
heard such wonderful stories. I promptly deputed Idu the romancer as
lecturer, for no one could compete with him in a description of its
marvels.
Allan solemnly set the car in motion, and Jiand and his men gazed at
him as a sort of demi-god. So one must be who could so control the
devil in this queer shaped thing that he could make it, without the
help of camels or horses, move across the plain and climb the hills.
Both he and the General Sahib must surely be in close league with
Sheitan!
After a while I asked Jiand if he would like to go for a ride in it,
assuring him he would enjoy it. But he promptly replied that he would
not risk it that day. Perhaps at some other time.
As a matter of fact the old Chief was utterly unnerved at his second
failure, and obviously under the impression that his position as
over-lord of the Sarhad was once again in jeopardy.
When Jiand left I gave Shah Sawar leave to go too, but warned him
that the next time he broke his word it would be the last chance he
would get of doing it.
Towards evening Idu, who had slipped away from the fort on secret
business of his own, came up to my quarters to tell me that when
Jiand and Shah Sawar had got back to their camp, they had received
a fine scolding from the Gul-Bibi, Shah Sawar's wife, for whose
fair sake, it will be remembered, the latter had bartered Khwash to
Mahommed-Hassan, her nearest male relation.
And he chuckled as he went on to describe how this imperious lady had
jeered at them both, calling them fools, and twitting them with the
fact that it was now common talk that the General had arrived with a
mere handful of men, and had simply tricked them into surrender. Nor
did she leave the matter there. She proceeded to tell Jiand that, had
he had the heart of a mouse he could have attacked and taken Khwash
the night before, or even early that morning, for the General's
little force had not arrived till the sun was well up.
For her part, she said all her admiration was for the General, and
she intended to send him two sheep as a present, and as a mark of her
appreciation.
"As a matter of fact," Idu concluded, "the sheep have already
arrived."
"But I can't accept presents from a people who have been showing
themselves hostile," I said. "And how is it that a woman can have the
audacity to lecture a Chief like Jiand, whatever she may do to her
own husband?"
"You don't know the Gul-Bibi--yet," Idu grinned. "But you will. She
is one of the most influential individuals in the Sarhad, though
she is a woman. Also, she is one of the most beautiful women in the
world. And you must pardon me, Sahib, but you must accept the sheep
she has sent. For it would be looked upon as a great insult were you
to refuse."
The Sarhad-dar concurred, saying that there was no choice. The sheep
must be accepted as a peace-offering.
I gave in, and asked what I ought to do in return.
"Go and call upon her, Sahib," said Idu. "The Gul-Bibi is accustomed
to have honour paid to her."
"All right," I replied, and turning to Landon, who had been present
and much amused, I added, "You'll have to come too. I'm a married
man, and I'm not going to call on the most beautiful woman in the
world alone; though, by the way, I suppose she will be veiled?"
"Certainly not," Idu put in. "The Gul-Bibi values her good looks far
too highly to conceal them. I'll let her know to-night that you and
Major Landon will call upon her to-morrow in the motor-car. She will
be more pleased at that than at the gift of many sheep."
That evening Landon gave me a very disconcerting piece of
information, particularly so in the light of present arrangements.
It was to the effect that, on the way to Khwash, he had captured one
of Shah Sawar's men carrying letters to the Germans. These letters
had been written immediately after Shah Sawar had been released from
Kacha, and in the face of the promises given and oaths sworn on the
Koran. In these letters he had renewed his offers of help, and had
undertaken to allow them to pass, whenever they chose, through his
section of the Sarhad.
"The treacherous brute!" I exclaimed. "What on earth are we to do
about him now? I've just sent him back to his own people, and have
come to terms with Jiand. Moreover, we have accepted the Gul-Bibi's
peace offering, and have promised to visit her to-morrow. She seems
so influential, too, that if we make friends with her, these ruffians
may really keep their word this time."
After considerable discussion we decided to ignore Shah Sawar's
treachery for the present and proceed as arranged.
Shah Sawar and Jiand had large numbers of their fighting men on the
spot, and Halil Khan, with a third big force, was to be expected on
the morrow. We must, therefore, endeavour to disperse some of these
brigands to their homes before we court-martialled that arch-villain
Shah Sawar!
The following morning Landon, the Sarhad-dar, Idu and myself, set off
in the car to call upon the Rose Lady--the most beautiful woman in
the world!
Half-way there Shah Sawar himself came to meet us, and eventually
conducted us to a huge jugi. Inside this we found the famous beauty,
seated on a pile of coloured cushions. To my great surprise I found
that Idu had not exaggerated. The Gul-Bibi really was a beautiful
young woman, very fair for a Sarhadi, with regular, clean cut,
almost Grecian features, and unusual-looking, big hazel eyes. She
was evidently small-boned, and her limbs and hands were beautifully
modelled. She was obviously aware of her own attractions, and very
animated. Her dress was white, embroidered in Persian colourings,
and she wore a chuddah over her head, which fell in graceful folds,
without, however, in any way concealing her face.
On our entry she rose with dignity and bowed. Shah Sawar then
proceeded to introduce us one by one. We each bowed in turn, and, at
her invitation, sat on the ground in front of her, in a semicircle.
She then proceeded to make us a very charming address in Persian,
which Landon and I understood, though we could neither of us speak
much Persian. This concluded, with the Sarhad-dar's help, as
interpreter, I did my best to make a suitable reply.
These preliminaries completed, a very beautiful Persian carpet was
produced and offered to me by our hostess.
This was very embarrassing, and I whispered to the Sarhad-dar that I
could not possibly accept it.
His reply was emphatic. "You cannot refuse it. You must accept it as
you have come here as her guest."
"But," I persisted, "I've got to court-martial her husband to-morrow,
or the next day, and shall probably have to shoot him. I can't take a
present from her under such circumstances."
"Shoot him, then, if you must," replied the Sarhad-dar. "She can
get plenty of husbands. But you must accept the carpet now or you
will give dire offence. You can in any case send a money present of
equivalent value to-morrow if you like."
So I was obliged to accept the carpet with the best grace I could,
and did my best in halting Persian to praise both the gift and the
giver.
After this the interview proceeded merrily, and the Gul-Bibi
proceeded to chaff her husband quite openly, telling him that he had
been cleverly tricked and scored off. She also told him that he was a
fool and as one without intelligence.
But Shah Sawar only laughed, taking his wife's raillery in good part.
It was obvious that she had him very much under her thumb, and that
he had a very strong regard for her.
Altogether it resolved itself into quite a friendly meeting, and,
presently, we adjourned to inspect the car, which, as usual, was the
occasion of much awe and wonderment. The inspection over we invited
the Gul-Bibi to go for a ride in it one day, after which we took our
leave and made our way back to Khwash.
A day or so later Halil Khan arrived with a following of about
twenty-five men. He had left his lashkar some miles away, for he
had, of course, heard of the surrender of both Jiand and Shah Sawar.
Immediately upon his arrival we held another Durbar, and around the
circle sat the same old collection of warriors, with their Chiefs
Jiand, Shah Sawar, Mahommed-Hassan and Halil Khan. Juma Khan, the
only man of his word I had yet encountered, was the one absentee.
Those who were present all solemnly swore to the fact that they were
there on an entirely friendly mission, and that, if I had suspected
otherwise, I had been totally misinformed! They were all sucking
doves, or their equivalent, whose one desire was to do me honour!
[Illustration: THE DURBAR AT KHWASH.
_Khan Bahadur (Sarhad-Dar) standing._]
[Illustration: RAIDER CHIEFS AT THE DURBAR AT KHWASH.]
I played up to the game, accepted their protestations, and told them
that, this being so, I had a proposition to make. I then proceeded
to suggest that the Chiefs, each with a certain number of followers,
should remain with me, whilst the remainder were sent back to their
homes. My idea, I said, was to raise a corps of Levies amongst the
Sarhadis. I could guarantee that their pay would be good, and, as
they were already such good fighting men, their training light.
I also promised that many of their officers should be selected from
amongst themselves.
After a short consultation they pretended to fall in with the idea,
and several of the tribesmen actually enlisted then and there.
But Halil Khan got up and begged me to excuse him. He said it was
not that he was not willing to serve in any corps I might wish to
raise, but that he was very anxious about his wife and family, who
were wandering about in the Morpeish hills. He was most eager to
find them, and would look on it as an act of grace if I would permit
him to go. As the whole scheme in view was to make their enlistment
voluntary, I had, of course, to consent.
But he was not to go without a warning, and as he got up to leave I
called him back, and looked him straight between the eyes. "Halil
Khan," I said, with all the severity I could muster, "if you play me
false, or ever raise your hand against me again, I will blow your
head off."
He looked back at me as steadily. "Sahib, your kindness overwhelms
me. I swear by the Koran" (drawing one from under his robes) "that I
will never fight against you again."
"Well, I will accept your word this second time. But if you fail to
keep it--remember."
And so he left, under safe conduct, and shortly afterwards Jiand, but
not until I had reminded him that I had not yet received the loot he
had taken, and which he, at our last meeting, had engaged to hand
over. I demanded its immediate return, and laid special stress on
the four tyres included in it. I also told him that he must return,
at the same time, all Government camels seized when he had raided
the British lines of communication, and also the four hundred Afghan
camels which I had just heard his men had seized on the caravan route
from Nushki to Robat.
Jiand faithfully promised that all should be returned within a couple
of days of his departure from the neighbourhood of Khwash. This
promise he kept to the letter, for the camels and loot arrived on the
date specified.
As may be imagined, the tyres were specially welcome. Those on the
car were absolutely worn out, and, of course, we had no possible
means of obtaining others.
For the moment, everything seemed peaceful. So peaceful that we
settled down in Khwash for a few quiet weeks; but, in the interval,
did our utmost to make the place secure against all attacks.
CHAPTER IX
TREACHERY AND ITS SEQUEL
Further reinforcements--Entrenchments and gardens--Government
inquiries--Food supplies--An offer to Jiand--Murad and
straw--Shah Sawar again--Sentence--Idu's suggestion--Re-enter
the Rose Lady--News of Jiand's intentions--A vital moment--A
round-up--The Sarhad-dar's advice--A Bhusa hunt--Distrustful
wives.
During this rest in Khwash I was able to increase to some extent
the forces under my command. I obtained a whole squadron of the
28th Light Cavalry, under Colonel Claridge, and two machine guns
from Nasaratabad. In addition I obtained from Kacha a considerable
quantity of gun-cotton, with fuses, etc., and a supply of barbed
wire, of which, fortunately, there were large stores at Kacha.
The men were kept busy with their musketry training, and with the
improvements that were being made in and about the fort. We also
succeeded in creating a really creditable, and very useful, garden
outside the walls, with the help of a native gardener, whom I had
sent for from Kacha. He brought large quantities of seeds with him,
and it was amazing how, in so short a time, we were able to obtain
full-grown marrows, cucumbers, pumpkins, Indian corn, turnips,
carrots, lettuces and spinach. These fresh vegetables formed an
invaluable addition to, and variation of, a very monotonous diet. We
also sowed a considerable amount of barley of a kind which comes to
maturity and ripens within three months.
The men were immensely interested in their garden, but were still
more eager to toil on the serious work of improving our defences, and
in the building of barracks to obtain shelter from the sun.
The forces at my disposal were, at best, infinitesimal compared with
those the Raiders could collect, though, of course, the latter were
at the great disadvantage of being minus mountain or machine guns.
But supposing--as might happen at any moment--it became necessary to
divide my forces, part to go on any expedition, and part to remain in
defence of Khwash, the Raiders, if they chose to attack in numbers,
could, without question, recapture their capital.
I decided, therefore, to blow up the surrounding walls of the fort,
as well as the three smaller tourelles, leaving the tallest tower
alone standing. In places of these raised tourelles I made an
entrenched camp outside the site of the old walls. Peculiar folds in
the ground lent themselves well to my purpose, enabling me to place
the defensive lines along the tops of the folds. The interior of the
work was thus well concealed from view.
The high tourelle was then improved and strengthened, and a machine
gun placed on its top to command the whole of the camp below.
Those Raiders dwelling in the surrounding districts took a keen
interest in these changes, for they were under the impression that we
had only demolished the existing walls with the intention of building
stronger and higher ones, and asked me how high I intended to make
them.
As I did not think it wise to gratify their curiosity, I replied
that, when finished, it might be just possible to see the tops of
them! From this reply the rumour got abroad that I was making a vast
fortress, and, later on, the Persian Government sent urgent inquiries
as to why I had built a great fort in Persia without its permission.
It was, in consequence, difficult to persuade them that I had built
nothing, but, on the contrary, had blown up existing walls, and that
all that I had done in excess of this was to dig into the ground!
Although time was passing peacefully and busily in the organisation
of these various works, I was beginning to get very anxious about the
food supply of both men and beasts.
It was now the end of May and the heat was intense. The camels used
in the caravans bringing supplies from India found little or no
grazing between marches, and died in their dozens on the way, the
consequence being that but little of the supplies despatched from
India ever reached us.
Our horses began to die off in alarming numbers. The grass on the
slopes of the hills surrounding Khwash was of course quickly eaten
up, and we were reduced practically to nothing, not possessing even
straw as fodder. To make matters worse there were still three months
to wait before we could hope to obtain straw from the barley we had
sown. Altogether the position was beginning to be of an alarming
nature, and I began to wonder whether, though Jiand and all his men
had not been able to turn us out of Khwash, we might not be driven
out by slow starvation.
Something had to be done and done quickly. No stone must be left
unturned to save us from this pass, and I cast about for means of
feeding the animals other than by these failing supplies from India.
It was then that I suddenly remembered Jiand's crops at Kamalabad.
When, on the first occasion, he had surrendered there I had spared
not only the lives of himself and his followers but his crops as
well. Those crops I decided to call upon him to share with us now.
Accordingly, in the early part of June, I sent for him, and in a few
days he obeyed the summons, but was obviously reluctant, and very
morose.
I thereupon frankly told him the position with regard to the animals,
and said that I knew he must have vast quantities of bhusa from his
crops, for the bulk of which he could have no use, and asked him to
sell it.
The old villain refused point blank. I swallowed my anger as best I
could, and told him I would give four times the market price for it
if he would send it at once.
But he was obstinate, and persisted in his refusal, in spite of all
my offers.
As a matter of fact I had been told repeatedly that it was Jiand's
one hope and ambition that I would try conclusions with him in his
own part of the country, where his secret hiding places, and defences
amidst the difficult hill country, were only known to his own tribe.
Moreover, so I was also told, Halil Khan was continually urging him
to force me to fight. Halil Khan himself was itching to wipe out the
humiliation and discredit they had both suffered as an outcome of
being bluffed twice when they could actually have wiped us out.
Indignant as I was there was nothing to be done but to let him go.
I had promised him safe conduct to and fro; I, therefore, had no
alternative.
But there was still another stone that could be turned. About five
miles distant from the valley of Kamalabad, Jiand's stronghold, lay
another fertile valley, Karsimabad, the property of an old Chief
named Murad. This old man had at one time been the leader of the
Sarhad, until Jiand had deposed him from his leadership and assumed
it himself. Although Murad was outwardly on friendly terms with
Jiand--he was not strong enough to show himself otherwise--I had
heard many hints of the old ex-Chief's jealousy of and resentment
towards Jiand.
I, therefore, sent for Murad and asked him if he would sell his
straw, telling him that Jiand had refused to do business with me.
The old fellow assured me I could have all the straw I wanted, and
that I could have it for nothing. Of course I refused his generosity,
told him I would pay him what I had offered Jiand, and instructed him
to get it ready as soon as possible, when I would send my camels to
bring it in.
Before Murad, who was obviously delighted with such a good piece of
business, departed he gave me a word of warning which fully confirmed
all I had heard of Halil Khan's and Jiand's smouldering enmity.
"If they can kill you, Sahib, they will. And they will most surely
fight against you and try to kill you before many weeks are past."
It was about this date that repeated confirmations reached me of
Shah Sawar's persistent treachery. Up to the present I had elected
to ignore the incident of his letters to the Germans. They had never
reached their destinations, so no harm had been done so far. It had
been my constant wish, despite all the warnings I had received,
to make friends with the Yarmahommedzais. But it was now time, I
considered, to take some notice of Shah Sawar's activities, and this
seemed a suitable moment to charge him bluntly concerning his traffic
with the Germans.
Accordingly he was summoned to appear before a drum-head court
martial consisting of myself and two other officers, to be tried
for repeated acts of treachery, and particularly for communication
with the Germans, coupled with the information supplied to the same
quarter that I had few troops, and that, if they (the Germans) came
to the Sarhad it would be easy for them, with his help, to overwhelm
my whole force.
As usual, Shah Sawar swore he was innocent of all these charges and
pointed out that it was obvious he could not possibly have been
guilty, as he could not write.
Then I played a trump card, for I produced the mullah (priest) who
had written the letters at his dictation, and who had wandered, a day
or so before, into the camp.
When Shah Sawar caught sight of the mullah he shrugged his shoulders
and muttered, "Kismet." He knew the game was up, confessed at once
that he had dictated the letters, and had put his mark to them.
There was naturally only one sentence that could be passed upon him,
and he knew it. He was found guilty and condemned to be shot. He
implored me to give him another chance, but I was tired of his broken
promises, and told him flatly that he had offended once too often.
He had been convicted by a duly constituted court martial, and the
finding of the court must stand. I told him also that his time was
short, and advised him to write any farewell messages he wanted to
send, and to make his will as quickly as possible. The mullah was
also given leave to write anything that Shah Sawar wished to dictate.
As I passed from the tent I gazed hard at Shah Sawar. The sweat was
pouring down his face--few men can hear the sentence of immediate
death without emotion of some sort--but he did not utter a sound. It
must be admitted that he bore himself like a man, as, with a gesture
of resignation, he told the mullah he wanted him to start writing at
once.
Whilst he was writing out his last wishes, I made my way to the
Durbar tent to wait until he had finished. On my way I met Idu and
told him the result of the court martial. Idu had an uncanny gift of
intuition and I am certain realised how much I disliked my obvious
but uncongenial duty. He looked at me strangely and then disappeared.
Some little time later I was leaving the tent when I caught sight of
the Gul-Bibi, Shah Sawar's wife, dressed in her very best attire,
running towards me. Directly she reached me, she fell on her knees
and, touching my feet with her hands, broke into lamentations.
"What is it?" I asked, trying to speak sternly. "What have you to
say?"
The Gul-Bibi had a great deal to say! She said that Idu had gone to
her and told her of the sentence that had been passed on her husband
and she had come to plead for his life. She used every argument she
could think of to persuade me to reverse the finding of the court,
and finally went bail in her own person for the future good behaviour
of the handsome rascal, if only he might have another chance.
"I swear to you," she said passionately, "that if ever my fool of a
husband raises his hand against you again or breaks his word to you,
I will shoot him with my own hands. I, the Gul-Bibi, swear it."
It occurred to me that after all it might be politic to temper
justice with mercy. Shah Sawar undoubtedly had great influence
and the concession of his life might be a turning-point in the
determination of his tribe to be loyal to the British cause.
I said that she had accomplished what no one else could have done and
that her eloquence had persuaded me to grant her her husband's life.
"But this is the very last time I will show him any mercy. Shah Sawar
has proved himself a traitor and has broken his oath again and again.
I am only letting him go now on your guarantee of his good behaviour
in the future. If ever he breaks faith again, it will be for the very
last time. You may go now and tell him what I have said and tell him
that he owes his life entirely to you."
I directed her to the tent where she would find Shah Sawar waiting
for death, and presently she returned with her husband by her side.
He was obviously very subdued and very impressed. His gratitude was
genuine enough, anyhow for the moment, and once more he promised
that he would never fight again--etc., etc.
The next day a message was received from Murad to the effect that he
had collected a fine quantity of bhusa, and that it was piled up in
fourteen great stacks ready for transport, if camels could be sent to
fetch it.
Word was sent back that I would go myself on the morrow to Karsimabad
with the camels, and a small escort, in order that it might be
possible to thank and pay him in person.
Accordingly orders were given for the escort and camels to be ready
to start early the next morning.
But, that night, news was brought by one of Landon's intelligence men
which caused a modification of these plans.
It should here be mentioned that Major Landon had, shortly before,
been obliged to leave me. It will be remembered that he was one of
but three Intelligence Officers in Persia, and had therefore to
return to his duties. His place as my Brigade Major had been taken by
a very able Staff Officer, Major Sanders of the 36th Sikhs.
The news the scout brought me was to the effect that Jiand knew all
about my proposed visit to Karsimabad, and was planning to attack in
force, and capture me. He had been waiting for a good opportunity to
lure me out of Khwash, and now felt he had his chance.
"Well, he shall have it," I replied. "Only, we will disappoint him.
For instead of going with only a small escort, we'll take a good part
of our entire army, and the guns. He'll then have his work cut out."
The consequence being that when we marched out on the following
morning we made an imposing spectacle. I determined to do the thing
thoroughly, so took a considerable number of infantry, the cavalry,
guns and a large convoy of camels.
We had only marched a short distance when one of the scouts came in
with the information that all the bhusa at Karsimabad had been burned.
At first I could hardly believe my ears and told him he must be
mistaken; that perhaps some of it had been burned by accident, but
that fourteen stacks, the number Murad had mentioned as collected,
could not all have been burned by this means. But the man proceeded
to tell me that it was no accident. He himself had seen the
scorched ground upon which the stacks had stood. They had been
built sufficiently far apart to make it impossible to be burned by
one setting light to another. Each stack had been separately and
individually fired, and Murad had proof that it had been done by
Jiand's men.
As may be imagined, I was nearly beside myself with rage at the news.
It would entail untold suffering amongst our unfortunate beasts, who
were already underfed. The act was unforgivable, especially when we
were just hoping to obtain a safeguard against the worst months of
the year.
The march of the column was immediately quickened. There remained but
one thing to do--to go forward and ascertain the truth. If Jiand had
really been guilty of this act he should be accommodated as regards
fighting. So far everything possible had been done to create friendly
relations with him, and over and above this he had been, throughout,
generously and leniently treated. But patience has its limits, and
there could be no more leniency.
Despite the burning heat we managed to cover the distance in record
time, and were within five miles of Karsimabad when the advance guard
reported the enemy in sight, and in large numbers.
"Come out to capture me, I suppose!" I remarked to Sanders. "Jiand
is, probably, still under the impression that we are coming with only
a small escort. I wonder what he'll do when he sees the column--and
the guns?"
What he did do we were soon to know. The old villain must have
indulged in one short look to realise, once again, that he had
been foiled in his attempt at a surprise; for I knew, by current
rumour, that he stood in deadly terror of what the guns could do.
He had certainly never seen them working, but had heard the rattle
of the Maxims at Koh-i-taftan, and had a wholesome dread of their
destructive possibilities. When, therefore, the cavalry and the guns
came into view, instead of attacking, he sent a messenger ahead to
meet me, and to ask whether he might come and do me honour!
"Tell him," I replied, still furiously angry, "that it is not a
case of may he come--he must come himself and instantly. I am in no
playful mood as he will find to his cost."
A few minutes later we saw Jiand, accompanied by two or three men
ambling towards us on his camel. Immediately on his arrival Jiand
assured me that, hearing I was in the neighbourhood, he had come with
his followers to do me honour.
"Honour be damned!" I retorted. "What do you mean by burning the
bhusa I have bought from Murad? Was that also by way of doing me
honour?"
Jiand protested his innocence. Was it possible that anything that
belonged to the General Sahib should, or could, be burned? And how
could he (the General) so wrong him (Jiand) as to suspect him of any
such offence? If the bhusa really was burned, he swore that he was
innocent, and had had nothing to do with it.
"We'll soon prove whether you had or not," I returned. "I am on my
way to Karsimabad to inquire into it. You will go there too, and if
I find you had a hand in it, as I am convinced you had, you shall
regret it to your dying day. Go on in front of me, and wait for me in
Karsimabad."
With a sullen face Jiand obeyed, and our own force continued its
march.
Arrived within three-quarters of a mile of Murad's place we halted
at what appeared to be a favourable place to camp. This represented
a hard flat piece of ground at the base of a small hill. A picket on
the hill-top would command the surrounding country and so prevent
surprise.
The bulk of the force was left and I went forward with an escort of
about a dozen infantrymen and some fifteen cavalrymen.
At the entrance to Karsimabad I noticed a huge tree with a mud
platform placed round its base, close beside the ruins of a small
fort. This seemed to offer an ideal spot upon which to hold the
inquiry, for the tree afforded a wide circle of shade from the
burning heat.
Accordingly I sat down, with Sanders and the Sarhad-dar on either
side, whilst the cavalry accompanying us dismounted and remained
behind the tree. The infantry-escort formed up on our right.
Murad, who appeared greatly distressed, came forward and told me that
all the bhusa he had collected for us had been burned down, thus
confirming the report I had already received.
"Who did it?" I thundered. "Can you produce the man who dared to burn
my property?"
To my great surprise Murad said he could. He had captured the man, a
Yarmahommedzai.
Scarcely had the man been brought forward when, from every quarter,
appeared men armed with rifles. A moment before the place, excepting
for ourselves, had been empty. These men seemed to have sprung
out of the ground, but must, actually, have been concealed in the
adjoining fields. In an instant I could tell that they were picked
men of Jiand's lashkar. There must have been between one hundred and
fifty and two hundred of them. They came forward and squatted down
in a circle close in front of us; Jiand, and his kinsman and evil
genius, a man named Nur-Mahommed, placing themselves well in the
foreground.
In a flash I realised the tactical error I had made in leaving the
main force three-quarters of a mile away, and before I had made
certain that Jiand's men had not occupied Karsimabad. These men held
their magazine rifles, which were always loaded, across their knees.
From where we sat, I now realised, and too late, that I could not
see, or signal to, my own small force, and that, except by a miracle,
it would be equally ignorant of these proceedings. I glanced quickly
behind me at the fifteen or sixteen cavalrymen I had brought, saw
that they had dismounted and were holding their lances in their
hands, whilst their rifles remained in the buckets on the off-sides
of the horses. A bad position for getting at them when dismounted and
at a moment's notice.
It was obvious that I had allowed myself to be caught in a trap. We
all knew it, though not one man with me showed it by the quiver of an
eyelid.
I turned to the man whom Murad had brought forward and placed before
me as the burner of the stacks of straw.
"How dare you burn my bhusa? What reason had you for doing it, and
who told you to do it?"
Before the man, who was trembling like a leaf, had time to answer,
Nur-Mahommed sprang up and shouted:
"The country is ours and everything in it. We will burn the bhusa, or
burn anything we like."
And he glared at Sanders and myself in a way that left no doubt as to
his meaning.
I told him angrily to sit down, as I was not talking to him. For
answer he assumed a threatening attitude, and openly sneered at me
for attempting to give orders I could not enforce.
I ordered a sepoy to arrest him.
What followed all happened in a flash.
The sepoy had scarcely moved a step to obey when every one of Jiand's
men leapt to their feet and brought their rifles to the present.
I must confess to having acted automatically. Indeed, there was no
time to think or do otherwise.
I literally roared at them. "How dare you, you dogs? Sit down this
instant!"
I reached out my hands towards Jiand who was close to me, and, in a
paroxysm of rage, forced him down by my side.
"Sit down!" I roared again into the dark faces of the men surrounding
us.
Hesitation and doubt spread amongst that threatening crowd--and the
bulk of them sat down!
They were now given no time to recover their poise. Sanders and the
escort were at once ordered to disarm the men who remained standing.
Like a flash my men darted forward, only too thankful to take action
instead of waiting to be shot down, and in a twinkling had wrenched
their rifles from the scowling brutes who were hesitating as to
whether they would shoot first or submit. They were looking to their
Chief for a lead. But Jiand, that once invincible warrior, had lost
his nerve, and now sat cowering, unable either to make a decision or
dominate his own men.
So, whilst they stood, furtive and undecided, they were disarmed and
left helpless.
"Now," I shouted, turning to those who had sat down, "get up and
place your rifles against that wall, there," pointing to the wall of
the mud fort. "And if there is the slightest sign of treachery I will
shoot you down like the dogs you are."
Like a lot of beaten sheep they got up and obeyed.
The danger was over before we had had time fully to realise it.
I then proceeded to tell the Raiders what I thought of them in
language which has since been reported as hectic. They were told that
their lives and their property had been spared again and again; that
over and over again their liberty had been given them when they
should have been kept as prisoners. But this time their offence was
beyond forgiveness and they should now have a taste of the treatment
they deserved.
I then ordered my escort to seize and tie the men together, and drive
them back to the camp. A certain number of the Yarmahommedzais leapt
up at this, and, before they could be stopped, had bolted into the
high-grown crops surrounding the place. But we caught a good sixty
of them, and these were bound by their hands in groups of three by
their turbans. They were then marched off to the main column, which
had remained in blissful ignorance of these happenings a short
three-quarters of a mile away.
Sanders and I remained where we were, and a few minutes later the
Sarhad-dar returned, wiping the sweat from his face.
"That was a close shave, Sahib," he said, and I could see that
his hands were shaking, despite the fact that he had behaved with
the utmost bravery during the crisis. "Though so many got away,
amongst those we have captured are nearly all the leading men of
the Yarmahommedzais. Without them the tribe will be as men without
leaders, and we need not fear them. I have searched and questioned
some of them, and I have indisputable proofs that they came to
capture you. They wanted you--alive, not dead, that they might be
able to dictate their own terms."
"Well," I said disgustedly, "I've had enough in the way of trying to
make friends with them. I know that both you and Idu have advised all
along that it would be of no use, but I have hoped against hope. Now
the Indian Government must deal with them, and I shall advise the
Government that the best thing to do will be to send them to India
and imprison them there."
The Sarhad-dar replied, with heartfelt relief, "I am thankful you
have at last come to that decision. It's the only chance of obtaining
peace in the Sarhad. Juma Khan has already given ample proof of his
loyalty, and Halil Khan, untrustworthy as he is, would never dream
of fighting the Sirkar alone. If I may advise I would suggest that
whoever is ultimately set free Nur-Mahommed is never liberated. He
is Jiand's evil genius. Without him you might have won over Jiand to
real loyalty, but so long as Nur-Mahommed, who is a devil, is always
whispering in his ear you can never trust Jiand to keep any oath."
Before we left Karsimabad I paid Murad some compensation for his
straw, for he had had the best intentions.
When we reached the main column, which was now agog with curiosity, I
once again combed out our prisoners, retaining some forty-three and
letting the others go. It must be remembered that we were desperately
short of food ourselves and I did not want a single unnecessary mouth
to feed.
But I was not going back to Khwash without a supply of fodder for our
animals. I, therefore, told Jiand that as he had burned the bhusa I
had bought, and had refused his own at the generous price offered, I
should now take his without payment.
So we made a détour by way of Kamalabad, where my men immediately
started hunting for straw and wheat. We eventually found that the
latter had been carefully hidden by Jiand, and in a highly ingenious
way. The wheat had been put into sacks, and buried in the sand dunes.
The sand had then been carefully smoothed over, leaving nothing to
show that it had been disturbed.
But, before our search, I asked the Sarhad-dar, "How on earth will
the men find the sacks?" fearful lest, after all, Jiand had foiled me.
"They know how to find it," he replied. "Give them the order to
search for it and you'll see what they'll do. They know the trick
well enough."
Accordingly, orders were issued to search for, and carry off, all the
sacks of wheat and all bhusa that could be found.
In an instant they were at work amongst the sand dunes, prodding in
the sand with their cleaning rods. Every now and again a man would
shout "Here!" and after a few minutes' digging a sack would be
dragged to light.
It was immensely interesting to watch this unearthing of plunder, and
after a while I called "Give me a cleaning rod and let me try."
But I proved a hopeless exponent of the game. Prod as I would, I
could find nothing, though the smiling Rekis would prod where I had
drawn blank and fish out several sacks. This wheat was a great find,
and was loaded on to the camels with the greatest care.
From Kamalabad I sent a couple of men ahead with messages to Colonel
Claridge--who had remained behind in charge of Khwash--telling him
briefly what had happened, and asking him to prepare a barbed wire
cage for the prisoners now being brought in.
So promptly did he set to work that, when we marched in next day,
there was ready as perfect a cage as any commander could wish to have.
We were given a great reception by the garrison, delighted at the
plunder we had brought. The bhusa meant the saving of our animals,
and the wheat was invaluable to ourselves, as our supply of flour had
begun to run very short.
The wheat was given to the ladies of Khwash to grind outside
the camp. These industrious females all possessed little stone
hand-mills, and, for many days afterwards, the air was filled with
the sound of these at work. These same ladies implored me to pay them
in person for their work, because, they informed me, their men-folk
were not to be trusted. It appeared on inquiry that when the men were
paid they were apt to put the wages of their wives' labour into their
own pockets. So, each afternoon, for some days, we had a pay-parade
of Khwashi ladies to receive in rupees the wages they had honestly
earned.
While I was waiting for Government instructions as to the disposal of
our Yarmahommedzai prisoners I made these work at strengthening the
camp. It was not easy to get much work out of them as they strongly
resented being put to what they considered to be a degradation. They
maintained it to be a gross indignity for a fighting man to be made
to work with his hands, and contended that all manual labour should
be performed by lower caste people such as the Khwashis.
But honest work did not hurt them, for, during their imprisonment,
their health improved to a remarkable extent. This result was
probably due to the increased variety of their rations, and to
the vegetables grown in our new garden which they shared with the
garrison.
CHAPTER X
FAILURE AND FRESH PLANS
Slave buying--A diet discovery--Poetic justice--Disposition
of prisoners--Incredible news--The Sawar's story--Disposal of
forces--The march to Kamalabad--Jiand gains his freedom--Retreat
to Khwash.
Whilst waiting instructions from the Indian Government as to the
disposal of our Sarhadi prisoners I turned my attention to the
slave question. This had long been one of my pre-occupations. The
chief trouble lay in the fact that not only the Yarmahommedzais
and the Gamshadzais, but also the friendly Rekis--the men of Idu's
tribe--possessed large numbers of these unfortunate women and
children. The consequence was that, when I announced that an order
was about to be issued commanding the surrender of all slaves
throughout the Sarhad, Idu openly groused.
He pointed out that it would be a great hardship on his
fellow-tribesmen. Many of them had not actually engaged in raids, but
had honourably bought, and paid for, the women from their captors,
and that, in consequence, they would not only be out of pocket to the
extent of the purchase price but would, also, be without servants to
do their menial work.
Idu's point of view was clear enough, but he was asked, "what about
the unfortunate slaves?"
The Sarhad-dar backed me up for all he was worth, and at last a
compromise was made. The order went forth that the slaves must all be
liberated without question, but that, as the Rekis had aided us in
every possible way, the Government would purchase their slaves at the
rate of three hundred rupees for a woman, seventy-five for a girl,
and twenty-five for a boy.
In due course slaves began to arrive from every direction, though
undoubtedly the order was ignored in every instance where it was
possible to do so. At last, in order to accelerate delivery, it was
necessary to promise to purchase all slaves, no matter by whom owned.
From that moment it was astonishing how the number increased, some
arriving on camels, others on foot. The condition of these wretched
women and children was pitiable in the extreme. Some of them were
those whom Izzat had captured during his recent big raid, but the
majority had been in captivity for many years and were in a wretched
state, half-starved, half-naked, and cowed, as the outcome of evident
ill-treatment. Many appeared to have lost all hope in life.
[Illustration: RAIDED SLAVES ON THE WAY TO THEIR HOMES.]
[Illustration: A PERSIAN GIRL CAPTURED BY JUMA KHAN, AND WHO ESCAPED
TO KHWASH.]
These poor folk were given quarters amongst the Khwashis, special
_jugis_ being set aside for them, and were gradually restored to
some semblance of civilised humanity. White army drill and brightly
coloured prints, were requisitioned from Kacha. With these
materials the Khwashi ladies made garments for our enfranchised
slaves. It was pitiful to see their joy and gratitude when told that
they were now free, and would shortly be sent back to their own homes.
One of our new guests became a constant source of wonder to us all.
She was a fine, well-grown, attractive young woman of about nineteen
or twenty, and had been a captive in the hands of a Gamshadzai Chief.
When she heard of the order that all slaves were to be released she
claimed her freedom, and her right to go to the British General
at Khwash, where safe asylum was offered to all Persian slaves.
Her Gamshadzai master, however, had not the slightest intention of
letting her go. She was far too useful.
But this Persian girl possessed both grit and powers of endurance.
One night she escaped in the darkness, and, though pursued for a
long distance by her captor, managed to elude him, and made good her
escape. Apparently she ran all through the night, covering fully
forty miles over rough precipitous hills and sandy plains. It seemed
an incredible feat--at first none of us believed the tale--but she
provided such striking evidence of it that we had at last to believe
her.
Poor soul, she was very dirty, her feet were bare and her clothing
torn to ribbons, but in her pride and joy at being free once more,
she was a moving picture.
The emaciated condition of these slaves filled us all with
commiseration, and when it was commented upon amongst ourselves the
Sarhad-dar remarked grimly, "You can't have seen their staple food.
If you had, you wouldn't wonder. They carry it in those little bags
they all bring in with them."
My curiosity was aroused and I asked some of the women to show me
what was contained in those bags. They promptly told me that they
contained the only food they were allowed by their captors, apart
from any green stuff they were themselves able to gather wild on the
hillsides. Some of the bags were then emptied, and quantities of
dried beetles were poured out on the ground.
Incredible as it seems close inquiry confirmed their statement--that
these dried beetles formed the greater part of their diet. With this
evidence one could no longer wonder that these poor creatures were in
such a wretched, cowed and hopeless state.
When as many slaves were collected as could be accommodated it became
needful to send them off in order to make room for others, and also
to obviate the necessity of feeding them. Moreover, now that this
batch had begun to regain its humanity, its members were very anxious
to return to their own homes, and when it was announced that we were
going to repatriate them under escort they fell to laughing and
crying with joy. When they were told that this would be done under
the charge of Izzat--the Yarmahommedzai who had captured so many of
them--their joy was turned to dismay, and they implored me not to
trust them to his tender mercies, but to send them with anyone else,
for he would surely take them back again into captivity.
"I have decided on Izzat," I replied, "because he is a Chief who has
plenty of camels of his own for your transport, and, as he stole
so many of you, he will know exactly where to return you. But you
shall hear yourselves what I am going to say to him. If, then, you
are not satisfied, I will choose someone else. You shall decide for
yourselves."
Accordingly Izzat was sent for, and informed of this order. I
considered it a piece of poetic justice that he should be the one to
restore the people whom he had stolen, and whose lives he had ruined.
Izzat listened grimly and I fancied I could detect in his dark eyes
a hint of what he proposed doing when these women were once again in
his power.
"And," I added quietly, "you will bring back and place in my hands
a letter from every one of the women I put in your care. I have the
names of all of them written down. These letters must be written
individually by each woman after she has safely reached her own home,
and must also state that she has been well used on the way. If there
is lacking a letter from any single one of these women, when you
return to Khwash, I shall hang every member of your family on the
tree under which I am now sitting, and you will then be able to count
their dead bodies for yourself. They will remain in my charge during
your absence."
Izzat could see that I meant what I said. "Sahib, I am in your hands.
I will do whatever you say."
I then turned to the eager Persian women.
"You have heard what has been said. You have listened to the
conditions made, and which Izzat has accepted. Are you willing now to
go with him?"
They all assured me they were, and a day or so later the cavalcade
set out, Izzat taking sufficient camels to allow for the
accommodation of all who were infirm and weak, and for the fitter
members to be able to ride turn and turn about, also for the portage
of sufficient food for their long trek of some one hundred and fifty
miles into the Narmashir.
As may be imagined it was a great relief to us all when we had seen
them safely on their way. I should here record the fact that, in due
course, Izzat returned, bearing letters from every one of the slaves
to the effect that they had safely arrived at their own homes. He
dared not risk the penalty he knew would have surely been exacted had
he failed in his trust.
After some little delay I received from Quetta an answer to my
request for instructions as to the disposal of the Sarhadi prisoners.
This answer directed that they should be sent straight to Quetta, a
distance of something like four hundred and fifty miles.
Naturally I had not sufficient troops to spare for an adequate escort
on such a long march, and sent an answer to that effect; but, at the
same time, suggested that if the Government could arrange for escort,
by Indian troops from Saindak (about nine marches from Khwash), I
could arrange to police them that distance.
After waiting another two weeks, word came that three hundred of the
106th Hazara Pioneers would be sent to Saindak to take them over, and
I was requested to send the prisoners there, under escort, without
delay. I was also informed that a wireless troop was immediately
being dispatched to Khwash, the purpose being to open up easier
communication with India. At this period the only method of such
communication was by wire from Robat, or Kacha, to Quetta, and camel
messengers had then to be employed to take messages from Robat,
or Kacha, to Khwash, a not always reliable, and often lengthy,
proceeding.
Accordingly, when I knew the exact date of the Hazaras' arrival at
Saindak, I made my own dispositions for sending the Sarhadi prisoners
there. It should be clearly understood that the whole of the rough,
roadless district lying between these two places was over-run by the
enemy, and, moreover, an enemy deeply resentful of the fact that so
many of their Chiefs were in our hands. It must be remembered, too,
that our numbers were, compared with theirs, ludicrously small.
We calculated, however, and reasonably I think, on the unlikelihood
of an attack by the Yarmahommedzais on the column, owing to the
presence of the more important prisoners, whose lives they would not
dare to endanger. It was, therefore, thought absolutely safe for the
wireless troop, who would be accompanied by a small escort only,
to come through to us at the same time as, and on a parallel route
to, that of the prisoners, though the two parties were marching in
opposite directions. The wireless troop had orders to come South
along the Eastern slopes of the Koh-i-taftan, and the prisoners were
to be marched North over the Western slopes of the same peak.
I decided also to send as large an escort as possible with the
prisoners, my object being to ensure against any contretemps prior to
their receipt by the Hazaras--a magnificent type of fighting man--for
conduct to India. I also had another reason, for I had been warned,
by repeated rumour, that Halil Khan was then occupied in gathering
his entire forces together for the rescue of Jiand and his men whilst
being marched northward to Saindak.
Our own garrison was, therefore, practically reduced to a skeleton,
whilst a force consisting of three troops of cavalry, seventy-five
infantry (about three-fourths of our total numbers) and two maxims,
under the command of two white officers, was detached for escort
duties.
This column started early one morning in July, and was to march
eighteen miles on the first day.
[Illustration: CAPTURED RAIDERS ON THE WAY TO KACHA.]
That same night, or rather early on the following morning, for
it was about two a.m., I was awakened in my tent and informed that
a sawar had just arrived with an urgent message for me. A moment
later one of the cavalrymen composing the escort, which had started
so gaily about twenty hours before, came in, breathing quickly and
heavily with the speed at which he had ridden. He told me that he
had ridden as he had never ridden before to bring me a message from
the officer commanding the prisoners' escort. It was to the effect
that every one of the prisoners, save Jiand and one of his sons, had
escaped in the darkness, and that he awaited further orders in the
circumstances.
For a moment I thought I was still asleep and dreaming. How could it
be possible that forty-five unarmed men had succeeded in escaping
from an armed, and numerically larger, escort?
But the stark truth was at last forced upon me, and it amounted to
nothing short of absolute disaster. The whole of my four months'
work had been undone in a few hours, and I was confronted with the
knowledge that I should now have to make a humiliating confession of
utter failure, and at the very moment when the work I had been sent
to do seemed so nearly and successfully finished.
The situation resolved itself into this; not only would it now be
impossible to hand over our enemy and ringleaders to the large armed
escort now on its way, and especially detailed to receive them, but
these escaped Chiefs would be able to reorganise and hearten up
their people, who had remained quiet during the past few weeks simply
because they had been without their leadership.
These same Chiefs, of course, knew to a man the strength of our
force, and were naturally bitter with resentment as an outcome of
their recent captivity. They would, I knew, now leave no stone
unturned in their endeavour to wipe us out. My feelings can be better
imagined than described.
The Sawar was questioned closely as to this disastrous affair, and I
obtained the following details.
The escort had pitched its camp before sundown on an open hillside.
An enclosure, or sort of rough zareba, had been constructed with a
few strands of barbed wire, and the prisoners, with the exception
of Jiand and his son, had been placed inside, and sentries set over
them. Jiand and his son had been kept apart, in a small _jugi_, with
a sentry in front of it.
It was a very dark, quiet night, and the camp had soon settled down
to sleep.
Suddenly, strange stealthy sounds had been heard close to the zareba,
and the sentries had fired wildly into the darkness. Instantly the
whole camp had been roused, and the officers had rushed to the
prisoners' quarters.
Lamps were brought, and it was quickly found that the zareba was
empty. What had happened seemed fairly obvious. The prisoners had
evidently taken off all their clothes and flung the heavier garments
over the barbed wire. This done, and acting in consort, they had
broken or borne it down by sheer weight. In any case the whole lot of
them had escaped, absolutely naked, leaving their clothes behind on
the barbed wire!
Of course an immediate search was instituted, but the Raiders
had escaped into the rough, broken hills during the few minutes
succeeding the alarm, and not a single one was re-taken. The only
prisoners now left in our hands were Jiand and his son.
After such a set-back a man may be pardoned for being at his wits'
end. Not only did it spell failure to keep faith with the Indian
Government in regard to the prisoners, but it became plain that the
wireless troop, whose safe passage I had practically guaranteed, was
now in peril; for they would, almost certainly, be attacked, as they
must by this time be right in the heart of the enemy territory, whose
fighting men would now be elated beyond bounds at their successful
coup.
I quickly realised that we must act without an instant's delay.
We must first rescue that wireless troop with its small escort at
any cost. The best thing to be done at the moment was to order the
prisoners' escort--who now had no one to escort! except Jiand and his
son--to proceed instantly in the direction along which the wireless
troop was coming, whilst Sanders and myself, with every man we could
collect after leaving some sort of garrison for Khwash--goodness
knows we were few enough already!--set out to join up with the
escort, which would have to march due East that day.
I could then take some of the men forming that escort and go in the
direction of Kamalabad with the object of holding off the Gamshadzais
under Halil Khan; I was convinced they would now, without question,
put into execution the threat they had so repeatedly made of trying
to rescue Jiand. As will be seen my objective was the Kamalabad
valley, where I should at least have a better chance of holding them
up than elsewhere.
The messenger was thereupon directed to return at once to the officer
commanding the escort, with a letter directing the new move and
telling him at what point I would intersect his march that evening.
As soon as he had been dispatched a servant was sent to awaken
Sanders, Idu and the Sarhad-dar, and summon them immediately to my
tent. When they were told the bad news their dismay was fully equal
to mine. The Sarhad-dar seemed to think the world had come to an end.
The situation was in any case quite black enough, and it was a very
depressed little party that an hour later set out from the camp.
It was not until well on into the evening that the force composing
the prisoners' escort joined us at the appointed _rendezvous_,
but when it did I proceeded to re-arrange the composition of
units without delay. I took twenty-five cavalry, some fifty of
the infantry, also the two machine guns, and ordered the officer
commanding, who was desperately downcast at the disaster, to march at
top speed with the force left him in the direction along which the
wireless troop must now be coming. His further orders, on getting in
touch, were to tell them what had happened, and, as I did not now
consider it safe for them to come at present to Khwash, to go back
with him to Saindak, where he was to hand over Jiand and his son to
the Hazaras now waiting to receive them.
He was further instructed to say that I was marching in another
direction, towards Kamalabad, in an endeavour to hold up Halil Khan
and the Gamshadzais, who, according to rumours reaching us that
evening, were on their way in great force to Gusht, at the end of the
Kamalabad valley.
My little force started then and there, marching a distance of
about twelve miles through the night, and reached Kamalabad before
daybreak. It must be remembered that campaigning under conditions
obtaining in a district such as the Sarhad is utterly different from
that of any other type of warfare.
Amongst my own little force, and especially amongst the camp
followers, were both friends and potential foes, traitors and spies.
In addition to this the whole population of the country was its
fighting force, nearly every man being armed and trained to fight.
Rumour, and news carried by runners, take the place of the dispatches
and newspapers of the West, the consequence being that one's
movements are conveyed from mouth to mouth immediately upon that
movement taking place. This fact will in itself account for our being
able to hear such constant and detailed news of both the enemy's
movements and intentions--and vice versa.
No sooner had we reached Kamalabad than we learned that Halil Khan
had just been there, but had taken to the Morpeish Hills as we
approached. He had every intention of fighting, but wanted to do it
on ground of his own choice. In any case he did not want to fight
in the open, where our Maxim guns would undoubtedly have given us a
great advantage.
It was a great relief to hear this, for it meant that we had
intercepted him, and now stood between him and the escort with
Jiand. It meant in effect that he could not attack it without first
meeting and defeating us. Jiand and his son at any rate--and, after
all, Jiand was the supreme Chief--would now be safely handed over at
Saindak.
But my satisfaction on this point was very short lived. Soon after
reaching Kamalabad another messenger, sent off post-haste by the
officer in charge of the escort, arrived with the news that they had
been attacked in force, and that Jiand and his son had been rescued!
I questioned the man closely as to what had happened, and discovered
that Jiand and his son had been actually snatched from the very
hands of their gaolers. The fight had been a long and hard one;
many men on our side had been killed, both the British officers
wounded, and many rifles and much ammunition captured. It seemed that
the whole force might have been annihilated but for the opportune
arrival on the scene of the wireless troop with their escort. The
Yarmahommedzais evidently thought this troop the advance guard of
reinforcements and retired, taking Jiand and his son with them.
I learned later that the rescue party consisted of nineteen of the
very men who had escaped from the prisoners' escort two nights
before. It appears that they had run all the way to Kamalabad naked,
had clothed and re-armed themselves, and had gone back to rescue
their Chief.
One could not but admire such a magnificent feat of daring and
endurance, even though it added enormously to the difficulties of our
own position.
The Gamshadzais, in all probability, already knew what had happened.
They would also know that I had brought only a very small detachment
to Kamalabad, that merely a beaten remnant of the escort, now without
British officers, was left on the slopes of the Koh-i-taftan, and
that there was a still smaller force in Khwash.
It was obviously hopeless now to attempt to fight where we were. It
was equally obvious that our best course would be to get back to
Khwash with all speed. Khwash still remained a dominating factor,
and was still in our hands. From that vantage point it might yet be
possible to collect our scattered forces, and obtain reinforcements.
Flushed with victory, and elated at his escape, Jiand would also
remember the importance of Khwash, and would doubtless soon be on his
way thither, if, indeed, he was not already marching upon it.
So, once again, it was to be a race between us for the capital of the
Sarhad.
And, as on that former occasion of a few months ago, we won the race,
but our return was a very different affair to that of our previous
triumphant entry.
[Illustration: _Sketch Map illustrating the march to Khwash and the
fighting in the Morpeish Hills._]
CHAPTER XI
SUCCESS IN MINIATURE
The night attack--The Hazaras arrive--Jiand retires--We march on
the Sar-i-drokan valley--Cavalry strategy--"Gushti's" decision
and opinion--"The Hole of Judgment"--Attack and retirement--A
lost and regained water-supply--The Sarhadis as humorists--The
mud fort--Halil Khan's arrival--The fight at dawn--Exit Halil
Khan--A prophet--The Hazaras' request.
Immediately on re-entering Khwash Colonel Claridge was sent out,
with all the men it was possible to spare, in an endeavour to find,
and bring back, the strayed remnants of the prisoners' escort. In
the meantime a camel messenger was dispatched to Saindak asking the
O.C. of the Hazaras to march South to our help at once, and to take a
route by which they might, with luck, join up with Colonel Claridge.
A messenger was also dispatched to Colonel Dale, then commanding at
Kacha, requesting him to send us all the supplies and ammunition he
could spare, and personally to do his utmost to expedite the Hazaras,
who were also in his immediate sphere of command.
Hardly had Colonel Claridge and his small detachment left Khwash when
Jiand, with a large force, took up his position among the low hills
about three miles to the North-East of the town, and Shah Sawar,
who, as I might have expected, was now in full and open revolt,
worried us from the hills to the South-West.
But we were not going to admit yet that we were beaten. Daily we left
the camp for the open as a challenge to Jiand to come out of his
hills and fight, though it must be confessed that we hoped he would
not accept it.
At last, after a good deal of apparent indecision, the two Chiefs
made up their minds to attack us, and by night.
I must explain that in order, as far as possible, to deceive the
enemy as to our numbers--or rather lack of them--the whole of our
newly entrenched camp remained occupied by day; nor did we spare any
device likely to give the impression of a larger garrison. But at
night the men were withdrawn to a small, strongly fortified sector
of the camp, so as to consolidate our strength. One of our Maxims
had been placed in this sector, the other on the only tourelle left
standing, and trained on the camp.
As we were always expecting a night attack, we were thus well
prepared for it when it came. Jiand made his at the North-East
and Shah Sawar at the South-West angles of the camp: and when the
presence of large numbers of the enemy became apparent round these
areas, our men started to shoot wildly, but were quickly steadied,
and ordered to hold fire. The whole of our depositions had been made
with the object of allowing the enemy, if the attack came by night,
actually to enter the camp, and so enable us to deal with them in
denser formation.
The outer defences were rushed, and from the temporary pause that
occurred it was clear that the enemy was surprised at finding no
defence. This was of course the vital moment at which to let them
know we were alive.
From my position in the defensive section of the camp I had had a
telephone line laid to the tourelle. It was, therefore, possible to
order the two Maxims to open simultaneous fire, and, at the same
time, a heavy rifle fire right into the heart of those undefended
sectors.
The enemy recognised that a night surprise had failed, and were
evidently not inclined to continue the fight under conditions so very
unfavourable to themselves, so beat a hasty retreat. The night was
very dark, and so the results of our fire were not observable. Rumour
said that the enemy had suffered heavily in dead and wounded, but
they must have removed their casualties as there was nothing to be
seen in the morning. The results were all I desired, as we were not
attacked again.
Three or four days later we were much elated to learn that a junction
had been effected between Colonel Claridge, the remnant of the
prisoners' escort, and the three hundred men of the 106th Hazara
Pioneers under Major Lang. The same information showed that they were
marching together, as quickly as possible, on Khwash, and would
probably be in that day. This was good news indeed.
When they did arrive my spirits rose higher still. The Hazaras were
a splendid body of men, all spoiling for a fight, and I promptly
arranged that they should have it. It will be remembered that the
Hazaras are Shiahs, hence their eagerness to blot out as many of the
Sunni Sarhadis, per man, as they could manage.
Directly Jiand became aware of their arrival he realised that it
would be simply waste of time to remain in the neighbourhood of
Khwash. He had now not the slightest hope of capturing it, so
withdrew, with all his forces, to the Sar-i-drokan valley, which, it
will be remembered, was his Summer haunt. This valley lies parallel
with the Kamalabad valley, but on the farther side of the Morpeish
Hills, and is bounded on its Northern side by the Sar-i-drokan Range.
It seemed now that there might be a good chance of fighting Jiand
with real hope of success, and with the elimination of bluff, upon
which it would no longer be of any use to rely.
Could we but defeat him in a square and open fight our past failures
would be amply avenged, and British prestige again in the ascendant.
[Illustration: ON THE MARCH TOWARDS GUSHT AND THE MORPEISH HILLS.]
So, with this object in view, messages were sent telling him to look
to himself, for we were coming, not only to fight him, but to lift
all his herds. Jiand replied with the defiant message that he was
quite ready for us, and that he knew how to defend his herds, as well
as his men, from all comers.
The Hazaras were given a couple of days' rest after their long, rapid
march, and we then set out. The combined force now consisted of the
three hundred Hazaras, a squadron of cavalry, two mountain and two
machine guns and some Rekis. The remnant of our original force and
two machine guns were left in Khwash, under the command of Colonel
Claridge.
The British officers with me were Major Sanders (Brigade Major),
Major Lang, Captain Moore-Lane, Lieutenant Bream of the Hazaras,
Lieutenant English with the guns, and Captain Brownlow in command of
the cavalry. We started on a scorching hot day, the 28th of July,
with Jiand's herds in the valley of the Sar-i-drokan as objective.
There were two ways of entering this valley, which is about
seventy-five miles long, more or less closed at either end by a
bottle-neck formation of hills, and protected along the whole length
of its sides, as already described, by the precipitous Morpeish and
Sar-i-drokan Ranges.
We fully realised that the entry to this valley would, in all
probability, be a tough proposition, as the entrances could be easily
defended, and would therefore be hard to force. The North-Western
gorge, one of the two by which the valley could be entered, was
called the Dast-Kird, and was very narrow. Jiand could, therefore,
easily hold us in this direction. For, in an attack upon it, cavalry
would only be an incumbrance, and, owing to the perpendicular sides
of the gorge, and to the curious convexities of the hill-sides which
obscured the view from below, the guns would fail in their proper
sphere of usefulness.
Yet it would be necessary to enter the valley by that gorge, or by
the alternative one at the South-Eastern end, and close to a place
called Gusht. But this second gorge was almost as difficult of
access, if defended, as that of the Dast-Kird.
It will be well to explain also that here, in the Sarhad, victory
is attained more by the number of ramas--herds of goats and
sheep--captured than by the number of men killed. It will be seen,
therefore, that if we were to claim, and to be accredited with, a
victory over Jiand, it became essential to capture the whole, or the
greater part, of his herds.
This we well knew would be a difficult matter, but it would have to
be done, despite Idu's doubts on the point.
"If you try to go in by the Dast-Kird, Sahib, Jiand will send his
herds out by Gusht. If, on the other hand, you try to enter by Gusht,
it will probably be fatal. Not only will Jiand send his herds out
by the Dast-Kird, but as Gusht stands on the border of Halil Khan's
territory he also will doubtless take you on, whilst it will only be
a comparatively short distance for Jiand to make his dash through
the Dast-Kird and so down to Khwash. While he is attacking the few
men you have left in Khwash, you will be left at Gusht with Halil
Khan guarding the defile!"
For once Idu had become a croaker, but we were not in the mood to
listen to him.
We camped out in the open, but under the lea of the Morpeish Hills,
and from out of those hills we knew that hundreds of eyes were
watching our every movement.
At this stage I sent for Captain Brownlow and ordered him to march
with the cavalry, while it was still light, for several miles in the
direction of the Dast-Kird, at the same time making as big a display
as he could; but, when night fell, to rejoin us as quickly and
noiselessly as possible.
This little piece of strategy will be plain to the reader. When the
enemy saw our cavalry, apparently going in the direction of the
Dast-Kird, he would conclude that we intended to attack at that
point. Jiand would, therefore, concentrate in that direction to
defend the pass, and to prepare the ground for battle on the morrow.
We, meantime, would be marching with all speed in the opposite
direction--towards Gusht.
Accordingly, Captain Brownlow, making a fine show with his cavalry,
set out towards the Dast-Kird, and continued in that direction till
night-fall. But he went one better than his instructions. He found
and collected a quantity of dried-up scrub, and this he set fire to
in patches, to give the impression that our whole force was camping
there on its way to the Dast-Kird. This done he returned to camp
under cover of darkness.
Jiand fell into the trap. Warned by his scouts of what they imagined
to be taking place he moved off with his force of something between
one thousand and fifteen hundred fighting men, and actually marched
all night towards the Dast-Kird. To safeguard his herds he sent
them off in the opposite direction, towards Gusht. The position now
amounted to this. Jiand's herds, on the farther side of the Morpeish
Hills, and ourselves on the near side, were hurrying as fast as
we could towards the Gusht defile, whilst Jiand and his men were
hastening in the opposite direction--towards Dast-Kird. Thus it was
that, by the time Jiand realised the trick that had been played upon
him, we had gained a full two marches in the race for the defile.
Gusht--the town mentioned as being just outside the gorge of the
same name--belonged to a Raider Chief with a name so difficult to
pronounce that I never achieved it, and so was forced to call him
"Gushti." The name has stuck to him I believe ever since. This Raider
was at the head of about two hundred fighting men, and claimed to be
a complete free lance, and to owe allegiance neither to Jiand, Halil
Khan, nor anyone else. Gusht boasted a mud fort of some size, and
from this stronghold "Gushti" raided at will.
I had been told that "Gushti" was prepared to join any force--as a
free lance--if bent on an expedition which appealed to his taste.
We were, in consequence, up against the fact that, if Jiand reached
Gusht first, "Gushti" would undoubtedly be persuaded to join him. On
the other hand, if we were first on the spot, it might be possible to
bribe him into throwing in his lot with us.
The distance between Kamalabad, where we had first camped, and
Gusht is about sixty miles, and the distance between Kamalabad and
Dast-Kird is approximately fifteen miles. It will be understood,
then, that while Jiand was marching the fifteen miles between
Kamalabad and Dast-Kird we were moving fifteen miles in the opposite
direction. When, therefore, he learned the truth as to the position,
we were thirty miles ahead of him--a useful start. On learning his
error Jiand turned and came hot-foot in pursuit of us along the
farther slopes of the hills. And such good progress did he make,
despite the difficulties of the ground, that he came very near to
overtaking us, though, fortunately, not quite. The prize offered for
the race was a big one, the unopposed passage of the Gusht defile,
plus the active, or passive, assistance of "Gushti."
On the third day's march we approached, and deployed our force to
give it as big a frontage as possible. This was done to impress
"Gushti." As usual, we had sent messengers on ahead. These invited
"Gushti" to join us, and pointed out the uselessness of opposition
as Jiand was hopelessly behind, and promised large rewards if he
decided to join us of his own free will.
When we arrived "Gushti" came out to meet us, all smiles and
pleasantness, and assured me that he had not the slightest idea
of opposing us, but that he would prefer not to fight against his
old friend Halil Khan. He undoubtedly held him in wholesome dread.
He also warned me that we were in for a big thing if we really
meant fighting. Jiand might be behind, but not so very far, for,
as usual, news of our proceedings had spread ahead of us. Jiand,
he continued, with a very large force, was close on our heels,
though on the other side of the range; whilst the Gamshadzais, under
Halil Khan, were gathered in large numbers on the Southern slopes
of the Safed-koh--about two marches away to the North of the Gusht
defile--and were ready to attack us at any moment.
He admitted, however, that we had gained one great advantage, namely
an unopposed passage through the defile.
We spent a very short time in Gusht, which boasted a considerable
number of mud huts, as well as the fort already mentioned. There were
also several karezes, and a fair number of date palms dotted about,
which gave a picturesque appearance to the place. In addition, there
was a spring which "Gushti" insisted on our seeing, and which was
supposed to possess extraordinary qualities.
This spring gushes out of the top of a dome-shaped rock, and close
beside it, also in the rock, is a hole called "The Hole of Judgment."
If a man has been accused of wrongdoing, and is brought to this
hole, a sure test of his innocence or guilt can be obtained. If, on
thrusting his hand into the hole, he is able to draw it out again, he
is innocent. If he cannot perform the feat he is guilty. This appears
to be an unfailing method of obtaining absolution for their sins.
We passed through the defile that evening, though we had already had
a long march, for I did not want to risk losing the advantage we had
gained. Once through the neck we debouched into comparatively open
ground, and, after continuing our march for some three miles, halted
and encamped by the side of a fine kareze.
That same night Jiand arrived at a point only five miles distant.
We had not, therefore, won the race with much to spare. Later
information showed that he had travelled night and day, and was
deeply depressed to find that, owing to his initial mistake, we had
passed, unopposed, what should have been a formidable barrier.
The next morning we advanced about three miles along the valley,
subject to a certain amount of sniping which grew worse as we
proceeded. We encamped in a strong position by a spring. We were
fully aware that, at any moment, the Yarmahommedzais in front of
us might join hands with the Gamshadzais. Their combined forces
would then number anything between two thousand to two thousand five
hundred men.
We now learned that a large number of the Gamshadzai herds had been
sent to a place called Makn-tuk in the Safed-koh hills beyond the
Saragan defile. I decided to attack in the direction of Makn-tuk.
Accordingly, at about five o'clock on the following morning, we
attacked the Gamshadzais' position by the Saragan defile, but at the
outset the opposition proved far greater than we had anticipated,
and, though this attack was pushed till eleven o'clock, the main body
had then only advanced about half a mile.
I then realised that it would be futile to hope to push on to
Makn-tuk, and, much against my will, withdrew the scattered forces,
some of which were already engaged far up on the hill-sides. With the
help of covering fire from the Maxim and mountain guns, we withdrew
with comparatively small loss to our last camping ground.
The Hazaras were very disappointed at this order to retire, for
they declared that, had they been allowed to advance, they would,
most certainly, have succeeded in knocking out the opposition and
winning through to Makn-tuk. But during our passage through that
region at a later date these fire-eaters were better able to gauge
the extraordinary difficulty of the terrain, and had to admit that it
would have been impossible to fight a way through.
In the meantime a body of the enemy had moved down from the hills,
and had cut off our only available water supply by capturing the
picket-post guarding the spring before mentioned.
This was serious and I immediately rode forward with an escort of
about a dozen cavalrymen. But we had not proceeded far when, quite
suddenly, a heavy fire was opened on us from the hills. Fortunately
no one was hit, but it was a miraculous escape, for the ground around
us was literally ploughed up with bullets.
We dismounted, attacked and regained the picket-post. As Brownlow and
I entered the sangar I noticed, on the ground at my feet, one of my
own cigarette boxes, which had been taken by the Raiders when they
captured my kit on its way from Nushki to Robat.
The dozen Sawars were now left to defend the spring, at any cost,
and Brownlow and I returned to the main body, meeting on the way
the Sarhad-dar, with some of the Rekis, who were coming to our
assistance. However, the danger was over for the moment.
The Rekis solemnly assured me that I must be tir-band (immune from
fire). They had watched the hail of bullets from the hills spattering
around us, and could yet hardly believe we had none of us been hit.
I had already found by experience that it was always wise to take
advantage of little superstitious suggestions of this sort, so
solemnly replied that it was a well-known fact that I was tir-band!
We had now seen enough of the enemy's ways and methods to realise
his inclination to waste a great deal of invaluable ammunition at
long ranges. We, therefore, decided upon what seemed a wise course
of action. Realising that to attack him in the hills would be too
expensive we would remain down in the open, anyhow for a few days,
draw his fire, and give him a good opportunity of eating up his
limited food supply. We had food for a month, and knew that he had
only sufficient to last four or five days.
Accordingly we camped where we were for that night, and on the
following morning moved a little farther back towards the Gusht
gorge, taking up the position upon which we had camped when first
entering the valley.
On that short rearward march we were fired at continuously, first at
long range, and then, as the enemy grew bolder, at close quarters.
We could distinctly hear them shouting as they came, crouching low
amongst the rocks and scrub of the hill-sides. They were humorists,
too, these Sarhadis, for, between the shouts, we could catch a
very passable imitation of the rat-a-tat-tat noise of our machine
guns. They came, at last, near enough to shout at me, directly and
personally, calling on me to surrender; promising if I did so to
spare my life, and also informing me that it was no good trying to
fight any longer as I was practically surrounded, and my retreat
cut off. They used the selfsame expressions I had so often used
when summoning them to surrender. This was turning the tables with
a vengeance! But we quickly saw that their boast as to having cut
our retreat was not altogether an idle one. They had, at this stage,
actually occupied a little mud fort crowning a small hillock. This
hillock lay like an island in the bottom of the valley, and commanded
the camping ground we were making for.
The Raiders could be plainly seen shooting at us through the
loop-holes, but, unfortunately for them, Lieutenant English promptly
trained one of his mountain guns on the fort. The first round fired
hit its mark, burst inside, and raised a huge cloud of dust. Its
disconcerted occupants promptly bolted, and the way to our camping
ground lay open.
Here it was possible to place the whole force in comparative safety,
partly owing to the cover afforded by the hillock with the mud fort
on its summit, and in a greater measure to the very convex slopes of
the hills to the North, which gave us complete shelter from snipers'
bullets.
Our only vulnerable point was from behind. If the enemy collected
in the low hills running out from the sides of the gorge it would
be possible to rush us in the darkness. It was in that direction,
accordingly, that we must look out for trouble.
With the idea of guarding against this I asked "Gushti" to supply me
with a couple of men who knew the country well, and were able to
find their way amongst the hills by night.
I then waited till it was quite dark before sending out two strong
pickets, each consisting of fifty men, under the guidance of
"Gushti's" men, to occupy two of the low hills which Sanders and I
had carefully noted whilst the daylight lasted. These commanded the
ground over which the attack would most likely come. We now fully
realised that we were in a very tight corner, and that there was
nothing to be done but to stay and fight it out.
That night Halil Khan himself arrived with reinforcements from Jalk,
and went straight to Jiand and his Yarmahommedzais.
He harangued them on their lack of enterprise in not having already
defeated my force and made me a prisoner. He told the tribesmen that
they vastly outnumbered my men and suggested that, if Jiand had
lost his nerve, they had better serve, for the time being, under
his leadership, when they would soon see how to capture the Sahib's
forces. The outcome of this forceful personality's action was that
Jiand, old and now very weary, consented to waive his leadership in
Halil Khan's favour--for the time being.
[Illustration: HAZARAS ON A PICKET POST BELOW WHICH HALIL KHAN WAS
KILLED.]
So sure seems Halil Khan to have been of his ultimate and complete
victory over us on the morrow that he actually sent a messenger off,
that night, to the Khan of Bampur, telling him that the British
General, who had caused so much trouble, was already a captive,
and that hundreds of his men had been killed. He also wound up this
premature message by inviting the Khan to come and share the loot.
He then left Jiand's camp, taking with him Jiand's men, marched right
round our position to our rear, and occupied a long, deep hollow
between the two very low hills on which the pickets had been posted,
but whose presence was absolutely unsuspected, as they had got there
noiselessly in the darkness.
From this hollow an easy advance on our camp could be made, and Halil
Khan's intention had been, with the dawn, to rush us, and by sheer
weight of numbers, overwhelm us.
But just before dawn one of those insignificant accidents occurred
upon which great things so often depend.
As Halil Khan made ready for the attack, which I heard later was
timed to take place during the next ten minutes, the rifle of one of
his men went off by accident.
I distinctly heard the shot, and have since been told that I rushed
out of my tent shouting, "The Lord has delivered them into our hands!"
I am perfectly certain I never said any such thing, though I may have
exclaimed, "We've got em!"
In an instant a roar of musketry broke out from the hills on both
sides, for the shot had alarmed the pickets, and they were firing
down into the hollow from whence the sound had come.
Light was beginning to break, and it was then just sufficient to see
by, dimly and uncertainly. In any case I knew I had got my chance.
Instant orders were given that every man in camp should reinforce the
pickets.
It soon became apparent that Halil Khan, ignorant that the heights
above him were occupied, had committed a grave error. Daylight showed
that his force were completely exposed to our fire, and that he could
neither advance nor retire without running the gauntlet of it; for
this grew hotter and hotter as reinforcements came up.
Halil Khan and his men fought like tigers, but were in an impossible
position. We had all the ammunition we required and an easy target.
Our own casualties were astonishingly light, but we did not get off
scot-free, and Halil Khan was personally responsible for many of our
men.
By eleven o'clock the fight was over, and those of the enemy
remaining alive got clear as best they could.
Before long news was brought that Halil Khan had been killed, and
that his body was still lying in the hollow. Immediate orders were
given for it to be brought in, as I feared the Shiah Hazaras might
attempt to mutilate it. One of the Hazaras spread the news that he
had seen me blow Halil Khan's head off. The Sarhad-dar overheard him,
repeated what the Hazara had said, and asked me to go and look at the
body, which had now been brought in.
A number of us went and looked at the body, and found that a bullet
had pierced his eye and had blown the back of his head off.
One of the Rekis, who had been present at the last Durbar in Khwash,
exclaimed, "Sahib, you are a Buzurg (a prophet). You said at the
Durbar in Khwash that if ever Halil Khan fought against you again you
would blow his head off. And behold, you have done it."
Once again I felt it policy to acquiesce and to admit that I was
a prophet. As a fact, I had not fired a single shot during the
engagement.
Soon after I had returned to my tent an irate, native officer of the
Hazaras craved admission, which was accorded. Without preface he
opened bluntly. "Sahib, will you give us Halil Khan's body?"
I asked, "Why? What do you mean to do with it? Do you want to
mutilate it?"
He replied, "Sahib, when we lost men the day before yesterday, and
buried them before retiring, the Yarmahommedzais, who came down after
our departure, dug up the bodies, mutilated them horribly and flung
them to the jackals. Therefore, in justice, Halil Khan's body is
ours."
"Halil Khan was a brave man as well as a great leader," I replied.
"You are going to give him a soldier's funeral. You surely have
no wish to treat him in the same terrible way that your men were
treated?"
He urged his point of view with such heat that I at last grew angry
and asked him by what right he demanded Halil Khan's body, and to
answer me as to who had killed him.
"You did, Sahib," he replied, eyeing me curiously.
"Exactly," I said with decision. "Then to whom does the body
belong--to you or to me?"
This seemed rather to appeal to him, for he replied with greater calm:
"To you, Sahib, I suppose."
"I suppose so too, and I am going to do what I like with it. Go at
once to Gusht, buy a new winding sheet, and we will give Halil Khan a
soldier's burial; one befitting his brave deeds and position. Bring
in all the mullahs (priests) you can find in Gusht. Oh, and, by the
way, you can pay for the winding sheet for wasting so much of my time
in argument."
So we accorded Halil Khan a really fine soldier's funeral. Nor was
this without results, for we learned, later, that it had made a great
and favourable impression throughout the Sarhad.
CHAPTER XII
VICTORY AND PEACE
News of the herds--Towards Dast-Kird--Water!--Mutton for
all--Dast-Kird--A stampede--Back to Khwash--On the track of the
Gamshadzais--Twice a prophet--The Sarhad-dar's roost--Before
Jalk--Rejected terms--More strategy and a bloodless
victory--Remain only terms and sick leave.
We had certainly won a decisive victory from a military point of
view, but, according to the unwritten code regulating victory in the
Sarhad, we had yet to capture the Raiders' _ramas_ or herds of goats
and sheep.
This omission still confronted us when one of Idu's special Reki
scouts declared he knew the exact whereabouts of Jiand's herds, and
that he could lead us there in two marches. At the end of each of
these he declared we should also find a good camping ground, and a
good water supply. As these men had never yet promised water and
failed us, orders were given to strike camp and march out in the
direction of Dast-Kird, through the valley lying between the Morpeish
and Sar-i-drokan Ranges.
Although we made a very early start the heat soon became intense.
There was not a particle of shade, and our route lay slightly uphill
all the way, over rugged broken ground. Also, as we were confident
of finding water at the camping ground, the men had emptied their
water bottles before mid-day, and were enduring agonies of thirst
long before we reached our proposed camping place; whilst the
suffering of the animals was pitiful to see. But the prospect of a
good drink at the end of the march kept up our spirits.
At last, late in the afternoon, the Reki, who had constituted himself
our guide, gave a cry and ran forward, telling us that we had reached
the spot where we should find water.
No sign of stream or spring showed itself, but I remembered that
the Sarhadis have a way of finding water seemingly miraculous to
the white man, and when the Reki proceeded to dig and scratch in
the ground at the foot of a stunted tree we fully expected to see a
little spring gush forth. The men, therefore, with lips swollen and
tongues cleaving to the roofs of their mouths, crowded round, eager
and impatient.
But, for once, Nature and the Reki failed us. For though the latter
dug and dug, with the sweat pouring down his face, the dry, arid
ground showed not the faintest sign of moisture.
At last he desisted and fell at my feet, saying despairingly, "Sahib,
there is no water! I found water here once, in the cold season, and I
thought it would always be here. The heat must have dried it all up."
[Illustration: WATER! ON THE MARCH TO THE SAR-I-DROKAN.]
Our situation was pretty desperate. We had not a drop of water for
man or beast, and now could not tell when we should get any.
All through the latter part of that day's march we had succeeded
in getting the men along solely by encouraging them with promises
of water. "Just a mile farther on" and then, "perhaps another
half-mile." Only those who have marched without water in torrid
countries can have any conception of the depression that grips men
when they do not know when, or where, water may next be found.
I cursed the man for misleading us, and he shook with fear. "It is
not my fault, Sahib. Water was here when last I came to this place.
But to-morrow, without fail, I will lead you to a fine stream of
water."
"To-morrow?" I echoed. "How are we to exist till to-morrow? Why
should I believe you? You have deceived us to-day, why not again
to-morrow?"
The man swore on the Koran he could and would lead us to a place
where we should find water. "If I do not succeed, Sahib, in finding
water before eleven o'clock, then take my life."
I replied grimly that if he failed again, his life would most
certainly be forfeit--that was to say if any of us then remained in a
condition to shoot him.
The whole force suffered horribly that night, and when we set out
again it was still dark. The Reki went on ahead with the advance
guard. I rather imagine he was anxious to put a safe distance between
himself and my revolver, for I had, indeed, determined to have him
shot if he deceived us a second time. No man could face a second day
of that blinding heat and glare without water and keep his sanity.
We had only been marching a few hours when a Sawar rode back from the
advance guard to report that large herds of sheep and goats had been
sighted a short distance ahead.
Our spirits instantly rose. Where there were sheep there would, most
probably, be water. Shouting to the men to encourage them we galloped
forward and were soon pushing our way through masses of sheep to find
ourselves on the banks of a stream of clear, cool water.
The difficulty, of course, was now to restrain man and beast from
over-drinking; for if ever nectar flowed on this earth it flowed that
day in that parched, sun-baked Saragan Valley.
Unfortunately, like the majority of streams in the Sarhad, and in
Persia generally, it only flowed above ground for a short distance,
to be soon lost again in the arid, sandy ground. So orders were
given to halt at that spot till we were all rested, and had absorbed
sufficient water to make up for the past thirty-six hours.
The thirty-four herds of sheep and goats found here were claimed
as spoils of war, and I determined to give the men a real, good
feast for once. Here was any amount of mutton for the killing, and
well-nigh as much goats' milk as water.
The hungry Hazaras sent in a request that they might each have a
whole sheep a day. I naturally thought such a request fantastic, and,
not taking it literally, sent back word that they might, for once,
have as much meat as they wanted.
But they took the permission literally, and actually did slaughter
a sheep for each man. I discovered afterwards that their great idea
had been to be able to boast, in the future, that, after their great
victory over the Yarmahommedzais, led by the Gamshadzai Chief, Halil
Khan, their rations had been "a sheep per man per day."
After this feast the carcasses of the uneaten sheep, and of the
half-cooked meat, lay about in an orgy of waste, and the sight of the
camping-ground was, as may be imagined, a sickening one. Never again
was such a ration-order given!
Late in the afternoon, with the whole force in fine fettle, we
continued our forward march, driving the herds with us, and, a little
later, found a good camping ground with a plentiful supply of water.
For many hours that night, owing to the bleating of thousands of
sheep, there was little rest for anyone. But as they were now _our_
sheep and not the enemy's, the annoyance was cheerfully borne.
Upon the following day water proved scarce, and a great deal of
digging had to be done before even a trickle could be found. The
unfortunate sheep and animals had, therefore, to go very short. The
country was also from this point getting very difficult, and marching
became a great labour in consequence. Part of our route lay through a
narrow, rocky defile; one of the worst to negotiate, from a military
point of view, that I have ever encountered. Had a mere handful of
the enemy chosen to obstruct us it would have been utterly impossible
to get through.
Much picketing of the heights had to be done, and this called for a
great effort on the part of the Hazara Pioneers. These duties were
well carried out under the very able direction of Major Lang.
Fortunately the Yarmahommedzais had had enough of it, and left us
severely alone. In fact, the only signs we had of them were the blood
tracks of their wounded, walking or carried. But even these were
significant enough evidence of their losses during the fight.
The next day brought us more open ground, though marching still
remained arduous, as we were tackling an uphill route. But later it
fell away again towards the Dast-Kird gorge, and, by the afternoon,
we were able to pitch our camp in a wild, but very picturesque,
little valley, close to Jiand's Summer haunt. This valley, as I
have already explained, lies between the Morpeish and Sar-i-drokan
heights, which at this point rise sheer from it on either side. There
are also a good many trees in the neighbourhood, and the ground round
the bases of these had been flattened, and then plastered with mud,
in order to form good flooring for jugis.
We spent the night here, and on the following day arrived at
Dast-Kird, where we camped close to a small stream. Unfortunately
this stream was so small, a mere trickle, that it would not suffice
for the animals, who had had insufficient water for the last two or
three days.
These herds were some little distance behind, for, poor brutes, they
were feeling the heat and lack of water terribly. We, therefore,
proceeded to make some provision for them, before their arrival, by
damming the stream, and trying to make a small reservoir.
The first animals to arrive were the battery mules, who, when they
smelt water, made a dash for it. But they had scarcely begun to drink
than a mass of twelve thousand sheep and goats, also smelling water,
broke from their would-be shepherds, and, in a solid phalanx, charged
the mules, routed them, and took possession of the water-supply. The
men pulled and tugged, and struck them with their rifles in their
endeavour to stampede them and drink themselves. But those sheep knew
the power of numbers and of combination. With their heads well down
they slaked their thirst from a stream which, now that the dam had
been trodden down, had again become a trickle, and they held that
position, against all comers, for twenty minutes. Poor beasts, they
paid for their orgy at the price of some two hundred lives that night.
Upon the following day we started on our return march to Khwash,
and, upon our entry there, were accorded a great reception, and the
story of the fight had to be told again and again.
It was during this march that we began to realise the extent of the
Yarmahommedzai casualties in the recent fighting; for, during the
whole of it, from the scene of the fight right through to Khwash, a
distance of about a hundred miles, not a single one of the enemy did
we see, nor was a solitary shot fired at us.
But I was still not quite satisfied with results. We had not yet
closely engaged and beaten the Gamshadzais, nor had we put into
operation that deciding factor, the capture of their herds. On the
contrary, when we had attempted to pierce the Saragan defile, they
had forced us to retire.
I have never yet been able to understand why Halil Khan never brought
his own force against us near Gusht, but only the Yarmahommedzais,
after he had persuaded Jiand to let him lead the latter into battle.
It can only be supposed that he thought he had a task easy enough
to tackle with one lashkar, and that he would not, in consequence,
endanger his own men's lives. The mystery is the deeper because he
had previously been at great pains to collect all his scattered
tribesmen, and had concentrated them in the Safed-koh. Yet these men,
even when news reached them of our victory over Jiand's tribe and of
the death of their leader, never made the smallest attempt to attack
us or to reverse the decision of arms.
It will be understood, then, that while the Gamshadzais remained
unbeaten and their herds intact, our claim to dominance in the Sarhad
could not be claimed as anything but partial. If, therefore, we were
to hope for lasting peace in the future, they too must have a lesson.
So, after a couple of days' rest at Khwash, we marched out with our
faces once more turned towards Gusht, and with every hope of another
victory. The composition of the force was much the same as that upon
the previous occasion, but with the addition of a few Chagai Levies
under Major Hutchinson (political officer).
A couple of days' marching across the burning plain found us camped
at a place called Ab-i-kahugan, lying in a small valley closely
surrounded by hills. The men were hot and weary, and, as water had
been scarce on the march, they were only too thankful to fling
themselves down and rest. There were a small water hole and a few
stunted trees and shrubs under which a certain amount of shade could
be obtained.
For myself I dropped down under one of these bushes and slept well on
into the afternoon. When at last I woke, still feeling very done up
with the heat, I saw one or two flashes of lightning in the distance,
and felt certain that it was going to rain.
I immediately got up and gave orders for the whole camp to be moved
on to higher ground, and selected a likely spot on one of the slopes
of the low hills surrounding the valley.
The heat was still very great, and the effort expended in
striking and re-pitching camp was not inconsiderable. The present
camping-place was also infinitely cooler and more comfortable.
As an outcome of this order an officer reported that the men were
grumbling at having to move when tired out with the heat and the
heavy marching of the last few days.
I explained (for I knew by my own state how tired and done the men
must be) that I had a presentiment that it was going to rain and
that, if it did, the dry valley-bed would soon be a running stream.
The officer stared at me. "Rain?" he repeated, as though he had not
heard me aright. "But it hardly ever rains in the Sarhad, and it has
never been known to rain in August."
"Nevertheless," I replied, "this valley-bottom is going to be turned
upside down, and the sooner you get your men out of it and up on to
high ground the better."
The officer saluted and returned to his men, who sulkily proceeded
to carry up their kit and tents and to form a new camp on the
uncomfortable, sloping sides of the hill.
As I strolled about, seeing that my orders were being carried out, I
noticed that Major Hutchinson's tent had been left in the bed of the
valley. I walked up to it, found him dozing inside, and told him to
have his tent moved on to higher ground as it was going to rain.
He, however, demurred, saying that he was very tired. He added, "It
never rains in the month of August in Baluchistan."
I, however, remained firm, though the few light clouds flecking the
sky a short while before had completely disappeared.
Despite my stringent orders some of Major Hutchinson's Chagai Levies
apparently passed unnoticed amongst the low scrub, and so remained
down in the shady comfort of the valley.
As the evening wore on I began to feel that perhaps I had been
foolish in ignoring the dogmatic statements of the men well
acquainted with weather conditions in the Sarhad, and was still
chewing the cud of this reflection when, suddenly, I heard a roar in
the distance. This came rapidly nearer, and very quickly resolved
itself into the sound of rushing water. Almost before we realised it,
a mighty spate swept into the valley, literally filling it. The water
carried everything before it, and very soon small trees, shrubs and
débris were being hurled along in a mighty rush.
It was pretty evident that the rain foretold had indeed fallen,
though actually, in another part of the hills, forming this spate,
which would have caused us serious loss but for my lucky premonition.
Torrents of rain accompanied the spate, and the kit of the few
Chagai Levies who had neglected orders was carried away and never
seen again.
As for the Levies themselves, they came within an ace of losing their
own lives, and only saved themselves by clambering into the branches
of some stunted trees, and waiting there till rescued. Nor was the
rescue-work done without considerable risk to the rescuers.
The Sarhad-dar had, for some reason, been down in the valley-bed when
the spate arrived, and had been nearly drawn under during the first
few minutes. But he too, fortunately, managed to climb into a low
tree, where for some time his position was perilous enough, for the
swirling waters threatened every minute to snap or uproot the trunk,
when he would have been carried away.
It was pitch dark when the spate arrived. I had seized a hurricane
lamp from my tent and was watching the amazing scene by its light,
when I heard the Sarhad-dar's voice shouting for help. One of our
resourceful Rekis instantly grasped the situation. He jumped on to
one of the horses tethered close by, urged him into the flood, and
soon had the Sarhad-dar safely beside me on the high ground. He was
later on recommended for the Royal Humane Society's Medal.
The next morning, as soon as I was awake, my tent was besieged by the
Hazaras. They crowded round, asking me to come out. So slipping into
my kit I emerged with the intention of asking them what they wanted.
But I had scarcely lifted the tent-flap when they all raised a shout,
and then proceeded to tell me that I was a Buzurg (prophet), that
they all owed their lives to me, and had come to thank me.
I replied with proper solemnity. It was undeniable, I said, that I
was a prophet, for had they not recently had two concrete instances
of my powers?
Later on, Major Hutchinson, in thanking me for saving his life,
asked: "How did you know it was going to rain?"
I laughingly replied, "Because I'm a prophet, my son! Didn't you hear
the Hazaras proclaim it just now?"
As a matter of fact we had very great reason to be thankful for our
escape. The loss of the whole of our camp equipment, and of hundreds
of our animals, would have been inevitable had the camp remained on
its original site.
The day following this incident we marched through Gusht again, and
camped on the site of our recent engagement.
From here we resumed our march in the direction of Zaiti, a camping
ground lying just beyond the Saragan defile. But though we started
at five a.m., met with no opposition and reckoned the distance only
about twelve miles, we were not through the defile before midnight.
It must have been at about this hour that I called one of the
native Hazara officers to my side, and remarked, "Your men were very
disappointed the other day when we tried to force the pass, and
the order was given to retire. You remember, they said they were
convinced they could have got through, even with the heavy opposition
we encountered. Do you think, now they've seen what it's really like,
they are satisfied that the order was a necessary one?"
"Sahib," he replied, "of course we all see now that we could have
done nothing in such a place against a determined enemy. I have never
been through such a place in my life, and I am used to rough and
difficult country."
As a matter of fact the defile was so narrow in places that a loaded
camel could not get through it. Fortunately we had a quantity of gun
cotton with us, so were able to blast the rocks here and there, and
thus make the passage possible for them without unloading.
In due course we arrived at the village of Sinukan, a place some
eleven miles from Jalk. Jalk at the time was a Gamshadzai stronghold,
where they held two forts of some strength.
[Illustration: HAZARA PIONEERS WIDENING A PASSAGE FOR LOADED CAMELS.]
At Sinukan I received a message from the Gamshadzais saying that
they wished to treat with me, and asking whether I would go into
Jalk and state my terms. If these were acceptable, they said, they
would instantly submit, but, if not, they undertook to withdraw their
forces to a distance of five miles on the farther side of Jalk,
provided we also withdrew five miles from the town on our side.
This suggestion was made in order to give us both time to make our
respective dispositions before fighting commenced.
An answer was sent to say that I agreed to the conditions, and that
my force would come at once into Jalk to meet the Chiefs and present
my terms to them.
I would say here that these terms were not drastic. They were only
bare necessary safeguards for the lasting peace of the Sarhad. On
their presentation, therefore, and for a time during the discussion,
I hoped that counsels of wisdom would prevail, and that they would
be accepted _in toto_. At the last minute, however, the hotheads
over-ruled the moderates and they were formally rejected.
On this rejection I warned them that, if they persisted in their
refusal, it meant fighting, and their reply was that they fully
recognised the gravity of their decision, but that they meant to
abide by it.
Accordingly, we retired not only five miles but the whole eleven
miles back to Sinukan. My reason for this action was that I had
already thought out a plan by which it might be possible to subdue
these warlike tribesmen without the fighting I was naturally anxious
to avoid. I certainly did not want to lose my own men, nor did I
wish to make casualties of any more of the Sarhadis. My chief object
had been, throughout, and, as has already been mentioned in this
narrative, to make friends with them in the long run.
But no race, white or coloured, ever held in respect man or
government showing weakness or indecision, and, as the foregoing
pages prove, it was of little use attempting to make friends with
these tribesmen without first inspiring them with a wholesome respect
for British arms.
As we approached Sinukan I directed my Brigade Major to form two
separate camps as I wished to seize Jalk by surprise that night
with a portion of my force. My idea was to leave my transport and
other encumbrances under a sufficient guard at Sinukan and with the
remainder to move off secretly to carry out my intentions. Great
care was taken to keep my idea secret, and only a few officers knew
my intention. So well was the secret kept that my personal servant,
Allah-dad, brought me my tea next morning only to find my bed empty.
[Illustration: CHAHGIRD FORT IN JALK.]
At midnight, very quietly we roused the troops and marched off.
Before dawn we arrived outside the town. It was only at the very
last moment that the Gamshadzais, who had learned that I had gone
straight back to Sinukan, and, in consequence, had not anticipated an
attack that night, got wind of our approach. They were, therefore,
taken completely by surprise, and utterly lost their heads. As we
charged into the place with the cavalry they all took to their heels
and rushed out on the other side, leaving many arms behind them.
Within a very few minutes the two forts were in our hands.
My men soon rounded up the few Gamshadzais who had remained in the
place, which seemed otherwise to be full of women and children.
To my embarrassment three large _ramas_ of weeping women and children
were presently led up to where I was sitting under a tree on the bank
of a stream. I was then informed that they were all mine.
Some of them, in tears, asked me what I was going to do with them.
I replied, "I don't know. But at any rate I am English and not a
German. What would you like me to do with you?"
They seemed bewildered at first, and without understanding, but when
I assured them that I was speaking seriously, and really wanted to
know what they would like to do, they soon found their tongues and
made known the fact that they would like to go to their own homes.
"Is that all?" I replied. "Well then, go."
Their faces which, at first, shone with joy soon fell again. "But,
Sahib, we have nothing left. You have captured all our possessions."
"But I don't want them," I returned. "Take everything that is yours
and go."
Their thanks were then overwhelming, but I cut them short. "Wait
a bit before you thank me so much. No Englishman ever makes war
against woman and children--but there are your men. If I catch them,
after all the trouble they've given me, I shall certainly kill them."
"Kill them then, Sahib," they said scornfully. "They deserted us, and
ran away, when you and your lashkar came in. It is all they deserve."
As a matter of fact I learned, soon afterwards, that the Gamshadzais
had not only run out of Jalk, but right out of the Sarhad, to take
refuge in other districts. By thus evacuating their own country they
acknowledged their final defeat.
It is reasonable to suppose that this humiliating end to their
opposition would never have occurred had Halil Khan been alive.
He, at least, would have been game to the last. He would have died
fighting at Jalk--as he had indeed died at Gusht--or he would have
surrendered with dignity. Halil Khan was a fine man, and without his
leadership the spirit of his men at first faltered and then failed.
It seemed then that, by this last action with the Gamshadzais, the
prestige of the British had been completely restored throughout
the Sarhad. In the West, Juma Khan, leader of the Ismailzais, had
faithfully kept his word to, and had demonstrated his friendship and
loyalty for, the British cause, ever since he had pledged both at
Kacha. In the centre of the district the Yarmahommedzais had been
completely defeated in open action. In the East the Gamshadzais had
abandoned their arms and had bolted from the country.
There was now nothing left to be done.
We, therefore, returned, marching easily to Khwash, where, very
shortly after our arrival, I received letters from both the
Yarmahommedzais and Gamshadzais asking to be allowed to return to
their respective homes in the Sarhad, and on any terms that might be
imposed.
I had had eight months of continual work in the hot weather of the
Sarhad and was very near the end of my tether. As a fact I was, by
that time, suffering badly in health in many ways, and our medical
officer insisted upon an immediate return to India for a long rest.
As the Sarhad was now completely ours, and as it only remained for
the political officers to dictate terms to the tribes, I listened to
the advice of that medical officer, applied for leave to return to
Simla, and was, in due course, granted it.
But, though the need for rest in a cooler climate was urgent, it was
with real regret that I said goodbye to Khwash, the centre of so many
hopes and fears, and the scene of such dramatic happenings.
INDEX
Ab-i-kahugan, 209
Allah-dad (the author's servant), 19, 20, 23, 36, 216
Allan (the author's chauffeur), 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32,
33, 36, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 113, 117, 118, 119,
120, 121, 122, 127
Baghdad, 48
Baluch Raiders, 21
Bampur, 44, 83, 84
Bampur, Khan of, 83, 84, 196
Birjand, 16, 38, 39, 101
Borgar, 31
Bream, Lieutenant, 6, 185
Brownlow, Captain, 5, 185, 187, 193
Chagai Levies, 6, 33, 34, 39, 41, 52, 60, 61, 73, 209, 211, 212
Chitral, 38
Claridge Colonel, 5, 51, 143, 163, 181, 183, 185
Dale, Colonel, 181
Dast-Kird, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 201, 206, 207
Dew, Colonel, 84
Duff, General Sir Beauchamp, 47
Duzd-ab Plain, 92, 95
Eastwick, Mr., 48
English, Captain, R.A., 6, 185, 195
Galahad (the author's horse), 23, 51
Galugan, 40, 82, 84, 85, 89, 92, 109
Gamshadzais, 40, 47, 62, 73, 76, 82, 90, 165, 167, 176, 177, 179, 190,
192, 205, 208, 209, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219
Grover, General, 20
Gul-Bibi, 58, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 150, 151
Gusht, 42, 177, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 194, 200, 208, 209, 213, 218
"Gushti," 188, 189, 190, 195, 196
Gwarko, 86
Halil, 35
Halil Khan, 40, 47, 49, 73, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 89, 90, 94,
96, 99, 100, 137, 140, 141, 147, 148, 161, 172, 176, 177, 178,
186, 187, 188, 190, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 205, 208, 218
Hazara Pioneers, 106th, 6, 171, 172, 177, 181, 183, 184, 185, 192,
198, 199, 205, 206, 212, 213, 214
Hazara tribes, 17
Herat, 17
Hirst, Captain, 5, 52, 60
Hutchinson, Major, 209, 210, 211, 213
Ibrahim, 41
Idu, 6, 33, 34, 35, 36, 41, 48, 49, 50, 53, 59, 65, 72, 73, 78, 83,
85, 87, 88, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 97, 99, 100, 103, 104, 105, 106,
107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119, 121, 123, 124,
125, 126, 127, 129, 133, 134, 135, 136, 138, 150, 165, 166, 176,
187, 201
Ismailzais, 40, 47, 62, 64, 79, 82, 89, 218
Izzat, 78, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121, 123, 128, 131, 166, 168,
169, 170
Jalk, 40, 42, 49, 55, 196, 214, 215, 216, 218
Jiand Khan, 40, 47, 49, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,
67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 89, 90, 91,
94, 95, 98, 99, 100, 102, 103, 111, 112, 113, 116, 118, 122,
124, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 140, 142,
146, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 162, 172, 173,
174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 184, 185, 186, 187,
188, 189, 190, 191, 196, 197, 201, 206
Jujak, 106
Juma Khan, 40, 47, 62, 64, 79, 82, 84, 89, 90, 91, 99, 100, 101, 140,
161, 218
Kacha, 47, 49, 52, 53, 86, 87, 92, 95, 96, 97, 99, 104, 106, 116, 126,
137, 143, 166, 171, 181, 218
Kamalabad, 63, 65, 66, 67, 71, 89, 146, 147, 162, 163, 176, 177, 178,
179, 184, 189
Karsimabad, 147, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 161
Kerman, 17
Khan Bahadur. _See_ the Sarhad-dar.
Khwash, 39, 40, 42, 50, 52, 55, 57, 58, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 80, 82,
83, 84, 87, 89, 97, 99, 100, 102, 103, 104, 108, 112, 113, 114,
116, 118, 119, 121, 122, 126, 127, 128, 129, 132, 133, 135, 137,
140, 142, 143, 144, 146, 152, 162, 163, 167, 169, 171, 175, 177,
179, 180, 181, 184, 185, 187, 199, 208, 209, 219
Khwashis, 74, 75, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 130, 163, 164, 166, 167
Kirkpatrick, General, 15, 18, 47
Kitson, General Sir Gerald, 19
Koh-i-Bazman, 44, 83, 85
Koh-i-Jiandsiah, 95
Koh-i-Taftan, 44, 55, 57, 63, 64, 74, 76, 89, 105, 154, 172, 179
Korasan, 16
Ladis, 55, 56, 57, 119
Landon, Major, 5, 37, 48, 50, 52, 53, 54, 61, 64, 72, 76, 83, 92, 93,
95, 102, 103, 104, 105, 108, 113, 118, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132,
133, 136, 137, 138, 152
Lang, Major, 5, 183, 185, 206
Light Cavalry, 28th, 5, 50, 51, 52, 143
Lut Desert, 16
MacGowan, Major, 52, 53
Mahommed-Hassan, 72, 73, 74, 80, 81, 135, 140
Makn-tuk, 192
Makran, 84
Meshed, 42
Middlesex, 9th, 19
Mirjawa, 52, 53, 54, 106
Mirza Khan, 82
Moore-Lane, Captain, 5, 185
Morpeish Hills, 63, 65, 66, 67, 141, 178, 184, 185, 187, 188, 201,
206
Murad, 147, 148, 152, 153, 155, 156, 157, 161
Mushki-chah, 30
Narmashir, 17, 91, 170
Nasaratabad, 38, 39, 46, 50, 51, 64, 143
Nasaratabad-sippi, 64, 90
Nur-Mahommed, 157, 158, 161
Nushki, 18, 20, 21, 22, 39, 51, 71, 142, 193
Oxus River, 38
Pamirs, 38
Persian Gulf, 84
Pindi, 18, 20
Pioneers, 12th, 53, 54
Punjab Infantry, 19th, 52
Quetta, 18, 20, 21, 39, 170
Rekis, 41, 47, 56, 82, 109, 112, 114, 119, 163, 165, 193, 199, 201,
202, 203, 212
Robat, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 36, 37, 38, 41, 47, 50, 51, 64, 71, 86, 97,
104, 106, 142, 171, 193
Safed-koh, 40, 190, 192, 208
Saindak, 31, 32, 35, 36, 39, 52, 104, 106, 171, 172, 177, 178, 181
Sanders, Major, 5, 152, 154, 156, 158, 159, 175, 176, 185, 196
Saragan defile, 192, 204, 208, 213
Sarhad, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 35, 40, 43, 44, 52, 55, 77, 78, 81, 82,
94, 101, 113, 119, 135, 147, 161, 165, 177, 180, 186, 200, 201,
204, 209, 210, 211, 215, 218, 219
Sarhad-dar, 39, 57, 58, 61, 64, 72, 79, 83, 95, 97, 98, 102, 132, 136,
138, 139, 156, 160, 161, 162, 166, 168, 176, 193, 212
Sar-i-drokan, 65, 66, 184, 185, 201, 206
Scinde Horse, 35th, 5, 37
Seistan, 35, 46, 64
Shah Sawar, 58, 59, 60, 80, 81, 82, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129,
131, 132, 135, 137, 138, 139, 140, 148, 149, 150, 151, 182
Shiah Mahommedans, 17, 184, 198
Sikhs, 36th, 5, 152
Simla, 37, 47, 50, 219
Sinukan, 214, 215, 216
Sunni Mahommedans, 17, 41, 184
Takht-i-Jinikan, 92, 93
Teheran, 48
Webb-Ware route, 32
Yadgar, 26
Yarmahommedzais, 40, 47, 62, 66, 72, 74, 78, 82, 90, 113, 130, 148,
156, 160, 164, 165, 169, 172, 179, 191, 196, 199, 205, 206, 208,
218, 219
Yates, Lieutenant, 53
Zaiti, 213
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY
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* * * * * *
Transcriber's note
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.
Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. For example,
despatch; Sherif; townless; rarified; hill-side, hillside; night-fall,
nightfall; koh-i-Taftan, koh-i-taftan.
Pg 10 Table of Contents: 'Sharhad-dar' replaced by 'Sarhad-dar'.
Pg 124: 'he he said' replaced by 'he said'.
Pg 172 Illustration caption: 'KACHHA' replaced by 'KACHA'.
Pg 184 Illustration caption: 'GHUSHT' replaced by 'GUSHT'.
Pg 201: 'Sharhad-dar' replaced by 'Sarhad-dar'.
Pg 201: 'Reki scout' replaced by 'Reki scouts'.
Pg 216 Illustration caption: 'CHAHQIRD' replaced by 'CHAHGIRD'.
Index: 'Ab-i-Kahugan' replaced by 'Ab-i-kahugan'.
Index: 'Mourlain, Captain, 5' replaced by 'Moore-Lane, Captain, 5, 185'
Index: 'Mushkichah' replaced by 'Mushki-chah'.
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Raiders of the Sarhad - Being an Account of the Campaign of Arms and Bluff Against the Brigands of the Persian-Baluchi Border during the Great War" ***
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