180 SERVICES OF LIEUTENANT JACOB. 



pline under the training of Lieutenant Jacob 

 was perfect, although the corps had been con- 

 stantly employed most actively in Eastern Cut- 

 chee, in preventing any combined efforts of 

 hostility on the part of the Belooch tribes. 

 This would have been no easy matter at any 

 time, but under the peculiar circumstances then 

 attending our position in Afglianistan, which 

 was well known to all, and the efforts which 

 were made on every side to stir up the warlike 

 and lawless people against a handful of British 

 troops in Cutchee, the difficulties appeared 

 almost insurmountable; nevertheless the task 

 was accomplished. Although the predatory 

 tribes occasionally assembled in very large 

 numbers under the most skilful and daring of 

 their chiefs, they were never successful, for 

 tlieir most persevering and vigorous efforts were 

 always baffled by the superior vigilance and 

 courage of the men who were opposed to them. 

 The best of the Belooch warriors through this 

 lost their reputation as leaders, and their men 

 would not follow them : doubt and distrust 

 everywhere prevailed among the chiefs, and 

 during the most trying period of our disasters 

 in Afglianistan, perfect tranquillity was main- 



