AMONG THE AFFGHANS. 247 



baggage, with the main part of the escort, behind, 

 we started, with twenty sepoys and a body of Tarak- 

 zais and some Alimzai Khans, for a village called 

 Zankhai, about seven miles from Michni, intending 

 to return to camp at night. By mid-day we had 

 finished the sketch required, and had climbed a 

 prominent peak, from which a splendid view of the 

 Gandao valley Avas obtained. Seated on neighbour- 

 ing knolls were small armed parties, with whom we 

 entered into conversation, which was cordially carried 

 on till some one noticed a strong body of men hurry- 

 ing towards us from the valley below. Wishing to 

 avoid a disturbance, we immediately began the de- 

 scent, but had scarcely gone 100 yards down-hill 

 when the parties with whom we had been conversing 

 opened a pretty smart fire on us, or rather over us, for, 

 as usual, no one was hit. Considering it unadvisable 

 to begin a fight, we continued our retreat without 

 returning their fire, and it soon ceased. Shortly 

 after, we were on the road, and quietly moving 

 campwards. The Tarakzai Khans having asked 

 where we intended going next day, we broke through 

 our usual custom and told them. They immediately 

 asked permission to go and take up a position above 

 the intended route, to prevent its being occupied by 

 any malcontents. This, after some hesitation, we 

 allowed, and we never saw them again that day. 

 Perhaps it was as well, for we could not tell friend 

 from enemy. Some Alimzais remained with us the 



