260 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



least during these exciting times. For the first few 

 days all went well. The influential chief again and 

 again endeavoured to dissuade Leach from going here 

 or there ; but on each occasion his objections were 

 overruled, and his prognostications of evil were unful- 

 filled. If the Shinwarrees showed little friendship, 

 they were not openly hostile, and the surveyor was 

 encouraged to proceed. But all this while one of 

 those peculiar influences was at work, so hard to 

 foresee, so little understood by men unacquainted 

 with the Pathans. Perhaps a fortnight earlier the 

 surveyor might have gone from end to end of the 

 Shinwarree country without meeting strenuous oppo- 

 sition ; but, as was elicited afterwards, hardly a week 

 previously, some petty chieftain more restless than 

 his fellows had commenced intriguing for a row. 

 There had not been a social " Donnybrook " for 

 several months. The Afreedees and Mohmunds 

 round the Khyber, the Merjankhels still nearer, the 

 Mangals and Jajis in the Kooram valley, the British 

 troops and those of the Ameer, had each and all had 

 a little fun during the past winter. But the Shin- 

 warrees had sat in their villages while war and blood- 

 shed had been frolicking all round them while camel- 

 loads of stores and treasure had passed in thousands 

 within sight of their towers. It is not difficult, 

 where such feelings predominate, to raise a "war 

 party," and the fever is very catching in the most 

 peaceful communities. Soon a considerable number 



