AMONG THE AFFGHANS. 267 



These had refrained from attacking the foraging 

 party, and from firing on the cavalry, and their 

 dwellings were safe. Throughout the day they never 

 budged from their walls, even when, later on, they 

 were between a cross-fire. And yet they were of the 

 same tribe and of the same village as the men with 

 whom we were fighting ! 



Shortly after, word was brought in to Major Con- 

 nolly, the Political Officer, that the Jirgah (tribal coun- 

 cil) wished to come in and treat for terms. " Cease 

 firing " was ordered in consequence. But while this 

 order remained in force, the masses of the enemy 

 closed in. Up went one of the towers, a mass of 

 earth and loose stones, and the retirement began. 

 Immediately the whole country was alive, and heavy 

 firing commenced on all sides. Once again the Gen- 

 eral halted till the second tower was about to rise. 

 Under cover of the banks of the water-courses men- 

 tioned above, large bodies of Shinwarrees closed in 

 towards our flanks. These two water-courses, after 

 passing the village, met at a point near where our 

 road back to camp lay, and were there covered with 

 long reeds. The object of the enemy was to get into 

 these reeds and dash into us as we retired. Luckily 

 our General knew their tactics well. The mining 

 was completed ; the retirement had recommenced ; 

 the tower rose in a dense cloud, with a loud roar, in 

 the air, and at the same moment a wild yell rang over 

 every hill, "AH! Ali ! " and a large body furiously 



