AMONG THE AFFGHANS. 271 



commenced, and the thousands of the enemy closing 

 in with wild yells from all sides, they concluded we 

 were lost, and made themselves scarce as soon as 

 possible, spreading a report that we had been repulsed 

 by the Shinwarrees. The rumour, as usual, lost 

 nothing in its further progress. The Khugianees 

 heard that we had lost two guns and a general. Im- 

 mediately after, a stir was observable all round, and 

 a noted Ghilzai chief, Azmatoollah Khan, who had 

 from the first done his utmost to rouse an opposition 

 against us, was soon very busy. 



The Khugianees succeed the Shinwarrees among 

 the slopes and at the base of the Safed-Koh, west- 

 ward as far as the Surkhab river, some forty miles 

 from Jellalabad. They are then succeeded by the 

 Ghilzais, who occupy the range of hills connecting 

 the Safed-Koh with the Sia-Koh (black mountain)* 

 through which runs the Jugdulluk Pass, and the road 

 to Cabul via Tezeen. They also occupy the Sia-Koh 

 and the Lughman valley, through which flows the 

 Cabul river proper after leaving the Cabul valley. 

 These two large tribes the only ones that now lay 

 on our onward line of march to Cabul were thrown 

 into considerable excitement by the news from the 

 Shinwarree country, and both determined not only 

 to oppose our farther progress, but also, if possible, 

 to annoy us where we were. This latter they could 

 only hope to accomplish at present by attacking and 

 destroying the villages that were supplying us with 



VOL. III. 



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