1841.] Journal kept ivhile travelling in Seistan. 331 



" They have killed him ; they have killed him." "Killed whom?" I said, 



starting up in alarm. " Mahomed Siddie." As soon 

 Mahomed Siddie. , , . ... , , 



as we were able to re-assure the trembling wretch 



sufficiently to allow of his giving a connected account of what had 

 occurred, we learned that Mahomed Siddie, who was desirous of com- 

 ing on with me, had determined to rejoin us by making a detour to 

 avoid Toojk ; and striking into the road a few miles below, he had 

 just reached the road, when he was met face to face by Jaun Mahomed's 

 party returning home ; He had but two more with him, his nephew and a 

 servant, the man who had come to me. Jaun Mahomed's brother, the 

 moment he saw his enemy jumped off his horse and fired his match- 

 lock, but missed. Jaun Mahomed called out to let the other party alone ; 

 but just at this moment Mahomed Siddie's nephew fired, on which Jaun 

 Mahomed's son galloping up, killed him before he could remount, with 

 one blow of his sword. The other two fled, and Jaun Mahomed and the 

 rest coming up, all dug their swords into the dead body. The last 

 circumstance we learnt afterwards ; and such is always the custom in 

 similar cases. Somewhat relieved at finding that Mahomed Siddie 

 was not himself killed, (the servant's fright alone having caused him to 

 mention his name,) we now consulted how to secure his servant's safety ; 

 *or he was clinging to me for protection, and declaring that he should be 

 murdered by the Ishaukzyes. The Shaughoussee swore that no harm 

 should happen to him while he remained with me, and then the man 

 consented to accompany us as far as Laush, when he would get a 

 present and khillut for his master. As we were riding along ; I asked 



the Shaughoussee, " Is the feud now quenched ; do 

 Shah Pussund Khan. .„ „ , .. 



you want any more lives r He answered by holding 



out two fingers. Some sixteen lives have been lost in this quarrel. 



We were met at about 200 yards from the fort gate by the Khan, 



jjimself mounted, and his attendants on foot, for all the horsemen were 



either with me or at Killah Rab ; we dismounted and joined hands, and 



as every one with me had to place his hands between those of the 



Khan, I thought we should never have mounted again. The room 



selected for me was nearly at the top of the castle, and the same in 



which Vikovitch had lived. It was small, not very clean, and but 



poorly furnished ; but to compensate these disadvantages, it commanded 



a view of the plain below, of which we were never tired The fort 



