190 Dr. Jameson's reports [No. 135. 



found out to be incorrect. In the evening the chiefs were joined 

 by Seyed Kasim (Khan, the first time that I had seen him) who was 

 received with marked respect by Sirdar Kader Khan and others. On 

 asking Futteh Khan, after all the others had left, (who conducted me to 

 a small mud hut for my residence) why his people did not assist me ? he 

 replied, that if they had done so, that they (the Dooranis) would 

 have been massacred to a man ; that the principal tribes by whom I was 

 attacked were the Bazote, Automkhail and Parkhail, whose chiefs were 

 either in the pay of Captain Mackeson or General Avitabile ; viz. Alum 

 Khan, Zemaun Khan and Ishonail Khan, in that of the former ; and Rehmit 

 Khan in that of the latter ; that Seyed Kasim Khan had aided and abet- 

 ted them, and that he was a thief and a robber, and at the head of a large 

 banditti who inhabited villages close to Cohat. This is the reason I attri- 

 * bute why the chiefs (Dooranis) were so anxious I should quarter in their 

 fort, fearing lest I should be attacked close to their town. 



11th. Next morning I was informed by Duria Khan and Ibrahim 

 Khan, that the cantonments at Caubool had been carried by assault and 

 all the British troops massacred, and this was stated on the authority of 

 a letter said to have been received by General Avitabile, and that the 

 whole country was up in arms. They advised me to leave forthwith, and 

 attempt to cross the Pass during the night. Shortly after they had left 

 me I was visited by Futteh Khan, who asked what I intended to do. 

 I replied that he knew best, and that therefore I would be guided by 

 him and Sirdar Kader Khan, as I was completely in their power. I 

 told him what had been mentioned by Duria Khan ; to this he answered 

 that he had double the strength of his garrison, and that as long as 

 I remained in his fort, he would be answerable for my safety. 



12th. That same day (9th,) I received a letter for Captain Mackeson, 

 stating, " I hear that Duria has gone to bring you to Peshawur by the di- 

 rect route ; he can do it if he likes." The manner however in which both 

 he and his people had conducted themselves the day previous, shewed 

 that I had nothing to expect from him, the reason he assigned for not 

 assisting me being, that he had not received orders to quarrel with 

 these tribes. 



13th. That the Dooranis were aware of the attack being intended, 

 I have not a doubt; but probably were obliged by policy to lead me 

 into the snare. They were at the summit of the Pass a quarter of an 



