J 844.] Itinerary from Herat to Cabool via Candahar. 851 



prisoner, searched, and all my effects taken from me, that I had 

 nothing more in my possession ; this seemed to satisfy him, and I was 

 dismissed, under a strong escort, to the caravanserai, where I had the 

 pleasure to find my friend, whom I found had been questioned as well as 

 myself. Our accounts of ourselves were found totally, as before leaving 

 Ispahan, we had agreed upon what should be said, and had also in- 

 structed our servants. 



That night we concerted measures to attempt our escape ; we could 

 hit upon no other plan than that to despatch the servant to Cabool, that 

 our " companions in arms" had sent us from India. He was to find out 

 Nawab Jubbur Khan, brother of the rulers of Affghanistan, and with 

 whom, our friends were on intimate terms, who no doubt would interest 

 himself in our favour. As a further measure of prudence, my friend 

 Avitabile determined, if possible, to escape and accompany him ; taking 

 advantage of our people being absent with the horses to water, he scal- 

 ed the walls of the caravanserai, and contrived to secure two for himself 

 and servant, and managed to effect his escape. 



Eight days after, I was agreeably surprised at the governor sending 

 for me, overwhelming me with apologies for the treatment I had receiv- 

 ed, and reproaching me for having disguised from him the truth. I at 

 first thought it was a trap he had laid for me, but I soon felt myself at 

 ease, when he presented me with a letter from my friend. From this 

 time, he was kind in his attentions, restored all my property, and start- 

 ed me for Cabool, where I arrived the 13th of November. I took up my 

 abode with the noble Nawab Jubbur Khan, (where I found my friend 

 Avitabile,) and whose kind hospitality soon made me forget all the pri- 

 vations that I had lately suffered under his brother. 



There are four stages for caravans from Guzni to Cabool ; their names 

 are Cheshgos, Shekabad, and Maidan : before reaching this latter, you 

 have to cross a small clear stream, which comes from Azeres, and which 

 after fertilizing the valley of Languered, falls into the Cabool river at 

 Maidan. You come upon a river which is that, that runs to Cabool. 

 From this the line of road to Cabool is well adapted to defensive opera- 

 tions, but it might be turned, if the precaution was taken of marching 

 from Guzni by Goidez and Londgerd. It was at Shekabad that Futteh 

 Khan was put to death. Kamran Shah having a hatred to him, took ad- 

 vantage of his defeat at Kaffir Kola, to deprive him of his eye- sight ; but 



