130 GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS AND EXPLORATIONS. 



his side and drove a piece of his clothes into his sketch book, which 

 was considerably damaged, but he himself escaped unhurt. He 

 completed a reconnaissance up to the Shutargardan pass, the position 

 of which proved to be considerably in error on the old maps, and 

 returned through the Mangal country to Kuram. In January he 

 accompanied the expedition into the Khost valley, and nearly the 

 whole of Khost was mapped ; subsequently ascents were made of 

 various prominent peaks, including Sikaram, the highest point of 

 the Safed-Koh range, and from that commanding position a good 

 deal of topography was sketched in. 



To the Peshawar or northern column, Major Tanner, Captain 

 Samuells, and Mr. Scott were attached, Captains Leach and Strahan 

 joining subsequently. Each of the first three officers took part in 

 the advance on the fort of Ali Musjid, Captain Samuells distinguish- 

 ing himself by carrying on his plane-tabling under a heavy fire ; 

 unhappily he caught typhoid fever and died soon after at Peshawar.* 

 Major Tanner carried a continuous survey from Ali Musjid to 

 Jalalabad, which was found to be about five miles nearer to Peshawar 

 than previously accepted. 



In May Major Tanner attempted an exploring trip into Kafiristan 

 through the Kunar valley, and after several perilous adventures 

 succeeded in reaching Aret in the Chugani or Kohistan country, 

 which is on the southern confines of Kafiristan. Overcome with 

 fatigue and exposure and prostrated with fever he was compelled 

 to abandon his design and return to Jalalabad. An interesting 

 account of his journey was read before the Royal Geographical 

 Society. f Captain Leach joined the force in January, and during 

 the two months he was at work surveyed a good portion of the 

 Bazar valley and the country round Jalalabad, chiefly in the 

 Shinwari country and on the northern slopes of the Safed-Koh range. 

 A i the end of March he was compelled to withdraw, in consequence of 

 a severe wound received during an attack on his party byShinwaris; 

 his gallantry on that occasion won him the honoured distinction 

 of the Victoria Cross. His place was supplied by Captain Charles 

 Strahan, who with Mr. Scott did good work along the country south 

 of the Kabul river. iSJorth of the Khaibar pass Mr. Scott happened 

 to be attacked while surveying by a considerable number of 

 Momands. and with difficulty made good his retreat to Fort Michni 

 with a loss of one corporal and one Sepoy killed and wounded. The 



* Set also Revenue Surreys, chapter, p. 12-1. 



j On April 11th, 1881. See page 278 of Proceedings, It. G. S. 



