1879.] during the Campaign of 1878-79. 169 
specimens of five kinds of pines. Of these the Chilgoza (edible pine) grows 
at from 7000 to 9000 feet ; the Deodar from 7,500 to 10,500 ; the Paloda 
from about 9,000 to 12,500. A pine with small berries like an arbor vite 
grows above the deodars. 
Major Tanner had all along been most anxious to avail himself of the 
rare opportunity which offered for exploring the interesting and almost 
unknown country of Kafiristan, and after a great many difficulties was able 
to make a start in that direction with the aid of the Chuigani Chief, Azim 
Khan, with whom he had an interview at Jelalabad through the instru- 
mentality of Mir Ahmed Khan, of Shewa in Kunar, and Shaik Hussain 
Khan, also of Kunadr. He describes Azim Khan as a handsome, pleasant 
looking man, of ruddy countenance, rather short, but as strong as Hercules. 
His followers also had soft pleasant faces. The chief presented him with 
honey, horns and cheese, and Major Tanner gave him presents of /ungis, 
sweetmeats dc. in return; after receiving these the chief held out his 
hand and protested a lifelong friendship, declaring that his country and 
towns were open to Major Tanner at all times. He promised to take him 
all over Kohistan and to the gates of KAfiristan. 
Notwithstanding the very disturbed state of the country north of the 
Kabul river, and its being in a state of anarchy, in which every man’s hand 
was against his neighbour, Major Tanner started from JelalabAd on the 
evening of the 15th May, disguised as a Kabuli, with six of Ahmed Khan’s 
men and two of his own. After a little difficulty at the ferry over the 
Kabul river, they crossed the plain of Besud and entered the Paikoh Tangi 
Pass. They walked quickly through the beautiful plain of the Kunar 
Valley and reached Ahmed Khan’s Fort at Shewa, where he was well 
received by the owner. Hardly had they entered the Fort, which is really 
a walled village containing not only Ahmed Khan’s houses but those of 
his retainers and friends as well, than there was a great disturbance and 
firing of shots caused by the discovery of people coming down on the 
ripening crops, but they were beaten off. The next day passed quietly. 
Major Tanner had arranged with the Chigani Chief Azim Khan to meet him 
at Shewa and the chief had been with Ahmed Khan some days, but deferred 
starting owing to the disturbed state of the country. On the next morn- 
ing, at dawn, a large party of Ahmed Khan’s enemies, hearing of Major 
Tanner’s arrival and of that of their enemy Azim Khan, attempted to sur- 
prise the Fort, but Mir Ahmed Khan having been informed beforehand of 
their intentions had taken precautions and they were driven off with the 
loss of three men. 
Major Tanner took advantage of the defeat of these hostile clans to 
make a start before they could collect again and, all arrangements being 
