34 
MOUNTAIN GUNS FOR INDIAN FRONTIER SERVICE. 
Before concluding the account of this day's operations, I should 
mention that the Jawakis did not wait for the final rush of our 
infantry, but bolted down the other side of the ridge, and, rallying 
behind the crest of a small detached hill, opened a practically ineffec¬ 
tive fire on our troops. The range was about 700 yds., which was 
beyond the capacity of Jawaki weapons. A few of them, however, had 
English rifles, and they were just beginning to get our range when a 
round or two of shrapnel induced them to retire for the night, and we 
were not sorry to turn in too. The leaves of: the “ sinutta " afforded 
most luxurious bedding, and we slept very comfortably, a la belle 
etoile . 
The enemy did not molest us during the night, but early next 
morning (5th December) a few sharpshooters armed with Enfield rifles 
opened fire on us again from the crest of the detached hill in front. 
The General at once determined to dislodge them, and this was done in 
first-rate style by a detachment consisting of one company of the 9th 
Regiment and two companies 14th Sikhs. 
Our loss on this occasion was trifling, and the hill was a very 
important acquisition, as it not only secured the only weak point of 
our position, but also commanded a considerable extent of broken 
ground on the south side, where the enemy might have approached 
unperceived. 
In the meantime our picquet at d was attacked by a considerable 
body of the enemy, who were strongly posted on a semi-detached knoll 
(f) ; but the 20th Punjab Infantry held their ground all day, and 
eventually beat off the enemy, and got possession of the knoll (/). 
There was not a single casualty on our side in this affair, but the 
Jawakis lost three killed and several wounded. 
Nothing else of importance occurred during the day; but at about 
12 midnight the enemy attacked our outlying picquet on the detached 
hill in some force, but, finding the Martinis and Sniders too many for 
them, soon retired without doing much damage. 
Before proceeding further, it may be well to glance at the map* 
The point a on the top of a steep hill commanding the village of 
Kundas was the position taken up by the right division (“ I " Batt., 
“ C " Bde., R.H.A.) on the 4th December, while the other two guns 
were at b. c was the centre of the enemy's position on the Shergadra 
Ridge (g 9 c, d,f), which, as before-mentioned, runs nearly due east 
and west, separating the Peshawar Valley on the north from the Bori 
Valley on the south. The latter is well watered and fertile. Its 
average breadth is about 1800 yds., and its general level is about 800 ft. 
above the Peshawar Valley. It is bounded on the south by a lofty and 
precipitous range of hills, from which numerous spurs run in a 
northerly direction, and terminate very abruptly. The principal 
villages are named respectively “ Bori," “ Spintung," and “ Toto- 
Khel," all situated within musketry range of the rocky spurs above 
mentioned, and protected by mud walls and massive towers. 
The Jawakis were doubtless emboldened by our apparent want of 
activity on the 5th December; for on the following morning they were 
quite eager for the fray, swarming in the villages and planting their 
