2 is 
MARCH FROM MO'rX'R TO KANDAHAR-. 
“Kerb!” a stubble 
of a certain "rain. 
“ Bhoosa” chopped 
or broken straw. 
Mack. 
Bullocks becoming 
lame. 
Supplies running 
short. 
Sir-i-Bolan. 
“ Otta,” coarse flour. 
Supplies running 
short. 
2/60 Rifles. 
Cattle becoming 
exhausted. 
At Kirta, it was hoped supplies of “kerbi" and bhoosa" 
would be obtainable,, but the officer commanding could only 
procure a very small quantity of the former. Here the first hard 
frost was experienced. 
The march to Bibi Nani was continued over what is called the 
“ Kirta Plain/' level, but very stony. At Bibi Nani, the bed 
of the river had again to be taken and followed out through the 
remainder of the Pass; it consisted of loose and deep shingle, 
through which water percolated; the ascent was considerable the 
whole way, here and there steeper than usual. 
Mach, is a telegraph station about mid-way up the Pass, though 
not then a halting place. To within a few miles of this place the 
battery had progressed very well, without the loss of an animal; 
but now grave difficulties commenced. The bullocks began to 
get foot-sore from the loose shingle, probably aggravated in a 
large measure by getting their feet web by day, and frosted at 
night. The forage and grain supplies began to run short; and, 
contrary to expectation, nothing but a little coarse grass was to be 
obtained at Mach. On learning this, the officer commanding 
immediately telegraphed to Quetta that no supplies were ob¬ 
tainable at Mach, and requested that some should be sent to meet 
the battery. 
At Sir-i-bolan, the battery was detained two days, to permit of 
bringing up the wagons and spare carriages which had got in 
rear, and to afford rest to the cattle before commencing the last, 
and most difficult, march in the Pass. All animals were now on 
a very reduced scale of fodder rations, while that of the grain and 
“ otta 33 was increased; and, perceiving that provisions could not 
possibly hold out much longer, the officer commanding again 
telegraphed the state of affairs to Quetta, beseeching the authorities 
to send supplies for the cattle at once, as they were starving. In 
reply, it was stated, “ there was no carriage in Quetta by which to 
send supplies, that if possible some would be sent to Dusht-i- 
bedaulat, and in the meanwhile the battery was to push on with 
all speed." 
On 20th December the battery left Sir-i-bolan, the guns having 
been sent on the previous evening to Dozan Nullah, (about 5 
miles up the Pass), to enable them to get through the Pass before 
night-fall. Here the road narrowed and became steeper, and the 
increase of labor to the animals was so great, that on the 2/60 Regt. 
happily overtaking the battery, their commanding officer, on 
request, kindly allowed his men to assist at the drag-ropes; but 
notwithstanding this additional aid, the animals were quite unable 
to accomplish the march. The elephants and bullocks had become 
so enfeebled from want of sufficient food, and so foot-sore, that they 
lay down exhausted, and in many instances, never to rise. Only 
ten carriages succeeded in reaching camp at Durwaza (or Dusht- 
i-bedaulat) the same day, and then ; only just before dark; the 
