Taj Mahommed Khan and Naïb Shureef have both paid every attention in their power to the hostages, left in Cabul: and, as far as regards Mrs. Sturt and myself, they sent us, whenever they could obtain a secret conveyance, various little comforts. Tea, sugar, stockings, gloves, and money we received: and much, which they sent, never reached us.
Taj Mahommed Khan is the son of Gholam Mahommed Khan; who formerly assisted Shah Shoojah in his fruitless attempt to gain the throne. His family were long the hereditary Wuzeers of the country. That family are so influential, that they can hold their ground with all parties. We leave him in the Wuzeerat. Jan Fishan Khan is now, as he says, only the poor Syud Mahommed. Two of his brothers have fallen in battle: one son was burnt alive, when a child: another has had his throat cut; though he begged hard for life, stating that he was a little child, and never could have harmed any one. The wretched father, with the remnant of his family, accompanies us to India. He never was rich. He possessed lands in the Pughman valley; a fertile vale, with magnificent vineyards and orchards. Despoiled of them, he is all but a beggar; but looks for the favourable consideration of the Government of India.
A trifling subscription was raised by Sale and some officers, to enable him to purchase camels, &c ., that he and his family might travel with us.
In the absence of actual returns, I believe that the force, which left Cabul, was nearly as follows:—
| 4 Horse Artillery guns. | |
| 3 Mountain Train do. | |
| Bengal Sappers & Miners | 20 |
| Shah Shoojah's do. | 250 |
| Queen's 44th | 600 |
| 1 Troop H. A. | 80 |
| 5th Cavalry | 260 |
| 1st Local Horse | 70 |
| 4th Local Horse | 70 |
| Envoy's Escort | 70 |
| 2nd Shah's Cavalry | 500 |
| Half Mountain Train | 30 |
| 5th N. I. | 700 |
| 37th Do. | 600 |
| 54th Do. | 650 |
| 6th Shah's | 600 |
At the last stand, on the hill at Gundamuk, there remained—
- 20 Officers.
- 50 men of the 54th.
- 6 of the Horse Artillery.
- 4 or 5 Sipahees.
- 300 Camp followers.
Amongst them all about twenty muskets.
In reading over these Notes, I believe I have not done justice to some of the men who were our fellow-captives. The day after that on which Saleh Mahommed Khan offered them the arms, a few men of the artillery, and perhaps, in all, half a dozen others, asked for and obtained them. Swords were difficult to procure for the officers: Lieut. Eyre, not being able to get one, took a musket; which was very troublesome and heavy; as, from the wound he received at Cabul, he has lost the use of one hand.
It is now said, that though we all at the time believed Saleh Mahommed's assertion, that Akbar ordered the death of those who could not march, it is probable that this was a fiction. No one actually read the letter, that I can discover: and he probably wished to enhance the value of his releasing us. The order for our being sent to Khoolloom was read by several of the officers.