y soul, in the
officials of the British Government patience and silence would
have been specially becoming. Let your Excellency take into
consideration this harsh and breathless haste with which the
desired object and place of conference have been seized upon, and
how the officials of the Government have been led into discussion
and subjection to reproach. There is some difference between this
and the pure road of friendship and goodwill. In alluding to those
writings of the officials of the opposite Government which have
emanated from them, and are at this time in the possession of
my own officials, the latter have in no respect desired to show
enmity or opposition towards the British Government, nor, indeed,
do they with any other Power desire enmity or strife; but when any
other Power, without cause or reason, shows animosity towards this
Government, the matter is left in the hands of God, and to His
will. The esteemed Nawab Gholam Hussein Khan, the bearer of this
despatch, has, in accordance with written instructions received
from the British Government, asked for permission to retire, and
it has been granted.']

[Footnote 8: 25th October.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER XLV.
1878

Shortcomings of my column--Attitude of the Border tribes

It was a proud, albeit a most anxious, moment for me when I assumed
command of the Kuram Field Force; though a local Major-General, I was
only a Major in my regiment, and save for a short experience on one
occasion in Lushai, I had never had an opportunity of commanding
troops in the field. Earnestly longing for success, I was intensely
interested in ascertaining the qualities of those who were to aid me
in achieving it. To this end I lost no time in taking stock of the
several officers and corps who were to be associated with me, some of
whom were personally known to me, while others I had never met before;
and in endeavouring to satisfy myself as to their qualifications and
fitness for their several posts, I could not help feeling that they
must be equally anxious as to my capability for command, and that the
inspection must be of nearly as great moment to them as to me.

The results of a very close investigation were tolerably satisfactory,
but there were weak points in my armour which gave me grave cause for
anxiety.

I came to the conclusion that the force was not nu