us pursuit will
give us his guns. Maclaine, Royal Horse Artillery, is still a
prisoner; I am making every effort to obtain his release, but I am
not very hopeful of success. This morning, the 25th, I went to the
field of the unlucky sortie of the 16th, and found the bodies of
the poor fellows who fell there, some forty in number; they will
be buried this afternoon. All the wounded are doing well. No
signs or tidings of Phayre." General Gough, with two regiments of
Cavalry, is at Robat; they are in heliographic communication
with Kandahar. General Primrose heliographs that Ayub Khan has
entrenched his camp at Baba Wali. The force marches for Robat
to-morrow, seventeen miles distant from Kandahar.'

The following day the column joined the two Cavalry regiments at
Robat, where I was met by Lieutenant-Colonel St. John, from whom I
heard that Ayub Khan was likely to make a stand. I thought it prudent,
therefore, to halt on Sunday, the 29th, and divide the last twenty
miles into two short marches, in order that the men and animals might
arrive as fresh as possible, and fit for any work which might be
required of them; for should Ayub Khan retire towards Herat, he would
have to be followed up, and his army attacked and defeated wherever we
might overtake him.

Before leaving Robat, a letter arrived from General Phayre, which put
an end to all hope of his force being able to co-operate with mine,
for his leading brigade, he wrote, had only just got to the Kohjak
Pass. This was to be regretted, but it was unavoidable. I was well
aware of the strenuous efforts the gallant Commander had made to
relieve the beleaguered garrison, and I knew if co-operation had been
possible it would have been effected.

We encamped at Momund on the 30th, whence I sent the following
telegram to Simla:

'My force arrived here to-day; we march to Kandahar to-morrow.
General Primrose heliographs that a letter from Ayub's camp brings
information that the mother of the late Heir-Apparent, Abdulla
Jan, with other ladies, has been sent to Zamindawar. Arrival of
the young Musa Jan in Ayub's camp is confirmed. Hashim Khan is
also there. The position is being strengthened, especially on
the Pir Paimal side, where two guns have been placed with two
regiments. From further information, I learn that the Baba
Wali Kotal is occupied by three regiments and two guns. The
Kotal-i