emselves seriously
out-numbered. At this time I ascertained that though the pass appeared
to lie in the valley itself, and to round the corner of the western hill
where it dropped into the valley, yet beyond this point there was no
path or roadway whatever, the valley being blocked with huge blocks and
boulders; and that the crossing of the pass lay to the left, over the
heights to our left which were so strongly held by the enemy. Action
was at once therefore taken to carry the hill to the left, which from
this point was about 1000 feet high. The Gordon Highlanders were
directed up the end of the western hill from the point where it touched
the valley, and the King's Own Scottish Borderers were directed up the
centre spur; the 60th Rifles were directed up the slopes from farther
back on the line, while the Bedfordshire Regiment and the 37th Dogras
pushed on and rounded the point from which the Gordon Highlanders
commenced the ascent, and, turning to the left, ascended the hill from
the northern side--the 15th Sikhs being held in reserve. As the
infantry ascended it was seen how well the defence of the hill had been
organised. The Gordon Highlanders and King's Own Scottish Borderers,
ascending as they did on a direct attack, met with the greatest
resistance and suffered most. Sangar after sangar was obstinately held;
each sangar as it was rushed coming at once under fire of the one above
it. And here I may note the admirable service done by the artillery and
Maxim guns. Several attempts were made by the enemy to concentrate from
above and hold the lower sangars and positions, but all such attempts
were frustrated by the admirable practice of the Mountain Batteries and
Maxim guns over the head of our advancing infantry. Although at several
points sangars were only carried by hand--to--hand fighting, the enemy
were gradually driven from position to position, and eventually fled
down the other slopes of the western hill as the heads of the attacking
columns reached the top when the pass was captured and the fighting
over, though they were pursued down the other side as soon as the men
got together."

The action commenced at 8 o'clock and lasted six hours. The force of
the enemy was estimated at 12,000 men, of whom perhaps 4000 or 5000 had
firearms. The loss on the British side was only 11 men killed, and 8
officers and 39 men wounded.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

THE TERAH EXPEDITION--1897.

In 1897 a general ri