The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-04 00:00:00

THE BRITISH MISSION TO CABUL.

The following are extracts from further letters receited
by his father from Dr. Kelly, the medical officer In charge of
she British Mission to Cabnl (says The Timm of Ronda') :

"British Embassy, Cabal, Aug.l6.
"Our quarters in the Bela Hisser or upper fortress
are rather picturesque. They are built in true
Oriental style, and, although the best in the whole of
Cabal, are not quite up to our ideas of a house, To
guard against earthquakes, which are of frequent oo-
currenoe here, the walls all contain wooden supports,
upon which the roof and floors rest. Between these
the walls are built up with the ordinary sun-dried
bricks: The fronts of the rooms are altogether
wooden, something like a shop front. In lieu of glass
the windows are closed with wooden shutters. The
quarters all look into a central oourtyard. The backs
of the houses form the outside wall, whioh, for defence,
has no openings or windows in it.
"We are treated with every consideration by the
Ameer, who insists upon our being his guests. We,
our servants, horses, and the men of the escort are all
fed at his expense. The people are, however, rather
fanatical, and not yet quite accustomed to our presence,
so we always go about with a troop of cavalry on our
rides. The people have not shown any hostility or
disrespect ; but still there might be a fanatio among
them who would, if he could, do us damage.

"Some names in Russian are written up in my
dressing•room, probably the General's, or one of his
Staff; I mean the fellows who were here this time
last year.
"I have absolutely nothing to do save looking alter
any little work there is to be done about our messing
arrangements, which is not much; but An a short
time I will have a dispensary and something to amuse
me in it.
"Our movements are not at all oertain. The Ameer
wishes to visit Turkestan and Herat, which are not
in a very settled state. On the other hand, Sir Louis
Oavagnari Is serious that the Ameer should attend at
a big Durbar which it is proposed the Viceroy should
hold in Agra about the middle of January. This
would prevent Yakoob Shan going to Turkestan. I
do not knew which I would like myself best— a six
months' trip to Turkestan and fishing in the Oxus, or
the Durbar.

"The city of Cabul is a miserable plate indeed, and
surpasses any I ever saw in dirt. The houses are all
jumbled together; the best streets only allow two
horsemen to ride abreast. The principal shops are the
fruitst hers' and the leather workers'.

"We always heard a great lot about the Turkestan
and Heratee horses. Since our arrival here I Nave
seen many of them, but none to oompare in any respect
to the two Walers I have. Hamilton since our arrival
here bought two horses, but very quickly got rid of
them both. The ponies', or small GaUoways, are the
best. Anything above fourteen hands runs to legs,
They are all nasty, squealing brutes, with heavy
shoulders and coarse, short, thick necks. The Ameer
gave us all presents of horses, but not one of them is
worth anything.
"The climate of Cabal is delightful. We arrived at
the hottest time of the year, and even then it was not
warmer in the house than you have it often during the
dog-days at home. Now it is getting much pleasanter,
and the nights are fresh and nice. In the winter there
is usually 4ft. or more of snow, and the cold is described
as intense, but, of course, dry, and none of the wet
and slop you have.

"I do sot expect to get very much variety in the
shooting line. Qoail and snipe with some wild fowl
will be the only things to be got; but, then, I am
the only one among us who cares about this sort of
sport so I ought to have a little of it should we
remain here during a part of the cold weather.
Four miles from this there Is a big lake about three
miles long iv three-quarters broad; along the edges
of this the long bills are sure to abound when the
time comes for their visits from colder regions. The
natives say that by and by the water will be aUve
with all sorts of duck and geese.

" Cayagnari is an awfully good fellow —a nicer
Gould not be found. Three of us here are Irish—
namely, Cayagnari, Hamilton, and myself. The
fourth is a Scotchman. Hamilton got his V.C., lam
glad to say, for the action at Futtehabad, where
Battye was killed. Hamilton is an awfully nice
fellow, and only 23 years of age.

" August U.
"Something has gone wrong with the post this week
for we are behind with the English nail. You need
not trouble yourself to send me any newspapers, for
we have a very good collection of all the English
papers, besides a fair supply of the monthly maga-
sines.

"Nothing very striking has occurred here lately.
We generally go out for a ride in the mornings, and
now are familiar with all the surrounding places of
Interest. This morning we paid a visit to the Ameer.
He is always very gracious. This is the time of the
Mahomedan chief fast of the year. Between sunrise
and sunset they neither eat nor drink ; but old Yakoob
gave us tea this morning.
"By all amounts, the Russians will be obliged to
cross a very difficult country before they reach Merv.
There is one desert of 12 marches, in which there are
only a few springs of saltish water to be met hers and
there—nothing for a large body of men and baggage
animals.

"The mails are carried by the ordinary post up to
Ali•khel, where there are British troops; after that
by runners on here. The latter get good pay; and to
show you there is no difficulty about it, one tribe on
the road, of whom none were employed, petitioned
that through their country the mails ought to be
carried by some of their men; four of them were
accordingly put on the duty. On the 23rd what lip.
peered to us a curious circumstance oocurred by which
a man was rescued from what appeared a certain
death. According to the Mahomedan law, a man
who kills another, when caught and the case is proved
against him, is made over to the deceased's relatives for
them to do what they like with him. Some days ago
a soldier of the Ameer's artillery killed a man hi a
row. It was a clear case of homicide. He was caught,
and after some investigation was handed over to the
relatives, who determined that he should be put to
death by having his throat cut. The 22rd was fixed
for it to come off, and when they were just in the act
of putting their determination into effect the man's
colonel came forward and ransomed him for 1,000
rupees. A similar case again occurred this morning.
" Cavagnari has just told me that the Viceroy has
settled upon the end of next February to hold the
Dl:mbar. We shall probably take Yakoob Khan down
a month beforehand and show him Bombay, very likely
taking him by sea to Madras and Calcutta, and then
up by train to Agra. It would be a very nice trip and
I should like it immensely. I only hope we shall be
able to carry it out, for Cahul at present is not in a
very quiet state, and it just possible that Yakoob may
not like to be absent from it on such a long journey."