To Caubul with the Cavalry Brigade: A Narrative Of Personal Experiences With The Force Under General Sir F. S. Roberts, G.C.B. [Illustrated Edition] by Reginald C. W. R. Mitford

Author:Reginald C. W. R. Mitford [Mitford, Reginald C. W. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2015-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER X.

PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER.—EXECUTIONS.—THE AMEER’S PALACE.—PECULIAR TASTE.—CATCHING A GENERAL.—KIZIL BASH OPINION OF YKOOB KHN.

THE following day was spent in camp, superintending the repairs of saddles and gear, and purchasing warm clothing for such servants and camp-followers as were not already fully provided, and most of whom, more Indico, would far sooner have run the risk of frost-bite, pneumonia, and possible death, than expend a few shillings on necessary precautions, though they are quite alive to their wants when the “Sâhib” supplies them. For the winter each of my servants had a poshteen, a camel’s hair robe or choga, a suit made of burruck, or warm camel’s hair cloth, woollen leg-bandages, soldiers’ woollen socks and ammunition boots, and a waterproof sheet. This sounds a good deal, but I argued that if I, a native of Northern Europe, to whom frost and snow “came natural,” wanted a good deal of extra clothing, these poor servants must require still more; and, the justice of my so reasoning was fully shown by the sequel, for I had hardly any illness amongst my followers (except occasionally when they overate themselves!).

We had been thus busying ourselves for some time when General Massy sent over to ask if I would like to go with him to the Bâlâ Hissar. On arriving there we found that an .execution was just about to take place, one of the condemned being that arch-miscreant the Kotwal, and the others four blood-stained ruffians who had aided and abetted him, so we took up a good position in front of the lofty gallows which had been erected for the principal culprit, who soon appeared escorted by a guard of the 92nd Highlanders, and followed by a procession which even at that moment provoked a perfectly irresistible roar of laughter from the bystanders. Directly following the guard came about thirty of the camp sweepers, walking two and two, dressed in the jackets, kilts, and drawers (!) of the Ameer’s Highlander’s and having black felt helmets stuck on over their turbans. They had previously dug a trench for the reception of the bodies of the condemned, and were now to act the part of sextons.

The Kotwâl was dressed in a velvet skull-cap, a vest of green silk (the Mahomedan colour), and loose white trousers. He walked firmly up the ladder, and tried if the drop were secure before stepping on it. He was then blindfolded and pinioned, which put a stop to the ceaseless telling of his beads which he had continued up to that time. The rope was put round his neck, the provost-martial (an officer of the 92nd) dropped his handkerchief, and the wretch went to answer for his crimes before a higher tribunal. We then adjourned to a neighbouring courtyard, from the verandah of which the other four culprits were hung. I afterwards wandered about the Bâlâ Hissar, and eventually came to the Ameer’s Palace, which occupies the north-western angle of the fortress. It is a rambling two-storied masonry building, consisting of two courtyards surrounded by rooms and passages.

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