Copy 1, Volume 1

Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, the countries adjoining the mountain-course of the Indus, and the Himalaya, north of the Panjab / By G.T. Vigne.

  • Vigne, Godfrey Thomas, 1801-1863.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, the countries adjoining the mountain-course of the Indus, and the Himalaya, north of the Panjab / By G.T. Vigne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ciilar, sent in the strongest remonstrances against the rela¬ tively insecure positions of the cantonment and commissariat. I must trouble my readers with a few words more. We know, as I have already remarked, but very little connected with the recent disasters. We know that Sir Robert Sale was sent to chastise the Ghilzye mountaineers, who, it is said, had risen in consequence of their not receiving the money which was paid to them for keeping the passes open; but the public do not know the particulars connected with their rising. In this particular the greatest blame is to be attached somewhere, but we do not know whether it was by the opi¬ nion and act of the envoy alone, or by the counsel of others, that the money was withheld ; but after reading the above extract from Sir Alexander Burnes’ letter, it will be inferred that they heiieved they could do any thing they pleased in the country. We know that General Sale forced the pass, and was absent from Kabul at the outbreak, so that the army at Kabul was deprived of his assistance. It might turn out to be a ruse on the part of the Ghilzyes, for the purpose of dividing the British forces, but I venture to think that it will not turn out to be so. It may be inferred by some, after reading the extract from Sir Alexander Burnes’ letter, that a lull was merely preceding a storm, and that whilst all was apparently so quiet, a deep-laid conspiracy was only waiting its hour of maturity; and that the destruction of the British army had been long in contemplation. It may be so; but I much doubt it: the Afghans are not the people to conceal a conspiracy, even if one had existed. They are a brave, open-hearted, and simple people, without the cunning or abilities of the Persian and Kashmirian. They are not the people who could long keep a secret of deep import. I believe the whole affair to have been caused by some sudden or nearly sudden excitement; and that when they had once commenced they opened their eyes to the chances in their favour arising from the capture of the commissariat, the coming winter, and Sir Robert Sale’s prevented return. One reason assigned for the outbreak was that some of