Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880 — John Shaqi
Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880Brooke, Henry Francis
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Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880
Brooke, Henry Francis
Afghan Wars; Brooke, Henry Francis, 1836-1880
TUESDAY, APRIL 6th.--About 3 A.M. the hurricane seemed to moderate,
so we got up and dressed and set to work to pack our camels, in the
middle of which operation the gale recommenced with greater force than
ever, and made our work almost impossible; however, by 4 o'clock,
with the assistance of some men from the transport depot the work was
finished and the camels with their escort started for a nine mile
march in the teeth of the gale and dust. I waited on in the rest-house
till 6 o'clock in hopes of the weather changing when the sun rose,
but finding no change likely, had also to face the dust and wind,
and continued to ride against it for about two hours, when, getting
under the shadow of a big mountain, we ceased to get the dust and the
gale grew much cooler, and to our great relief we found a much more
bearable climate at our halting place, a little transport depot called
Beebee-Nani, where I am now writing. It cannot be called pleasant
here, but compared with the past 18 hours the change is distinctly
for the better. Desolation reigns here also, no trees or vegetation
to be seen; nothing but sand, stones, and barren rocky hills rising
in tiers one behind the other, till the last and highest range is
barely visible in the hot and dusty haze. At this halting place there
is no rest-house, but instead a good-sized tent, which answers the
purpose very well. A stream of beautiful clear water flows past the
tent, being brought in a small canal or channel (made by our troops)
from the Bolan River, which is two miles off. The water is bright, and
pure, and good, and quite cold, and is accordingly in this land of bad
and scanty water a priceless luxury to all. The hill tribes near this
are not very well-disposed, and they frequently cut off the water by
damming up the place where it leaves the river, but a small party of
native soldiers, who are at once sent out, soon hunts the enemy off,
and sets the water flowing again. We are now beginning to ascend, and
it is decidedly cooler than it was (speaking comparatively), but the
air is unpleasantly dry and harsh, and our lips and skin generally are
suffering accordingly, all the more, no doubt, that of late we have
been accustomed to the damp, relaxing climate of Bombay. This morning
we passed many of the migratory tribes who, during the winter, leave
the districts round Quetta on account of the cold and go with their
flocks and herds down towards Sibi, where they remain till it gets too
hot, when they return to Quetta. They are wretched-looking people,
evidently very poor in everything except children, of whom there seems
to be no lack. Their whole household goods are carried on camels, and
the women and children trot along behind seemingly very happy and
light-hearted. On one camel to-day we saw an uncommonly pretty young
donkey rolled up in a blanket with his head only to be seen, looking
quite pleased with himself, and being balanced on the other side of the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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