4. THE SIEGE OF SHERPUR—PLAN OF THE DEFENCES 232 5. THE BATTLE OF AHMED KHEL, APRIL 19, 1880 394 6. THE ACTION AT URZOO, APRIL 23, 1880 402 7. THE BATTLE OF CANDAHAR, SEPTEMBER 1, 1880 512 8. THE SIEGE OF CANDAHAR—PLAN OF THE DEFENCES 532 9. THE OPERATIONS ON THE HELMUND, JULY, 1880 546 10. THE BATTLE OF MAIWAND, JULY 27, 1880 552 THE AFGHAN WAR OF 1879-80. ------------------ PART I. ------- THE OCCUPATION OF CABUL—THE BRITISH BESIEGED AT SHERPUR—DISPERSAL OF THE TRIBES. ------------------------------------ CHAPTER I. Introduction—The Cavagnari Mission—Yakub Khan’s Evasion of the Gundamak Treaty—Turbulence of the Herat Regiments—Nakshband Khan’s Warning—The Outbreak—Yakub Khan’s Behaviour—Reception of the News in India—The Seizure of the Shutargardan, and Preparations for the Advance upon Cabul. The Treaty of Gundamak had for its chief object the direct representation of the British Government at the Court of the Amir Yakub Khan, and, in pursuance of the terms of the Treaty, Sir Louis Cavagnari, K.C.B., C.S.I., was received at Cabul, as Resident, on July 24th, 1879. Mr. William Jenkyns, of the Indian Civil Service, accompanied him as secretary to the Mission. An escort of twenty-five sowars and fifty sepoys of the Guides’ Corps was the only means of protection at the Embassy’s command, implicit faith being placed in the Amir’s promise to guard the lives of his guests. Lieutenant Hamilton was in command of the escort, and Dr. Kelly, surgeon of the Guides, was the medical officer attached to the Mission. Including servants and followers, there were in all some 200 souls gathered in the Residency in the Bala Hissar from July 24th until the outbreak of the Herat regiments on the morning of September 3rd. It would be out of place to describe at length the course of events which culminated in the Massacre, but from the tone of Sir Louis Cavagnari’s letters there can be no doubt the Amir was never anxious to carry out to the strict letter the terms of the Gundamak Treaty. Taking the official diary sent weekly from Cabul to the Indian Government, it appears that every outward honour was paid to the Embassy upon its arrival, but that Yakub Khan was so suspicious of his Ministers and Nobles, that he told off men to watch the Residency. These spies furnished the names of all who visited Cavagnari without the Amir’s knowledge. Then came rumours of petty chiefs having been punished for their friendship to the British during the late campaign, although one