* On the 9th of January, instead of going to "Choony" (no supplies), went to the left of it, a long way-next morning passed over all baggage, and in the evening proceeded to a village, about three miles from the river. On the morning of the 11th, marched to Surruckpoor; on the 21st, marched to Dingee.

* This place is "Tamechak, and not "Dhurmnuck."

February 14th, 1842, Monday.-Koulsir, this is now the first week of our sojourn at this place. The brigade left Peshawur on the 9th, and having marched eight miles, took up its present encampment, distant about six miles from the Khybur Pass. Of the four regiments, comprising Wild's Brigade, two thousand Sepoys are in hospital, and the rest dispirited.

February 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th.-Still encamped at Koulsir. Wild's Brigade has joined and encamped on our left; the men are rapidly recovering. On the 18th, I accompanied a party to the fort of Jumrood, distant about four miles. This is a strong place though small; four regiments of Sikhs are encamped under its walls. We proceeded some little way beyond the fort for the purpose of reconnoitering-discovering some Khyburrees in a ruined village, about half a mile off, at the foot of the first hill, overlooking the Pass. The Sikhs very anxious to know when we should enter the Pass, and sneered at any attempt we might make.

Saturday, 19th, 1842.-This day will be remarkable from the circumstance of the province having been visited by an earthquake, which lasted full two minutes; the effect it had was extraordinary. I had just thrown a quoit, when a sudden giddiness came over me, and I was near falling to the earth. Another officer who happened to be standing in the open air felt the same effect. Scott and the Colonel caught hold of each other for mutual support; Field and "Harthill" did the same. Of those in tents, some rushed out, others called out, desiring their servants not to agitate the tent. Bullocks proceeding with loads stopped, and began to oscillate from side to side. On recovering from the shock we cast our eyes towards Peshawur, and beheld an immense cloud of dust hovering over the city, and over villages to the right, which indicated that the visitation had proved disastrous at those spots.

From the reports of some of our officers who had set off for Peshawur, and reached it just after the calamity, it appears that every house was more or less injured; that all the buildings on a hill overlooking the town on the left, are one mass of ruins. General Avitabili's house is rent from top to bottom, and he is now living in a tent. General Pollock had a narrow escape; he occupied a house belonging to Lieutenant Mackeson, and at the first shock left his writing-desk, and rushed out; soon after a beam fell upon the desk and smashed it to atoms. Lieutenant Mackeson, and others in the house, escaped also. The loss of life is said to be great. A tower on the Peshawur road was seen to totter and fall; the puddles of water assumed a wavy motion; the dozen criminals on the gibbet were thrown into an extraordinary agitation; the air was still, and no noise accompanied the shock. It seemed to pass from the west to the east. experienced earthquakes before, were of shock was severe, and long in duration. eleven o'clock in the day.

Many who had opinion that the It took place at

February 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th.-No prospect of any movement.

February 29th, Sunday.-Received accounts from Jellalabad. The earthquake had proved more violent at that place-throwing down two bastions and parapets, which it had taken months to build. General Sale, however, writes in spirits, and states that the damage would soon be rectified. No lives lost. Colonel Monteith was buried up his neck in the ruins, and rather seriously injured. Akbar Khan, with some horsemen, approached to reconnoitre, but was immediately driven off.

to

A few days ago, three Khyburrees conveyed from General Pollock three thousand rupees to Jellalabad, for "Sale," for which service they were to receive no less a sum than three thousand, viz.-a rupee for every rupee they deli

vered to "Sale." Negociations for the purchase of the Pass have been going on for the last three days, and are expected to be closed to-day; the terms are a bonus of sixteen thousand rupees, to be paid when troops (including the brigade in our rear) shall have passed through the Pass, and ten thousand rupees monthly payment. The only difficulty lies in their demand, that arrears due to them should be paid up, although they are not entitled to any arrears, from their having broken their engagement in closing the Pass against us. This, in all probability, will be satisfactorily settled. The weather is becoming hotter, but continues very pleasant; the snow is disappearing very rapidly from the mountains.

About one o'clock, a report having been made that some camels had been carried off by the Khyburrees, two troops of regular cavalry, and one ressalla of irregulars, went out to recover them. Some officers, prompted by curiosity, accompanied them. No trace of camels was seen, as the cavalry swept under the slopes of some hills. Fifty or sixty shots were fired at them by Khyburrees above without effect. However, four Khyburrees, who were at first taken for friends, fired at the troopers as they passed, killed one, wounded another. Lieutenant Tytler, a young officer of the 35th N.I., received a severe wound in the thigh, the man who fired being within ten yards. Cornet Vibort of the 10th cavalry, immediately dashed at the man to cut him down, but the fellow closing in warded off the blow, and inflicted a severe slash across the thigh; three of the men were eventually killed; the fourth, in the confusion, crept into the brushwood, and remained unnoticed; he was badly wounded. This is a most absurd affair, and places all concerned in a ridiculous light.

March 7th, Monday.-Hour, midnight; half-past twelve o'clock on picquet. Wind blowing lustily, threatening to sweep away my frail pall. Bright starlight night;