Burnes, Alexander: Travels into Bokhara: containing the narrative of a voyage on the Indus from the sea to Lahore, ... and an account of a journey from India to Cabool, Tartary and Persia ; performed by order of the supreme government of India, in the years 1831, 32, and 33 (Band 2) (London, 1835)

66

STORY OF A SOLDIER.

CHAP. II.

passage, they passed a few yards lower down, with
the water but knee deep, yet very rapid. The
whole seven were unhorsed in a moment, and
swept into the stream. The ferrymen ran to their
assistance, and extricated them all but one poor
fellow and two horses, whom we could see struggle,
and at last sink. The others were rescued with
great difficulty, and two of them were all but dead.
We were shocked at the catastrophe, and proposed
to return, but the chief would not listen to it. He
gave a laugh, and said, " What know ye, that these
fellows (we thought they had all gone) may be
kings in another world; and what is the use of a
Seik if he cannot pass the Attok ?" (Indus). The
principal branch, however, was still in our front;
and I only agreed to cross if the horsemen were
left behind. " Leave my guard," cried the chief,
" impossible!" but we did leave it, and safely passed
the ford. The footing was slippery, and the cur-
rent shot with great rapidity: the colour of the
water was blue, and it was exceedingly cold, which
makes it trying to both man and beast. The
elephants pressed up against the stream, and roared
as we advanced. The excitement of such an un-
dertaking is great, and would have been exhilarat-
ing, had not our joy been dimmed by such a cala-
mity. This ford has often been used by the Seiks,
but the passage has involved many serious acci-
dents.

A tale of a desperate soldier was here related to
me, as having occurred at Lahore. He was a native
cf Hindoostan, and had murdered the adjutant of