FRONTIER ADVENTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22744, 3 December 1935, Page 10

FRONTIER ADVENTURE

.Recently a British expeditionary force again entered the inhospitable country of the Yagistan Mohmands on the Indian frontier, and occupied the Nahakki Pass that crosses the mountainous ridge which separates the zones of the Lower and Upper Mohmands (says a writer in the Manchester Guardian). I was one of the small batch of Europeans who in 1897 first crossed this pass —a mere mule track and very precipitous upon the northern descent —and we encamped in Nahakki village. We were "sniped” all the night through from the commanding heights, and we bad to depend for water upon the rain catch that forms a pool outside the village. The water in this pool was the worst water that I have ever metAipon a campaign. Hr was thick like pea-soup, and when one drank 'it it left gritty sediment upon the lips and moustache. The month was August, and there is little in the world that is comparable with the radiated heat of that iron-bound country in August. The necessity for water sent us all to that turgid pool, but I never heard that anyone was a penny the worse from drinking it. Nahakki is seared in my memory by an incident that was much worse at the time than drinking stale water. I had to to back to Galanai, where headquarters were installed. A convoy under escort was returning. When I reached the summit of the pass I found Field, of the Devonshire Regiment, with a visual signalling post there. (Field was killed in Ladysmith 10 years later.) There is a wonderful prospect from tbe summit of Nahakki, and I stayed, enjoying it and chatting with Field longer than wag wise, as when 1 reached the valley I missed the convoy. It was not a country that it was healthy to be alone in. In my endeavour to catch up with the convoy I lost direction in a labyrinth of nullahs and found myself suddenly near a village, outside of which were seated in conclave about 100 of the enemy tribesmen. They were all armed. I had come upon them so unexpectedly that there, was no time for me to turn my pony round and geek safety in flight. The tribesmen all rose to their feet and unslung their weapons. I imagined that it was all over with me, as these fanatics are not inclined to be merciful to stray invaders. That I was a prisoner was certain, for two of them seized my reins immediately. I cmild not speak Pushtu. One of the crowd, which had by now closed all round me, then addressed me in Hindustani. “It is fortunate for you,” he said, "that you did not come here 10 minutes earlier. This is a tribal jirga (conclave), and we have just agreed to send a deputation to Galanai to ask the general upon what terms life will accept our submission. If you had arrived before we had come to this decision, then ” He made the sign which is accepted all the -world over as indicating the cutting of the throat.