The Project Gutenberg eBook, Raiders of the Sarhad, by R. E. H. (Reginald Edward Harry) Dyer

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THE RAIDERS OF THE SARHAD

A TYPICAL GORGE IN THE SARHAD.

BEING THE ACCOUNT OF A CAMPAIGN
OF ARMS AND BLUFF AGAINST THE
BRIGANDS OF THE PERSIAN-BALUCHI
BORDER DURING THE GREAT WAR

BY
Brigadier-General R. E. H. DYER, C.B.

WITH NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS AND TWO MAPS

LONDON
H. F. & G. WITHERBY
326 HIGH HOLBORN, W.C.
1921

PREFACE

With the greatest diffidence I have at last made up my mind to write the story of my small campaign with the Sarhad Raiders in 1916.

This campaign sinks into utter insignificance when compared with the great deeds done in other theatres of war by men who said nothing about them. But, insignificant as it was, it forms part of the mosaic of the Great War, and for this reason may be of some general interest.

I take this opportunity of paying a tribute to all the officers who took part in this little campaign. Their untiring devotion to duty, and their efforts to do their utmost under conditions that were often more than trying, accounts for its success.

I would like, in particular, to mention Major Landon of the 35th Scinde Horse, whose great knowledge of the people and their country was invaluable; Major Sanders of the 36th Sikhs; Colonel Claridge of the 28th Light Cavalry; Captain Brownlow and Captain Hirst, both of the 28th Light Cavalry; Major Lang; Captain Moore-Lane; Lieutenant Bream of the Hazara Pioneers, and Captain English, R.A.

In addition I would mention how much, not only I, but the old country owes to Khan Bahadur, the Sarhad-dar, and to Idu, non-commissioned officer of the Chagai Levies.

The photographs are from snapshots taken by various officers during the campaign.

R.E.H.D.

CHAPTER I
ORDERS FOR THE WEST	PAGE

I receive my orders—German agents and India—Their routes—A deal in chauffeurs—Concerning an appetite and sausages—Nushliki— The last of civilisation—Further information—Sand-holes and digging—Petrol in the desert	15
CHAPTER II
THE ROAD TO ROBAT
Mushki-chah—The native contractor—An evening rencontre—Idu of the Chagai Levies— The native idea of an airship—Idu the invaluable—Robat	30
CHAPTER III
A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
An "intelligent" officer—Matters political—Three tribes and a fourth—Their women and inter-tribal laws—Sarhad conditions— A summons to the Chiefs—A bid for rank—Telegraph wires and Sheitan—Two first-class liars—A strategic scheme— An ungazetted General—Lost kit—Swallows and flies—Forces available—Communications freed—The Kacha levy and a shock—Mirjawa	37
CHAPTER IV
BLUFF AND ARMS
Ladis and its fort—A force without arms—First sight of the enemy—Shah Sawar and more bluff—Battle—Bluff succeeds— Casualties—Bad news from the North—Idu's proposition—Jiand's stragglers—Jiand's white flag	55
CHAPTER V
KHWASH AND MORE BLUFF
Jiand's surrender—A political lecture—Jiand's oath—Bluff for Khwash—The army moves forward—Khwash and its fort— Mahommed-Hassan comes in—Beetles as scavengers—Halil Khan comes in—Rifle prices, a comparison—Idu's warning— News of Izzat—Order of march—Bluff for Bampur—The meteor hole	69
CHAPTER VI
A FULL BAG OF PRISONERS
The march to Kacha—The food supply—Flowers in the Wilderness—Galugan—Repeated strategy—Juma Khan comes in— The bag is full—The throne of the dancing maidens—Landon declines—Idu's doubts—Suspicions aroused—Halil Khan closes up— Kacha, oaths, and thumb-marks—The Chiefs depart—Bad news	87
CHAPTER VII
THE RACE FOR KHWASH
Plans and routes—Car versus legs—An equestrian interlude—The trap in the gorge—More digging—Rendezvous—Mrs Idu and gastronomy— A reinforcement—A message to Landon—Izzat's men—Idu's romance—A "British Bulldog"—The car abandoned	103
CHAPTER VIII
KHWASH AND THE SECOND SURRENDER
Doubts dispelled—Organisation for defence—Idu's "Exiat"—And its result—Jiand arrives—Idu's second visit— The Sarhad-dar arrives—Landon at last—Jiand's visit of ceremony—The Gul-Bibi—Shah Sawar's treachery—We call on the "Rose Lady"— A carpet and the Sarhad-dar's advice—Another Durbar—Returned loot—Temporary peace	122
CHAPTER IX
TREACHERY AND ITS SEQUEL
Further reinforcements—Entrenchments and gardens—Government inquiries—Food supplies—An offer to Jiand—Murad and straw— Shah Sawar again—Sentence—Idu's suggestion—Re-enter the Rose Lady—News of Jiand's intentions—A vital moment—A round-up— The Sarhad-dar's advice—A Bhusa hunt—Distrustful wives	143
CHAPTER X
FAILURE AND FRESH PLANS
Slave buying—A diet discovery—Poetic justice—Disposition of prisoners—Incredible news—The Sawar's story—Disposal of forces— The march to Kamalabad—Jiand gains his freedom—Retreat to Khwash	165
CHAPTER XI
SUCCESS IN MINIATURE
The night attack—The Hazaras arrive—Jiand retires—We march on the Sar-i-drokan valley—Cavalry strategy—"Gushti's" decision and opinion— "The Hole of Judgment"—Attack and retirement—A lost and regained water-supply—The Sarhadis as humorists—The mud fort— Halil Khan's arrival—The fight at dawn—Exit Halil Khan—A prophet—The Hazaras' request	181
CHAPTER XII
VICTORY AND PEACE
News of the herds—Towards Dast-Kird—Water!—Mutton for all—Dast-Kird—A stampede—Back to Khwash— On the track of the Gamshadzais—Twice a prophet—The Sarhad-dar's roost—Before Jalk—Rejected terms—More strategy and a bloodless victory—Remain only terms and sick leave	201
Index	221

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

		PAGE
A TYPICAL GORGE IN THE SARHAD	Frontispiece
IN DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN NASARATABAD AND ROBAT	Facing	25
"A GOOD LIAR," LANDON'S ORDERLY AND CHIEF SPY	"	49
QUESTIONING A SARHADI PRISONER	"	59
JIAND'S MEN COMING IN TO PARLEY	"	71
KHWASH FORT	"	75
SURRENDERED RAIDERS, (CENTRE) JIAND, (RIGHT) SHAH SAWAR, (LEFT) HALIL KHAN	"	89
CAMEL CORPS SAWARS AT THE TERMINATION OF AN EXPEDITION	"	97
THE DURBAR AT KHWASH	"	141
RAIDER CHIEFS AT THE DURBAR AT KHWASH	"	141
RAIDED SLAVES ON THE WAY TO THEIR HOMES	"	167
A PERSIAN GIRL CAPTURED BY JUMA KHAN	"	167
CAPTURED RAIDERS ON THE WAY TO KACHA	"	173
ON THE MARCH TOWARDS GUSHT, AND THE MORPEISH HILLS	"	185
HAZARAS ON A PICKET POST BELOW WHICH HALIL KHAN WAS KILLED	"	197
WATER! ON THE MARCH TO THE SAR-I-DROKAN	"	203
HAZARA PIONEERS WIDENING A PASSAGE FOR LOADED CAMELS	"	215
CHAHGIRD FORT IN JALK	"	217

MAPS

		PAGE
SKETCH MAP OF THE PERSIAN-BALUCHI-AFGHAN FRONTIERS	Facing	15
SKETCH MAP OF THE FIGHT IN THE MORPEISH HILLS	"	181

Sketch Map of the Persian-Baluchi-Afghan frontiers

THE RAIDERS OF THE SARHAD

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Raiders of the Sarhad

THE RAIDERS OF THE SARHAD

PREFACE

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

MAPS