1 REMISSNESS OF THE SIKHS. 229
2 had been influenced by the Persians. We are
3 anxious to advance as soon as we can ; ‘as we
4 have an impression, and not without strong
5 reasons, that if the Persians renew the siege of
6 Herat before the Shah’s arrival at Candahar, ©
7 there would be a vast change in the aspect of
8 affairs favourable to the views and interests of
9 the enemy.
10 27th.—Much to our satisfaction, Captain Fer-
11 tis’s detachment, which had been long expected
12 to join the Shah Zada, arrived in camp to-
13 day. It appears that on their arrival at Attok
14 (where, owing to the late heavy rains and con-
15 sequent’ swell of the river, they found the
16 bridge of boats, broken), the authorities there
17 had given them no assistance in crossing the
18 Indus, although repeatedly pressed to do so by
19 the officer who had been detached by the Ma-
20 haraja to accompany the detachment. They
21 at last effected the passage by their own exer-
22 tions without any accidents.* The conduct of
23 * “The governor of Attok, on being applied to for
24 assistance, refused to give us ahy; but he was bound to
25 facilitate our transit across the ferry, which, instead of