1 ATTACK ON THE BAGGAGE. 541
2 crowds of Khaibaris that occupied the heights,
3 and the known treachery of the tribes, ren-
4 dered it necessary to move with caution. The
5 Colonel had not advanced very far, when the
6 true intentions of the Khaibaris were manifest,
7 for they made a desperate attack on the bag-
8 ‘gage, and such camels as could not be carried
9 off they hamstrung, by which means the loads
10 eventually came into their hands.* Colonel
11 * The fidelity of the Khaibaris and the safety of the Pass
12 itself were attainable only while they could see that we really
13 "possessed the power of punishing them for any breach of the
14 former, and of securing the latter by the presence of our
15 own or the Shah’s troops, on the system which had been
16 adopted in the time of the Mogul emperors. They were
17 never to be restrained by the mere force of engagements ;
18 Lieutenant Mackeson’s presence only led to a partial truce,
19 as the promised parwanas had not even yet been issued ;
20 and it was not until nearly a month afterwards, when Sir W.
21 MacNaghten himself came through the Pass and saw its
22 formidable difficulties, that any settlement of terms was
23 made with them, which they broke no less than three times
24 afterwards : in the first place on account of some dispute ~
25 ‘among themselves regarding a fair distribution of the allow-
26 ance settled on them ; secondly, from some complaint of a
27 real or imaginary grievance in our conduct to them; and
28 lastly, after the insurrection in November, 1841—thus
29 showing that they were not to be bound by any obligations
30 ‘of good faith beyond the scope of their convenience.