and about five hundred camels. While halting for rest and refreshment in the Nufoosk Pass, he was attacked by the Beloochees in vast numbers, and his party, almost to a man, cut off; the gallant officer himself maintaining to the last the character which he had previously established, and sharing the fate that overwhelmed those whom he led.
The destruction of this party having rendered it necessary that some means should be found to meet the approaching deficiency of supplies which was to be apprehended at Kahun, Major Clibborn was despatched for this purpose on the 12th of August, with a convoy from Sukkur. His force consisted of about five hundred rank and file, including thirty-four artillerymen, three guns, two hundred irregular horse, and twenty pioneers. On the 29th they encamped at the mouth of the Nufoosk Pass, which had been so fatal to Lieutenant Clark and his party; and in the morning they commenced the ascent, which was rendered oppressively laborious from being performed under the heat of a burning sun. A halt of a few hours then took place to rest the cattle; but the men obtained little or no repose, being under arms the greater part of the night, a precaution rendered necessary by the enemy continuing to fire into the camp.
On the following day the march was resumed over a road presenting, in an almost constant recurrence of ruts and ravines, a series of obstacles to the passage of the guns, which required unceasing exertion on the part of the Sepoys to surmount. A march of six miles brought the force to ground convenient for encamping; but the guides reported that there was no water, and there was, apparently, no choice but to suffer both men and cattle to perish from thirst, or to carry the Pass of Nufoosk, which was environed by hordes of the enemy. The latter was resolved on, and preparations were made for storming the pass.
The movement to attack commenced at two o'clock in the afternoon, when the flank companies of the 1st and
