our pioneers went to work upon new buildings and needful repairs.
But Sháh Shujá presently changed his mind, declared that the presence of British troops so near his own palace was a slur upon his dignity and a cause of just offence to his people, and demanded for the use of his large harem the buildings occupied by the 13th Foot. In an evil hour for himself and his countrymen Macnaghten gave way. The works were discontinued; Sale's soldiers were lodged elsewhere, and the defence of the Bálá Hissár was made over to a body of the Sháh's own troops. Cantonments for Sale's force were erected on a plain far beyond the city, 'in low swampy ground,' says Sir G. Lawrence, 'overlooked and commanded by a low range of hills, and several small forts ... within musket range.' They were surrounded by a low rampart with a bastion at each corner, and by a narrow ditch. Outside the intrenchment was the Residency enclosure, and some way off stood a fort containing the commissariat stores. The site of the cantonments had been fixed upon by Burnes, and sanctioned by Sir Willoughby Cotton, during Macnaghten's absence at Jalálábád. A worse position for such a garrison it would have been impossible to select. Cotton, however, did protest against the folly of leaving commissariat stores in an isolated post outside the intrenchment; and he often urged Lord Auckland to sanction the purchase of all the neighbouring forts[1]. But no heed was given
- ↑ Sir G. Lawrence.
