Note 351 — Chapter III

General Harlan, who was at Caubul at this time, has written an account of the desertion of Dost Mahomed by his followers at Urghundeh, which only wants a conviction of its entire truth to render it extremely interesting. According to this writer, the Ameer was not only deserted, but plundered by his followers at the last. “A crowd of noisy disorganised troops,” he says, “insolently pressed close up to the royal pavilion—the guards had disappeared—the groom holding the Prince’s horse was unceremoniously pushed to and fro—a servant audaciously pulled away the pillow which sustained the Prince’s arm—another commenced cutting a piece of the splendid Persian carpet—the beautiful praying rug of the Prince was seized on by a third.... ‘Take all,’ said he, ‘that you find within, together with the tent.’ In an instant the unruly crowd rushed upon the pavilion—swords gleamed in the air and descended upon the tent—the canvas, the ropes, the carpets, pillows, screens, &c., were seized and dispersed among the plunderers.”