face of the fortress opened on us, and our artillery forming line at about 800 yards range, opened their fire of spherical case and round shot in return; other guns in the fort then opened and a sharp fire was kept up on those in the gardens by jhinjals and pigadas, who when hard pressed took refuge in an outwork or round tower.  The fire from the south-east extremity was soon silenced pro tempore, the shrapnel practice being very effective.  The howitzer battery on the extreme left of the artillery line was too great a range, and with the exception of one gun, all the shells fell short.  In the melee, the Zuburjur 48-pounder, was dismounted, and carried with it a considerable portion of the wall of the citadel where it is built upon a scarp in the east face.  After some further firing, the troops were withdrawn almost without range, but sheltered by gardens and broken ground.  From 9 A.M. the engineers with an escort reconnoitred the place, and having ascertained that the only practicable point of attack with our means was the Cabul gate, we were moved off, and marched to the new ground in the evening.  Owing to the difficulty of crossing a river and several cuts which intercepted the way, and formed the worst road for camels and guns I have yet seen, much of the baggage was not up till twelve next (i.e. this) morning.

One European was killed, accompanying the escort.  Graves severely, and Von Homrig slightly wounded, a golundauz lost his leg, and a few others were wounded.  Their gun practise in the fortress improved much towards the end, and against the reconnoitring party, was said to be good.

22nd.—­The ground we now occupy is the mouth of the valley, up which the Cabul road runs:  our camp stretches obliquely across this; the Shah’s camp taking a curve and resting by its left on the river.  On our (i.e. the sappers) right, is a range of hills, from the extremity of which the town is commanded; between us and the range in question, the 4th brigade is stationed, and on the other side, the remainder of the infantry.  We are it seems within reach of the long gun, which has been remounted, and occasionally directs its energies against the Shah’s camp.  The night was quiet, the troops completely knocked up by the fatigues of the day, the distance we came (to the right) was certainly six miles, and that by which the infantry moved to the left, was still more.

The gardens between us and the town are occupied by the enemy, but the village of Zenrot on the ridge, is not.  Large numbers of cavalry are seen on the other boundary range of the valley, opposite our encampment, certainly 2,000; this is probably the other son of Dost Mahommud, who left the fort with the Gilzee cavalry on the night of our march to Ghuznee, for the purpose of attacking our baggage; they were easily driven from the ridge, which is now occupied by our horse.