Lieutenent Colonel Rattray (Cave of) [Cave of Ali Masjid]

(Khyber Agency - PK)
34.031400,71.259200
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An unspecified -cave in the mountain- was used in the late 1830ies by a certain Lieut. Colonel Rattray (note 1) as an abode (troglodyte dwelling) somewhere near the fort of Ali Masjid (note 2) on the eastern (Pakistan) side of Khyber Pass (note 3). Colonel John WOOD (1841 / 1872, 1976: 159) finds subtle words to honour a collegue who was unexpectedly not in the pay of the Honorable East India Company and, on top of that, an ill-conditioned, dissipated-looking Englishman; slip-shod, turbaned, and robed in a sort of Afghan dishabille -- having more the look of a dissipated priest than a military man. His abode was a cave in the mountain, from which he and his hungry followers levied black-mail on the passing Kafilas [caravans]. The Seik [sic! Sikh] fortress of Jamrud [note 4] was at this time dependant for water on the stream that runs through Khyber, and the chief occupation of the young Lieut. Colonel, for so he styled himself, was to stop this supply, and again to permit it to flow o being bribed to do so.An unspecified -cave in the mountain- was used in the late 1830ies by a certain Lieut. Colonel Rattray (note 1) as an abode (troglodyte dwelling) somewhere near the fort of Ali Masjid (note 2) on the eastern (Pakistan) side of Khyber Pass (note 3). Colonel John WOOD (1841 / 1872, 1976: 159) finds subtle words to honour a collegue who was unexpectedly not in the pay of the Honorable East India Company and, on top of that, an ill-conditioned, dissipated-looking Englishman; slip-shod, turbaned, and robed in a sort of Afghan dishabille -- having more the look of a dissipated priest than a military man. His abode was a cave in the mountain, from which he and his hungry followers levied black-mail on the passing Kafilas [caravans]. The Seik [sic! Sikh] fortress of Jamrud [note 4] was at this time dependant for water on the stream that runs through Khyber, and the chief occupation of the young Lieut. Colonel, for so he styled himself, was to stop this supply, and again to permit it to flow o being bribed to do so.

Documents

Bibliography 06/01/2018
  • Lafont, Jean-Marie; LAFONT; Wood, John 1841 edited 1872, 1976.

Histoire

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1840: Colonel John WOOD (1841 / 1976: 159) mentions the cave of Lieut.-Col. Rattray on Khyber Pass. Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Cavités proche

Distance (km)NomLongueur (m)Profondeur (m)
6.3Khyber Pass (Caves on the)
6.9DRAZANDA CAVES
9.0ZERAI GARAI
9.2KADAM, Khyber (Caves at)
9.2SAMAD KHAN (Cave of Mirza)
11.1KHATUNAI CAVE
11.5SHAGAI CAVE
12.9SARKHANDAI CAVE
13.6JANAT GUL KILI