We had on many occasions to purchase houses and pull them to pieces for the sake of the wood to be got out of them, and frequently there was nothing to cook with save tiny roots of southernwood, which had to be dug out and collected after a long day's march before the men could prepare their food and satisfy their hunger.
One day's corn was carried by each animal in addition to the ordinary load, and as far as Ghazni grain was tolerably plentiful; beyond that we had to depend for forage on the crops still standing.

At the end of the day's march, certain fields were told off to the several brigades; from these all that was required was cut and carried away, the fields were then measured and assessed, and compensation was awarded by the political officers, who also adjusted all claims on account of wrecked houses, and fruit, vegetables, etc., brought in for the troops.
On Sunday, the 8th August, the force moved into camp by brigades, my Head-Quarters being with the first and third Infantry brigades at Beni Hissar, on the way to the Logar valley, which route I had chosen instead of the slightly shorter line by Maidan, on account of the greater facility it afforded for supplies.
Sir Donald Stewart paid us a farewell visit in the afternoon, and at 6 a.m.the following morning we began the march to Kandahar.
[Footnote 1: Sirdar Sher Ali had been appointed Governor of Kandahar by the Amir Yakub Khan after the treaty of Gandamak, and had since assisted Sir Donald Stewart in the civil administration of the province.] [Footnote 2: Local Native levies.] [Footnote 3: _Killed_ _Missing_ British officers 20 9 " troops 290 48 Native " 624 118 -- - -- - 934 175 Total, 1,109 Of the regimental followers 331 were killed and 7 were missing; 455 transport followers and drivers were reported as killed or missing, but a number of these, being Afghans, probably joined the enemy.
A large quantity of arms and ammunition was lost, including over 1,000 rifles and carbines, and 600 or 700 swords and bayonets.
201 horses were killed, and 1,676 camels, 355 ponies, 24 mules, 291 donkeys, and 79 bullocks, were not forthcoming.] [Footnote 4: Afterwards General Sir Robert Phayre, G.C.B.] [Footnote 5: General Phayre reported on the 28th July that there were only seven Native regiments in Baluchistan, three of which were required for the lines of communication, leaving only four available for Field Service; and that a battalion of British Infantry and a battery of Field Artillery required for his column were a long way off, being still in Sind.] [Footnote 6: Now General Sir George Greaves, G.C.B., G.C.M.C.] [Footnote 7: Each British soldier was allowed for kit and camp-equipage, including great-coat and waterproof sheet 30 lbs.
Each Native soldier 20 " Each public and private follower 10 " Each European officer 1 mule.
Every eight officers for mess 1 " Each staff-officer for office purposes 80 lbs.
Each Native officer 30 "] [Footnote 8: The amount of supplies taken with the force was as follows: FOR BRITISH TROOPS.
Bread-stuff 5 days.
Preserved vegetables 15 " Tea, sugar, salt, and rum 30 " FOR NATIVE TROOPS AND FOLLOWERS.
Flour 5 days _Dal_ and salt 30 " Rum for spirit-drinking men 8 " Sheep, ten days' supply for British troops and four issues for Native troops, with 20 per cent.spare.Nearly 5,000 sheep were purchased on the march.

N.B .-- There are no horned cattle in Afghanistan, except those used for the plough or transport.
In addition to the above, a small reserve of lime-juice, pea-soup, and tinned meat was taken; these proved most useful, and might have been increased with advantage had carriage been available.
I gave strict orders that the reserve of bread-stuff, flour, and sheep was never to be used without my sanction, and that wherever possible food for the day's consumption was to be purchased.

We had occasionally to trench upon the reserve, but we nearly made it up at other places, and we arrived at Kandahar with three days' supplies in hand.] [Footnote 9: The followers consisted of: Doolie-bearers 2,192 Transport and other departments 4,698 Private servants, and _saices_ of Native Cavalry regiments 1,244 -- --- Total 8,134] [Footnote 10: DETAIL OF FORCE.
1ST INFANTRY BRIGADE.
_British_.

_Native_.
92nd Highlanders 651 -- 23rd Pioneers 701 24th Punjab Native Infantry -- 575 2nd Gurkhas -- 501 -- - -- --- Total 651 1,777 2ND INFANTRY BRIGADE.
_British_.