ld well exist on our departure
from Mousul, three only have returned. To one so well able to
look for consolation, where, I may say, in such an event
consolation is alone to be found, fortitude and patience in
suffering might well be found. I myself have not attained this,
and I may say this event has plunged me in the deepest
melancholy. For a relation of facts, I must refer you to
Captain Cockrell's letter to Major Taylor: we were attacked and
compelled to fly, and in the confusion, Mr. Taylor, his
servant, Mr. Bywater, and our companion, Mr. Aspinal, were
murdered. We, that is Captain Cockrell, Mr. Elliot, and myself
escaped, though I was, I believe, especially fired at, as on
descending the hill four or five whistled close past me. That
we were betrayed, and moreover, our companions assassinated by
our own party, no doubt exists in my mind. All that were killed
out of 500 people that were with us were these four. They
again, out of all, happened to be the only ones among us who
carried money. We have done every thing in our power to recover
their bodies but without effect: on our return to Telaafer,
after having been twenty-six hours on horseback in the desert,
we wrote a note, in the hope that they might be prisoners at
Sinjar, and offered 4,000 piastres for them if they were
brought in safe. The Kapidgi Bashi left for Merdin before we
could hear of our messenger; he returned after three days, and
said he had seen their clothes and pistols, and that they were
all murdered. Mr. Taylor he mentioned as having been run
through the body with a spear. This was one out of many reports
of a similar nature, and we were fain to give them up for dead.
(They could not possibly have been alive had they escaped, as
there was no water within twenty-four hours.) All our things
were pillaged. I lost all my papers, including your letters,
and all that was left were a few pairs of white trowsers. This
was most assuredly done by our own party; even our own baggage
man, before my eyes, almost laid hold of my turban and pistol,
which I had laid upon the ground, and on my laying hold on him,
actually drew his dagger. I never witnessed such villany in my
life. All our guards were laughing, as if nothing had occurred;
and, although I may be wrong, yet I do v