Khoja Padshauh, a Ko-i-staun chief, with his armed retainers

This lithograph is taken from plate 7 of 'Afghaunistan' by Lieutenant James Rattray.

Together with his brother's regiment, Rattray went on a reconnoitering tour of the valleys of Afghanistan. The group in this picture, he wrote, "formed one of the numerous escorts which, in our rides from fort to fort through the valley, poured out, headed by their respective Khauns to do honour to and swell the train of the big-wigs". Khoja Padshah, the principal figure here, was allowed by the British to escape from the storming of Julga Fort in 1840.

While on this tour, the reconnaisance force happened upon the ancient ruins of what Rattray refers to as the Caucasian Alexandria, overlooking the plains of Begram. They were able to inspect the famous tomb of Alexander's steed Bucephalus at the site. Coins, rings and other antiques were dug up by the villagers and proffered to the British.