Gandamak is 4,600 feet above the
sea, and lies in a delightful, well-watered valley,
planted with fine mulberry trees. It was here that
the last survivors of Elphinstone's brigade were
killed in January 1842. From Gandamak about 35 miles
of difficult road lead to Jagdalak. Just beyond the villageof
Jagdalak begins the defile of that name, which is
about 34 miles long, and called by the natives the
Pari Dara. It is very narrow and stony, and is in
fact the gorge through which a stream flows to the
north. The average width is 40 to 50 yards, but there
are three places where it is less than 10 feet This
place, which can be easily secured by flanking
columns, was the scene of a massacre in 1842.
Professional papers of the Corps of Royal
Engineers, Volume 3, Royal Engineers' Institute
(Great Britain) 1879