VIEWS IN AFGHANISTAN.
Mums. GRAVES are now exhibiting a series of sketches in Afghan- istan, representing the country along the route of the army of the Indus, and the scenes both of our former successes and recent reverses in Cabal. They consist of twenty-four large water-colour drawings, and about as many small sketches ; all of them made on the spot, by Mr. JAMES ATKINSON, Superintending Surgeon of the Army of the Indus. Though the production of an amateur, they are distinguished for artistic skill and tact ; but their great charm is the characteristic spirit and fidelity of the delineations : one feels convinced, while looking at them, that the different scenes are faithfully represented ; for they convey new and distinct ideas to the mind. They have just enough of art to present the realities with simplicity, without giving room to suppose that truth has been sacrificed to pictorial effect. The large drawings are all views, enlivened with groups of figures ; natives pursuing their peaceful avocations in some, and the Europeans carrying on the trade of war in others. Among them are general views of Candahar, Gbuznee, and Cal ul, and several peeps at the interior of Cabal from nearer points : for instance, the bridge over the river that runs through the town ; the main street of the Bazaar in the fruit- season ; the Court of Shah Sonjah's Palace, with the Khans and other officers of state assembled before the Shah. The views in the Bolan, Koojah, and other passes, are grand and strikingly picturesque : through these defiles the troops had to diverge in slender columns, and occa- sionally they were so narrow that only two camels could pass abreast. The lines of red coats winding along the sides of mountains, or in the gorges of ravines, on whose precipitous sides, almost overhanging the path, parties of Beloochees are scattered, lurking in their dens or behind rocks, galling the troops with a fire that could not be effectually returned, present an appearance of the danger and difficulty attending the advance of an army through such a country, that no description can adequately represent; and if this be the case in the favourable wea- ther, when these views were taken, what must it have been when snow- drifts choked the way, and the benumbing influence of cold and defeat was added to the harassing attacks of triumplant and fanatic foes?
The scenery, though wild and dreary, is not generally arid : the verdure lessens that aspect of sterility w hich the desert-like plains and rocky eminences present. Some spots are of European freshness ; such as the avenue at the Emperor Baber's Tomb, with its grove and terraced walks, beside which a stream of water flows in a series of little falls, where the natives promenade on the Mohammedan Sabbath, dressed in their holyday attire.
The small sketches include portraits of Host Mahommed, Shah Soojah, and other chiefs, with studies of Beloochees and women of Cabal. The sun-render of Bost Mahomtned to Sir William M•Naghten gives a striking likeness of the late lamented Envoy.
These sketches are to be lithographed by Mr. HAGUE, and will form a folio volume, like those of STANFIELD, ROBERTS, &c., with descrip- tions extracted from Mr. ATKINSON'S Journal; the small sketches being introduced as vignettes to the letterpress. Of course it will be several months before the work can be published : meanwhile, those who desire to see the spots which have acquired such a painful interest by the late disasters, will find in the Vicars in Afghanistan, recently published from the sketches of Sir KEITH JACKSON, accurate delineations, on a small scale, of Cabal, the Bala Hissar, Ghuznee, Candahar, the Bolan Pass, and some forts and towns on the Indus : the accuracy of both sets of views is proved by a comparison of the two in so far as they represent the same places.
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