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through their lands to the famous fort of
Neknams, situated in the heart of the district,
but Mohammad Rafique Khan, its owner,
realizing his dangerous position, informed
the Marshal about the evil intentions of
the people, telling him that his advance in
that direction would be strongly opposed
by the local tribes, and requesting him
to avoid the route and proceed by some
other way. The same evening the lashkar,
after so many hardships, reached the village
of Ibrahimkhel—at a distance of some eight
miles from Gardez. It was here that
Levannai, the notorious Dari Khel dervish,
with a few of his disciples came to meet
the Marshal. He expressed sorrow at his
past hostilities and promised to help him
with his men in return for some money and a
sufficient quantity of arms and ammunition.
Next day the lashkar left for Baladeh,
the chief village of the Ahmadzai tribe,
at a distance of some three miles from
Gardez. There the Marshal called a halt
and determined to make this village his
headquarters for the time being. He did
not choose Gardez, because it was then held
by Mohammad Siddiq and his men, most
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Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.