British School, 
mid 19th century- 

The Siege of Kahun; 

watercolour heightened with scratching out on paper, inscribed 'Nuffoosk Pass / Attempted relief of Kahun on the 31st Augt. 1840.' (upper edge), bears inscription on the upper edge of the mount, and bears inscribed paper attached to the lower edge of the mount, 28.5 x 41.5 cm. (mounted / unframed). 

Provenance: 
Private Collection, UK. 

Note: 
The present work was possibly executed by Thomas Wingate (1807-1869), a Lieutenant in the British Army during the First Anglo-Afghan War, and who made a series of watercolour drawings of the opening campaigns: the storming of the fortress of Ghuznee [Ghazni] in July 1839 and the subsequent assault on the fortress of Kelat [Qalat] in November 1839. A similar drawing to the present work was also taken by George Boyd (1800-1850) for plate 3 of R. Kirk's,' Views of defiles and mountain passes in Affghanistan' (London, 1841). 

A source from the British Library describes how '[d]uring the First Afghan War (1839-1842) a detachment of British troops were stationed at the fort of Kahan in Baluchistan under the command of Captain Lewis Brown. The force of 140 men held off attacks from Baluchi tribesmen from May until September 1840 before a relieving party under Major Clibborn approached. In an attempt to storm the Naffusak Pass Major Clibborn’s forces were repulsed receiving heavy losses; of 650 men, 179 were killed and 92 wounded. Many of his force died of heat and thirst. The fort of Kahan was forced to capitulate with the honours of war.' 

The inscription on the upper mount edge reads '[?] was successfully defended by Major Lewis Brown. / Kahun [?] afterwards on The Colours of his Regt. the 5th Bo. N. I. [Bombay Native Infantry]'.