text:  But the great drawback to the value of this new acquisition is the extreme unhealthiness of the climate from the great heat combined with the malaria generated by the vast alluvial deposits of the river; the effects of which have been so deleterious that of 9870 men the total force of the Bombay troops under Sir Charles Napier's command not fewer than 2890 at the date of the January letters were unfit for duty from sickness; and apprehensions were even entertained of a design on the part of the sirdars of Candahar in conjunction with Shere Mohammed to take advantage of the weakness of the garrison of Shikarpoor from disease to plunder the town by a sudden foray