An important record of the characters and terrain of the second Afghan War. Sitters in the formal portraits are identified as follows: Amir Sher Ali Khan, alone and in a group with Prince Abdul Jau and Sirdars; his son, the Amir Yakub Khan with Mr. Jenkins, Major Sir Louis Cavagnari, 'Daood Shah and Hubeehboola Mustaphi'; Major Cavagnari and Sirdars; and Lt. General Sir Samuel Browne and staff. More informal groups are identified as Afreedies, Officers of the 51st Regiment, Khyber Chiefs and Khans, a group of prisoners, Amir Yakub Khan and his Highlanders and others.

The photograph of Yakub Khan, Major Cavagnari and Mr. Jenkins documents a moment in the second Afghan War when it was thought that a settlement had been achieved between the British and the Afghans. Three months later, on 3 September, 1879, Major Cavagnari and his staff were executed by Afghan insurgents.

Other places and events shown include General Appleyard and his staff at the Shergai Heights, the captured enemy guns, the camps, and the first meeting with the Amir Yakub Khan. Views include Fort Attock, Peshawar, the Khyber including Mackeson's Bridge and Causeway, the Khyber Pass, the Ali Masjid, the Buddhist Tope at Ispola, the Landi Kotal Pass, Dacca and a nearby gypsy village, Bassanle and Jellalabad.