History of Afghanistan : from the earliest period to the outbreak of the war of 1878

Front matter

Shelf..

PRINCETON, N. J.

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Dedication

My Dear Webster,

Fifteen years ago I saw you — to me a perfect stranger — win, under most trying circumstances — tiie two mile champion race at Cambridge. Little did I then think that I should one day rank you among my cherished friends.

Since we met some years later, I have watched with the keenest interest every stage of your career, and have often been reminded of that day at Cambridge.

Introduction

In the Preface to my work— “An Historical Sketch of the Native States of India ”• — published in 1875, I stated that the history of the practically independent countries on the borders of India, countries such as Persia, Biluchistan, and Afghanistan, might possibly engage my attention at some future period.

For that period, whenever it might be, I had collected notes and had drawn up a general sketch containing marginal references to the works necessary to be consulted. These I carefully stowed away, little dreaming that the time was so near at hand when I should be called upon to work them into shape.

In the latter half of the month of September last public interest was suddenly excited by the intelligence that a distinguished soldier was about to proceed with

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INTRODUCTION.

an escort on a mission to the Court of Kabul. Questions as to the country represented by that court, its history, its people, its kings, began at once to be asked. It was not so easy to answer them. The history of Afghanistan had been so interlaced with the history of Hindustan that there existed no independent record of the actions of its rulers and its people. Two very remarkable books did indeed seem to profess to supply the want. But Elphinstone’s account of the kingdom of Kabul, charming as it is, confines itself mainly to a description of the people and the country as they were at the beginning of the present century — the history of the family of the then reigning dynasty being contained in an appendix : whilst Ferrier’s “ History of the Afghans,” full of detail as it is, contains but a very cursory reference to the Turki, the Grhor, and the Moghol families who preceded, in the government of the country, the Ghilzais and the Abdalis.

Under these circumstances, having the materials, the time, and the inclination, I resolved at the very end of September to attempt to supply the existing want. I have worked double tides, grudging no labour which might be required to present to the public a readable account of the antecedents of the country now invaded by our armies. I cannot hope

INTRODUCTION.

VII that I have entirely succeeded. The mere mechanical labour of writing has been great, and the book has grown far beyond the dimensions contemplated at the outset. Such as it is, I offer it to the public. I know it has many faults ; but I am equally conscious that I have spared no pains to render it an exact record of events which have passed.

I have had to consult numberless books of reference. Prominent amongst these I may mention the interesting travels of Jonas Hanway, the truth of whose detailed narrative is attested by other contemporary records ; the late Sir Henry Elliot’s History of India, as told by its own historians, edited by Professor Dowson ; Erskine’s Life of Babar and Humayun ; Thomas’s Chronicle of the Pathan Kings of Dehli ; Briggs’s Ferishta; Blochmann’s translation of the Ain-i-Akbari. These are but a few, but they form, it may be said, the basis of the earlier part of my history. For the later period, the references were more plentiful and more easily obtainable. The histories of Elphinstone, of Ferrier, of Kaye, of Burnes, and the pages of the “ Calcutta Review ” have been repeatedly referred to. The description of the cities of Kabul, of Kandahar, of Jalalabad, and of Ghazni has been taken from the same semi-official source which supplied the appendix to the life of General Nott.

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I have found it impossible to describe the events which characterised the expedition of 1839 to Afghanistan, or the events which have led to the present invasion, without recording my own opinions as to the inexpediency of the one and the wisdom of the other. With regard to the policy which has been pursued towards Afghanistan, subsequently to the annexation of the Panjab, I may observe that there seems to me to be an impassable gulf between the adoption of a principle suited to certain circumstances, and the riding that principle to death when those circumstances have changed. The policy, for instance, of masterly inactivity, admirably well adapted to the circumstances of an Afghanistan standing alone, remote from Russia, and far apparently beyond the zone of Russian ambition, becomes inarticulate folly when applied to an Afghanistan contiguous to and leaning on Russia. Under such circumstances it can only mean the resignation to Russia of a territory well described by a German writer as “ the glacis of the fortress of Hindustan.” A perusal of the pages of this volume will make it clear that the India of the past was really safe, really powerful, only when she had her troops cantoned beyond the passes of Afghanistan. They were so cantoned in the time of Akbar and of his earlier successors. It was when the later Moghol sovereigns had lost Kandahar that the invasion of Hindustan

INTRODUCTION.

LX became possible. Not even Nadir Sbah, powerful as be was, dreamt of invading India until be bad secured that important town. Tbe fact tbat Kandahar, garrisoned by Afghans, delayed bim for more tban twelve months, proves tbe importance of its position, and gives some idea of tbe prominent part it may yet play as an out-work of the British Empire. Tbe pages of this book show tbat tbe real contest for India has always taken place on tbe Helmand. Tbe Helmand once passed and Kandabar once occupied, tbe Indus has never stopped an invader. Tbe quiescent attitude of Hindustan has ever proved an irresistible temptation to an ambitious and powerful people beyond Afghanistan ; but no invasion was ever possible so long as Hindustan kept in her own bands tbe keys of her fortress — tbe valleys beyond tbe passes leading to her fertile plains.

It appears to me tbat England has too long acted on tbe principle enunciated by Lord Granville in bis famous despatch — tbe principle of “ not examining too minutely bow far these arrangements were in strict accordance with tbe assurance given in January by Count Schouvaloff.” Happily, times are changed. “ Tbe pulse of the public heart ” beats higher tban it did during tbe ministry of Mr. Gladstone. “ Tbe tone and temper” of this country are more elevated and more brave tban when Lord Granville was foreign

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secretary. And England is to be congratulated that she possesses now a First Minister who is not afraid to announce plainly to the great disturber of the peace of the world, that “ cunning is not caution, and that habitual perfidy is not high policy of State.”

a. B. MALLESON.

27 West Cromwell Hoad, 16 December 1878.

Contents

Page

Introduction . . . . . . i

CHAPTER I. Descriptive

Description of Afghanistan of Dost Muhammad. . . 1

Rough description of the mountains . . . .2

Ditto of the rivers . . . . .4

Ditto of the city of Kabul . . .6

Ditto of the country about Kabul . . 8

Ditto of the road from Kabul to Jalalabad . 10

Ditto of ditto from Jalalabad to Peshawar . 12

Ditto of Ghazni . . . . .15

Ditto of road from Ghazni to Kabul . . 16

Ditto ditto ditto to Kandahar . . 19

Ditto of the town of Kandahar . . .24

Ditto of Girishk, Farrah, and Sabzwar . . 26

Ditto of Herat . . . . .27

Ditto of road from Kandahar to Quetta . . 31

Ditto of Istalif, and Charikar . . .33

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Page

Rough description of the Khaibar pass . . .34

Ditto of other passes . . . .36

Ditto of the tribes and people . . .39

Character of the tribes by Dr. Bellew . . . .51

CHAPTER II. The G-haznivide Period

The Afghans converted to Muhammadanism at the end of the 9th century . . . . . . .53

Afghanistan then an annexe of Bokhara . . .53

The House of Samani . . . . . .53

Founding of a Tiirki slave dynasty at Ghazni . . .54

Sabaktagin ruler of Grhazm . . . . .54

First concussion between Ghazni and India . . .55

Jaipal is twice beaten by the Ghaznivides . . .55

Sabaktagin is succeeded by Mahmud . . . .56

Character of Mahmud . . . . . .57

Defeats his brother Ishmail . . . . .57

Becomes independent ruler of Afghanistan . . .58

Resolves to invade India . . . . .59

Defeats and pursues the Indians . . . .60

Again invades India . . . . . .61

Repels an invasion from Turkistan . . . .62

Anandpal, son of Jaipal, forms a league against him . . 63

Desperate battle between Mahmud and Anandpal . . 64

Mahmud gains the battle and sacks Nagarkot . . .65

His army attacked by the Ghilzais . . . .66

Mahmud avenges himself . . . . .66

Again invades India . . . . . .67

Sacks Thanesar . . . . . .68

Invades Kashmir and is foiled at Loh-kot . . .69

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Conquers the kingdom of Khwarizm . . . .69

Again invades India, and marches on Kanaoj . . .70

Rebuilds Ghazni with the proceeds of his conquests . . 71

Marches against Kalinjar. . . . . .72

Again on Kashmir and again on Kalinjar . . .73

Expedition against Somnath . . . . .74

Misfortunes of his retreat . . . . .76

Punishes the Jats . . . . . .77

Defeats the Seljuk Turks . . . . .78

Annexes Persia . . . . . . .78

Masaud blinds his brother Muhammad, and succeeds him . 80

The Seljuk Turks invade his territories . . .80

Beaten, they renew the invasion . . . .82

Masaud invades and plunders India . . . .83

Is pressed by the Seljuks . . . . .84

Trying to stem their invasion, he is beaten . . .85

Falls back on the Panjab. . . . . .86

Is dethroned by his army . . . . .87

Modud eventually succeeds him . . . .88

The Seljuks again encroach hut are defeated . . .88

The Hindus in vain attempt to recover Lahor . . .89

Modud dies . . . . . . .89

After some murders, Farokzad succeeds him . . .90

His generals defeat the Seljuks . . . .91

Reign of Ibrahim “ the pious ” . . . . .91

Masaud III. rules with wisdom . . . .92

Arslan’s preventive for a disputed succession . . .92

Reign of Bahrain the Ghaznivide . . . . .93

Consequences of his beheading an Afghan chief of Ghor . 93

Vicissitudes of the contest between the House of Ghazni and the House of Ghor . . . . . .94

Alla-u-din Ghori destroys Ghazni . . . .95

Reigns of Khusru and Khusru Malik . . . .96

Fall of the House of Ghazni . . . . .97

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CHAPTER III. The House of Ghor

Page

Descent of the House of G-hor . . . . .98

Muhammad G-hori invades India . . . .99

Is defeated in a pitched battle .... 100

Returns to Ghazni and again starts for India . . . 101

Defeats the Hindus on the Sarasvati .... 102

Invades Ajmir ....... 103

Defeats and kills the Raja of Kanaoj .... 104

Establishes an Afghan colony at Biana . . . 105

Re-annexes Herat to his dominions .... 105

Is defeated near Khiva by the Khitan Tartars . . 106

After many vicissitudes establishes himself at Lahor . 107

Is murdered by the Gakk’hars .... 107

His successor, Kutb-u-dm, transfers his seat to Dehli . 108

Chapter IV. Transition To The Moghol

Mahmud, nephew of Muhammad Ghori, rules at Ghor . 109

Afghanistan falls to Muhammad Khan, King of Khwarizm . 109

Rise of Chingiz Khan ...... 110

Overruns all Central Asia ..... 112

Muhammad Khan is driven to die in one of the islands of the Caspian . . . . . . . 113

His son Jalaludin rises against Chingiz Khan . .113

Beaten, he ultimately establishes himself in Persia . ' .114

Afghanistan is enslaved under Chingiz Khan and his successors till 1251 ...... 114

CONTENTS. XV

Page

She has no history till 1336 ..... 114

Is governed by princes of Grhor from 1336 to 1383 . . 115

Rise of Tamerlane ...... 115

Prosperity of Herat under the successors of Tamerlane . 116

Afghanistan falls to Ulugh Mirza . . . .116

Rise of Babar . . . . . . .117

He conquers Kabul and Kandahar .... 118

And ultimately India . . . . . .120

Chapter V. Humayun And Kamean

Kamran succeeds Babar in Afghanistan and, ultimately, in the Panjab ....... 122

The Persians besiege Kandahar, but are repulsed . . 123

The Uzbeg Turks sack Herat, but are driven by the Persians from Khorasan . . . . . .123

The Shah of Persia besieges and takes Kandahar . . 124

Kamran retakes Kandahar ..... 124

He is summoned into Hindustan to aid Humayun . . 125

Selfish conduct of Kamran ..... 126

Humayun driven from Hindustan flees to Sind . . 127

Hindal Mirza makes a successful raid on Kandahar . .128

Kamran forces him to yield that city, and gives him Jalalabad in jaghir ....... 128

Askari prompts the assassination of Humayun . . 128

Humayun moves against Kandahar .... 129

But is forced to flee to Persia, leaving his son Akbar a captive ....... 129

Power and dominion of Kamran .... 129

CONTENTS.

Page

The weak points of Kamran’s character . . .130

His hesitation on learning that Kandahar is besieged by Humayun and the Persians ..... 131

Humayun sends Bahrain Khan to seduce the Kabul nobles from their allegiance to Kamran .... 132

Great success attending Bahrain's mission . . . 133

Askari is forced to surrender Kandahar . . . 134

Kamran is deserted by many nobles .... 135

Difficulties between Humayun and his Persian allies . . 135

Humayun extricates himself from his difficulties, and marches on Kabul ...... 136

Kamran rouses himself to oppose him . . .137

But, beaten at all points, takes refuge in Sind . . 138

Humayun is seized with a dangerous illness in Badakhshan . 139

Kamran profits by his brother’s illness to make a successful raid on Ghazni ...... 139

And on Kabul ....... 140

Position and prospects of Humayun .... 140

Humayun, supported by Sulaiman Mirza of Badakhshan, moves towards Kabul ..... 141

His difficulties are so great that many chiefs abandon him . 142

Kamran waits for him in Kabul .... 143

Siege of Kabul by Humayun ..... 143

Kamran, reduced to despair, flees, scantily attended . . 144

He is pursued, and overtaken, but his life is spared, and he is allowed to proceed ..... 145

Humayun gives himself up to ease .... 145

Kamran raises adherents north of the passes . . . 146

He makes progress in Badakhshan .... 147

Forces Humayun to return, baffled, to Kabul . . 148

Karacha Khan deserts Humayun, and joins Kamran . . 149

Humayun once more marches against Kamran . . 150

Kamran defeats Hindal near Talikan . . . .151

But, instead of profiting by his victory, shuts himself up in that town ....... 151

Where he is attacked by Humayun and forced to submit . 152

CONTENTS.

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Humayun exiles Kamran to Mekka, and pardons the revolted nobles ....... 152

Kamran, soliciting pardon, is allowed to return . .154

And is granted the governorship of Kolab . . . 155

Mirza Haidar of Kashmir solicits Humayun to undertake the reconquest of India ...... 156

Humayun is deterred by the attitude of the XJzbegs, and by his suspicions of Kamran ..... 156

Reflections on the [attitude of the XJzbegs and of Kamran . 157

Humayun resolves to drive the Uzbegs across the Oxus . 158

Marches northward and occupies Aibak . . . 159

His suspicions of Kamran detain him at Aibak . . 159

The same suspicions prompt him to retire to Hera Gez . 160

The XJzbegs cause a panic, and Humayun reaches Kabul as a fugitive ....... 161

Kamran takes the opportunity to revolt . . . 162

111 success of Kamran’s plans ..... 163

Treason is working in Kabul in his favour . . .164

Humayun, wounded, flees across the passes, and Kamran recovers Kabul ...... 165

Humayun raises an army to retrieve his fortunes . . 166

His chiefs force him to promise to act according to their advice ....... 167

The armies of the two brothers meet. Humayun offers terms which Kamran rejects . . . .168

Kamran’s astrologer forbids him to fight . . .169

Humayun attacks and defeats Kamran .. . . 169

Kamran in vain seeks a permanent asylum . . .170

He surrenders to Humayun . . . . .171

Humayun has him blinded, and allows him to proceed to Mekka, where he dies . . . . .173

Humayun wishes to march into Kashmir, but is forced by his chiefs to return to Kabul . . . .174

Humayun invades Hindustan . . . . .176

His general, Bahrain Khan, beats Sikandar Shah at Machhiwarah . . . . . . . 177

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Page

He wins a victory at Sirhind, which virtually gives him India . . . . . . .178

Death of Humayun . . . . . .179

The Afghan people under Humayun and Kamran . .179

Chapter VI. From Moohol To Afghan

Akbar succeeds Humayun in Hindustan and his brother Muhammed Hakim in Kabul .... 181

The Persians conquer Kandahar .... 182

Mah Jujak Begam, mother of Muhammad Hakim, becomes virtual regent of Kabul ..... 182

Previous career of Mir Shah Abul Ma’ali . . . 183

Shah Abul Ma’ali comes to Kabul, gains the confidence of the Begam, marries her daughter, and usurps her government ....... 184

He then murders the Begam ..... 185

Sulaiman, Prince of Badakhshan, attacks and kills him . 186

Sulaiman then ousts Muhammad Hakim from Kabul . 186

Akbar sends an army under Faridun Khan to aid Muhammad Hakim ....... 186

On the advice of Faridun Khan Muhammad Hakim marches against Lahor ...... 187

The rumoured approach of Akbar affects in an extraordinary manner the recovery of Kabul by Muhammad Hakim . 187

Muhammad Hakim again attempts the Panjab, but is

baffled 188

Akbar’s sons invade and conquer Kabul . . . 189

Death of Muhammad Hakim ..... 190

Raja Man Singh is appointed Governor of Kabul . . 191

Akbar attempts to subdue the tribes of the passes . . 191

Account of the campaigns of his troops . . . 192

CONTENTS. xix

Page

The reason why, in the time of Ahbar, the contest was never-ending ....... 195

Successive viceroys of Kabul ..... 196

Akbar recovers Kandahar ..... 197

On the death of Akbar the Persians attempt to regain that city ........ 198

Successful stratagem of the Governor, Shah Beg . . 199

Jahangir places all Afghanistan under one governor . . 199

The Persians attack Kandahar, and, thanks to the swagger of Jahangir, take it . . . . . 200

Treatment of the Ghilzai tribe by the Persian conqueror . 201

Remarkable occurrences connected with the visit of Jahangir to Kabul ....... 202

Shah Jahan regains Kandahar .... 205

Wars with the Uzb^gs in Badakhshan . . . 205

Disastrous retreat of Aurangzib from Balkh . . . 207

Abbas PL, Shah of Persia, besieges Kandahar, at a season when the passes to India were not traversible, and takes it 208 Vain efforts of Aurangzib to recover it 209

And of Dara Shekho ...... 210

The Shah of Persia rouses discontent amongst the Ghilzai tribes ....... 211

The Shah sends Gurghin Khan to repress the discontent . 212

The Ghilzais send a deputation to the Shah, but fruitlessly . 213

Character and position of Mir Vais, chief of the Ghilzais . 213

Gurghin Khan sends the Ghilzai chief a prisoner to Ispahan 214 Contrast between Mir Vais and the nobles of the Court of Ispahan ....... 214

Mir Vais is released and held in honour . . . 215

He seeks to undermine Gurghin Khan . . . 216

He proceeds to Mekka to obtain the sanction of the holy doctors to his projects ..... 218

Consternation produced at Ispahan by the news of the advent of a Russian embassy ..... 219

Mir Vais returns from Mekka and stimulates the excitement 220 He is nominated Kalatar of Kandahar . . 221

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His reception by Gurghin Khan .... 222

Gurghin Khan demands the Ghilzai chief’s daughter for his

Cunning conduct of Mir Yais . . . . • 223

Mir Vais causes the bulk of the Georgians to be sent some distance from Kandahar . . . . .224

He invites Gurghin Khan to a banquet, and murders him and all his retinue ...... 225

With death of Gurghin Khan the Persian dominion in Afghanistan ceases ...... 226

Chapter VII. The Ghilzai Bule

Mir Vais calls on the Kandaharis to choose between liberty and servitude ...... 227

The Georgians approach Kandahar .... 228

Driven away, they carry to Persia the news of the revolution 229 The Court of Ispahan endeavours to influence Mir Vais by its ambassadors ...... 230

Failing in this, they despatch an army under Khusru Khan 231 Who defeats Mir Vais and lays siege to Kandahar . . 232

Mir Vais forces the Persians to leave him alone . . 233

Mir Vais dies, and is succeeded by his brother, Mir Abdulla 234 Mir Abdulla is inclined to submit to Persia . . . 235

On which account, his nephew, Mahmud, murders him . 236

The Abdalis of Herat assert their independence of Persia . 237

They defeat the Persian army sent against them . . 239

The Ghilzais beat the Abdalis at Farrah . . . 240

Mahmud, invading Persia, is beaten by Lutf Ali at Kerman . 241

Jealousy of Lutf Ali and his brother the vizier roused in consequence ....... 241

The eyes of the vizier are plucked out, and Lutf Ali is imprisoned . ...... 242

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Page

Mahmud again invades Persia .... 243

Details of his march to Ispahan .... 244

Proceedings of a Cabinet Council called by the Shah . . 246

The battle of Gulnabad is won, through the misconduct of the Persian general, by Mahmud .... 247

Mahmud is astonished by his success .... 248

Details of the siege of Ispahan . . . 249 to 253

The Shah resigns his crown to Mahmud . . . 254

The Ghilzai chief as a Persian king .... 255

Effects of Ghilzai rule in Persia .... 256

Kandahar in the absence, and after the death, of Mahmud . 257

Rise and early exploits of Nadir Shah . . 257 to 259

Is crowned Shah of Persia ..... 260

Condition of Kandahar at this period .... 260

Nadir Shah occupies Herat and marches on Kandahar . 261

Incidents of the siege of Kandahar . . . 262 to 264

Nadir Shah takes Kandahar and marches on Kabul . . 265

He occupies Kabul . . , . . . . 266

Chapter VIII. The Durani Rule

The state of the Abdali Afghans in Herat . . .267

Nadir Shah forms a corps d’armee of the Abdalis and the Ghilzais ....... 268

Their splendid behaviour ..... 269

Nadir Shah and the tribes of the passes . . . 270

Nadir Shah’s career and death .... 271

Ahmad Shah Abdali tries to revenge his death . .273

Kepulsed, Ahmad Shah marches with the Afghan contingent to Kandahar. ...... 274

Where he is elected King of the Afghans . . .275

The principles upon which he established his government . 276

Ahmad Shah conquers Kabul . . . . .278

Invading Hindustan, he is forced to recross the Satlaj . 279

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Page

Retrieves the disaster ...... 280

Conquers Herat, but is forced to retire from Nishap6r . 281

Takes Nishapor and again invades, India . . . 282

The occupation of Dehli by Ahmad Shah . . . 283

The Marathas invade the Pan jab and occupy Lahor . . 284

Nasir Khan, chief of Biluchistan, revolts, and defeats the Kabul army ....... 285

Ahmad Shah defeats and besieges him in Kalat . . 286

The Afghans show themselves unfit to act as besiegers . 287

Ahmad Shah compromises with the Bfluch chief . . 287

Invades India ....... 288

Preliminaries to the battle of Panipat . . . 288

The battle of Panipat ...... 290

Last years of Ahmad Shah ..... 291

His death and character ..... 292

Is succeeded, after a contest, by his son Taimur . 293

System of government adopted by Taimur Shah . . 294

The manner in which his peaceful instincts prejudicially affected his empire ...... 295

Especially in the outlying provinces of Khorasan, of Sind, of Afghan Turkistan, of Kashmir . . . 296 to 298

The internal revolts in his reign .... 298

Taimur’s perjured dealings with Arsalah Khan . . 299

Taimur dies without nominating a successor . . . 300

By the influence of the chief of the Barukzyes, and of the Zanana, Zaman Mirza is chosen king . . . 301

He defeats his brother Humayun, and makes an accommodation with Mahmud ...... 302

The system of government adopted by Zaman Shah . . 302

Again defeats and blinds his brother Humayun . . 303

Marching into Sind, is recalled by the revolt of Mahmud, whom he defeats near Girishk .... 304

Tries to recover the Panjab, but is recalled by a Persian invasion ....... 305

Fath Ali, Shah of Persia, invades Northern Khorasan at the instigation of the government of India . . . 306

CONTENTS.

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Page

The invasion has the desired effect of diverting the attention of Zaman Shah from Hindustan .... 306

False basis of Zaman Shah’s prosperity . . . 307

The conspiracy of Payandar Khan, Barukzye . . 308

The plot is revealed by an accomplice, and the conspirators are executed ....... 309

Fathi Khan, son of Payandar Khan, escapes and incites Mahmud to invade Afghanistan .... 310

Mahmud’s invasion ...... 310

False security of Zaman Shah . . . . . 311

The thanes fall from him ..... 312

He takes refuge with an adherent who betrays him . . 313

Is blinded by the order of Mahmud .... 313

Character of Mahmud Shah ..... 314

Shu jah Mirza strikes for the crown, but is defeated by Fathi Khan Barukzye . . . . . .315

Revolt of the Ghilzais, and its suppression . . 315 to 318

Prosperity of Mahmud ..... 318

Instead of aspiring he grovels, and loses his outlying provinces . . . . . . . 319

Conspiracy of Shir Muhammad Khan .... 320

Shir Muhammad provokes an insurrection in Kabul . . 321

Which terminates in the deposition of Mahmud Shah and the accession of Shah Shujah .... 323

Shah Shujah orders Mahmud to be blinded, but is persuaded to spare his eyes ...... 323

System of government adopted by Shah Shujah . . 324

Fathi Khan Barukzye is made an enemy by the want of tact of Shah Shujah ...... 326

Under Fathi Khan’s inspiration Kandahar revolts . . 326

The complications in Kandahar . . . 327 to 329

The ex-Shah, Mahmud, escapes from the Bala Hissar . 330

Vizier Shir Muhammad Khan revolts, but is defeated and slain by Shah Shujah ..... 331

Mr. Mountstuart Elphinstone’s embassy to Shah Shujah . 332

Shah Shujah loses his only army in Kashmir . . 333

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Page

He is defeated by Malimud and Fat hi Khan, and dethroned . 333

Mahmud the restored is still Mahmud the groveller . . 334

Character of Fathi Khan Bariikzye .... 334

Fathi Khan reconquers Kashmir .... 335

His brother, Host Muhammad, is defeated by the Sikhs near Peshawar ....... 336

Herat is again threatened by the Persians . . . 338

Fathi Khan proceeds thither, ousts the Governor, and defeats the Persians ....... 339

Brutal conduct of Host Muhammad in the seraglio of Haji Firuzudm ....... 339

Jealousy of Fathi Khan Bariikzye entertained by Kamran Mirza ....... 340

He makes use of Host Muhammad’s brutal conduct to obtain an order from his father for Fathi Klnin’s death . . 342

He proceeds to Herat and blinds Fathi Khan . . 343

Kevolt of the Barukzyes ..... 343

Host Muhammad marches on Kabul and expels Mahmud’s partisans ....... 344

Flight of Mahmud and Kamran: their brutal murder of Fathi Khan ....... 345

The doom of the Sadozyes ..... 345

Chapter IX. The Barukzye Period

Condition of Afghanistan at the time of Mahmud’s expulsion 347 The Bariikzyes coquet with Shiijah .... 348

Shujah, having learned nothing and forgotten nothing, collapses ....... 349

Partial dismemberment of the monarchy . . . 350

Ran j it Singh gains the suzerainty over Peshawar . . 351

Eventual arrangement between the Bariikzye brothers . 352

Shujah again strikes for the crown .... 353

CONTENTS.

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Pago

Fights a battle at Kandahar : has victory in his grasp, and lets it go . . . . . . 355

Dost Muhammad takes the title of Amir . . . 357