1837 they almost cease to appear as a body in the affairs of the State. The superior intelligence possessed by all Persians, readily befits them for employment among the Affghans, and from war many became secretaries (Meerzas) and stewards (Nazirs) to the different Chiefs; others took to agriculture and merchandize; and some are at present shopkeepers in Cabool. It would at one time have been dangerous to entertain any Persian without their Khan's permission, but with the loss of military employment, or rather withdrawal from it, their pay ceased, and the growing wants of many drove them to the occupations which I have stated, though a portion of them have always continued in the service of the Ruler of Cabool, as is the case at the present time. Since the whole of the Persians in Cabool are Sheeahs, and the national persuasion of the Affghans is Soonnee, the positions of the Kuzzilbashes was full of danger; it was at any time possible to turn political disputes into religious differences, and there are various instances in the history of the Cabool monarchy, in which these have threatened their very existence. Of late these fears have not been diminished, and since the overthrow of the monarchy, the walls which surround the Juwansheer quarter of the city have been heightened and improved, and I observe alterations even since 1832. At one time they were not afraid to live outside of the city, but common interest has now led the whole of the Persians to congregate together as the best means to ward off danger. They would have willingly left the city of Cabool, and fixed themselves at a distance, like the Ufshurs, in a detached fort, but this they have found impossible, and their situation in the Chandool, or quarter of the Juwansheers, is now so completely commanded, that an infuriated population might readily overpower them. The Persians themselves are therefore intently bent on adding to their own strength by intrigues around them; and though their military influence has declined, their power in this way is more considerable than before, since every man of rank has Persians for his secretaries, and all the home and foreign correspondence is in their hands, by which their influence ramifies in every direction.

The Persians of Cabool attached themselves to the Vizier Futteh Khan, and fought against Persia in his

Herat campaign. They have long sought for a master 1837 who would consolidate them as in former times, and they have at times entered into correspondence with Shah Shooja; but they have especially attached themselves to the Vizier's brother, the present ruler of Cabool, and with the greater avidity, as his mother was of their tribe. Dost Mahomed Khan availed himself to the fullest extent of their support, and it was long considered by many that he was even favourable to Sheeah doctrines; but he has either had the discrimination to see that these would be fatal to supremacy among his countrymen, or never, in fact, entertained them. This he proclaimed to the world, when, about four years ago, he took the title of Ameer, which has a religious signification; and from that time the Kuzzilbashes have ceased to centre their hopes in him. He himself has also withdrawn much of his confidence from the party, reduced the number of those in his pay to about 1,000 or 1,200 persons, and part of their salaries he has retrenched. The head men receive about 58,000 rupees per annum, and the total derivable from the State by the rest, may amount to less than a lac of rupees, each horseman receiving 84 rupees per annum. Even in public he does not conceal his contempt for their creed, and, what is perhaps more bitterly felt, his avowed opinions of their wanting courage in the field, as exhibited in his campaign with the ex-King at Candahar, and lately at Peshawur.

In the former instance he is stated to have placed Affghans on both flanks of the Kuzzilbashes, with secret instructions to fire on them if they fled. At Peshawur it is very certain that the party were backward in fighting; none of them were killed; and a piece of pleasantry is attributed to the Ameer, who said that he never remembered a Kuzzilbash to have fallen in his service. But Dost Mahomed Khan may have mistaken a want of inclination, originating from disappointed hopes, for a want of courage. Certain it is, that of late he has sought to raise a body of regular troops, disciplined by Europeans, but he has hitherto completely failed; and if he consulted his interests, he would seek no other support than that which he may command from the hill people about Cabool, and the native Affghan tribes who do now serve, and would wil

1837 lingly, on good pay, devote themselves to him.

It would also undoubtedly add to his strength if he drew at the same time the Kuzzilbashes nearer to him.

While Persian influence is thus declining, it appears a strange contradiction to record that Dost Mahomed Khan has sought for alliance with Persia, as the best means which occurred to him to support his power. He admitted into his councils a native Persian of some talent, the Naib Abdool Samut, who has since been disgraced, and flet to Persia; and the advice of this man; with that of Mahomed Khan, Byat, a Kuzzilbash raised by him, and much in his confidence, as well as that of several interested persons, induced the Ameer to seek for support from Persia, and with this has revived the hopes of the Kuzzilbash faction, though their support would probably be directed under Persian influence to a master, who more appreciated them than Dost Mahomed Khan. The whole party see, however, in the alliance certain benefit to their own condition, and in consequence do what in them lies to promote the intercourse. It is thus that the Persian community in Cabool have viewed the arrival of an agent of the British Government in this quarter, with suspicion, if not open dissatisfaction.

The Shah of Persia has not been slow in responding to Dost Mahomed Khan's desire for an alliance; an Elchee has been sent with robes and presents in return, and is now at Candahar; but he has appeared at a time most unfavourable to his master, when the attention of the British Government is directed to Affghanistan, and which goes far to discredit him with all parties, and even to damp the hopes of the Kuzzilbashes. It is even doubtful if he will advance to Cabool; and it is certain, if he does so, that any offers which he may make will never be placed in the balance against those of the British Government. King of Persia desires to add Herat to his dominions, and the Chiefs of Candahar and Cabool might certainly aid him in his designs, but the probabilities of a return for such good offices are more dubious.

III.

The

Cabool, 5 October 1837.

On the afternoon of the 24th I was invited to the

Bala Hissar, and being conducted into the interior of 1837 the harem, found the Ameer and his favourite son, Mahomed Akbar Khan, without any of the chiefs, secretaries, or attendants. The interview lasted till midnight, dinner being meanwhile served up; and I had an opportunity of conversing at length with Dost Mahomed Khan.

At the outset I proceeded to unfold to him, in great detail, the motives which led the British Government to direct its attention to the River Indus, and the countries bordering on it. I dwelt upon the prosperous trade which had once run in the direction of its course, and the many facilities which it had been found to present to the trader to transport his goods by it in preference to land routes; and, in addition to all, explained the treaties which we had formed with the rulers upon it; the light tolls leviable; the certain protection to property which they ensured, superintended as was the navigation by British agents; and, finally, since the River Indus leads to the great commercial city of Cabool, and the marts beyond Hindoo Koosh, the British Government sought in an extension and encouragement of the trade, not any selfish object, but, on the contrary, saw an advancement of the ends of others as well of itself, and the strongest motives for stimulating the Ameer of Cabool, and all other chiefs, to associate themselves with us in promoting this trade, since increased consumption would be productive of increased revenues, and the direct advantage was not only apparent, but immediate. Dost Mahomed Khan listened with great attention to what had been said; assured me that no one did, or could, enter more readily into the views which the British Government held than himself, for he had the fortunate experience to discover that, by protecting the merchant, the returns of his custom-house had gone on increasing, and were in a state of improvement at this hour; and the Government of India might therefore rely with every confidence on his cordial co-operation in any measures which tended to promote the trade to Cabool and Toorkistan; and that he would instruct all the merchants and Hindoos to communicate with me, and also make them acquainted with the enlightened protection they would experience in passing to India, and with the

1837 new routes, through which, by our fostering care, they might bring their goods to market.

,,But," said the Ameer,,,I am involved in difficulties which are very prejudicial to commerce; my hostilities with the Sikhs narrow my resources, compel me to take up money from merchants, and to even increase the duties to support the expenses of war. These are the shifts to which I am driven, for seeking to preserve my honour. While we were engaged in resisting Shooja-ool-Moolk at Candahar, the city of Peshawur was seized from our family, and I had the mortification to discover, among the papers of the exking, after his defeat, a treaty that made Peshawur the reward of the Sikhs, and to hurl me and mine from authority. I was yet left; but when Runjeet Sing's officers planted a fort near the Khyber Pass, my existence was endangered; I resisted, and here also with success

I was not unprepared for the irritation of the Ameer on the late events which have transpired in this quarter; and as the best means of allaying such feelings, I thought it advisable to give a ready ear to what was urged, since I might by argument and advice do the Chief service, and combat some of the positions which he had taken up. I admitted therefore, that it was undoubtedly true that war produced the evils of which he complained, and crippled his power; but I strongly urged him to reflect on the uselessness of seeking to contend with so potent a prince as Maharajah Runjeet Sing. I stated the revenue of that chief, the great abilities which he possessed, the riches at his command, the fine army which he could bring into the field, the hopelessness of warring with him, and the injuries which he inflicted on himself and his people, by allowing himself to be drawn into hostilities, and, though the fortune of war had, of late, granted success to his arms, and his formidable opponent Huree Sing was no more, I could assure him, as a well-wisher, that he was contending with a power which he could not résist, and that it would be prudent to seek for such an adjustment of differences as would preserve his own reputation, and that of his countrymen.

The Ameer bore at once the most ready testimony to the power and abilities of Runjeet Sing; and, after