‘The strategic importance of the Euphrates valley railway’ [‎55] (136/204)

( 55 )
their notoriety had no permanent honour. In a very
few years, and after two short incomplete reigns, they
were found incompetent to perform the task taken
in hand, and hurled back ingloriously to their own
country. Their tribes are numerous, and tribe dis
tinctions kept up with scrupulous care. A wild,
warlike people brought up in an atmosphere of
deceit and suspicion, it is difficult to surmise what
subjects they would prove under a civilized Govern
ment; but for my own part I should certainly
prefer the Persians as soldiers or servants, and as
companions.
Afghanistan, as a consolidated kingdom, dates
only from about 125 years ago, when it was founded
by Ahmad Shah, Abdali. This chief, taking occa
sion to break off allegiance to Persia, on the death
of his acknowledged sovereign. Nadir Shah, and
failing to influence the succession in that country,
retired to Kandahar with his numerous followers,
and constituted that city the capital of a new State,
comprising also within its limits Kabul and Herat.
He died after a glorious reign of twenty-five years,
remarkable for several invasions of India, the last of
which might have given him the throne of Delhi, had
his ambition so willed. He was succeeded by his
eldest son, Taimur, who transferred his capital from
Kandahar to Kabul, and reigned twenty years. On
Taimur's death in 1793, his third son. Shah Zaman,
became king, but his own weakness and the turbu-
*