Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎159r] (7/174)

RECENT EVENTS IN AFGHANISTAN
Continuation of Precis.
INTRODUCTION
The continuation of tlie summary of events in Afghanistan, from the
date of the re-capture of Candahar by the forces of the ex-Ameer Shere Ali
in 1868, may best be prefaced by a resume of the situation of affairs as they
then were.
Azim Khan, recognized as Ameer after the death of his brother
Afzul, by the Indian Government, was at Cabul itself, detested by the Cabulees,
awaiting events and making apparently no efforts to resist the advance of
Shere Ali from Candahar : apparently, indeed, occupied with little else than
communications with a mysterious person, called the Syud lloomi, whose
counsels were distinguished by a strong anti-English tone.
His nephew, Abdool Haliman, son of the deceased Ameer Afzul Khan,
had smothered the feelings of dislike and rivalry which had broken out on more
than one occasion during Afzul’s life, and accepted Azim’s succession to the
Ameership. Crossing the Hindoo Khoosh, he had reduced the Province of
Toorkistan into a semblance of submission, which concealed a sincere feeling
of regret at the defeat of Shere Ali’s cause ; and was pursuing what had as yet
been an uninterrupted career of good fortune, when, advancing to the South
west, for the purpose of driving Shere Ali from his last stronghold—Herat—he
was detained, baffled, and finally severely repulsed in the siege of the insigni
ficant fort, Maimuna.
Before that check had occurred, Shere Ali had determined to profit
by his absence across the Hindoo Khoosh, and, risking the possibility of himself
losing Herat, had sent a force to make the dash on Girishk and Candahar,
which, partly no doubt owing to the incompetence and mutual jealousies of
Azim’s sons,—Surwar Khan and Azeez,—partly to the hatred with which their
tyranny had inspired the Candaharees, brought him the first gleam of good
fortune that had visited his cause after a series of unbroken defeats for the last
two years and-a-half. He himself was
still at Herat, but the bulk of his troops
was at Candahar with Yacoob.- That
Prince was accompanied by his cousins,
Eutteh Mahomed,* Shere Ali Candaharee,t
and Meer Afzul Khan ,l and by the eman
cipated Kaffir slave, General Feramoz Khan.
With Shere Ali was his half-brother, Mahomed Uslum Khan, who
had, in the changing events of the last five years, shown himself among the
most changeable of the Barukzye family, and had even in March of this year
endeavoured to make his peace afresh with Azim Khan.
Of the other leading members of the Barukzye family, Wullee
Mahomed* was in prison, and Shurreef
Khanf was under surveillance, in the Bala
of Futteli Ma- Hissar; JellalooddeenJ was a refugee at
Bawul Pindee. Ismail Khan, son of
Ameen Khan, and therefore Ameer Shere Ali’s nephew, who had throughout
been an adherent of Afzul and Azim, was with Abdool 01
Toorkistan.
Son of Mahomed Akber Khan, Dost Mahomed’s
eldest son.
Son of Mehrdil Khan, of Candahar, Dost Maho
med’s half-brother.
Son of Kohendil Khan, Dost Mahomed’s half-
brother. Meer Afzul is also Ameer Shere Ali’s
son-in-law.
* Shere Ali’s half-brother,
t Shere Ali’s full brother.
X Shere Ali’s nephew, brother
homed.
■■ v !?' 1 ; aem