'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎10] (143/458)

10 ' LIEUTENANT H. G. RAVERTY
Kaiser, his nephew, in the government of Kabul. Sheer Mahomed
Khan Popu’zai, the Mukhtar-ud-Dowlah, who was then absent in Kash
mir as Governor of the province, dreading in his heartiest Shah Shujah
might find an opportunity of ruining him in revenge for some crime
previously committed, seized the apportunity ofthe Shah’s absence, left
his Government, and returned to Kabul. He immediately commenced in
triguing with Prince Kaiser, and offered to make him King. The Prince
was deaf to all his proposals for a long time, well knowing, that in case of
failure, his own life would be the forfeit. Sheer Mahomed Khan, on
hearing his reasons for refusing, said, “ but if the Ameers, the troops,
and the people, of their own accord, choose you for their King, what
can Shujah-al-Mulk do to prevent it ,? ? After some time, however,
Kaiser agreed to his request.
The Mukhtar-ud-Gowlah’s next object was, to gain over the Meer
Waiz, who, at this time, was the Peer or Saint, and therefore greatly
respected by the whole of the people of Kabul, with the exception of
the Kuzzilbashes.
Having gone to the Meer Waiz, the Mukhtar-ud-Dowla represented
to him the immense advantages they themselves would acquire, in case
they could place Kaiser on the throne, and, moreover, that the whole of
the affairs of state would fall into their hands. It was therefore agreed
between them, that the Meer Waiz should go to the principal Musjid
on the succeeding Friday, and harangue the people on the subject
from the pulpit. This was accordingly done, and Meer Waiz declared
that Shujah-ul-Mulk was a sensualist, and a drunkard, and thereby
unworthy to be King of the Faithful; and that, as Prince Kaiser was
young, a worshipper of God, a pious man, and, moreover, a protector of
the poor and helpless, he was, therefore, fit to be their Sovereign. The
people of Kabul acted as their Peer had advised, and Kaiser was
accordingly proclaimed King, in the place of Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk.
f he Kuzzilbashes, who had beheld all this with dread, and having
ever looked on the Mukhtar-ul-Dowlah, and the Meer Waiz, as their
inveterate enemies, wrote the whole account of the affair to the Shah,
and despatched it with a trusty messenger. News of the insurrec
tion reached Shah Shujah at Mooltan, from which place he immediate -
ly marched with the small force at his disposal, crossed the Indus, and
advanced on Peshawur, by the Derajat and Kohaut.