A.D. 66 Russian cannon, superior in discipline, in equipment, and in valour to any force ever before assembled under a native chief. He had the Oriental passion for hoarding, and left twelve crores of rupees in his treasury, of which he bestowed half a crore on the poor; the Koh-i-noor, which now adorns the diadem of England, he bequeathed to Jugernath. He was the only man in his country favourable to the English alliance, and during the expedition to Cabul placed the resources of his country at the disposal of the Government. The hostility of his ministers and officers broke out soon after his death, and so greatly augmented the perils of our position in Afghanistan, that Sir William Macnaghten. urged Lord Auckland "to curb the Sings," as the Sikh chiefs were called, "and to macadamise the Punjab, and annex Peshawur to the dominions of Shah Soojah.' Soon after the occupation of Cabul, the Russophobia 1840 which distracted Sir William Macnaghten, Sir Alexander Burnes, and other British officers in Afghanistan rose to fever heat, on the announcement that a great Russian expedition was about to proceed to Khiva, the celebrated Kharism of early Mohamedan history. This country lies to the south of the sea of Aral on the banks of the Oxus, but, with the exception of the oasis of Merv, is a continuous waste, unrelieved by mountains, rivers, lakes, or forests, and with scarcely more than a million of inhabitants. For half a century the rulers had been in the habit of committing depredations on Russian caravans, attacking Russian posts, and kidnapping Russian subjects whom they held in slavery. The emperor determined on a military expedition to fulfil "the im"perial obligation of protecting the lives and liberties of his "subjects; " but there was likewise a second motive. In his Simla manifesto Lord Auckland had stated that the object of the expedition was also "to give the name and just in"fluence of the British Government its proper footing among the nations of Central Asia." The ambitious spirit of Sir William Macnaghten was disposed to carry out this policy to an extent which startled even his own Government. He sent a military force beyond Bameean to depose an Oosbek chief and instal another, and alarm was spread through Turkestan. Major Todd, who had been sent as the representative of the Governor-General to Herat, was strengthening its fortifications, and had despatched. one of his assistants to Khiva to offer the Khan the boon of British friendship. The envoy exceeded his instruc tions, and proposed an alliance, offensive and defensive, which Lord Auckland immediately disavowed. A mission was also sent to Bokhara. 66 Khiva. These simultaneous movements, military and diplomatic, aroused the jealousy of the cabinet of St. Petersburg, who resented any intrusion of the English Govern- Russian exment into the politics of Central Asia, and the pedition to emperor ordered the Khiva expedition to advance without any delay, five months earlier than was originally intended. The manifesto which announced its despatch, after enumerating the injuries the Russians had sustained from the Khivans, adopted the language of Lord Auckland's proclamation, and stated that the expedition was also intended "to strengthen in that part of Asia the lawful influence to which Russia had a right." The Russian journals affirmed without any disguise that the object of it was to establish the strong influence of Russia "in Khiva, Bokhara, and Kokand, and to prevent the in"fluence of the East India Company from taking root in "Central Asia." The two European nations destined to divide the predominant power in Asia between them, were at this time jealous of each other's progress, and were resorting to the fatal expedient of fitting out expeditions to counteract it. "If we go on at this rate," said Baron Brunow to Lord Palmerston, "the Cossack and the Sepoy "will soon cross bayonets on the Oxus." The Russian expedition proved a total failure. It moved from Orenburg in November on a march of 1,000 miles in the depth of winter, when the snow lay several feet deep on the ground, and not a blade of grass was to be found, and the general was obliged to retrace his steps after the loss of half his army. Subsequently Major Todd despatched Captain Shakespear to Khiva, who prevailed on the Khan to deliver up 400 Russian slaves, whom he conducted to Orenburg, but his interference was considered intrusive. After the determination was formed to retain a British army in Afghanistan, the most important of all questions was the encampment of the troops at the capital. The Bala The Bala Hissar of Cabul stood on a hill, and Hissar. completely commanded the city. It afforded accommodation for 5,000 troops, and, if well provisioned and supplied with military stores, could be held by 1,000 men against whatever force or skill the Afghans could bring against it. It was the key of Cabul, and the security of our position depended on our occupation of it. The Shah insisted on D D A.D. 1840 A.D. 1840 excluding the soldiers from it, that the privacy of his zenana might not be disturbed, and in an evil hour the envoy, contrary to his own better judgment, yielded to his importunity and the garrison was turned into cantonments in the plain, erected in the most exposed position that could be thought of. The whole of the Afghan policy from first to last was a tissue of folly, but the crowning act of insanity was the resignation of the Bala Hissar to the Shah's hundred and fifty women. The conviction daily became more confirmed, that he had no hold on the attachment of his subjects, and that it was the infidel aid on which he rested for support that was the chief element of his unpopularity. Its presence was regarded like a visitation of the plague. Many of the political officers were men of high honour and conciliatory manners, but there were others whose haughty and arrogant bearing created disgust, and whose unblushing licentiousness, which invaded the honour of the noblest families, raised a feeling of burning indignation. During the twenty-seven months of our occupation, the Government was a Government of sentry-boxes, sustained only by the sheen of British bayonets. The country was garrisoned, not governed, and we were reposing on a smouldering volcano. Within a few weeks of the occupation of Cabul, the highlanders in the Khyber massacred a large detachment of troops and carried off their baggage. The whole province of Belochistan rose in revolt and deposed the chief whom General Willshire had imposed on the people, and General Nott was obliged to march down from Candahar to restore our authority. But the chief cause of anxiety was connected with the movements of Dost Mahomed. After his flight from Cabul, he accepted the hospitality of the Ameer of Bokhara, "the Commander of the Faithful,' Movements of Dost but the most atrocious tyrant in Central Asia, who soon after subjected him to a grievous captivity. Meanwhile his brother, Jubber Khan, after wandering from place to place with the females of his family, placed them under the protection of the British Government. The confidence thus shown in our honour and generosity by a people proverbial for perfidy, was no ordinary tribute to our national character. The Dost, having at length made his escape from Bokhara, approached Cabul and found himself at the head of 6,000 or 7,000 Oosbeks, with whom he resolved to cross the Hindoo Coosh, raise the war cry of the Prophet, and, gathering strength from the un A.D popularity of Shah Soojah and his supporters, march in triumph to Cabul. But Brigadier Dennie encountered him with a mere handful of troops, and obtained a decisive victory over the host of Oosbeks. After this defeat Dost Mahomed moved into the Kohistan, or highlands north of Cabul, and the chiefs who had recently sworn fidelity to the Shah on the Koran, at once espoused his cause, but Sir Robert Sale attacked him with great success. He flitted about the hills for two or three weeks, and then came down into the Nijrow district in the vicinity of the capital, which was immediately thrown into a state of general ferment. The English officials were filled with consternation, and guns were mounted in all haste on the 1840 citadel. On the 2nd November, Sir Robert Sale, who had been incessantly in pursuit of him, came upon him in the valley of Purwandurra; the heights were bristling with an armed population, but the Dost had only 200 horsemen with him. The 2nd Cavalry galloped down upon him, and he resolved to meet the charge manfully. Raising himself in his stirrups and uncovering his head, he called upon his troops, in the name of God and the Prophet, to aid him in driving" the accursed infidels " from the land. The cavalry troopers fled from the field like a flock of sheep, the European officers fought with the spirit of heroes, till three were killed and two wounded. Sir Alexander Burnes, who was on the field, sent a hasty note to the envoy to assure him that there was nothing left but to fall back on Cabul, and concentrate our force for its defence. The note was delivered to him the next afternoon as he was taking a ride, when to his surprise, Dost Mahomed suddenly presented himself, and dismounting, gave up his sword and claimed his protection. He had felt, he said "even in the "moment of victory that it would be impossible to con"tinue the contest, and having met his foes in the open field "and discomfited them he could claim their consideration "without indignity." The Dost rode together with the envoy into the cantonment, where his frank manners and dignified bearing in the hour of adversity created a strong feeling of sympathy and admiration, which was in no small degree heightened by contempt for the puppet in the Bala Hissar. He was sent on to Calcutta, where he was treated by Lord Auckland with the greatest respect and consideration, and two lacs of rupees a year were assigned for his support. 1840 SECTION III. LORD AUCKLAND'S ADMINISTRATION -THE AFGHAN WAR-DE- A.D. MAJOR TODD had been sent by Sir William Macnaghten to Herat to maintain the influence of the British Government and to improve the fortifications. Money was sent in great profusion from Cabul, but Yar Mahomed, the vizier, took great offence at the efforts made by the Major to suppress the execrable traffic in slaves, the curse of Central Asia, in which he himself was deeply implicated, and he offered to place the whole country under the control of the king of Persia. Incensed at this act of ingratitude and perfidy, Sir William Macnaghten urged the immediate annexation of the province to the dominions of Shah Soojah, but Lord Auckland was disposed to condone the conduct of the minister, and the supply of guns, muskets, ammunition, and money was renewed with such prodigality as to alarm the financial authorities in Calcutta. But this lavish expenditure only led to more audacious intrigues, and Yar Mahomed endeavoured to concert a plan with the Persian governor of Meshed for the invasion of Candahar. This renewed act of treachery exhausted Major Todd's patience, and he withheld the monthly subsidy till the orders of the GovernorGeneral could be received. The minister then rose in his demands, and on the 8th February insisted peremptorily on the payment of two lacs for the discharge of his personal debts, and a further advance for the improvement of the fortifications, and an increase of the monthly stipend, or the immediate departure of Major Todd. The Major at 1841 once withdrew the embassy to the great mortification of Lord Auckland, who dismissed him from his political employ and remanded him to his regiment. 1840 General Nott Rawlinson. The political charge of the province of Candahar was entrusted to Major Rawlinson, and the military command to General Nott, an officer of sound judgment and Major and great decision of character. He was prompt and successful in dealing with the revolts which were continually cropping up around him, but the freedom of his remarks was displeasing to Lord Auckland and to Sir William Macnaghten, and he was, unfortunately, refused the promotion which he expected on Sir Willoughby |