Indian Antiquary Vol 15

SR No.: 032507
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 446
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 196

164
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JUNE, 1886.
like the waves of the boisterous sea, they the contents of which were as follows: yielded and paid the sum of twenty-eight lakhs | Firstly, that on the part of the English Governof rupees according to the previous custom, ment an envoy shall always remain with of which amount the şahibs [the English) Shah Shuja'a, who on his part shall likewise gave fifteen lakhs to Ranjit Singh, and thirteen keep one with the English for the transaction to the Shah, as had been agreed upon.
of business. Secondly, that Shah Shuja'a shall After that the two allied powers marched in admit no European into his service nor into his the direction of Qandahår till they reached country, without first informing the Sahibs of Kudni, which is thirty karahs distant from the exalted dignity i.e., the English administratown of Ahmadsbåhi. The Sardárs of Qan- tors) and obtaining their consent. Thirdly, dahár, desirous for an encounter, hastened that the regular troops of the English shall with their infantry and cavalry to the fort be under the command of their own officers of Fathu'llah Khân, which was near, and gar- for the performance of duties approved of by risoned it. About this time Kadů Khin Moh- both powers, but that the number of officers mand, a celebrated trooper, in the service of and of English administrators shall not exceed the Qandahar Sardârs, stole an elephant belong- fifty persons; and that the wages of the said ing to Mr. William Macnaghten whilst grazing, troops shall be paid by Shah Shuja'a from the and took it away. At this period also Haji treasury of his own government. Fourthly, that Khân Ka kari dissolved his connection with the in commercial matters the English administraSardars, and presenting himself with his follow. tors shall be permitted to take any measures, ers to the Shâh during the night, informed which in their opinion will promote the welfare him that certain of them, who had the day be of traders. This treaty between the two fore given out that they would make a night governments was concluded on the 7th May attack (on the English], had mounted their 1839 A.D., i.e., the 22nd of the glorious month horses under that pretext and had returned to Safar 1255 A.H. the town, whence they had taken their families Meanwhile a strange event took place, which and had fled towards Persia.
became an occasion of dismay to all MusalThe next day the united armies marched on mâns, and especially to the Afgháns. One together and halted near the canal of Fathu'llah day a maiden was walking from the city Khân, where the Sardárs had been stationed. towards the villages, when one of the white On the 12th of the glorious month Şafar, on a soldiers (yaki ds sipdhián görah) under the Sunday, in the year 1255 [27th April 1839]" influence of drink, forcibly took hold of her, the troops pitched their tents on the outskirts carried her into a dry water.course, and disof Qandahår, and on the next day Shah Shujaa honoured her. The cries of the girl attracted went with Mr. Macpaghten and his compa- the attention of some persons by the roadside, nions to the castle of the city, where they took and when what had taken place became ap their abode. Shah Shuja'a undertook no known, her father collected a great crowd and business without their consent, and commenced went to the royal darbár to seek justice. Shah to administer the civil and military affairs of the Shuja'a had really no authority, and the Sahibs country under a constant anziety to please them, of exalted dignity made abundant excuses ; but He summoned from the Garmsir [in Southern the circumstance appeared so abominable to Afghanistan] an Ishaqzâi, Haji Dost Mohammad all the Musalmans, especially to the Afgháns, Khân by name, who was a son of Sardár an unusually hot-tempered and jealous race, Madad Khân, and showed him abundant that although they remained outwardly quiet favours. Of all the Sardárs he honoured the from fear, the blood of the Durrânî Khang two Hajts most, namely the one just named, and boiled with rage, and they said to each other :Haji Taj Muhammad Khân Kakari, better known " What will become of our honour, when the as Haji Khân (and mentioned above).
arrival of the Shah has been inaugurated by In Qandahår the English commanders again such an antoward event? It has now become concluded a new treaty with Shah Shuja'a, evident that the authority of the Padshah is
• The name of the town is not given by the author, Kaye says nothing about this new treaty, but only bat it was probably Qandahir.
describes the show held on the 8th of May in the plains of Kayo, op. cit. Vol. I. p. 422, has the 25th April, which Qandaher As a recognition of the restored sovereign. "The is a trifling difference only.
whole affair was a lamentable failure." Yol. I. p. 425.