The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-17 00:00:00

THE AFGHAN WAR.

THE RECEPTION OF YAKOOB KHAN.
Under date Peshawar, May 11. the Correspondent of Th.
Times gives the following description of the reception of the
Ameer Yakoob Khan by the British
The arrangements made for the reception of Ameer
Yakoob Khan on Thursday were as follows :—Major
Cavagnari left the camp at 6 a.m., with a guard of
honour under Maj tr Wood, consisting of 50 Hussars
and 50 of the Guides Cavalry. All the troops in the
camp were drawn up soon after on the Cabul road;
the Infantry, in extended files, at open order, forming
up with the Cavalry and Artillery, which were
in ordinary line of formation. The street was fully
two miles long. The guard of honour met the
Ameer about six miles from the camp—one mile
beyond the famous hill which witnessed such a dif-
ferent sight 37 years ago. The guard of honour
was formed up by the roadside to await the Ameer.
He was soon seen approaching, with Mustaufi
Habibullah, his Finance Minister, and General Dauud
Shah riding immediately behind him, and six of his
near relatives in a line at a few paces distance.. Major
C 079.. ran i and his secretary, Jenkyns, awaited the
Ameer n the road, and received him with a formal
shake of hands, the escort saluting. The Ameer is a
Tr. lo of good appearance, looking his age, which is 34.
lite features are of the usual Afghan aquiline type,
situ ewhat careworn, but marked with character and
resolution. He wore the usual Afghan cloak of light
brown native material, but made to sit gracefully
over his erect form. His trousers and boots were of
European cut, and his head-dress was a close-fitting
cap f Astrakhan wool, with a tassel. He rode a
handsome chestnut Turcoman charger, caparisored
with a European military saddle and bridle, and on
which he sat gracefully. Dahoud Shah is a heavy,
uninteresting-looking man, of great stature, dressed in
an illfittieg Afghan cloak, with loose trousers and
Engli h soldier's boot, innocent of blacking. Mustaufi
Habieullah has no pretension to a military air, but
looks like an ordinary Indian official. The suite of rela-
tives were all young men, some of them showing
marks of good birth and breeding, but otherwise
not remarkable. Hashum Khan, sometimes, but
mistakenly, called Ahmed All Khan, was re-
garded with some interest as being the Anneer's
mother's nominee for the throne in opposition
to Yakoob. Physically, however, he is very
inferior to Ameer Yakoob, who looks every inch the
important personage he his. After the reception the
cavalcade soon re-formed, the Guides leading, fol-
lowed by the Ameer and his two principal officers.
Major Cavagnari rode on the Ameer's left, Wood on
his right, both a little behind him. The line of rela-
tives followed them, a few mounted attendants
and grooms and some Hussars bringing up the
rear. In this order the procession arrived within
two miles of the Camp and entered the street formed
by the troops, where Sir Samuel Browne joined
it. The troops were in the best uniform which the
exigencies of the transport service have permitted
them to retain. Each regiment in turn presented
arms, the bands playing the National Anthem, fol-
lowed hy the regimental quick step. All looked well.
The British troops, bronzed and healthy, were nearest
the csaiap. The native troops including two regiments
of Goorkhas, were all in excellent form. As the
Ameer's tents were approached, a R .yal salute was
fired from a heavy battery, the last gun being fired
just as the Ameer alighted at the tent. Here Major
Cavagnari took leave of the Ameer and left him to
repose in quiet. Everything went off well, and the
Ameer could hardly fail to be pleased with the cor-
diality and marked respect with which he was received.
The guard of honour formed by the 17th Foot was in
attendance at the tent, but with excellent taste was
withdrawn after saluting.

GANDAMAK, May 11.
On Thursday afternoon Major Cavagnari paid his
first visit of ceremony to Ameer Yakoob Khan. To
save the Ameer unnecessary fatigue, it was arranged
that Sir Samuel Browne should pay his visit at the
same time. Sir Samuel Browne was accompanied by
Colonel Macgregor and his Divisional Staff; Major
Cavagnari by his secretary and interpreter, Mr.
Jenkyns, The British officers were received outside
the Ameer's tent by Mustaufi Habibullah and General
Daoud Shah, and on entering were welcomed in due
form by the Ameer. Sir Samuel Browne was accorded
the place of honour on the Ameer's right, Major
Cavagnari being seated next to him. The remaining
British officers, four in number, sat on Major Cavag-
nari's right. General Daoud Shah and Mustaufi
Habibullah sat on the Ameer's left. After the usual
inquiries as to health, &c., the names of the British
officers present were mentioned to the Ameer by Major
Cavagnari, who then handed him a kharetta, or letter,
from the Viceroy, which the Ameer passed to Mustaufi
Habibullab, who forthwith opened the important and
imposing document and, advancing close to the Ameer,
proceeded to read the contents of the khareeta, which
I need hardly say is the first personal commuinca-
tion made by the Viceroy to the Ameer. It was
addressed to him under the style and title of
"Ameer Mahomed Yakoob Khan' Wali*of Cabul,"
thereby acknowledging him as de facto ruler of the
country. This formal recognition of his position
will doubtless be very valuable to the Ameer at
present. The purport of the khareeta was to offer
the Viceroy's condolences on his father's decease and
to introduce Major Cavagnari as the Viceroy's pleni-
potentiary during the approaching negotiations. The
contents of the khareeta could hardly fail to gratify
the Ameer, but he has his features under perfect
control, and is studiously careful never to allow them
to betray his feelings. Indeed, his self-possession and
dignified bearing are remarkable for one who has but
so lately assumed the kingly office. After some
further formal conversation tea was handed round in
small china cups which would not have done discredit
In a London drawing-room, the attendant being careful
never to turn his back on the Ameer. The British
officers then withdrew' the Ameer shaking hands
separately with each of them. Maustauti Habibullah
and General Daoud Shah attended them to the outside
of the tent, and after shaking bands waited while
they mounted their horses. On Friday afternoon the
Ameer returned the visit of Sir Samuel Browne and
Major Cavagnari, the whole Divisional Staff, and the
General offiuers commanding brigades being present.
The Ameer, who was dressed in the same plain but
becoming costume described at the first meeting with
Major Cavagnari, was, of course, received with a
Royal ealute, the guard of honour being furnished by
the 51st Light Infantry. The interview was held in
Major Cavagnari's double-poled tent, which did duty
as a durbar tent. The chairs were arranged in horse-
shoe fashion' so as to avoid, in aceordance with
the required etiquette, assigning the Ameer a
marked central position. On the Ameer's left
sat Sir Samuel Browne and Major Cavagnari;
on his right, General'Daoud Shah, Mustaufi Habi-
bullah, Sirdar Hashum Khan, and five others, the
Ameer's near relations, The British Staff, about 20
In number, occupied places indiscriminately to the
right and left and below those already mentioned.
After some formal inquiries and conversation, the
officers present were separately presented and shook
bands with the Ameer, the representatives of the Press
being also introduced to the Ameer, who is familiar
with London neßs. I may record one observation
made by the Ameer in the course of conversation,
because it may be thought to convey a slight touch
of irony or humour. He expressed a fear that the
English officers had experienced much discomfort in
advancing so far into a country like Afghanistan.
This remark was judiciously answered by Major
Cavagnari, and, tea having been handed round, the
Ameer took leave under the same formalities with
which he had been received. The Ameer is fast
winning the good will of the camp by his very dignified
and correct demeanour, free alike from either cringing
or swagger. At the next interview business will be
commenced,