The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-02 00:00:00

AFFGHANISTAN.

Our Caubul new s letter has been delayed considerably
beyond the usual period of its arrival. The reason for
such delay has not transpired, but may probably be
attributed to the disturbed state of Affghanistan itself,
and to the commotions between the Attok and Lahore.
It brings intelligence from the 26th July to the 9th of
August. On the first-named day the Ameer, Dost Ma-
homed Khan, was engaged in settling a long pending
dispute between Noor Gool Khan, a chief of the Ghil-
zaies, Mousse Khan, Barukhzaie, and the heirs of Meer
Afzul Khan, of Gundamuk. Having disposed of this
matter, the Ameer proceeded to the house of the Meer
Hajee, when he was stopped in the street by a man who
complained of having been robbed near Killa Kaz2e of
45 rupees. Other people took the opportunity of mak-
ing complaints on other matters, and his Highness was
at last so thoroughly mobbed as to be obliged to return
to the Balla Hisser. On the following day a messenger
announced the arrival at Killa Kazee of the daughter
of Yar Mahomed, on which Khan Shereen Khan was
desired to make such preparations for the reception of
the lady as became the sovereigns between whom she
was to become so precious a link. A kassid, bearer of
letters from Peshawur, arrived the same day, and com-
plained that he had been detained three days at
Jellalabad. On being asked the reason, he replied that
Murdan Khan (the acting deputy-governor) had alleged
that he was constantly the bearer of news letters from
Caubul to the- British in Hindostan. The Ameer said
he himself heard of a man, of the name of Ruheem,
who was in the habit of carrying letters to Hindostan,
and that be should have special instructions given to
find him out. Mahomed Shah Khan Ghilzaie announced,
on the 28th, that he had safely brought the kafilas
through the passes. Instructions were issued to all the
chiefs to be in readiness to accompany Mahomed
Ukbar Khan on the morrow. A. report came in that
a large kafila, bringing indigo and other articles of
value from Jellalabad, had been attacked and plundered
near Gundamuk. The merchants had, however, plucked
up courage to follow the Ghilzaies: on overtaking them
a regular skirmish took place, in which some lives
were lost. The thieves succeeded in carrying off some
of the lighter articles, but the greater portion was re-
covered by the merchants. In the evening all the pre-
sents intended for the bride were taken out, and placed
in order ready for bestowal. On the following day the
Ameer sent to the Wuzeer a large number of valuable
ornaments for his personal decoration, and the whole of
the "Nuwabs, Khans, Sirdars," and other men of note,
being assembled, the Wuzeer was deputed at their
head to the fort of Kazee to receive his bride, the
Ameer following. The Herat Rafila was met at a dis-
tance of about three koss from Caubul, and the whole
pitched their tents in the plains near Char Deb. Refresh-
ments were served out to the guests, some 3,000 in num-
ber, dancing continuing throughout the day; and a
sumptuous repast was served up in the evening to all in
the camp according to their degree. After this the pre-
sents intended for the bride and her attendants were
' sent into her tent, on which those gifts brought from
Herat for the bridegroom, his father and his brothers,
and which are represented as very valuable, were pro-
duced by the Herat party. Dancing was resumed till
late at night. The festivities continued till about three
o'clock in the afternoon the next day, when the bride
having been placed in a handsome tonjon, was conducted
with the utmost distinction to the Balla Ilissar. On her
reaching her apartments, the Wuzeer paid his respects,
attended by his father and brothers. On the morning
of the 31st dancing and eating were resumed with
renewed energy, and kheluts, suited to the occasion,
were distributed amongst the chiefs of the Durbar. On
the morning of that day the whole people of Caubul
were entertained in turns in the Balla Hissar, commenc-
ing with the Juwansheres of Chundvol. Their respective
chiefs them presented the usual salaamana to the Wuzeer,
and the ceremonies of the marriage terminated. The
Ameer was, however, somewhat rudely awakened from
this scene of rejoicing in the afternoon by a report
from Meerza Abd-00l Summeh Khan, that
owing to the late proceedings of Mahomed Ukbar
Khan against Meer Afzul Khan, the whole of the
Ghilzaies were again in arms, and the passes absolutely
closed, and that something must be done to put a stop
to these frequent insurrections. During the day also
the eyes of the Wuzeer became exceedingly painful, and
the Ameer, annoyed at the tidings just received, said in
open Durbar, that he had no doubt the sins of the
Wuzeer were being punished in this limner. The tia-
keel of Meer Attaleekh Beg renewed the subject of send-
ing troops into Toorkistan, and said that the time was
fast passing away. He seems to have advanced such
reasons for the move that Sirdar M. Akram Khan was
directed to place himself at the head of two battalions of
2,000 Suwars and 1,000 Jazailchees, with four guns, and
proceed to Bameean, there to await further orders. He
quitted Caubul on the 3d of August. On the following
day news came in of serious disturbances having brol en
iatt between the people of Upper and Lower Swat, in the
course of which daily fights were taking place. On the
sth of August, the Ameer expressed his intention to
release unconditionally all the prisoners in confinement,
i but on some fifty being brought before him, he could not
bring himself to liberate more than ten. On the 6th the
Ameer appeared so thoroughly out of humour at the Dur-
bar, that our correspondent became anxious to ascertain
thecause, and discovered that h• was displeased with the
Wuzeer for having dispatched a letter without his know-
ledge to Yar Mahomed of Herat A fresh cause of dis-
satisfaction arose on the 7th, when the Wuzeer caused
the imprisonment of a man on the false complaint of an
enemy; the Ameer directed the immediate release of the
prisoner, declaring that the Wuzeer was becoming
shameless in his disregard of the anger of God, and
that, for this reason, the finger of God was upon him.
Although the Wuzeer was known to be suffering greatly,
the Ameer neither went near him nor sent any one to
make inquiries. On the Bth orders were forwarded to
Sirdar Mahomed Akram Kahn to compel the people of
Zungee in Hazareh to pay their revenue, as he passed
along to Bameean, as they had lately refused to do so.
A number of merchants went in a body on that day to
entreat that something might be done for the security of
life and property in the passes, where not even a solitary
unarmed passenger could now travel without molesta-
tion. They said they were under the necessity of send-
ing their goods round by Kurma and Kohat. The Ameer
declared he was helpless. All was to be laid at the door
of the Wuzeer. He had caused Meer Lizul Khan to be
murdered, and these were the consequences.