The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-18 00:00:00

PUTTER KHAN.

Futteh Khan, the active Vizier of the King Muhmood,
was singular of character in many respects, and strange
accounts are found to attach to his name : among them
the following:—A rival of his, a Dooraunee nobleman, of
the name of Meer Alum, who aspired to the office of Vizier,
insulted him, and even went so far as to knock out one of his
front teeth. The injury was to all appearance forgiven;
for Meer Alum subsequently married the sister of Futteh
Khan, but the alliance was only formed that the latter
might the more easily be. revenged upon Meer Alum.
The night before the battle of Ispahan, (a village that
marks one of Soojah's defeats, but before he was King,)
Futteh Khan seized upon his unfortunate brother-in-
law, and put him to d 'ath. The Vizier's sister
threw herself at her brother's feet, and asked
why he murdered her husband. " What!" said he
in surprise, " have you more regard for your
husband than for your brother's honour 1 Look at my
broken teeth, and know that the insult is now avenged !
If you are in grief at the loss of a husband, I'll marry
you to a mule-driver." This incident, says Sir Alexan-
der Burnes, is not a bad illustration of the boisterous

manners and feelings of the Affghans. A saying among
them bids one fear the more, when an apparent recon-
ciliation has taken place by an intermarriage.
The end of Futteh Khan was a remarkable illustration

of the inconstancy of power in the East, as well as a
striking instance of the ingratitude of the princes whom
he served so faithfully. After restoring Mahmood to his
kingdom,-Fiitteh Khan managed the whole affairs of the
Affghan nation with wi tdom and vigour, while the monarch
abandOned himself to indolence and debauchery. Futteh
Khan profited by his master's weakness, and distributed
the different governments• of the kingdom among his
numerous brothers. The King's son, Prince Caumran,
betrayed the strongest discontent and displeasure at
the Vizier's proceedings, and being opposed to some
ambitious designs which be entertained, he resolved
to ridlimself of such a powerful and formidable par-
sonage ; and succeeded in convincing his father that he
might govern the country,. now that it was consolidated,
without the assistance of his Vizier. Having obtained
his father's permission to the step, Caumran embraced
an opportunity which presented itself at Herat, where
he seized Futteh Khan, and immediately ordered that
his eyes should be put out. The Vizier's death took
place in the year 1818, and an act so merciless, imme-
diately drove the whole of Futteh Khan's brothers into
rebellion.

The tragedy which terminated the life of Futteh
Khan Barukzye, is, perhaps unparalleled in the
modern history of the East, Blind and bound he

was led into the Court _ of Mahmood, whom he

had made King, and whom he had recently go-
verned with absolute power. The King taunted and
mocked him, and desired him to use his influence

with his brothers to return to their allegiance. Futteh
Khan replied without fear, and with great fortitude, that
he was now but a poor blind man, and had no concern
with affairs of state. Mahmood, irritated at his obsti-

nacy, gave the last orders for his death • and this high-
minded, but unfortunate man, was deliberately cut to
pieces by the sycophants of the Court. Joint was sepa-
rated from joint, limb from limb ; his nose and ears were
lopped off: nor had the vital spark fled, till the head
was separated from the mangled trunk. Putteh Khan
endured these tortures without a groan. lie stretched
out his limbs to his cruel executioners, and exhibited the
same careless indifference, the same reckless contempt
for his own life, as he had so often shown for that of
others. The bloody remnants of this ill-fated chief were
gathered in a cloth and sent to Ghuznee, where they were
interred.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
SHAH SOOZ.A.II-001.-MOOLIE.
This, the present King of Affghanistan, is of the Doo-
raunee tribe. He is a handsome man, of good height,
with a large, thick beard ; his complexion is dark, and
the expression of his countenance benevolent to many

of the English he is much attached. Shah Soojah lost
his kingdom in 1809, at Meemln, in a battle
against Futteli
Khan, and to the army of the Indus he is indebted for
its recovery, after thirty years' exile in a province of
British India. On the breaking up of the camp after
the storming
of Ghuznee, Shah Soojah accompanied the
army on march to Caubul. Whilst en route, intelli-
gence was received that • Dost Mohamed had advanced
from Caubul to lirghmidee Bala, but finding his
Kuzzilbashes unfaithful, he fled to Koondooz, leaving
his artillery behind. On the 27th of August his Ma-
jesty, Shah Soojah, made his solemn entrance into his
capital, under British protection, and accompanied by
Sir John Keane. In the early part of 1840 Dost Ma-
homed again collected a force of about 4,000 men, and
gave battle. He was defeated at Perwan Durra, when,
having fled from the field of battle, he the next day
surrendered himself at Caubul to the British Envoy, Sir
William Macnaghten, at the Court of Shah Soojah. He
was then sent with his son, Mahomed Hyder, under
escort to British India.

NVWAB TUZIBAR
Nuwab (a corruption for Nabob) Jubbar Khan is
brother of the Ameer Dost Mohamed, and was once
Governor of Cablimeer ; he arrived at Ghuznee during
its occupation by the B-itish forces, with offers of
submission from Dost Mohamed to Shah Soojah, ex-
pressive of his willingness to cede to him all right
to the city of Caubul, on condition that he should not be
compelled to remain in a British province under surveil-
lance, maintaining at the same time his indefeasible right
to the hereditary office of Wuzeer as head of the Barru-
kyes. At rejection of his proposition the old man ex-
pressed great indignation in his bluntness. His house
lies within a mile of Caubul.

.A..131)00X. 114LXIMI7N WEAN.
This was one of the refractory Ghiljee chiefs, and was
formally deposed by his Majesty Shah Soojah. His
fort was at Killa-i-Murgha. On the approach of the Bri-
tish force, being deceived by one of his allies, he mounted
his horse, with his three wives and sister, dashed through
the pickets of his fort, and escaped. The next morning,
this fort, which had withstood two sieges by Shah
Soojah during his former sovereignty, was undermined
and demolished.