The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-26 00:00:00

MEMOIR OF THE BARUKZYE

juries, received from the Vuzeer, to revenge, and was
aware that he was so little trusted, that shortly pre-
vious
to the 'necessity for conciliating him, he had
been marked out for destruction ; still the late mark
of confidence and flattery had its effect, and he ap-
pears to have been undecided as to the course he should
pursue. Futteh Khan learning the state of the case,
and aware of Ahmed Khan's extreme affection for his
brother Abdoolah Khan, who was in his own camp,
seized the latter and threatened to put him to death
if Ahmed did not come over; this decided the waver-
ing doubts of Ahmed, and when Mahmood reached
Sireab, Ahmed Khan joined him with the whole body
under his command. The result was the dispersion
of the Royal force and the flight of the Shah. and his
Minister to Caubul ; Futteh Khan, with about, two
thousand men, pursued him closely, when 'he took
refuge in the Shinwarrie country, was betrayed,
seized, blinded, and brought back a prisoner to Caubul.
Mahmood's accession was at first welcomed by all
ranks in the country, but the indolence, timidity, and
want of principle, inherent in that Monarch, gave
little promise of a prosperous or glorious reign.
Soojah-001-Moolk, who had been left at Peshawur,
asserted his claim to the throne, and raised a force of
Berdooranees and Khyburees, amounting to about
10000 men, 'with which he advanced towards
Caubul in September 1801. Futteh Khan met him
at Esphan near Gundamuck with about 3,000 men ;
Soojah's force was at first successful, but the Bei.-
dooranees quitting their line to plunder, Futteh
Khan seized the opportunity, charged at the head of
his Barukzyes and put the whole to the route, dis-
persing the force and compelling Soojah-001-Moolk
to seek safety in flight.. No sooner was this attempt
put down, than the empire was threatened by a
still more serious evil, in a general rising of the
Ghilzie tribes, who continued in a state of in-
surrection until the end of 1802, during which
period they fought several well contested actions
with the Dooranies. Although this rebellion was
completely suppressed and another attempt on the
part of Soojah-001-Moolk defeated in March 1802,
the empire was a prey to distraction, and the Usheks
and Persians profited by these disturbances to invade
the country ; the former were defeated, but the latter
succeeded in conquering the greater part of Khor-
rassan and adding it to the Persian dominions. The
Khan of the Beloochees and several other Affghan
tribes refused to acknowledge so unsettled a Govern-
ment, the treasury was empty, the Monarch steeped
in indolence and dissipation, incapable of making any
effort to retrieve his affairs, whilst the Court was
torn by the dissensions of Futteh Khan and Akram
Khan Alizye, a proud, high-spirited, and obstinate
chief, who had followed Mahmood's worst fortunes ;
his death, which prevented a serious breach,
only made way for another candidate for
power in the person of Shere Mahomed
Khan, the Mooktyar-00-Dowlah ; who although sus-
pected in the early part of Mahmood's reign of being
implicated in a plot in favour of Soojah-001-Moolk,
for which he had suffered imprisonment, was now
completely restored to confidence and power, chiefly
owing to his conduct in the Ghilzie insurrection.
Futteh Khan was now dispatched to Candahar to
assist Prince Kamran in that Government and the re-
duction of the neighbouring refractory provinces, and
thus Mahmood was left without any capable or honest
advisers. One of the chief causes of discontent arose
out of Mahmood's partiality and undue favour exhi-
bited towards the Kuzzilbashes or Golami-Shahs,
who to the usual violence and insolence of eastern
military habits, added the licentiousness peculiar to
' their nation, whilst their excesses caused a greater
hatred on the part of the people generally, from
the circumstance of their foreign extraction and
Sheah creed. The disorders and heart-burnings
caused by their conduct were fomented by seve-
ral leading chiefs, prominent amongst whom
were Ahmed Khan, Noorzye, and Nawaub Khan
Lung (or the Lame), but the chief mover in the
affair was the Mooktyar-00-Dowlah, who employed as
his principal tool, Syud Ahmed, commonly called the
Meer Waez, a man of learning anti great reputed
sanctity, possessing immense influence over the
people, and withal gifted with a considerable talent for
intrigue.
In June 1803, these discontents reached their
height consequent on the execution of a young Doo-
ranie for the murder of a Kuzzilbash in a quarrel ; at
his funeral a tumult ensued, when the populace at-
tacked the Kuzzilbash quarter, and a conflict pro-
tracted for several days, was carried on in the city.
Mahmood endeavoured to seize the Mooktyar-oo-
Dowlah, who fled to Soojah-001-Moolk in the Kyber
country( and invited him to assume the throne ; the
populace besieged Mahmood in the Bala Hissar, and
the fugitive Soojah-001-Moolk,returned'to Caubul, es
corted by the Mooktyar-00-Dowlah and numerous
other nobles. Neither Soojah or the Mooktyar entered
the city, but encamped without the walls, and busied
themselves in organizing the troops, and preparing to
meet. Futteh Khan, who was rapidly advancing upon
them. This chief, when he learned at Candahar the
intrigues that were in progress at Caubul, hastily
assembled a force of about ten thousand men, and
hastened to the relief of Mahmood; he arrived, how-
ever, too late : Soojah and the Mooktyar-00-Dowlah
were there before him, and nothing remained but to
attack them. An action consequently took place
close to Caubul ; Futteh Khan was at first successful ;
he routed part of the enemy that was opposed to him,
and was advancing to the city, when the desertion-
of (Ale of the leading nobles to Soojah's side, threw•
the whole into confusion. He endeavoured, however,
to maintain the struggle, but his own party fell off by
degrees, till he found himself almost alone, and was-
compelled to provide for his safety by a precipitate
flight. In the mean time, Soojah-00-Moolk, now
proclaimed Shah, entered Caubul in triumph, the
Bala Hisser surrendered, and Mahmood was thrown
into confinement. Shah Soojah seemed now firmly
settled on the throne, and immediately dispatched a
force to Candahar, which was still held by Prince
Kamran, assisted by Futteh Khan, who had joined
him there ; they were unable, however, to make any
vigorous resistance. Candahar fell, and Futteh Khan
was at last induced to tender his submission. This
excellent opportunity of securing the adhesion of so
powerful and active a chief was allowed to escape;
his demands were very moderate, extending simply
to the offices held by his father; but these were with-
held, owing chiefly to the jealousy of the Mooktyar-
oo-Dowlah, who was now appointed. Vuzeer; and
Futteh Khan, after a short residence at Court, quitted
it in disgust, and returned to his family castle at
Griskh.

A

FA I'd i L Y.

-

f Nadir Shah

uses

etc o

u:11;y- pcAN
or at all likely to contest his supremacy was Hajee
Jainal, the head of the Barukzye tribe, the most nu-
merous branch of the Abdallies, though not possessing
the same high consideration as the Suddozyes, which
latter clan had recently acquired increased influence
from the talents, character, and prominent positions
occupied by Zoolfikar Khan, and his brother Ahmed,
the acknowledged heads of that family. Hajee Jamal,
appears to have entertained some intention of trying
to secure the chief authority, and is said for
some days to have kept up a separate state,
paying his retainers in 'leather, a large car-
ravan of Which _ commodity had fallen into
his hands. Ahined Shah, however. having possessed
himself of the Royal treasures, and assembled the
flower of Nadir's veteran troops around his standard,
*as evidently too powerful to be opposed, and Hajee
Jamal, who was then almost in his dotage, was
persuaded to relinquish all pretensions or opposition,
and soon afterwards to undertake the Haj or pil-
grimage to Mecca. At his .death he was succeeded
by his son Poynda Khan in the Chieftainship of the
tribe, who appears to have always acted as a steady
partizan of Nadir Shah, by whom he was treated
with marked attention and liberality, a line of policy
adopted by that monarch towards all the Abdallie
chief's, or as they were now termed Dooranies, by
conciliating and cementing the strength of which
nation Nadir Shah chiefly relied for the consolidation
of his own power over the whole empire.
On Ahmed Shah's demise in June, 1773, Shah
Wullee Khan, the Vuzeer, together witlSirdar Jehan
Khan, one of Ahmed's best and leading Generals,
formed a conspiracy with several other Dooranie
nobles, to set aside the claim of Timour, the Monarch's
eldest son, in favour of a younger brother, Solimaun,
who had married the Vuzeer's daughter. The mea-
sure was, however, stoutly opposed by the majority
of the influential chiefs, at the head of whom was
Abdoolah Khan Populzye, to which party Poynda
Khan allied himself. Timour Shah, who was at this
time at Herat, immediately marched for Candahar,
when he was joined by a powerful body ; the Vuzeer
also endeavoured to levy a force, but in vain; he was
consequently driven to submission, and repaired to
Timour's camp, where he was immediately seized,
tried, condemned, and executed, on the charge of a
previous murder.

Poynda Khan appears to have continued faithful in
his allegiance to Timour Shah throughout the whole
period of his reign of twenty years, and on one par-
ticular occasion did good service in action at Mooltan,
for which he received the title of Sirifraz Khan, by
which appellation he is more generally known in his-
tory. On Timour's death, in May, 1793, a struggle
ensued for the throne, that monarch having made no
arrangements regarding the succession. Humayoon,
the eldest son and rightful heir, was at the time at
Candahar, but Timour's favourite Queen organized a
strong party in favour of her son Zeman Shah, and
gained over Poynda Khan to her cause, through
whose influence the majority of the Dooranie nobles
were induced to support her interests.- Zeman Shah
was accordingly proclaimed King at Caubul, and
Humayoon being defeated by Wuffadar Khan, who
was appointed Vuzeer, fled to Beloochistan, and was
subsequently seized at Leia, on the Indus, after an
abortive attempt to regain his rights, deprived of sight,
and passed the remainder of his days in captivity.
The next six years of Zeman Shah's reign were spent
in projects and attempts at the invasion of Hindostan,
which were invariably thwarted by rebellion or inva-
sion in his own dominions, the former principally
caused by his younger brother Mahmood, who
.was
finally driven to seek refuge at the Court of Persia,
and the latter by Morad Shah, King.of Bokhara,
and Futteh Allee Shah, the King of Persia, who
seized - every favourable opportunity to attempt the
recovery of the province of Khorassan. These cir-
cumstances tended materially to weaken Zeman Shah's
authority and resources, but the greatest fault he.
committed was in trusting everything to his Vuzeer
Wuffadar Khan Suddozye, a weak, unprincipled man,
with few redeeming qualities. The overbearing and
rapacithis conduct of this Minister 'made the King
unpopular, and- finally led to.a conspiracy amongst
some of the leading nobles at Candahar, where the
Cock then was, who "determined:to-destroy him and
depoie Shah Zeman in favour of his 'own brother
Shah Soojah. At the •head,.of this, conspiracy
was 'Sirifraz Khan together-With Mahammed Azeem
Khan,: the head of the 'Allekhozyes, Aegr Arslan
Khan, chief of the Juwairsheres; Ameecileol Moolk
and HookOorimt Khan Allekhozye. The plot was,
hoWeVer, discoiered to the Vuzeer.before it was ripe
for execution, by Meerza. Shereef Khan, the deputy
of 41e Monshee Bashee,. Who.atas. also- concerned.
Lleasures were inn-mai...tall, Aatteni by Vuzeer,
and the several chiefs; ofiwhat had occurred,
were sutnmpried:to ttrk•aatici: seized,,, ar were appres
hended in their Own houses.. When. the ,officer dis-
patched to seize Sirifraz Khan arrived' at his mansion,
he Was recery •by Futteh: Khan, the eldest. son of
tlikehief, Who immediately saw that all was not
right; he however disguised his suspicions, apolo-
gised for his father's absence, and offered to go and
call then'repaired to Sirifraz Khan, told
him that a party-had come to seize him, and with a
cOniness -and deeision characteristic of his future
(tweet_ proposed to assassinate the officer, seize the
Shards; and-fly from Candahar. Sirifraz han, un-
fOrtunately -fir himself, rejected this bold counsel, aria
iCemnpanialthe officer to the Shah's presence, where
Khan
beheaded, together with Mahommed Azeem
and Ameen Arsian Khan ; the execution of the
i..ehiainder followed immediately afterwards.
'This sanguinary measure created general indigna-
ann. throughout the empire, and completely destroyed
the remaining influence of the Monarch, it led also to
that blood feud between the Suddozyes and Barukzyes
that has subsequently converted the country into one
incessant battle field for these two parties, led to the
dismemberment of the empire, and the introduction
of all the misery and violence with which that coun-
try has ever since been afflicted.
This event occurred in the close of the year 1799.
On his father's death, Futteh,Khan, wlio succeeded
him as head of the Barukzyes, fled immediately to his
family estate at Grishk, which, however, he was sub-
sequently compelled to leave from fear of the King's
power. He was, perhaps, one of the most extraor-
dinary♦ men who have figured in the history of the
time. lie possessed considerable talent, great-decision,
energy and perseverance, and chivalrous courage ;
his ambition was unbounded, his character was
haughty and overbearing, his temper was stern
and unforgiving, and his love for intrigue was a
perfect passion which he could never control.
'ln the present instance he had every motive
to inflame his indignation against the King, and his de-
termination to avenge the murder of his father was not
only justifiable, but, in the opinion of his countrymen,
a sacred duty. He now entered into communication
with Mahmood, who had recently made another attempt
for the throne supported by Futteh Allee Shah, and
invaded Khorassan, but the arrival of the Shah Zeman
at Herat frustrated his plans, the Persians returned
to their own country, and Mall mood retired to Lubbus.
Here he was joined in the autumn of 1800 by.Futteh
Xhaa, who instilled new hope and energy into his
Councils, and induced him to engage .in a
fresh attempt. - They syvore on the Koran
f o serve and be true to each other, and
left Tubbus with about fifty horsemen to com-
mence their enterprise. They crossed the desert
into Seistan, and proceeded to Dooshak, the capital
of that province, where they were kindly received
by Belfram Khan, who gave his daughter to Mah-
mood's son Kamran, and equipped his men and fol-
lowers ; they then pushed on to Grishk in the heart of
the Dooranie country, where Futteh Khan's personal
and family influence soon drew numbers to his stan-
dard, .nearly all the Dooranie tribes espousing Mali-
mood's .cause.

The effects of this measure were soon apparent
Futteh Khan's restless and intriguing spirit could not
long remain inactive; and he very soon turned his
attention to Candahar as the most favourable scene for.
his operations. The government of that province had
been given to Prince Kyser, a son of Shah Zeman,
under the guidance of Ahmed Khan Noorzye who,
although he had deserted Shah Zeman, had redeemed
his character by the prominent part he took in the
restoration of Shah Soojah.
Futteh Khan contrived to gain the Prince's ear, and at
last succeeded in persuading him, in January, 1804, to
proclaim himself king, and to throw Ahmed Khan into
ut teizele
prison, whore he was treated with great indignities. The
was
siah
thuswa adt Ptoeshthaewuwre,swt.he7iheispratocteenedtia:dn
immediately towards Candahar, whence the rebels on
their part moved out to meet him ; but, previous to so
• doing, they released Ahmed Khan, and placed him in
charge of the city. Ills in:,uries, however, were not
forgotten ; his son, with the men of his tribe, went
over to Shah Soojah, which led to the defeat of Kyser
and Futteh Khan, whilst he himself gave up Canda-
har to Prince Kamran, whom he invited from Farrah
for the purpose. Kyser arid Futteh Khan soon ral-
lied from their defeat, collected fresh troops, and
again made themselves masters of Candahar, which
once more recalled Shah Soojah to that quarter.
When he advanced upon the place, however, they
evacuated it. Kyser soon afterwards threw himself
on the Shah's mercy, who received him affectionately,
forgave, and reinstated him ; and Futteh Khan, find-
ing his schemes frustrated there, repaired to Herat,
and, insinuating himself into the confidence of Prince
Feroze, persnaded him to assert his claim to the throne
of Caubul. Shah Soojah then sent Kyser against
im, at the same time offering terms, which the
timid Feroze accepted; when Futteh Khan quitted
him in anger and contempt, and once more retired to
Grishk. _ _ _

Thus strengthened, MahmOod and Futteh Khan
advanced against the Meer Akhor who had been left
in charge o 1 the province of Candahar, and who was
compelld to take refuge within the walls of the
city, where he was cloaely invested for the space of
forty-two days, when Futteh Khan contrived to
get himself introduced alone into the town, and
immediately threw himself upon the honour of Ab-
doollah Khan Noorzye, one of the most powerful
chiefs of the garrison; the result of this extraordinary
appeal was that Abdoollah declared for Mahmood, the
.Meer Akhor fled, and Candahar opened its gates to
the investing force.
Whilst these events were occurring in the west,
Shah Zeman was busily employed at Peshavur in
preparations for another invasion of Ilindostan, nor
was it until he heard of the fall of Candahar that he
could be induced to relinquish this favourite scheme
and rouse himself from his infatuation. Before leav-
ing Peshawur he was guilty of an act of fatal impru-
dence in seizing and torturing Abdoollah Khan, Al-
lekhozye, the Governor of Cashmere, who had arrived
at Court, upon which his brother Sydaul Khan, who
was at Candahar, declared for Mahmood, and brought
over the whole of the Allekhozye trib
Shah Zeman leaving a considerable force at Pesha-
wur under his brother Soojah-001-Moolk, and detach-
Lig about 15,000 men under Moolah Ahmed against
Cashmere, proceeded himself to Caubul with the in-
tent _.on of putting down the rebellion ; up to this pe-
riod Lie seems to have had no idea of his dangerous
positio.a,ibut here the true state of the case burst upon
hitn,
an the evident timidity of his Vuzeer added to
his unple gant situation. Conscious now of the a.ge-
neral disaS-ction of the Dooranie Nobles, he made
every exerticn to gain over the Ghilzies ; finally, after
some vain attempts at negotiation, he marched against
11 !ahtnood with about 30,000 men. Mahmood and
Fu tteh Khan proceeded to meet him, and as the armies
h Khan learned that the Shah's
neared e*.tch other Rate
advanced guard was commanded by Ahmed Khan
irzye ,this chief had many personal insults and in-

The Shah's affairs now began to look settled and
prosperous, and for some time Kyser continued to
serve him with fidelity and zeal. lie even went the
length of seizing Futteh Khan, whose intrigues once
more brought him to Candahar; and threw him into
prison, where he was placed under the charge of
Meer Allum Khan Noorzye, who retaliated upon him
the indignities his kinsman had been made to suffer
on d similar occasion ' • and in one instance, an alter-
cation having' ensued, he struck Futteh Khan on the
mouth with his iron-shed slipper, and knocked out
one of his teeth---an ingot that was afterwards fear-
fully avenged. Kyser was nearly persuaded to put
the Barukzye chid to death, to gratify the vengeance
of his father ; but Futteh Khan prevailed on him to
visit him in prison, where, by his address and in-
sinuating manners—his allusion to past and promises
of future service he completely regained his
ascendancy with the Prince, who not only set him
free, but resumed his old schemes of aspiring to the
throne. Futteh Khan then repaired to Grishk, to
make arrangements for the enterprise, but on his re-
turn to Candahar, he found Kyser had in the interim
fallen completely under the influence of Khojeh Ma-
hommed Khan, a leading chief and partisan of Shah
Soojah, who dissuaded him from rebellion. This so
incensed Futteh Khan, that he openly renounced all
connexion with Kyser, and invited Kamran, who was
at Furrah, to occupy Candahar. The latter imme-
diately assembled a body of troops, and advanced
towards the city, and nothing apparently remained
for Kyser but flight ; when a most extraordinary
scene occurred, such AO no other country or people
could have afforded. rovioug t,o commencing his

flight, Kyser requested a parting interview with Futteh
Khan, They met at night in the market-place, by
the glare of numerous torches, the adjoining streets
filled with dark masses of their followers, all mounted
and ready for a move. The conference began with
mutual reproaches, gut gradually softening his tone.
the Prince reminded the Barukzye chief of former
favours •and acts of kiridness, po'nted out how re-
cently he had saved his life and begged him not to
repay these benefits by driving him into exile. Futteh
Khan on his part recapitulated his designs in favour
of Kyser, and complained of the neglect with which
his advice had been treated ; on which the Prince
solemnly swore ever after to be implicitly guided by
his counsel: the Barukzye was moved, and finally
overcoming his resentment, pledged himself to sup-
port the Prince in all extremities. The following
morning, Kyser and Futteh Khan moved out together
against Kamran, who was ignorant of what had oc-
curred; Futteh Khan went to the front with his own
followers and informed Kamran of the change in his
sentiments and plans and recommended him to retire.
Kamran was at first perfectly astonished, but recovering
himself, he replied in terms of defiance, on which the im-
petuous Barukzye without waiting for other troops
charged upon him sword in hand, and that so unex-
pectedly and with such effect, that Kamran's troops
were entirely broken, and he himself with difficulty
escaped to lurrah. Futteh Khan's plans for placing
Kyser on the throne were now renewed, but were
artfully retarded by Kojeh Mahommed, who ma-
naged to throw innumerable obstacles in the way, and
finally regaining his ascendency over the Prince
brought about another breach between him and Fut-
teh Khan, who at last retired to Grishk and once
more renewed his intrigues with Kamran. Notwith-
standing his recent extraordinary defection, that
Prince willingly closed with his offers ; they united
their forces, and' advanced to Candahar, when a large
portion of the garrison came out and joined them, and
Kyser fled into Beeloochistan. _ _ _

Seik Allies) and appointed the eldest of his brothers,
Azeem Khan, to be Governor of the Province. On
tae capture of the citadel 1)e found Shah Seonjah a
prisoner there, whom he generously released and
enabled him to retire to Lahore. Having now ob-
tained his object he exhibited no readiness to fulfil his
engagements with the Seiks, who retired from the
valley in high dudgeon. In the mean time Jaundad
Khan, a brother of Atta Mahommed Khan, the
vanquished Governor - of Cashmere, made an
overture to cede the important fortress of
Attock, which he commanded, to the Seiks, for
a consideration; Runjeet Sing, who well knew the
value of this position, immediately closed with the
offer and thus obtained possession of the command of
the Indus. Futteh Khan on hearing of this loss,
hastened with a force to endeavour to remedy the evil;
Runjeet was equally prompt to defend his new acqui-
sition, and the two forces encountered each other on
the plains of Chuch, about two miles from the Fort.

Shah Soojah, who was at this time at Peshawur,
had detached his Vuzeer with his best troops to Cash-
mere, and was compelled to proceed in person with a
small force to oppose the rebels, who in the interim
had been reinforced by a body of six thousand men
from Herat under the command of Mullik Cossim, the
son of Hajee Feroz. An affair took place between
the two armies, in which the rebels had the advan-
tage, but the Herat division being suddenly recalled
by a Persian invasion, the tide of success was turned,
Kamran's troops became dispirited, and deserted in
numbers ; he himself fled, the Shah entered Candahar
unopposed, and Futteh Khan was soon afterwards
prevailed upon to render his submission and allegiance
once more. Futteh Khan remained for some time
attached to the Shah's camp, and accompanied the
monarch to Scinde in an expedition against the
Ameers, but arrangements being concluded with
them, against his strong advice, he took the earliest
opportunity of quitting the Royal army with the
troops under his personal command, and repaired to
his own estate.

The Seiks had the advantage, of position and a com-
mand of water, and the Vuzeer entertained too great
a contempt for his opponents. The action commenced
by the advance of Dost Mahomed Khan, with about
2,000 Affghans; who though warmly received by a
battalion of Regulars, carried every thing before them
by a gallant charge, captured the enemy's guns and
were proceeding to dismount them, when Mokum
Chund came up with reinforcements of men and
artillery, and checked the advance with a
heavy fire of grape; Dost Mahomed now found
himself unsupported,--the heat was intense,
a strong hot wind blew the dust in the faces of his
men, and he found himself unable to cope, unaided,
with the discipline of the Seiks ; he, however, effected
his retreat with credit, and crossed the Indus, leaving
the greater portion of the camp in the possession of
the enemy. Treachery had caused the desertion of
the main body, word having been brought to Futteh
Khan that his brother was taken prisoner with his
whole division, at the same time that intelligence was
conveyed to Dost Mahomed that the Vuzeer had been
slain. Since this defeat, the power of the Affghans
east of the Indus has been at an end.
• Futteh Khan now assembled a force at Pesha-
wur, vtiith a view of checking the further en-
croachments of the Seiks, but his attention was ere
long called for 'in another direction. Hussan Allee
Mirza, the Governor of Persian Khorassan, wrote
to Rajee Feroz, who had been left Governor
of Herat, in the name of his father, the King of
Persia, demanding tribute, and an acknowledgment
of Persian supremacy,. and raised a considerable force,
determining to enforce the claim. Futteh Khan im-
mediately repaired thither with about 15,000 men,
having, authority from Mahmood to exercise such
measures of severity towards Hajee Feroz (whose
conduct had long been questionable and suspicious),
as circumstances should be found to warrant; his
former injurious treatment of his brother, Mahmood,
when in flight and adversity, being also to be borne
in recollection, an injury that rankled in Mahmood's
mind.

During this period, the breach between the Shah
and his Vuzeer, the Mookhtyar-00-Dowlah, which
had long existed, was widening daily, and on the
return of the latter from Cashmere matters came to
an extremity ; Mahmood, who had been all this time
a prisoner in Caubul, effected his escape in a com-
motion that occurred in the city fomented by the
Vuzeer, who now proclaimed Prince Kyser as King
at Caubul, and finally the Shah having returned to
Peshawur, an action ensued,. in March, 1808, in Which
the Mookhtyar-00-Dowlah was slain, and Kyser com-
pelled to seek safety in flight.
The Meer Wee; who had been left at Caubul, on
hearing of the death of his friend, released all the
captive Princes, and endeavoured to raise a party
against the Shah, who advanced speedily on Caubul,
and compelled him, together with Kyser, to fly to the
Kohistan ;- the latter soon afterwards came in and was
once more pardoned, but the Meer Waez was subse-
quently slain by the Shah's command.
Mahmood, who after his flight had been speedily
joined by the restless Futteh Khan, was enabled by
the assistance of that chief to raise a force and gain
possession of Candahar, the Shah speedily marched
against them, and in an action that ensued, they were
completely defeated, and once more driven to flight.
The Shah took possession of Candahar without fur-
ther opposition, and then returned through Scinde tb
Peshawur, which he reached in January, 1809. -Im-
mediately after which the British mission -*arrived
there.

Soon after this, news was received of the defeat of
Vuzeer Akram. Khan in Cashmere, and the destruc-
tion of his force ; and he himself arrived shortly after
with the remnants of his army. In the meantime the
indefatigable Futteh Khan had been recruiting his
shattered forces, and hid at last succeeded in once
more collecting a formidable army, and enlisting a
considerable number of the Dooranie chiefs misfile
side of Mahmood, with whom he entered Caubul,
in April, 1809, and took possession of the place.
Had they then pushed on at once to Peshawur,
Shah Soojah would have been unable to offer
any resistance, but the camp was distracted by dis-
sensions, and several disturbances occurred, origifrating
chiefly in the animosity between Futteh Khan and
Meer Allum Khan Noorzye, which ended in the for-
mer persuading Mahmood to seize Meer Allum in
the Durbar, and throw him into confinement; and,
finally Futteh Khan caused him to be put to death, in re-
venge for the indignities he had received from him when
under his charge at Candahar. This measure he car=
vied into effect on the march to meet Shah Soojah,
when his resentment was probably heightened by his
fear of the Noorzye chief joining that monarch. Sub-
sequent to the transactions at Candahar, an apparent
reconciliation had taken place between the two par-
ties, and the Barukzye chief had even gone the
length of giving his sister in marriage to Meer Allum.
After the murder of that chief, his wife threw herself
at her brother's feet, and asked why be had destroyed
her husband ? " What !" he replied, have you
more regard for your husband than your brother's
honour! Look at my broken teeth, and know that
the insult is now avenged. If you are in grief for
the loss of a husband, I'll marry you to a mule
driver." An incident sufficiently illustrative of the
feelings of this wild people.

The delay caused by these dissensions enabled Shah
Soojah, aided by his Vuzeer, to collect and equip a
very respectable force of about 15,000 men, with
which he advanced towards Caubul in the month of
June. Futteh Khan hastened to meet him with a
force very inferior in numbers, amounting only to
about 3,000 men. lie encountered the Shah's ad-
vance at Neemlah, near Gundamuck, and, falling upon
them unexpectedly and boldly, dispersed them imme-
diately • and, following up his success, defeated thC
whole force in detail, the Shah being compelled to fly
and seek refuge amongst the Khyberies, and the Vuzeer
being slain in the action. •
Mahmood, who had accompanied the army, re-
turned to Caubul in triumph ; and Futteh Khan was
appointed Vuzeer. But affairs were not yet settled ;
the murder of Meer Allum Khan had caused, great
disaffection amongst many of the nobles, including all
those of the Noorzye tribe, and a yarty was formed
at Candahar, headed by Abdoolah h.han, the father of
Meer Allum. Here all the discontented nobles
gathered to a point ; and Prince Eyoob, a younger
brother of Mahmood, who was left in charge of that
province, being unable to oppose, joined with them ;.
and finally Shah Soojah himself arrived, and put him-
self at their, head. Futteh Khan lost no time in
hastening to encounter this party; and the two
armies met near Candahar in the end of October,
1809. Futteh Khan's force was much inferior in
numbers, but his courage and talent compensated for
this evil. He had' already commenced . his in-
trigues in the enemy's camp; and just as
the action was about to commence, one of their
principal chiefs, Saloo Khan Ishakzye, went over to
Mahmood's side ; this unexpected act of treachery
created great confusion in Soojah's camp, of which
mo-
ment to
Tw
vgijoec,rtcole)ro,:, downaen,iestablishedp u to nthtehme
Futteh Khan quickly availing himself, seized the
hole
his
oemm
Mahmood pyl e at
firmly
lrtyihnelt
yoh eatohe
on
whole country, with the excep
tion of Cashmere, was brought into subjection.
trohofe iuthhisrone, and the
Mahmood now gave himself up to indolence and en-
joyment, leaving everything in the hands of his Vu-
zeer, whose talent and exertions soon brought affair;
into a more promising state of order.
One of his earliest and principal objects was the
reduction of Cashmere, which, still remain unsub-
dried under the Government of Atta Mahumiriud
Khan, who not only resisted himself, but, incited and
assisted Shah Soojah to undertake two other attempts
to recover the throne, in both of which, however, he
signally failed.
Runjeet Sing, the ruler in the Punjaub, had already
commenced, on a small scale, his system of encroach-
ments on the Doorahie possessions lying eastward of
the Indus, and a series of petty hostilities were
carried on between the two nations ; but Futteh
Khan, who was anxious to enlist the services of
the Seiks, and secure a passage for his troops by
'he most accessible route through '.the Punjaub,
proposed a truce. Accordingly, in the close
o ithe year 1812, an interview took place at Je-
lum between the Vuzeer and the Seik monarch,
luring which the former was attended by eighteen of
lis brothers. Some of them strongly advised the
assassination of the Seik ; and one of them, it is said,
tendered his services by a sign, during the meeting.
This, however, did not suit the policy of Futteh
Khan, and the interview terminated amicably, in
an agreement, on the part of Futteh Khan, to
make over nine lacks of rupees from the
revenue of Cashmere to Runjeet Sing, in conside-
ration for which, the latter accorded a free passage to
the Affghan troops by the route of Bheemour and the
Peer Pupal range, and agreed to co-operate in
another direction, with a force of 10,000 men under
the command of his Dewan, Molt= Chund, ()gem=
tions were immediately commenced, and in the begin-
ing of the following year Futteh Khan made himself ,
waster of the whole vallep before the arrival of his w

Futteh Khan accordingly advanced to Herat, and
having previously alloyed Feroz's suspicions, and se-
duced the prindipal Khans in that prince's court, he
made himself master of his person, and took pos-
session of the city in Mahmood's name. 'He
then sent a refusal of tribute, and a bold
defiance to the Persians, and made his prepara-
tions for meeting them in "the field. In his con-
duct towards Hajee Feroz, however, he appears not
only to have exceeded his instructions, but to have
been guilty of unpardonable outrage towards the bro-
ther of his sovereign ; he not only seized all his
wealth, but allowed his zenana to be violated, his
brother Dost Mahomed having entered the women's
apartments, plundered all their valuables, and it is
said, personally insulted Feroz's daughter-in-law, in
attempting to cut a bunch of pearls off a part of her
dress.

Hussan Allee Mirza, on receiving the reply of
Futteh Khan, marched towards Herat with 14,000
men, and the Vuzeer proceeded also to encounter him.
The two armies came in sight of each other at Kah •
reeze on the 25th May, 1818, and the skirmishers were
soon engaged. Hussan Allee doffed his Royal apparel
for that of a common trooper, but Futteh Khan, dressed
all in black, and mounted on• hes famous charger,
was conspicuous in front of hiS troops., The Per-
sians had eight guns and two hundred camel swivels,
the Affghans four gulls and one hundred swivels.
Previous to commencing the. action, overtures were
made for an adjustment, but failed The battle be-
gan with a distant fire of artiller, when the Affghan
cavalry; headed by Shere Dil, I(ohun Dil, and Poor
Dil Khans, brothers of the Vuzeer, charged furiously
on the Persian line, which .threw them into confu-
sion ,ptrhiae the greater
him partsel
fben
the,oif, troops gave way and fled,
the
g Aamongst the number. A
portion of the Persian infantry, however, held their
ground under a gallant old Sirdar, Zulfacur Khan,
and the fire of their musketry checked the Affghan
cavalry. At this moment Futteh Khan was struck
by a -spent ball, and fell on his horse's neck ; the
report spread that he - was. .killed, and a panic
seizing the troops, they fled from the field.
Futteh Khan, however, quickly, recovered him-
self, and maddened at the idea of having
victory thus snatched •from his grasp, essayed his ut-
most to rally his men and lead them on again, but in
vain, and he had noulternative left but to retreat with
them to Herat. Both, sides claimed the victory, and
Meshed and. Herat were. severally illuminated in con-
sequence ; the field certainly remained with the Per-
sians, but the real advantages were with the Affghans,
as the Vuzeer gained, his objects, refused the tribute,
and having encountered the Persians, compelled them
to retire .without it,. He further strengthened the
western frontier, and brought the whole of this part
of the country into subjection, and a much more or-
derly state, and rendered Herat more decidedly an
integral part of the kingdom.
The reign of Mahmood notwithstanding- his own
incompetency, had so far been prosperous owing to
the energy and talent of the Vuzeer who had the
entire management of affairs, a power which he ap-
pears to have used with great moderation under
the circumstances; the chief advantage he ob-
tained was that of providing for his brothers, amongst
whom he distributed the governments of the different
provinces, as the surest mode of securing his own
power and family influence. He appears throughout
to have evinced no want of respect or allegiance to his
Sovereign, who seemed satisfied with the title, pa-
geantry, and luxuries of royalty. Mahmood was,
however, much annoyed with Futteh Khan's conduct
towards Hajee Feroz, the more so as he received no
share of the spoil except a few horses, the Vuzeer re-
taining the greater part himself, or distributing it
amongst his followers. Dost Mahommed, however,
secured a large share, with which he fled to Peshawur
rather than account to his brother for it.
Whilst Mahmood was in this frame of mind, Ram-
ran, who hated and feared Futteh Khan, and had long
objected to his influence, worked upon his father's
fears, insinuating alarm at the growing power of the
Vuzeer, and got himself deputed to Herat to watch
his conduct; from this he wrote to Mahmood that
Futteh Khan was in reality King, and proposed put-
ting him out of the way, to which the king replied,
leaving it to his discretion.
Kamran resided in a summer palace near the town,
and Futteh Khan went daily, as a matter of duty and
respect, to make his salaam to his master's son and
heir. He was frequently warned by his friends of
Kainran's enmity and evil designs, but he could not
bring himself to believe that either he or his father
could prove so ungrateful or so insane as to injure
him to whom they owed everything, and who alone
was capable of keeping them on the throne. Before
long, however, Kamran's plans were concerted, and
when Futteh Khan came one morning as usual, he
found the Prince surrounded by all the chiefs in his
interest, at the head or whom was Atta Mohummud
Khan Noorzye, a kinsman of Meer Allum Khan,
whose death he panted to avenge. As previously con-
certed, the conversation turned on the recent action
with the Persians, and the Vuzeer was taunted with
his flight. Sarcasms were bandied about, and Ram-
ran himself assailed him with having disgraced the
Affghan name. Futteh Khan replied indignantly
that Kamran hardly required to be reminded of what
the sword of Futteh Khan had done both for and
against him. The Prince, enraged, gave the word,
the Vuzeer was seized, and on a sign from Kamran,
Atta Mohummud Khan thrust the point of his dagger
into the eyes of his enemy.
He was then thrown into confinement, and fearing
that the dagger had not completed its work, his eyes
were inhumanly torn from their sockets. His brother
Koor Dil
were also seized end imprisoned. Shere Dil and Ko-
and his nephew Ameen-001-Moolk,
hun Dil Khans,
to Grishk. With the friends of the Vuzeer, escaped

Kamran then
victim with him repaired to Candahar carrying his
and there tortured him to extort
money. Futteh Xhan's mother offered a lac of rupees
to save her son's
life but the Vuzeer desired her to
as money and life would both be taken
and he .set no
store upon existence. The result of
conduct was to drive the whole of the
Bi giveatt rmu
krnazon;
,h,
es i
brothers into open rebellion, and Mahmood
then discovered how helpless he was alone. Instead
of exerting himself he lingered at Candahar, whilst
Mahommud
Dost.Mahom
, Khan, availing himself of this in-
activity, and being joined by two other brothers, raised
a force and threatened Caubul. Mahmood now sent
the-gurr;ion in that city, accompanied by Atta Ma-
Jehanguire (Kamran's son) to relieve
ha
omfotricde‘
Kuiniadnerliaumee
zye. Post Mahommud made
overtures to the latter, stating that reveuge on the
Suddozyes was their only object, and that if he would
side with them, they would instal him as Governor of
Caubul. Atta Alahommud allowed himself to be
gulled, and his defection dishearted the royalists.
Caubul fell into Post Mahommud's hands, but Je-
hanguire escaped ;
Atta Mahommud reaped the re-
ward of his treachery, being seized and blinded by
Dort Mahommud,
who then appointed Sooltaun Ma.
hommud Khan (a son of Prince Eyoob) as Governor
of Caubuli which appointment he had held before,

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBEIt 26, 1842.

Mahmood and Kamran now moved out from Canda-
bar to oppose Dost Mahommud, leaving Gool Ma-
hommud Khan in charge of Candahar. As soon as
they had marched Rehim Dil and Kohun Dil moved
from Grishk ith two or three thousand men and put
them-elves between the army and the city, and Gool
Mahommud Khan, beings ummoned to do so, agreed
to surrender to which ever party gained the day. In
the meantime Mahmood's and Dost Mahommud's
forces approached each other; the latter was vastly
inferior in numbers, but he trusted to intrigue and
the regard borne by the royal troops to Futteh Khan ;
the two armies remained opposite to each other for
ten days, the royal troops being daily weakened by
desertions to the more popular side. Mahmood fearful
of further disaffection, assembled his Sirdars to coun-
cil in the open plain, and ordered Futteh Khan to be
brought before him, when the last scene of this tra-
gedy was enacted. Blind and bound he was led before
that Court where he had so lately been absolute ;
Mahmood taunted him with his crimes, but express-
ing his desire to save further effusion of blood, de-
sired him to use his influence with his rebel brothers,
promising to restore them to power and their respective
governments if they would return to their allegiance.
" You offer what is gone from you," replied Futteh
Khan, " and what has a blind man to do with
power ? Before you deprived Futteh Khan of sight,
you should have secured the authority in the hands
of his kinsmen. Do you act as you deem best to
quell the storm you have raised. I wash my hands of
all consequences, and will abide my fate."
Mahmood enraged at his obstinacy gave the last
order for his death, and this gallant chief was then
literally cut to pieces by the nobles of the Court, for
many had blood feuds or personal injuries to revenge ;
limb from limb and joint from joint were deliberately
lopped away, his nose and ears were cut off, nor had
the vital spark fled until the head was separated from
the mangled trunk. Futteh Khan endured these cruel
tortures without a sigh, he stretched out his different
limbs to those who thirsted for his blood, and exhi-
bited the same careless indifference, the same reckless
contempt for his own life that he had so often shown
for that of others. The bloody remnants of this un-
fortunate man were gathered in a cloth and sent to
Ghuznee where they were interred.
Notwithstanding the part taken by these Sirdars
in this cruel murder, Mahmood distrusted their alle-
giance, and haunted by his fears of their treachery
and the vengeance of his foes, he and Kamran
stealthily fled from the camp on the second night after
this fatal tragedy, accompanied by only a few fol-
lowers, and deserting an army far more numerous
than that of the enemy, opposed to them, they gave
up all chance of the throne for ever, anti fled to Herat.
When this event was made known in the astonished
camp, they broke up, some followed the fugitive
monarch to Herat, others joined Dost Mahommud
Khan and his brothers, who returned to Caubul.
Candahar was ceded to the Grishk brothers by Gool
Mahommud according to his agreement.
Mahomed Azeem Khan, full brother to Futteh
Khan, and next in seniority, had, as already stated,
been left in charge of the Government of Cashmere.
As soon as he heard of the cruel treatment of Kam-
ran towards his brother, he marched with a strong
force to revenge this injury, leaving his half-brother
Jubbar Khan, Governor of the province. Before his
arrival at Caubul, however, he heard of the flight of
Mahmood, which rendered any further measures un-
necessary. Azeem Khan objected to the nomination
of Sooltaun Mahomed Sudozye to the government,
and counselled Dost Mahomed to destroy him ; the
latter considered his honour engaged, and would not
undertake the office, but he fled or feigned to fly from
Caubul allowing his brother to take possession of the
city and work out his own plans. Azeem Khan did
not find it necessary to resort to force ; he persuaded
a brother of Sooltaun Mahommud, by a promise of
the succession, to assassinate him, and this fratricide
in turn by the operation of the same system fell a
victim to an uncle of his own ; the latter, Azeem
Khan contrived to frighten into flight, and thus he
remained master of Caubul. His brothers, Shere
Dil, Poor Dil, Rehem Dil, Koltun Dil, Meer Dil, and
Noor Dil Khan, established a sort of fraternal
union, and assumed the government of Candahar.
Another brother, Sultan Mahommud Khan, was ap-
pointed to the government of Peshawur, Summud
Khan to that of Jellalabad, and Dost Mahomed wa.
nominated to that of Ghuznee but returned to
Cauhul, and resided chiefly with his eldest brother.
Azeem Khan now took the extraordinary step of
recalling Shah Soojah, who was in exile, a pensioner on
the British Government at Loodiana ; the Shah accord-
ingly hastened to Peshawur as invited, but contrived
immediately to give offence to all the Barukzyes by a
premature display of authority and pride. Azeem
Khan then determined to place the younger, brother,
Eyoob, on the throne, who solicited the favour in the
humblest terms, asking only for the title and emblems
of royalty, and offering to resign all power ,to Azeem
Khan as his Vuzeer. His conditions were accepted,
nor did he ever titer exhibit any wish to infringe the
terms. He was accordingly installed on the musnud,
and the unfortunate Soojah again driven to seek refuge,
in Hindostan. Runjeet Sing- had during these dis.
turbances availed himself of the circumstances to the
full extent. When Futteh Khan had proceeded to
Herat in 1818, he seized the opportunity of attacking
Mooltan with an overpowierng force; and after a
long and most desperate defence, in which the Go-
vernor Nawab Mozeffur Khan, with his .two sons was
slain, that city fell into his hands on the 31st of May.
Leia Debra Ismael Khan and Debra Gazee Khan
followed in succession, and at last, when Azeem Khan
marched from Cashmere taking the flower of his
troops with him, Runjeet seized the opportunity of
the garrison being so much weakened, assembled his
best and trustiest corps, made a forced march upon the
valley, surprised the Affghans, and notwithstanding
the exertions of Jubbar Khan, made himself master
of the capital on the sth July, 1819, and thus added
this valuable province to his dominions, to which it
has ever since remained annexed.

Not contented with this, he followed up the blow,
as if determined to afford the Affghans the fullest
conviction of his power and superiority, by fording
the Attock, driving the Affghans opposed to him back
upon Peshawur, to which city he advanced, and re-
ceived the submission of the inhabitants.
So weakened and divided at the time was the
Affghan Government, if such it could be called, that
they were compelled to submit to this humiliation
without the means of redressing it; but in 1823,
when the power of the Baruirzyes had become some-
what more consolidated, Runjeet again crossed the
Indus. Azeem Khan advanced with his force from
Caubul to meet him. Contrary to the advice of
Dost Mahomed, he made a forced and fatiguing
mareh from Peshawur, expecting to he joined by his
brother, Summud Khan, who had been sent on with
a small force' to raise the Kuttuck and Euzufzye
tribes, but on arriving at the ground, he found both
his allies and the Seiks on the opposite side of the
Caubul river, at a place called Nowshero. An obsti-
nate action ensued between these two, whilst he was
compelled to be merely a witness, being unable to
cross the stream. The Seiks had the advantage of
numbers and discipline, but the Affghans appeared as
i‘ Gliazee" or champions of their faith, and fought
with the most desperate fury, at one time the Seiks
began to waver, but the personal conduct of Runjeet
decided the day, he seized the standard of his body
guard and led them to the point of contest, a height
from which they had been three times driven back ;,
this measure decided the day, the Affghans rushed
madly on, but the discipline of the Seiks, encouraged
by the presence of their Monarch, prevailed, and the
day was gained, after a fearful slaughter of the Aff-
ghans. Had Azeem Khan been able to cross the river
there can be little doubt but that the result would
have been widely different. As soon as the day was
decided, he retreated to cover his treasure and bag-
gage which was in the rear. Dost Mahomed, how-
ever, covered the retreat, and brought off the guns
and camp equipage.
This action decided the fate of Peshawur, which
has ever since paid an annual tribute to the Seik
Durbar, and is now one of the provinces, of that
kingdom. _ _ _