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

WII"ZinCIEET ICH.AZT.

Futteh Khan, the active Vizier of the King Mahmood,
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
fiont 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 death. The Vizier's sister
threw herself at her brother's feet, anti asked
why he murdered her husband. " What!" said he
in surprise, " have von more regard for your
husband than for your brother's honour ! 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 Affghtins. 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, Futteh Khan managed the whole affairs of the
Affghannation with wisdom 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 he entertained, he resolved
to rid himself of such a powerful and formidable per-
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 rower. 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. Mahmoml, 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. Futteh Khan
endured these tortures without a groan. Ile 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 SOOZAH-00L-MOOLIE.

This, the present King of Affghanistan, is of the Boo-
rannee tribe. lie 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 Meemla, in a battle against Futteh
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 its march to Caubul. Whilst en route, intelli-
gence was received that Dost Mohamed had alvanced
from Caubul to Irrghundee 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-
homei again collected a force of about 4,000 men, and
gave battle. He was defeated at Yerevan Durra, when,
having fled from the field of battle, he the next day
‘-nrrendered himself at Caubul to the British Envoy, Sir
Macnaghten, at the Court of Shah Soojah. He
was then sent with his son, Mahomed Hyder, under
escort to British India,