The New York herald., 1878-09-28
THE DURANI MONARCHY.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE RISE AND
FORTUNES OF TIM AF ;nANs-wARs OF DE-
FENCE AND oFFENcE-THE LOGIC OF PAST


EVENTS.
[From tho London Standard.l
At the present moment, whom the question of our
relations with Aghanistan is SO prominently before
u.s. IL may interesting recall the history OF tho
ruling OF that country to which we are on the
point OF despatching an embassy. lu tho year l747
Ahmed Khan, ADdaii, founded In Afghanstan the
monarchy OF the Duranis. The grcat Persian con-
queror Nadr Shah, had been murdered In that year,
and II was on the runs OF his Empire
that Ahmed Khan founded the modern state
OF Afghanistan When Nadir Shah, many years be-
fore, iaid siege to Candahar he rescued from the
Ghiljie clan the youthful Ahmed, who had become
either their hostage or their prisoner. This young
cheftain tor he was the head the Sudosye branch
OF the great Abdan clan, thereupon. either In graft
tude TO has deliverer eager to take part IN the
great OF the conqueror, look service under Nadr
Shah. and bore prominent part In all those cam
payns which made Persia mistress OF The western
Asia. But no sooner had adlr died than Ahmed de-
fed his feeble successor Teheran, aud set up an
Independent and rival authority at Candahar. II
was then that he gave new style 10 his dynasty,
which became known neither as Aodaii nor
Sudosye, but as Durani. from the monarch's tito
Of Duri.-Duran, that is, the ''Penri Of the Age"
Tho year alter his coronation Ahmed Khan invaded
lndia; but IN battle which took pace ut S;rhind
continued during eleven days. ho was defeated Oy
Ahmed Snah, the eldest son Of tho Great MoguL But
III 1851 Ahmed Khan returned and Mooitan ana
Lahore were formally ccdcd 10 INN. ln 1865 Ahmed
Khan, attacked In his new possessions by the Vizcr
GhuZ-ud decE, for third linc crossed the Indus In
person and defeating the assaiing army, pressed on
against Deihi i,scii which he entered and sacked.
Ahmed Khan then turned his attention 10 Persia from
which he wrestcd tue rich province OF khorosan.
BRILLIANT CAMPAIGr.
But while his personal attention mad been directed
towurd the West, his arms had become dimmed ny
disaster in the East He had left as his representa-
tive tho PunJab his eldest son Timoar Beg, aud 1t
this time hts army retained possess'on oi Doni
Manrattas, aud Delhi won back from tho Afghans.
Tho PunjaD was then invaded, aud Tim0ur Beg, alter
cross the Indus. THIS was iu 1853 Ahmed Khan at
once FASTENED back to Cabul. aud there assembled
from all parts OF his empire troops Tor the purpose
OF regaining tae PuDjao Toward The close Of
tue year 1863 he crossea the Indus, aad COM
menced tho most brilliant Of all bis campaigns
by a direct advance against Lahore. The Manr"tta
Princes Scindiah ana Holkar we're tho mainsiay Of
the Indian army, but their divisions, whtcn COM
bined might have Overthrown the Afghan, wero
separated from each other. With extraordinary
raDidty Ahmed attacked and routed tho army OF
Sciudlah. and then, following up his victory W
movo against Holkar. drove that cf In confusion
before him until he At last turned to bay, only
to be driven IN hopeless confusion led. The
tactics by which Ahmed Knan oyertnrew tho Two
Mahratta chiUs were identical with those employed
SO successfully by Napoleon iorty years later on.
and would alone ontitle the Afghan monarch to
high rank among great geuerais Yet The power
oi the proud Mahrattas was lar from broken. The
Peisnwa placed himself Will all his power aud all his
influence The OF the nost tbat was to uvenge
tno recent disasters aud to drive back into their
piiiaged the cities oI Hlndostan. Nor that army
composed exclusively OF Mahrattas. There were the
Rajpoot princes aud their gwarms OF cavalry, the
Piudar!s. and the Jauts; uIi combined presenting
formidable appearance and representing az nad
never been represented before or SINCE perhaps the
Hiudoo Iorce oil the great country. In numbers it
computed to be almost three hundred thousand
strong, yet there were those wmnin It's ranks who
had misgivings, and who believed that II was iii
adapted 10 cope with tho antagonist against wnom
.hey were advancing with such i'ght heart
OF THE aAHRA1rAs
Delhi fell before arms; but the out
RACES committed by order OF the Peshwa's cousin DIS
gusied many oil the allies. The Rsjpoo,s aud Jsuts in
artcuar withdrew, thus leaving of defence
almost exclusively Mahratta. Nor Was Ahmed Khan
without allies tor tno Nabob OF Uude and the Ron.
las ious ht SIDE. Tho rival hosts, which num-
bered ON either side about Two hundred Thousand
hntng moo approached each other in tue latter Gays
Of 1863 the historic plains OF Paniput For several
weeks the armies faced cach other from behind
their fortified camps, neither caring 10 anticipate the
ialai day tho oil ao was ~ be pronounced
NOR could all stratagoms of Tue Mahrat,a norse
draw tne wary Ahmed from the wcil-ngh impregna-
bic position when he held. Az Last the Mahratin
cniels, wnoso supplies were exhausted, were
peod either to attack or 10 rereat and on inc 7tb of
January Ioi they ie' ,ner me en-. .enonmen 20 a.,
the attack OF the rgnt wing by 900 trained Sepoys,
who had been disciplined 6y the French ohcer Busy.
Their advance spirited, their nrinR was superior
to anything ip either army, and ther leader, l0rahim
Khan, set them au example which they could not
but initiate. The progress they made, however,
was slow, Tor tho gallant Robiilss barred the way.
A. last superior weapons turned the scale, aud tue
righ. wing OF Ahmed Khau's army was broken. Tue
Rouas left 5000 upon tue nec, and tnor assail
ants 5000 The Mahrattas promptly followed this
success up mud for II ses u ed ~ II the day
was IL just at this crisis, when tho fortune
OF tne battle hung In suspense. that Ahmed Khan
brought up his reserve, composed cxciusivey oi Al
gnan soldiers. The battle Was then renewed with
greater Jury than before. Before evening iel tue
Mahratta chieis mad fled, leaviag un enormous num-
Der OF their followers dead upon the held, besides
Wiswas Rao, tho Peishwas son. II Is comvuted that
In this campaign the Mahralas lost 100000 men, aud
such severity OF tho bow they tnsn received
thai their strength was utterly broken
MoNARoHs VENGEANCE.
Before Paniput Northern Iudia appeared 10 be on
the point OF falling into the hands vi the MahrattA
niederacy; after that overihrow not only did tho
conioasracy break up iuio Divers fragments, but the
great sOrey tried 10 Retain their states.
Ahmed kbah wisely aDandoned the idea of retaining
Dv,hi and ruled from Lahore to knorasan III peace
until his death, In 1913. lie had also conquered
Baikn and Cashmere. aud his supremacy was ac-
know.edsed by tho petty ruler OF knelat Upon Ms
aesth he was succeeded by his sou. who IN urn was
succesued W his. kuown us Zsman oush. between
1913 and 1870 Afghan external policy was unevcntiu,
aud although tnoro was no iEconsiderabe aiscontent
among many OF tho chiefs al tho supremacy oi the
Suiosye family, Tho Duran monarchy was stiil
nout,shng IN the CONNIE ncement OF ne present GEN.
tury But 1t not destined ~ preserve ils grandeur
M ucn longer. For some reason or other Zaman shah
had incurred the bitter enmiIy OF Fut Aahc med Of
the Baruksye cian. This may have been tribal
hatred, although It 10 more probable tnat u
was = personal one; a. all events Mabmouds
brother OF Z,men, avs'lsd himseif OF u TO
advancs himsen to the throne A palace In.
trisuc resulted in the deposition OF Zamsn and
thr installation oi Mahmoud, with Futti Manomed ss
his 'may of the palace" Not conteat with depos
lux Zanap. Mahiaoud put his eyes out apd then per-
mittcd him ~ take up his residence Ia British India.
But tbis occasion his triumph was bret. Whether
Tho Afghan people were hostio 10 hun disRused bv
his crusi OF his brother VIC not aware,
but lie expelled la lsc3 aud his younger brother,
Suja-ul-Mul was crowned In his place. ShuJa-ui-
Malx rstgnSd on untii 1909, whom Mr. Mountstuart
Ephins stooc sent on a fnission 20 CabuI by tie
lnaian government aud negotiated our nrst treaty
with thai State.
Shortly afor our representative loft the country
fresn disturbances broke Out, anu Seuja-ul-Muik
dcposcd. Tue Bsruksyo cn'ei played tue principal
part IN this rising, anu Plsced snan Manmoud once
moro upon The throne. But Aaanoud, instead Of
feeling grateful to hrs Champion was nied with vague
aiar ms lest he might become victim TO tho smbl-
ton oil Fu,,i Mabomsd. he accordingly arrested
tnat cniei aud caused him 10 be hrst Unnded ana
tnen slam. That act, instead OF avertng the
Danger, pfccpns,ed u, ior Tho Baruksye clan
ut once rose IN arms, vowing Vengeance upon
the murderer Of their cnict. Futt Mahoned
had left twenty brothers TO atsnsc has
| death. and tuey did not fail 10 do SO. Mahmoud
ousJed IRON every poriiou OF his