Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-11-15

England and the Afgbans,
The London Times publishes long
telegram from Darieeling, India, in
which the following Interesting account
is given of the meeting betYeen Maj.
Cavagnari and the Mir Akhor, of the
Ameer of Afghanistan:
Further particulars of an interesting
character have been recently published
of the now historical interview between
Maj. Cavagnari and the Ameer's COM
mandant at Ali Musjid. On the memo
rable 21st of September, 1873, the mis-
sion started at 1 o'clock u. m. from
| Peshawur for Jumrood, a picturesque
fort lying just within the British terri
tory, and held for us by the chief of a
village in the neighboring plain. Our
camp was pitched to the east of
the fort. The total number ac-
companying the mission amounted to
not quite 1000, of whom eleven were
British officers, four native gentlemen,
and 23i fighting men. The rest were
camp followers. The carriage consist
ed of 315 camels, $50 mules, and forty
horses. The whole formed q c0rtege of
considerably over o mile in length.
Conflicting reports had reached Pesa-
wur as to the intentions of the Ameer.
1t was known that Mir Akhor, or mas
ter of the horse of the Ameer, was
present at Ali Musiid, and as he was
known to be possessed with q fanatical
hatred of the English, it was deemed
unwise to send the whole convoy into
the pass until accurate information
should have been obtained rs to the in
tentions of the commandant Mai.
Cavagnari was, therefore, directed to
ride forward, taking with him a small
escort of the guides and the head man
of urfrOntier villages and of the friend
ly yKhyberees. Directly they were per-
ceived the fort walls were manned, and
shortly afterward q number of troops
lined the opposite ridge. After CON
siderable delay messenger arrived,
and announced that the commandant
would come out to meet Maj Cavagna-
ri and three others at a spot indicated
by the side of the stream, half way be-
tween the two ridges.
Shortly afterward he was seen APP
preaching, and Maj. Cavagnari, taking
with him the commandant of the guides
and two of his escort, and accompanied
by the head man of the tribes, went
forward to meet Faiz Mohammed, the
rest of the escort remaining on the
ridge. On his way the chief Of one of
the other Khyber tribes friendly to the
Ameer attempted to stop him, on the
plea that he was accompanied by more
than the stipulated number Mai. Ca
vagnari, however, put him aside, say
ing that he had come to talk, not with
him, but with the Ameer's officers. On
meeting Faiz Mohammed, Mai. Cavag-
mari shook hands with him, and the
two parties sat down, surrounded by 200
of Faiz Mohammed' s officers. The con
versation, after the usual friendly greet
ings, was opened by Maj. Cavagnari,
who said that both he and the COM
mandant were equally servants of their
respective Governments, and, there
fore, only carrying out their orders.
There was, therefore, no necessity for
the discussion being carried on in any
but a friendly spirit; that he-Faiz
Mahomed-must be aware of the in
tended advance of the mission, and that
Sir Neville Chamberlain had sent him
on to ascertain from his own lips
whether he had received orders relative
to the reception of the mission. If
there were any latitude in the terms of
his orders he felt sure that the COM
mandant would be aware of the heavy
responsibility he would incur by pre-
venting the advance of the mission, as
his act would be accepted as the act of
the Ameer. Faiz Mohammed replied
that he himself was actuated by friend
ly feelings toward Maj. Cavagnari, in
proof of which he pointed out that in
stead of coming down to meet him he
might have ordered his men to fire on
his party when it appeared. He pro-
ceeded to say that he had already been
severely reprimanded for allowing the
Viceroy's envoy, Nawah Gholam Hus-
sein, to pass, and that, therefore, he
could not permit the advance of the
mission. He begged that Sir Neville
Chamberlain would halt till he could
communicate with Cabul. This, Mai.
Cavagnari replied, was not only i'm
possible but unnecessary, as the Cabul
authorities had long been aware of the
approach of the mission. The CONVEX
sation continued N this strain for some
little time, Maj. Cavagnari urging the
weight of the responsibility Faiz Mo
hammed would incur, and the latter re-
peating his inability to allow the mis-
sion to pass without a permit from
Cabul. At last, on Maj Cavagnari
again pointing out the friendly nature
OF the mission, the Afghan, showing
for the first time some warmth, said
the object of his friendship was merely
to stir up dissension in the Amcer's do
minions by bribing his subjects to dis
obey his orders" by bribing you and
others" (here alluding to the negotia-
tons with the Khyberees for the safe
conduct of the mission.) At this an
ambiguous murmur was heard from
the soldiers, and Maj. Cavagnari re-
piled that that was not subject for
subordinates to discuss, aud that if the
Ameer had any complaint to make, no
doubt the Government would give him
satisfactory reply. He then asked
for final answer, whether he was dis
tinctly to understand that the mission
would be resisted by force. Faiz Mo-
hammed replied that he had no alter
native if the mission were pressed. On
this Maj. Cavagnari asked the Chiefs
with him whether they considered this
sufficiently clear answer, to which
they replied that it was perfectly clear.
He then thanked Faiz Mohammed for
his courtesy, and expressed a hope that
they might again meet in more agree
able circumstances. He again shook
hands with him and departed. 1t was
then perceived that the Ameer had no
possible intention of receiving the mis-
sion, and it was accordingly dissolved.
Q
Letter from One of the Scientists on Board
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