The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-11-08
ENGLAND AND THE AFGHANS.
THE TRUE STORY OF TIE MEETING
I'm THE KRYBER PASS.

The London Times publishes long telegram
from Dafjeeling, India in which the following
interesting account is given of the meeting be-
tween Major Cavagnari and the Mir Akhor. of
the Ameer of Afghanistan:
Further particulars of an interesting charac-
! ter have been recently published Of the now
| historical interview between Major CavagnIrl
| and the Ameer's commandant at Ali Mu-lid. On
the memorable twenty first Of September 1878.
the mission started at O'Clock q. m. from Pesh
| aWur for JumroOd. q picturesque fort lying Just
within the British territory. and held for US by
the chief of village in the neighboring plain.
Our camp was pitched to the cast Of the fort.
The total number accompanying the mission
amounted to not quite one thousand. OF
native gentlemen, aud 23t fighting mon. The
rest were camp followers. The carriage con-
sisted Of 3l5 camels, $50 mules aud 40 horses.
over q mile Ia Myth. Conflicting reports had
reached Peshawur as t. the intentions OF the
Ameer;, It was known that Mir Akhor, or mas,
Ali Musjid and as he was known to be possess
ed with a fanatical hatred Of the English. it was
deemed unWise to send the whole convoy into
the pass uutil accurate information should
have been obtai ed as to the intentions Of the
commandaDt, Major CayagnaIi was therefore.
directed to ride, forward, taking with him Il
small escort Of the guides and the head man of
our frontier villages and of the friendly Khybe-
les. Directly there were perceived the f,rt
walls We're manned, and shortly afterWard q
number of troops lined the opposite ridge
After considerable delay messenger arrived
and announced that the coumandant, would
come Quito meet Major Cavagnari and three
others at spot indicated by the side Of the
stream, half way between the two ridges.
and MHjor Cavagnar taxing with with him him the COM
mandant of the guides and two OF his escort,
and aecompanie by the head man Of the tribes
the escort remaining on the ridge, On his way
the chief Of one Of the other, Khyber tribes
the pes Bnt tn sG was By ssGp n on
the stipulated number. Major Cavas mari, how
ever, put him aside, saying that he had come to
On meeting Faiz Mahomed, Major Cavagnari
shook hands with him. and the two parties sat
down, surrounded by aeGoupe ofhundred Of Faiz
the usual friendly greetings. was opened by
Major Cavagnari, who said that both he and
the. commandant were equally servants Of
only carrying out their orders. Thero was,
therefore; no necessity for the, dis
Tsn37 spr pIRE fa aa2
be aware Of the intended advance of the mission
and hat Sir Neville Chamberain had sent him
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 RESPONSE
bility he would incur by preventing the advance
of the mi sion, as his act would be accepted as
the act Of the Ameer Faiz Mahomed replied
ings towards M'jor Cayagnari. N proof Of
wnich ne pointed ott IL 1T instead e ef coming
1OWn TO meet MIN ne might nave ordered
his men to fire on his party when 1t
4? fay tP"
allowing the vicerOy's envoy. NaWah Gholam
Husseln, to pass. and that therefore, he could
not permit the advance of the mission. H.
begged that Sir Neville Chamberlain would halt
TIL he could communicate with Cabul. This,
Major Cavagnari replied, was not only impossi-
bic, but unnecessary, as the Cabul authorities
had long been aware of the approach Of the
mission. The conversation continued in this
strain for some littlo time, Major Cavagnari
urging the weight Of the responsibility Faiz
bahomfd would incur, and the latter repeat
ing his inability to allow the mission to pass
without a permit from Cabul. At last, on Major
Cavagnari again pointing out the friendly Ma
ture of the mission, the Afghan. showing for
the fist time some warmth. said the object of
his friendship was merely to stir up dissensiOn
in the Ameer's dominions BY bribing his sub
iects to disobey his orders-@'by bribing you and
others" theio alluding to the negotiations with
the KhyDerees for the safe conduct of the
mission. At this an ambiguous murmur was
heard from the soldiers, and Major Cavagn irt
reblted that that was not subject for subor-
dinates to discuss, and that II the Ameer had
any complaint to make, no doubt the govern
mont would give him q satisfactory reply. He
then asked for final ans Wer, whether he WAS
distinctly TO understand that the mission would
be resisted by force. Faiz Mahomed replied
that ho had 10 alternative If tho mission were
pressed On this MHiOr Cavagnari asked the
chiefs with him whether they considered this
sufficiently clear answer. to which they replied
that 1t was perfectly clear, he thou thanked
Faiz MahOmed for his courtesy, and expressed
IL hope that they might again meet in moro
agreeable circums ances. He again shook
hands with him and departed. 1t was then
perceived that the Ameer had no possible in
tentjOn Of receiving the mission, and it ac
cordingly dissolved.