The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-11-06
tenant Pottinger) enabled it forty wears

tcuout OttiuScTJ cuoUltu IL IOIty ycoIS
ago to Withstand vigorous and pro-
tracted siege by Persian army. 1t is
surrounded by mud walls, and presents
the form of square. each side of which
is little less than q mile in length. The
interior is divided symmetrically into
four quarters by four bazaars, or covered
streets, which start from gates placed
each in the middle of one of the four
walled sides, and meet in the center of
the town. Forty years ago the popula-
tion was estimated at about forty thou
sand, but it is not believed to be so
large now. Readers of Indian history
know that in the early part of this
century one of the objects of English
policy was to use Persia as q bulwark
or buffer against Russian aggression,
the fear of which was intensified during
the Napoleonic period by a rumored
alliance between the French Emperor
and the Gar, having for its object
simultaneous attack upon England in
the east and in the west. Great Britain
cultivated friendly relations with the
Shah, and even lent him English officers
to drill his troops, with the result, it
was said, of making them much less
efficient than if they had stuck to the
discipline to which they were accus-
toned. But when difficulties arose be-
tween the Shah and the Gar, British
assistance was not so substantial as the
former had expected, and the conse-
quence was that Russian influence had
become predominant at the court of
Teheran. 1t was supposed to have
been in obedience to this influence that
Shah Mahomed aimed at the acquisition
of Herat. Russia would certainly not
have objected to seeing so important a
position in the hands of an ally. But,
as chance directed it, Lieutenant Pot
finger was at the spot with his courage
and his engineering skill. and with his
help Herat stood the siege till Lord
Auckland interviewed on behalf of the
English Government, and the Persians
withdrew, leaving Shah Kamran to his
independence. --.
1t was probably the attack of the
Persians on Herat that suggested to the
Anglo-Indian Government their first
experiment at establishing strong
and friendly Afghanistan by setting up
and supporting a prince of English
was this event, at least, which precipi-
tated that policy toward which the
| Anglo-I Indian statesmen had been lean
i hhs nAtCh thC AuPtuAC oA Sohoioh hCio-
tions with Persia. During the con.
vulsions which followed that unfortu-
nate experiment with Shah Soojah
Herat maintained its independence.
But some ten or twelve years after its
independence was again threatened by
Persia, and the year before the Indian
mutiny England declared war on Per-
sia to prevent its becoming an integral
part Of that kingdom. The danger OF
the absorption of Herat by Persia arose
in this way: The wuzeer of Herat quar-
relied with the Heratee chiefs, and.
finding himself pewerless to maintain
his authority for himself, appealed to
Persia for help, and made a tender OF
his allegiance to the Shah. This tender
the British Government would not
allow the Shah to accept, and a con-
vention was agreed to in January, 1853,
by which Persia undertook not to send
troops to Herat unless it were menaced
from Candahar or Cabul. The relations
between Persia, Herat, and eastern
Afghanistan remained uneasily under
this convention for three years. In
March, 1856. the Persians took posses
sion of Herat. Soon after there was a
popular rising, and the Persians were
driven out of the city. Then there was
another rising, and new Governor
chosen by the Heratees while the Per-
slams were at the gates of the city.
Finally this new Governor, despairing
of assistance from Dost Mohammed OF
from India, surrendered Herat to the
Persians. The last event took place in
October, 1856, and some six months
afterward the Persians were compelled.
by the persuasion of an English expedi-
ton, to restore Herat to its independ-
ence. 1t remained for six years under
the independent rule of Ahmed Kahn.
The last act of Dost Mohammed Kahn
was to undertake an expedition by
which Herat was added to the dominions
of the Ameer of Afghanistan. 1t will
thus be seen that Herat has not long
been part of the domlnions ruled from
| Cabul.