The New York herald., 1879-03-02

SKETCH OF sHERE ALI, AMEER OF AFGHANIsrAN
The cable despatch from London this morning
announces the death at Taskourgan on February 81
OF Shere ALI Ameer of Afghanistan. The circum-
stance of his death occurring at this time when he
was voluntary fugitive from his capital and
when his country invaded and conquered
by an Angio-Indian army. renders the event ono
of great political importance in the history Of Cen
trail Asia. 1t is remarkable that the information
reaches Europe through Lord Lytton viccroy of
India. to whom Yakoob Khan. shere Ali's third son
and the present occupant of the Afghan throne.
writes. The history Of Mghanistan for the
last hundred years is embodied in the
story Of the Durani dynasty. 1t is 4 tale
OF rulers rather than of people Therefore
1t becomes impossible to clearly understand the OBJ
ject and ambition Of Sherc Ais life without sketch
ing briefly the Of the two great warriors who
preceded him and converted the petty throne of
Cabul into powerful monarchy-from a dis
organized princpality into formidable kingdom.
Persia under the rule of the conqueror Nadr Shah.
developed early in the last century into far reaching
and powerful empire. Vast tracts OF country to the
east and northeast added. India invaded
and Delhi sacked. In these of devastation the
Afghans. under the leadership Of Ahmad Khan.
formed the most formidable contingent Of
Nadir Shah's army. The assassination Of
the Shah In 1747 threw the empire
into anarchy. and Ahmad Khan. quick to perceive his
opportunity determined to ALLEVIATE the entire
eastern portion of the Persian territory. Out Of
the ruins Of these great conquests rose in
the eastern part Of what was then Persia.
the Durani monarchy. Ahmad Khan. the
head Of tho ancient family Of Sudu. not
only made Cabul independent. but added to
it most of the neghborns Khanates. as we'll as the
Punjab. Thrice did he carry fire and tho sword to
q roriu na1h hte
history of the Persian monarchy repeated itself in
Afghanistan. All the province Of Herat
was lost quicker than it was gained. There.
however, a younger branch of the Durans.
called the Baruckzye. was thoroughly alive to the
situation. and its Chief. young Dost Mahoinct was
on his feet. He developed into the most remarkable
Asiatic Of the present century. He Of
Poyndah Khan by Kizzilbashbash woman aud was
brave warrior, but fought unsnccessfully. Ho
valiantly attacked the Sikhs. who had reconquercd
the Punab, but in his terrible defeat ut Jamrud he
lost of his ardent followers Then occurred the
act that marked him monarch among men.
From warrior he turned diplomatist. The union
of the English interests with those OF the skhs and
tho fatal occupation Of Cabul not prevented be-
cause any attempt of the kind to be useless.
But when the country in actual possession Of
the Anglo Indians disaster to the victors began
every hand. The Peshawur Treaty Of 1855, between
the Ameer Of Cabul and the English. secured
Dost Mahomet from further danger on the
southwark. and although Persia by coup de main
snached Herat from his grasp he turned his eyes to
the northward Then the tide Of his ACKNOWLEDGMENT
set in Beyond the Hindoo Koosh lay several princi
palities which have in the worlds history passed
through more vicissitudes OF government than any
other sem-independent territories tho globe.
In several dashing campaigns. marked with
all his carly vigor and generalshp. Dost
AIahomet overran Balkh, Kundus. Khulm and Sari-
pul. and finally welded them all into an eAfghan
province with its chief town at Balkh Finally. he
turned his eyes toward his native land and deter
mined to reconquer and annex Herat. England. who
had been party to the Treaty of Paris. sanctioned
q breach of this document to suit her own
purposes. and in 1853 the territory became part OF
Afghanistan. At this time Candahar indepen-
dent and its Khan. encouraged by the OF tho
Afghan chief wrcsted Ferrah. the southern portion
Of the govcrnorship Of Herat. from its weak
ruler. But Dost Mahomct. having already
occupied the city of Hcrat. demanded the
restitution of Ferrah from Candahar. A refusal
was the signal for rapid campaign. which ended in
crushing the Khan and in the annexation of all his
dominions TO Cabul.
Under such schooling the subject Of this sketch,
Shere ALL who born about 1924. was raised. A
glance at the family tree will indicate ut once his
own career and those of his Children