Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-30
Ayeub Khan and Caudahar.

one OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED OF AFGHAN
soIDlERs-THE THREATENED CITY.
Ayoub Khan, the son OF Shere Ali, Is a full
brother TO Gakoob Khan the deposesi Arneer
ard Is one or the most distinguished or Afghan,
soldiers, SO well known as 10 have earned the
Title OF the sword or AfghaniStan." He took
no part In public affairs until he fed from Cabul
with Iakoob In 1870, and resided at Herat until
in 1874, when Iakoob set out on his hopeless
Journey TO Shere ALI In 1874, which was followed
by bis arrest With this example he declined
Shere Ais invitation TO return 10 Cabul. and
lived in exile, marrying the daughter or Shere
AIS half brother, for whose murder Shere All
was responsible. Up to October 1875, he was at
MeSned, drawing pension from the Persian
government IL may be said here that Ayoubisa
man OF very Inferior stamp 10 his brother va
koob; at Herat he was mere puppet, and could
never maintain order even among his own SOL
diels. On the 11th OF December OF last yearit was
reported fIom Candahar that Ayoub was march
Ing from Berat, but that he had little real power
and that he was swaYed by the desires OF his
unpaid and mutlnous Soldiery. 4 few days
later the report was fully confirmed. on the
18th OF the same month news came OF a severe
conflict near Herat between Herate and CabulI
troops Ayoub was imprisoned by the Cabules,
who held-the citadel under the leadership OF an
adyenturer, who was proclaimed governor In
Ayoub's place The position or the latter has
long been precarious. After the outbreak at
gerat in 1879 his power was gone, and he asked
TO be allowed 10 resign his command Notwith-
standing all these evidences OF AyoubS weak
ness, it was believed In the early part or the
present year that IL the Afghans were left free
In their choice OF an aneer they Would cno0se
Ayoub because or his avOwed and well-under-
stood hostility TO the British aud bis friendship
FOR the Russians.
TEE CITY OF CAsDAHAR.
The City or Candahar whose possession by the
British army is fmperiied, has about sc. .e99 In
habitants and is located on a fertile plain close
70 the Urgend River, branch or the Helmund.
A rectangular wall surrounds the modern city,
but there are outlying suburbs, cemeteries and
gardens irrigated by network OF small canals.
so that IL is hard TO say where the CITY begins
or ends. The climate in winter is cold, but dry
and healthy. As a commercial, political and
military station il is important. IL is on the
great road between Persia and West
ern Afghanistan Oh one side and India and
Eastern Afghanfstan on the other. The dis
t9Dce TO Cabul via the Khurounl Pass and
GhaZni, is 220 miles. In general form the mod
ern city is obiong, and planned with great
reg clarity. There are four main streets, each
fifty yards wide meeting In the center, where
there is an immense domed building called the
Charsoo. Beneath II is q covered space where
pToclamatiops are read, where the mutiIated
bodies Of malefactors are exposed and where
the best stores are to be found The best part
CT the place is the suburbs Candahar as a
fortress, is weak, its position being commanded
by the adjacent heights It has no giacis, and
IFS moat Is Insignificant The water supply.
Is easily cut on.