, 1881-04-30

we should prefer to hand it over to him
rather than to Abdurrahman when our
troops marched out. If he had any such
hopes, he is undeceived now his ENJOYS
have been dismissed without any ~satisfac-
ton, and Abdurrahman's troops are under.
stood to be on their way to Candahar.
1t may very well be the news of the
failure of Ayoob's embassy and the APP
preaching incorporation of Southern At
ghanistan with the Cabul State that has
induced a portion even of the Candahari
soldiery to join the insurgents who are
besieging Herat. The origin of the mutt
ty it is difficult to discover; but perhaps
there is no need to seek for any special
cause for the outbreak of disaffcctiOn among
the troops and adherents of an unsuccess-
full pretender. Ayoob seems to have out
ragged local feeling by the execution some
six or eight weeks ago of three Ali-kozae
Sirdars, and 1t is said, that this act parti-
cuIarly offended the Sirdar Mahomed
Hassan Khan, who has been the leader Of
the local insurrectiOn. Besides the Aliko-
Zaes, the powerful tribes of the Jamshidis
to the northeast of Herat, and of the
Aimaks who dwell close about the city
itself, have been alienated from AyoOb.
Rumours of his prosecutions have reached
Candahar from time to time and the
flight of the principal merchants of the
CITY showed that his need of money had
driven him to extortiOns. A few weeks
ago Mahomed Jan, the chief who led the
formidable combination against Sir Frede.
rick Roberts at Cabul last Christmas year,
and who was in command of Ayoob's
Herati troops stationed at Khushk, the
capital of the Jamshidis, was murdered
by his own soldiers and Mahomed Has
san, who had probably %instigated the
murder, seems to have taken the COM
mand of the revolted troops and led them
against the capital. The Jamshidis them:
selves have cut off Abdul Wahab Khan,
who was retreating upon Herat, it may
be with reinforcements for Ayoob, and
driven him wounded to Farah. on the
Candahar road. Finally, sartap Mir
Mahomed Khan, who, besides being a
near relative of Mahomed Hassan, is re-
ported to have been for some time on bad
terms with Ayoob, has prevailed on the
Candahari troops, or some of them, to join
in the revolt. A late telegram represents
Ayoob as living in strict %seclusion, in daily
fear of assassination, with only the rem
nants of hisCabul regiments true to him. All
the elements on whichA yoob's power rest.
ed appear, in fact, to be combined in opposi.
ton to him; and for the time, at any rate,
the succession to his authority over Herat
and Western Afghanistan seems open to
any one bold enough to seize it and capa-
BILE enough to retain it.
1t would undoubtedly be by far the most
satisfactory solution if Abdurrahman
should succeed to Ayoob's position. The
policy of this country has been declared
over and over again by responsible states
men of both political parties to be to OBJ
tain a " strong, friendly, and independent
Afghanistan." Afghanistan can never be
so strong or so independent as when under
one central government. There seems now,
Once more, after many years, a possibility
of restoring, and more than restoring,
the state of things which existed under
Dost Mahomed. Abdurrahman is already
master of Afghan Turkestan and of
the Cabul Province; he is marching
on Candahar at orr invitation, and
the disposition of the Candaharis towards
him is reported to be much more favorable
than formerly and now his only immedi.
ate rival, AyOOb, is shut up in his capt.
tai by the local tribes and his own discon-
tented sold iers. IF A~bdurrahman is ca
pable of striking an effective blow he
seems to have his chance now. His gener
al, Ishar Khan, has for some time been
steadily advancing by way of Andkhui and
Maimaneh from Cabul on Herat and it is
probable that his presence at Maimaneh
was not without it's influence in determin-
ing the malcontents of Ayoob's army to
break out in open instruction. The troops
Of the Ameer, now on the road from Cabul
70 cnrNx nnn1n1,nn Onn ~ n1nrc%Nn6 10 hn