Travels In Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo Vol.1

Vigne, G. T. · 1844 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1VI

2OBSERVATIONS ON AFGHANISTAN.

3Dost Mobamed Khan became master of Kabul in 1824,

4al though he had at first, I believe, but a feeble hold upon

5it.''^ For his pedigree, and an outline of the events preced-

6ing his acquisition, I must refer my readers to my previous

7volume on Afghanistan. I do not insert them here, as

8they are of no immediate import. From the time of his

9first becoming the ruler of Kabul, he has been constantly

10seeking for the friendship of the British government. Mr.

11Moorcroft, who was in the country at the time, mentions

12that he and his party were most earnestly entreated to

13become the channel of a negotiation for putting the whole

14country under British rule. Mr. M*. was at Peshawur.when

15the application was made by Dost Mohamed’s brothers, on

16behalf of their fomily; but his overtures have been, at least

17I think so, treated most unadvisedly, and himself, speaking

18with reference to past events, with injustice, when he was

19dispossessed of his throne.

20By the treaty between Runjit Singh ^and Mr. (now Sir

21Charles) Metcalf, in 1809, and again, in that made between

22Lord William Bentinck and Runjit, at Rupur, in 1881, the

23latter was allowed to do all he pleased on the western side

24of the Sutlej ; and the chief reason why we could not inter-

25fere in behalf of Dost Mohanied was, that we could not do

26so without breaking our faith with Runjit. At the Rupur

27meeting a paper had been delivered to the latter, at his

28own request, promising perpetual friendship from the British

29government. The treaty of 1809f was of the greatest use ;

30its etfect was to confine Runjit to the westward of the Sutlej ;

31but when he asked for and obtained the Rupur paper, he

32had the conquest of Peshawur in his eye, and he foresaw

33that it would be as well to obtain a renewal of the promise

34of friendship. An attack upon Sinde, which he afterwards

35* Dost Mohamed signifies the friend of Mahomed. Shah Shuja and

36Shah Ziman are Sirdozyes, descendants of an elder brother, Dost

37Mahomed : and the Barukzyes are descended from a younger brother.

38f For this and some of the other nmtters here noticed, vide Prinsep’s

39Runjit Singh.”