1 PLAN OF HIS OPERATIONS. 183
2 open the road to Kabul. It was expected that
3 the best mode of promoting that object would
4 be for Lieutenant Mackeson to open communi-
5 cations with the Afghan chiefs iphabiting the
6 country lying directly south of Khaibar, for the
7 purpose of conciliating and inviting them to
8 co-operate with us in destroying the influence
9 of the existing’ government of Kabul.
10 In order to produce the desired impression
11 on the minds of the people, Lieutenant Mac-
12 keson was recommended, before leaving Derah
13 Ismael Khan, to engage the service of four or
14 five hundred matchlockmen, and about half
15 that number of horse, composed chiefly of the
16 natives of that town, who were known to be a
17 brave and well-aftected race of men. The
18 chiefs themselves were to be invited to join
19 him either in person or by the deputation of
20 Some influential member of their families, and
21 such of them’as accepted the invitation would
22 receive an allowance for their daily support
23 with reference to their rank and importance ;
24 holding out to them, besides pecuniary benefits,
25 a confirmation of their established rights and