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TROUBLES IN AFGHANISTAN.

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of the country created continual impediments, which prevented a satisfactory settlement of affairs. The Douranee tribes being disappointed that they were not allowed at the restoration to crush entirely their Barukzye rivals, reviled and opposed both the government and its English supporters.

The aspect of foreign affairs was not less gloomy. The Vizier of Herat carried on perpetual intrigues with Persia and Russia, and behaved so insolently to the English envoy, that Major Todd retired in anger and disgust. At the capital, General Elphinstone succeeded Sir Willoughby Cotton, but it soon became painfully apparent that his years and infirmities disqualified him for a position where energy and activity were in constant requisition. The main body of the troops had been removed from the strong fortress of the Bala Hissar, and stationed in cantonments badly situated and weakly defended. Still the envoy did his best with indifferent materials, and even deemed himself justified in reporting to a brother civilian that "matters were rapidly verging towards a most satisfactory consummation."

Notwithstanding Macnaghten's self-congratulation, however, the principal difficulties had been by no means removed. Major Pottinger, now stationed in Kohistan, represented to the envoy the hollow nature of things in general, and the disaffected character in particular of the chiefs belonging to the Mijrow district. About the same time the Ghiljie leaders stirred up a movement in the Coord Cabool, where they harassed the troops sent against them under General Sale and Colonel Dennie, but could not prevent them from keeping possession of Jellalabad.

The Ghiljies now opened a correspondence with some persons of influence at the capital, whom they endeavoured to persuade that the English intended to carry them off to London. This ridiculous assertion,

strange to say, produced the desired effect, and accelerated a catastrophe that had long been approaching. The Cabool leaders industriously circulated reports among the people, that the king himself was favourable to their cause, and anxious to bring about the utter destruction of "the infidels."

The first victim was Sir Alexander Burnes. Various native friends warned him of his danger, and one even suggested that he should seek refuge at the cantonments. He seemed incredulous, and gave little credence to the numerous rumours which came pouring in. The mob assembled beneath his windows, and still Burnes refused to fly. "He had always," he said, " been kind to the Afghans, and felt sure they would not harm him.' At last after a considerable delay, he forwarded a note to the envoy, begging that troops might be sent to quell the disturbance, but even in this missive, he does not appear to have represented the commotion as anything more than an ordinary riot. He then went up to the top of his house, and commenced haranguing the mob. Their wild yells drowned his voice, and as the Shah's treasury adjoined his dwelling, cupidity began to mingle with their desire of revenge. Disguising himself in native costume, Sir Alexander then attempted to pierce through the throng, but after, he had advanced a few steps, a man cried out "This is Burnes;" and the Englishman fell beneath a hundred knives.

All parties seemed paralysed by this unexpected outbreak. The shah's troops were driven back while vainly endeavouring to repress the tumult; and even an English detachment that had been sent out, retired without being able to strike a decisive blow. The troops shut up in their cantonments, grew dispirited, and their leaders spoke of retreat. A fort containing the stores and ammunition, was captured soon after by the Afghans, and the envoy, being obliged to quit the Bala Hissar, sought shelter within the cantonments. Behind their low and

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AKBAR KHAN.

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scarcely defensible walls, were now collected a mingled crowd of soldiers, camp followers, and delicate ladies, whom their husbands had sent for from India, little imagining to what dangers they would afterwards be exposed.

The progress of the insurrection soon spread rapidly beyond the limits of the capital. It reached Kohistan, where Major Pottinger nearly fell a victim to the treachery of some inimical chiefs. He arrived at the cantonments in November, accompanied by Lieutenant Houghton, both being covered with wounds, and having passed almost through the midst of the enemy. As the winter drew on, various skirmishes occurred between the English and Afghans, in nearly all of which the latter proved victorious. The age and infirmities of General Elphinstone rendered him unable personally to superintend the movements of his men; and the second in command, Brigadier Skelton, looked upon the cause of his countrymen in Afghanistan, as beyond the possibility of being retrieved.

Among the victorious chiefs who directed the rebel army, Mohammed Akbar Khan, a son of Dost Mohammed, occupied the most conspicuous place. Brave, daring, and crafty, he possessed all those arts and accomplishments which captivate the affections of a semi-civilized multitude. The son of one whom the English had driven from his throne, he seemed to have become their hereditary foe, and to be vindicating not only his country's injuries, but his own private wrongs. Impetuous in temper, he was utterly void of self-control, varying almost instantaneously from the gayest good-humour, to the most terrific transports of violent rage. Like all impulsive natures, he was earnest in whatever he undertook, unaccustomed to calculate deeply before he acted, capable at once of great actions and of deeds reprehensible for their perfidy or cruelty. After his arrival, the insurgents began to carry on vigorously their blockade of the cantonments.

They proclaimed King, Mohammed Zeman Khan, a cousin of Dost Mohammed, and appeared determined never to relax in their exertions, until they had driven the English from their soil.

At last the provisions of the beleaguered army were reduced to four days' allowance, with not the slightest possibility of their being able to procure a fresh supply. The envoy had tried in vain to detach some of the chiefs from the rebel confederation, but they continued firm, and nothing now remained to the English, save a treaty on almost any terms. Negotiations were commenced, and after many delays the Afghans consented to send in supplies, upon condition that the English should at once evacuate the country, and set at liberty all their prisoners, including Dost Mohammed and his family.

Pressed by famine, the Europeans agreed to these stipulations, but they soon discovered that the Afghan leaders were either unwilling or unable to fulfil their engagements. Troops of Ghazees and other fanatics intercepted the supplies, and assaulted the English soldiers whenever they could find an opportunity, the chiefs invariably pleading their inability to restrain these outrages. They indeed appeared by no means unanimous among themselves, the Ghilzyes and Kuzzilbashes being violently opposed to the Barukzyes; while Akbar Khan endeavoured to stand favourably with all parties. This chieftain sent two trusty messengers to propose that the English should treat with him alone. He offered to place under arrest Ameer-oollah, their worst enemy, to re-establish Shah Sujah with himself as vizier, to introduce into the cantonments an abundant supply of provisions, and finally to allow the English to occupy their present position until the ensuing spring.

Sir William Macnaghten accepted these proposals, and, contrary to the advice of his friends, consented to attend a meeting of the chiefs. As he rode in company with

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DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM MACNAGHTEN.

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three or four officers towards the place appointed, armed bodies of fierce-looking Afghans gradually closed round the strangers. Akbar Khan advanced to meet them with seeming cordiality, expressed his gratitude to the envoy for the present of a handsome pair of pistols, which he had received from him on the preceding day, and suggested that they should all dismount and talk over the proposed treaty. The English and Afghans then seated themselves on the grass, but the suspicions of one of the former being aroused, he made some remark on the presence of a number of armed natives who were then drawing nearer to the party, with apparently no friendly intentions.

Suddenly the British officers were seized from behind, and placed on the horses of the chiefs, who galloped off with them to a neighbouring fort. Akbar Khan himself attempted to secure the envoy, but Sir William Macnaghten struggled desperately in his grasp. At last the irritated chieftain, losing all control over his violent temper, drew a pistol from his girdle, and shot Macnaghten through the body. The Ghazees rushed upon the victim with their long knives, and in a few moments the unfortunate gentleman had ceased to breathe. His murderers dragged off the corpse to the principal bazaar, where it was hung up and exposed for several hours to the insults and outrages of the mob.

Tidings of the melancholy death of Sir William Macnaghten reached the cantonments on the following day. The intelligence only quickened the eagerness of all to depart from a spot, where hitherto nothing had been encountered but disasters and disgrace. Major Pottinger, now recovered from his wounds, undertook the painful and delicate task of conducting negotiations with the murderers of the envoy. The terms offered were such as Englishmen, with arms in their hands, had never yet subscribed to since their first landing on the Indian continent. It was stipulated that every soldier