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i Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2008 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/afghanistancentrOOfishrich AFGHANISTAN AND THE CENTRAL ASIAN QUESTION. : AFGHANISTAN AND THE CENTRAL ASIAN QUESTION BY I FRED. H. FISHER, A. LOND., OK THP: MIDDLE TEMPLE, AND H.M. BENGAL CIVIL SERVICE: Aict/ioi- of ^' Cy/>>iis, our Nciv Colony, ajid what we know about it." WITH MAP. lLontion JAMES CLARKE & CO., 13 & 14, FLEET STREET, E.C. 1878. D52>5 T5 '^ For my own part, I will only say that though I sliould have preferred, in the interest of peace, that Russia had not entered on a career of conquest along the Jaxartes and the Oxus, yet I see no reason at present to feel any anxiety about the advance towards India, Asia is large enough for both of us, and we may well pursue our respective paths, ajid fulfil our respective missions, without jostling or jealousy. Our positio7i in Asia is quiescent, while hers is progressive. We can, therefore^ well affoi'd to wait, forbearing, but vigilant, and conscious that if real danger approaches at any time, we are strong enoiigh to arrest and crush it."—SiR Henky Rawlinson's "Notes on Khiva," March, iSyj. HENRY MORSE STEPHENS PREFACE. The author's best apology for the present book must be the absence of any single English work, so far, at least, as he knows, which professes to give a comprehensive account of the land of the Afghans, the people, and their history, including all that is most important in the past, as well as the more immediately interesting subject of the present, re- lations of Afghanistan with Great Britain. If the following pages in any way carry out the above idea of what is required at the present juncture of affairs on our Indian frontier, the author's object will have been accomplished. It remains to him to acknow- ledge the very great obligations under which he lies to the authors and publications named on a subsequent page, besides many that have escaped mention. One subject of regret the author has had in con- nection with this work. He had hoped to have been able himself to see it through the press ; but, =r f J ;>94 VI Preface. having to return to duty in India rather more suddenly than he had expected, he has had to leave the task of revising the proof-sheets to a friend, to whose kindness in undertaking it the author is deeply indebted. Fred. H. Fisher. P.S. — It was originally intended to have a map prepared especially for this volume, but the ex- cellent map published by Messrs. George Philip and Son, of Fleet Street, having since appeared, it has been decided by the publishers to supply j it for the use of the readers of this volume. The only drawback to its adoption for this purpose ; is that the spelling of some of the names of places differs somewhat from the author's. The orthography used in this volume is that which has now^ obtained almost universal currency, being employed by Sir Henry Rawlinson and other acknowledged masters of Indian subjects. In this system a few names that have acquired a prescriptive title to a conventional (although inaccurate) mode of spelling retain the conventional form, such as Cabul, Candahar, Calcutta, Delhi, &c. Other names Preface. vii are spelt according to Sir William Jones' now well- known method of transliteration. The accentuation, however, has been omitted, as it gives an awkward look to names, and is of very little practical use. To diminish any inconvenience that may arise from having different modes of spelling in the letterpress and the map, a list of the more important names that are spelt differently in them is appended. PUBLISHERS' NOTE. From several passages which occur iii the latter portion, it will be see?i that this work 7uas written previous to the recent publication of the Official Correspondence on Afghan Affairs. The foregoing Preface will explai?i why these have remained as written. LIST OF SOME NAMES OF PLACES SPELT DIFFERENTLY IN MAP AND LETTERPRESS. In Letterpress. In Map. Pronounced. Anclkhiii Andkhooi Andkhoo-i Bannu Bunnoo Bunnoo Bhawalpur Bahawulpore Baha (or Bha) wulpoor Cabul Kabool Cawbul Candahar Kandahar Candahar Cihazni Ghuznee Ghuznee Hari Rud Heri Rud Huree Rood Hindu Kush Hindoo Koosh Hindoo Koosh Jalalabad Jelalabad Jelalabad Kala-i-Ghilzai Kelat-i-Ghiljie Kala-i-Ghilzai Karachi Kurrachee Koorachee Khaibar Khyber Khyber Merv Merve Merv Multan Mooltan Mooltan Nushki Nooshky Nobshkee Peshawar Peshawur Peshawar Pishni Pisheen Pishnee or Pisheen Sarakhs Serakhs Serukhs b AUTHORITIES. Sir Jno. Kaye"s " History of the War in Afghanistan/' Sir Henry Rawlinson's " England and Russia in the East." Dr. Bellew's "Journal of a Mission to Afghanistan," " From the Indus to the Tigris," and " Kashmir AND Kashgar." Forster's "Journey from Bengal to England." Vambery'c " Travels." Burne's ditto. Ferrier's " Caravan Journeys." Wood's "Journeys." Captain Havelock's " Narrative." Stocqueler's " Memorials of Afghanistan." Philip Smith's "Ancient History." Meadowes Taylor's "History of India." I " History of India." I Elphinstone's " " 1 Encyclopedia Britannica (Ninth Edition), Articles ON "Afghanistan" and "Afghan Turkestan." j 'English Cyclopedia, Article on "Afghanistan." ' Numerous Articles in the " Times," " Pall Mall Gazette," and other Newspapers have been made I i use of for the Account of more recent Events. b2 — CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. AFGHANISTAN ITS NATURAL FEATURES. PACK- Natural Boundaries—Approximate Extent of Afghanistan—Origin of Name— Independent Territory—What Afghan Dominions Inckide —Comparison of Afghanistan with Switzerland—Mountain-ranges —Hindu Kush and its Prolongations—Safed Koh—Suliman Moun- tains—Passes on the Indo- Afghan Frontier—Fort of Ali Musjid Natural Divisions— Rivers— Lakes—Provinces and Towns . i CHAPTER n. AFGHANISTAN ITS CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS. Variations in Climate—Mineral Wealth—Vegetable Kingdom—Agri- culture — Irrigation — Animal Kingdom — Domestic Animals Industry and Commerce—Trade Routes—Povindahs . .47 CHAPTER HI. THE PEOPLE, LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND ANTIQUITIES OF AFGHANISTAN. The Afghans, Pathans, or Pushtanahs—Division into Tribes—Non- Afghan Population—Estimated Population— Russian Account- Supposed Jewish Origin—Kafirs—Sir John Kaye's Description of the Afghans—Language and Literature—^Judicial Institutions Military System — Russian Account of the Afghan Army — Antiquities 66 — xiv Contents. CHAPTER IV. ALEXANDER THE GREAT'S MARCH THROUGH AFGHANISTAN ON INDIA. PAGE Alexander's Army—Pursuit of Darius after the Battle of Arbela— Conquest of Parthia and Hyrcania—Founding of Herat— Con- quest of North-Eastern Afghanistan—Campaign in Bactria Alexander an Oriental Potentate— Marriage with Roxana— Crosses the Hindu Kush into India—Campaign in India—Voyage of Nearchus from the Indus to the Euphrates—Alexander's March across the Desert of Baluchistan—Greek Influence on the Oxus . 96 CHAPTER V. AFGHAN HISTORY FROM MUHAMMAD TO ZAMAN SHAH. First Appearance of Afghanistan in Mediaeval History— Arab Settle- ments—Story of Kasim and the Rajput Princess—The Ghazni Monarchy Founded by Alptagin— Invasion of India— Peshawar the First Permanent Muhammadan Conquest in India—Sabak- tagin—Plunder of Somnath—Mahmud of Ghazni—Shahabuddin —^Jengis Khan—Timur or Tamerlane Invades Northern India Babar Founds the Mughal Empire of India— Nadir Shah Invades and Plunders the Panjab—Ahmad Shah Founds the Durani Empire of Afghanistan— Invades India— Battle of Panipat Zaman Shah—Threatens to Invade India 106 CHAPTER VI. AFGHAN HISTORY FROM ZAMAN SHAH TO THE EVE OF THE FIRST AFGHAN WAR. Zaman Shah Advances to Lahore—Panic in British India—Review of Situation — Native Feeling in India — Incidents of Former Invasions — Alarm at French Intrigues — First Symptoms of " Russophobia "—Encroachment of Russia on Persia—Scheme of Joint Russian and French Invasion of India—Sir John Ka3'e on the Two Classes of Governor-General — Lords Minto and Wellesley Compared with Lord Lytton—The Rise of the Sikhs —— Contents. xv PAGE — British and Russian Advance Compared—Mission to the Sikhs —Shah Suja—Rise of the Barakzais—Shah Suja an Exile—Affairs in Afghanistan before the First Afghan War—Mission of Captain Burnes and Siege of Herat—Eldred Pottinger—Dost Muhammad —Sikhs Gain Peshawar — Russia Invades Persia — New Russo- Persian Boundary—British Policy ii6 CHAPTER VII. THE FIRST AFGHAN WAR. vOrd Auckland's Policy in 1837—Case for Dost Muhammad stated by Sir John Kaye—Afghan Ideas of Hereditary Claims to Sovereignty —The Tripartite Treaty—The Army of the Indus— Passage through Sindh Delayed—Appointment of Macnaghten as Political Officer with the Expedition—English Gold Scattered Freely—Shah Suja's Reception at Candahar—Assault and Capture of Ghazni Massacre of the Ghazis—Flight of Dost Muhammad beyond the Hindu Kush— Failure of Pursuit through Treachery of Haji Khan — Intrinsic V/eakness of Shah Suja's Course Demonstrated—Cost of Living for English Officers at Cabul—Kaye's Judgment of the British "System" introduced into Afghanistan—Honours to the Victors—Designs of Further Interference Westwards—The Story of Colonel Stoddart and Arthur Conolly's " Missions " —Their Cruel Fate—Lord Ellenborough's Letter to the Amir of Bokhara — Brief Review of "The Afghan Tragedy" of 1838-42—Story of Dr. Brydon's Escape 137 CHAPTER VIII. AFGHAN AFFAIRS AFTER THE WAR OF 1 838 42. The Real Cause of the Damage to England's Position in Central Asia from the Cabul Disaster— Lord Ellenborough's Policy in 1842 Native Viev/s on the Evacuation of Afghanistan— Rawlinson's Opinion of the Afghans as Soldiers—England " The Burnt Child," and Afghanistan " The Fire " — Internal Affairs of Afghanistan between the Retreat of General Elphinstone and the Advance of General Pollock— Muhammad wShah Khan a Noble Exception to the Generality of the Afghans—Murder of Shah Suja, the Puppet- King—Accession of Fatih Jang—Akbar Khan Intrigues for Power — xvi Contents.

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