History of the War in Afghanistan, Vol. 3 (of 3): Third EditionKaye, John William, Sir
History
History of the War in Afghanistan, Vol. 3 (of 3): Third Edition
Kaye, John William, Sir
Afghan Wars
He further told me to confine and expel some evil-disposed persons. I
did so; but they got access to Nizam-oo-dowlah, and through him to the
Envoy, who asked me to release them. I did so. Now I am distressed by
those very people.
When the Envoy was going away I asked him to take me with him; for
that I was in an extremity; I told him of what was going on, and
was not listened to. I told him that complaints were daily made to
me of Afghan women being taken to Burnes’s Moonshee, and of their
drinking wine at his house, and of women being taken to the Chaonee
(cantonments) on horseback, and of my having myself witnessed it.
When people complained to me of such things, I asked who did so,
that I might inquire; and told them not to defame the Sahibs. I
first comforted and then reproved them; and said, if any person uses
violence to your women, tell me, and inquiry shall be made.
The people have often before acted as they have now; they confined
my brother Mahmood in the Balla Hissar; the conspirators then were
Mooktear-oo-dowlah and Ahmed Khan, Noorzye, &c. They pretended it
was a quarrel between the Sheeahs and Soonees; but it proved a great
matter, and they saw that without me they could not settle matters. I
was then among the Kakurs. The Khans sent for me, and all obeyed me.
In the present instance people said, “There are crores of rupees in
the Chaonee; let us strengthen Islam.” Such are the people. Three or
four dogs are gone (dead); as many remain.
Nizam-oo-dowlah was a dog and ruined all. I begged the Envoy not to
ruin the people. Nizam-oo-dowlah said to the Douranees, the King and
Envoy will destroy you. I will help you, but Captain Trevor will not
let me. The people were thus stirred up. I was annoyed, but could not
help myself; now, please God and by the help of friends, much may be
done.
All were against me on account of you. They sent to me to separate
myself from you, and for the sake of the faith to be King myself (some
Sahibs were then in the Balla Hissar). I did not give a reply at the
time, but sent word to the Envoy, who told me to turn them away. I
did so, saying I owed everything to the Sahibs. They told me I would
repent.
For some days there was fighting near the Chaonee and Balla Hissar
and Balla Boorj; at which time I sent word to the Envoy to come with
all his baggage to the Balla Hissar, where the troops could hold
out for a year or two, telling him that three or four thousand of
the inhabitants might be turned out, and guns and stores brought.
After much debate, no answer was given. I said, “Very good! Please
yourselves.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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