Machine transcription
24
signal for a general resurrection was given. The Afghans, unaware of the plot afoot, were attacked in every quarter. Amanullah, on learning of the news, hastened to the Maidan, an open ground, in front of the palace where he found most of his men assembled. He made every effort that a brave soldier could, to control the situation, but he was overpowered by numbers and compelled to call a retreat and take shelter in the palace. Even there he could not maintain himself, and escaped by a private gate. The loss of the Afghans, both in men and material, was immense.
Ashraff, son of Abdul Aziz, and a cousin of Mahmud, who had accompanied Amanullah on this expedition, now finding Mahmud's star decline, separated from the army during its retreat and left for Kandahar with about 300 men. He appears to have anticipated the downfall of Mahmud. Moreover, he had a personal grudge against Mahmud. It was he who had killed his father. Ashraff now thought that the time was ripe for him to avenge his grievances.
The example of Kazwin was soon followed
Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.
