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fell into the hands of the Bacha, he came to Kabul and entered the service of the bandit. He soon gained the Bacha's confi- dence and became one of his favourites.) The contents of the letter were interesting indeed. The Marshal was asked to give up the fight and to send his allegiance. He was promised in return any post that he would like to have, and the full benefits of his property. Failing this, it was threatened that all the members of his family, sixty- one in number, who were then in Kabul, would be at once put to death. Besides this, Abdul Latif also brought the message, that if the Marshal had any ambition for the throne, the Bacha agreed to decide the matter by drawing lots on the Marshal's arrival at Kabul. The Marshal in the presence of all read out the letter, and the audience could not help bursting into laughter, specially at the strange concession that the Bacha was ready to offer. The Marshal's reply was in the following terms :— To, Habibullah, the son of a water- carrier, I got your message and the offer it 137