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discontent among the people who were only too willing to throw off the unbearable yoke when opportunity presented itself. Their repeated remonstrances and complaints had no effect, because all the high posts were held by corrupt and incompetent favourites and flatterers of the King, whose sole concern was to ensure their own position by humouring him, and pampering [خوش گذراندن] to his fanciful ideas. Indeed, during the whole reign of King Amanullah Khan not a single instance is known of a high official having been tried or punished for any public offence, although it is a well-known fact that many of them were secretly in league with notorious robbers and thieves and shared their plunder. Officials who offered honest advice, although they had long and honourable service to their credit, were obliged to resign which increased the scope for the malpractices of worthless and greedy courtiers who were left in power. Afghanistan is, on the whole, an agricultural country and the principal source of government revenue is the land tax. The prosperity of the country, therefore, depends to a large extent on the welfare of the 10