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CHAPTER V
ALI AHMAD JAN IN THE EAST
The narrative of the rising in the east after the fall of Nimla is in a great degree the story of the adventures of Wali Ali Ahmad Jan; so great was the part he played in that act of the drama. Ali Ahmad Jan, it will be remembered, was sent out by King Amanullah Khan to use his influence with the eastern tribes and thus quell the rising. This old general had set for himself very lofty ideals even in the early days of Amanullah Khan's reign. Slowly and steadily, he had won great influence in the Eastern Province and it was not surprising that during his stay at Jalalabad, he succeeded in persuading some of the powerful tribes to suspend hostilities and meet in a Jirgah. But Ali Ahmad Jan was not doing his best in this matter. In his heart of hearts, he disliked Amanullah's rule, and he had many personal grievances against the King, who had never treated him well or kindly, although he was the King's cousin and brother-in-law. Several
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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.