Page 124

— 111 — any case when the news of the approaching English forces with Shahshuja reached Kabul, the King sent a good deal of rations and armaments to Ghazni. The plan which Amir Dost Mohamed Khan had worked out against the English aggression was this that, the English forces should be detained for a time in the neighbourhood of Ghazni; so that Sirdar Ghulam Haider Khan, strengthened by a large garrison, should defend the city, and Sirdar Mohamed Afzal Khan at the head of a cavalry composed of three thousand horsemen should harass the invaders outside the city. These arrangements having been made at Kabul, the plan was launched. On the other, hand the Ghilzis of the neighbourhood were to hold the region between Ghazni and Mokor against the enemy. It was thought that the invading troops could be destroyed either between Mokor and Ghazni, or by the attacks of his sons in Ghazni or at Wardak. Much attention was lavished upon this sceme, but unfortunately treachery reared its head, so that Ghazni and its defences could not survive the attack for longer than three quarters of an hour, as a result of which the whole plan was brought to nothing. When the English forces reached Kalat Ghilzai in 4th of July 1839. A.D. Menaughton halted there for a time, in order to subdue the Ghilzais, while Lord Kean with Shahshuja marched on to Mokor and Ghazni. Mohan Lal, author of the life of Amir Dost Mohamed Khan, who had cultivated a friendship with all the big Sirdars and nobles of the time, secured the secret plans of the English commanders, that amongst those who were not very friendly with Amir Dost Mohamed Khan, was one named Sirdar Abdur Rashid Khan, who was a relative of Amir Dost Mohamed Khan, who was then living at Ghazni. He atonce sent a letter, but although the messenger was captured and was beheaded by the order of Sirdar Ghulam Haider Khan, the governor and defender of Ghazni, he had done his work previously, and the letter had actually been received by the enemy. Abdur Rashid Khan was very pleased that his letter had been received and that he was invited to go to the English camp. He dressed in the garb of a begger, and gave him a sword; which appeared