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-68- He further added that the river Indus was a deep and definite artery of water, most suitable for a boundry line; in place of an indefinite thin line along the foothills. Also that the Indus river constituted a shorter boundry line, and in the expense in its defence would be much less than for any other land boundry. Under these circumstances, Lord Lawrence advised the Government of India to give back the territories of Kohat and Peshawar to Afghanistan. There is no doubt that some of the English men did not see eye te eye with Lawrence's suggestions; so thet his suggestions were made nul and void. Lawrence, howeve, stuck to his views. As his views were not accepted by Lord Canning, he (Lawrence) slightly modified his views: and he added that if the river Abasin could not be taken as the natural boundry line in regards to geography and history of India; we should atleast not put a single foot forward beyond those foothills formed the boundry line of the Sikhs; because beyond that area lie high mountains, deep valleys and many turning and twisting passes; which would be difficult to defend, whereas a line along the foothills would be more secure and the mountains in front of the line would be a source of defence and strength. This line which running along the course of the river Indus, and touching the foothills of the Sulaiman range and Kaiser Ghor, was the same boundry line which marked the line, where Ranjit Singh with English incitement had extended his territory during the internecine wars of the Barakzai Brothers and the Saduzais. The tribal territory, however, was entirly beyond it. This boudry line was adopted by the English from the Sikhs in the year 1849. A. D. It was, too, the line, which according to Lord Lawrence should be a definite line beyond the English should not proceed westwards. But as the historical records show, most reg- retfully due to the military minded officers of the English, bent on imperial expension, did not accept the wise advice of their better minds and impelled by the theme Forward Policy proceded forward into the tribal regions of mountais; and from 1879. A. D. entered into a policy of aggrersion. Their hidden desire, of course, was the boundry line should terminate at Kabul, Ghazni