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Both the English and the Russians had sent their envoys to Kabul:
and in the winter of 1837. A. D. Burns came as an envoy of the En
glish to the court of Amir Doust Mohamed Khan, and the Russian
determined not to be left behind sent their envoy in the person of
one named Vakuvich.
The danger point, according to the English was just that city
of Herat. Mr. Macneil, the English envoy in Tehran wrote a letter
to the English governor-general in Calcutta in 1836.A.D. regarding
the Russio-Persian designs regarding Herat. From that date onwards
the statesmen of English were giving a great deal of attention to the
consideration of the Herat Question; and since that period it is that
we are introduced to such a person Major Edward Pottinger.
Major Pottinger, who belonged to the Artillery secton of Bo-
mbay reached Afghanistan in 1836. A.D. or in the beginning of 1837,
and after a protected stay in Kabul at the house of Nawab Jabbar
Khan, journyed towards Herat by way of Hazarajat; where he reach-
ed in the summer of 1837. A.D. and contacted Kamran and his
powerful minister, Yar-Mohamed Khan.
There is little doubt that the local king of Herat, Kamran,
noting the difficulties that faced him was in need of help. There
were no less than thirty to forty thousand troops of Mohamed Shah
Kachar with some Rusian volunteers, and led by Russian, Italian
and even French officers. Pottinger, as the representative of the East
India company, who were always solicitous of the defence
problem of India; was ready to render any help that was to be
asked from the English. Under the instructions of the English offi-
cer, the Saduzai ruler attended to the defence walls of Herat and
adjusted military matters under his advice; till ultimately the tro-
ops of Mohamed Shah Kachar of Persia led by the Russian officers
beseiged Herat on 23rd. November of 1838. A.D. This seige lasted
for ten months; that is to say beginning from the winter of 1837 to
the spring and summer of 1838. A. D. Kamran was almost ready to
acceed to certain points of the enemy, but his minister resited any
such appeasement, and Major Pottinger gave all kinds of advice tow-
ards till the most determind attack led by the Russian general Bur-
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.