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148 Timur Shah (1773-1793): Ahmad Shah was succeeded by his son, Timur, who lacked the energy and farsightedness of his illustrious father. It is not possible for a successor of a great king to rest upon his father's laurels and enjoy perfect tranquillity without exerting himself. So was the case with Timur. As soon as the grip of the master hand was no more, numerous sources of danger cropped up. Timur was incapable of dealing courageously with all these difficulties. The result was that the chiefs gave him but nominal homage and the greater part of his reign was spent in quelling their uprisings. His shifting and vacillating policy and easy- going temperament brought great loss to the kingdom founded by Ahmad Shah the Great, and its real disintegration begins with Timur Shah's reign. It was Timur Shah who changed the capital of Afghanistan from Kandahar to Kabul. Zaman Shah (1793-1800): After the death of Timur his fifth son, Zaman, was able to occupy the throne with the help of Sardar Payenda Khan, the influential chief of the Barakzais. Zaman Shah, from the very beginning of his reign was beset with innumerable difficulties, both external and internal. His elder brothers, Hamayun, governor of Kandahar, and Mahmoud, Governor of Herat, thinking themselves lawful heirs to the throne, took up arms to contest for power. Zaman Shah, after consolidating his position in Afghan- istan, turned to India, with the object of turning out the British. But there was too little security at home to ensure success abroad. The British were greatly alarmed to learn of his plans. They took prompt measures for the security of their Indian territories, now threatened by Napoleon on one side and Zaman on the other. Captain Malcolm was accordingly deputed as