Page 192

-173- At this time the following of the sons of Amir Dost Mohamed Khan held offices in the country: Sirdar Mohamed Afzal Khan, the eldest, was ruling over the territory north of the Hindu Kush; Sirdar Mohamed Amin Khan was ruling at Kandahar; Sirdar Mohamed Sharif Khan was at Farah; and Mohamed Husain Khan was at Hazarajat; while the rest were all at Herat. Inspite of the fact that acknowledgement either in person or by letter was given, but inwardly not one of them was content with his lot. Prior to twenty days, when the new Amir was to leave Herat for Kabul, plots were being hatched and new plans were being made against him. The most important of these plans were made by Sirdar Mohamed Azam Khan. Both for himself and his real brothers the above named Sirdars had expectations, and to all of such his incitement was excercised to the full. He wrote a letter to Sirdar Mohamed Afzal Khan at Takhta Pul near Mazar Sharif, and incited him to take Kabul. At the time, as may be remembered the city was under the governorship of Prince, Mohamed Ali Khan, son of Shair Ali Khan. But out of large heartedness he sent in his renewed allegiance to Shair Ali Khan, and contended himself with governing only the northern regions. As this incitement was found to be of no avail in the case of Sirdar Mohamed Afzal Khan, he sent presents through Mirza Ahmed Khan Kashmiree and Nazir Haidar Khan -both being his trusted men-to Kabul. But a letter was discovered from Sirdar Mohamed Azam Khan in which he had written to his brother to take Kabul. The Amir, who was naturally susceptible, thought that this letter was indicative of an alliance between the two brothers from the north and the south, and to both of them replied that they should either make submission or be ready to fight. He sent a number of fighting men towards Zormut against Sirdar Mohamed Azam Khan, and as he could not stand his ground, he was forced to escape to India and to the protection of the English. By this time Amir Shair Ali Khan had dispensed with his rivals, and then thought of driving final conclusions between himself and Sirdar Mohamed Afzal Khan. Sirdar Mohamed Afzal Khan had no real animosity against his brother the Amir, and expressed his allegiance and friendship towards Shair Ali Khan, but