family. He has not proved deficient in talent, although much so in moral excellence, unless he be belied. Mír Dhaiyán Sing has two brothers, Gúláb Sing and Súchít Sing; both have been created Rájás, and Gúláb Sing, as governor of Jamú, possesses very great power. Súchít Sing, it is asserted, was once as much a favorite of the Máhárájá as his brother Dhaiyán Sing. These three brothers, called the Rájás, have been raised to more influence than perhaps is agreable to Ranjit Sing, but it was his own act, and however repentant, he scruples to acknowledge his error by degrading them. Yet it is popularly believed, that if he could get them together, he would not hesitate to seize them, but they, aware of the probability of such an accident, take care never to attend the court at the same time.

Ranjit Sing has but one son, Karak Sing, who is considered legitimate, or who is believed by himself to be so, according to report. This prince has proved incapable of command, and his father has been obliged to remove most of the troops he placed under him, owing to the disorders his son permitted or was unable to control. He is esteemed imbecile, but I suspect is merely of a mild, placid disposition, averse to cruelty as to exertion. He has frequently remonstrated against the violent measures of his father, particularly against the occupation of Sújáhanpúr, with the young Rájá of which he had contracted friendship by the exchange of tarbans. Rájá Dhaiyán Sing, it is said, presumed to intrigue with his wife, an injury which might have passed over unnoticed by him, but was resented by Shír Sing, who castigated the offender in open darbár. Karak Sing has a young son, No Níhál Sing, of whom Ranjit Sing and the Síkhs generally, entertain great hopes and high expectations.

Shír Sing is the son of one of Ranjit Sing's wives; whom he married for political purposes, and whose turbulent spirit has occasioned him much trouble. In his cups, the Máhárájá declares her offspring to be due to some dhobí or washerman. The young man has however merit, which procures his being treated with respect. He is brave and generous, and very popular with the soldiery. He attaches himself a good deal to the French officers and to Europeans generally, and many people looking at the incapacity of Karak Sing, consider his prospects favorable, but he is extremely dissipated.

Besides these there are three others, Tárrah Sing, Peshawar Sing and Káshmírí Sing, by universal opinion pronounced suppositious, the sons of various females whose fortune has located them in the Máhárájá's háram. By the little notice he takes of them, the prince plainly shews that he coincides with the public sentiment.

It is already foreseen, even by the Sikhs, that the succession will be disputed, and the death of Ranjit Sing will inevitably involve the Panjab in all the horrors of anarchy. In person the Máhárájá is a little below the middle size, and very meagre. His complexion is fair, and his features regular with aquiline nose. He carries along white beard, and wants the left eye. Though apparently far advanced in years, I believe he has not completed fifty. On the right side of his neck, a large scar is visible, probably the effect of a wound. In his diet he is represented abstemious, but has always been perniciously prone to copious cups of the strongest spirits, which with his unbounded sensuality has brought on him premature old age, with a serious burthen of infirmities. For some ailment he makes daily use of laudanum. Simple in his dress, which is of white linen, he wears on his arm the celebrated diamond Kohí Núr, of which he deprived Sháh Sújáh al Múlkh, who had promised it to him, but first attempted to dupe him, and then to withhold it altogether. His attendants, domestics, &c. are splendidly clad, and display a profusion of gold and jewelled ornaments Although Ranjit Sing, in his relations with the Mússúlmáns to the west, assumes a high tone; at home he simply styles himself Sirkár. The principal fault of this prince is ambition, the ordinary failing of kings, which sometimes leads him into unjustifiable measures, of which the most flagrant was the expulsion of the Rájá of Sújahánpúr, on no better plea than that he would not consent to degrade his rank and descent, by giving his sister in marriage to the minister Rájá Dhaiyán Sing, a Dogra of low cast, and a man of questionable character. In his affairs with the Afgháns he has always received ample provocation, and the shameless deceit and perfidy constantly played off upon him by their shortsighted and unprincipled chiefs and politicians, deserved the vengeance he has inflicted upon them.

To sum up his character, as a public man, he is a prince of consummate ability, a warrior brave and skilful, and a good but crafty statesman. In his private or individual capacity he has many shining qualities, but they are obscured by many failings, and by habits so grossly sensual, that they can scarcely be excused, by the knowledge, that they may be attributed to the barbarous period at which he was born, or by the fact, that in such respect he is not worse than many of his compatriots. If there be a prince of antiquity to whom he may be compared, I think it might be Philip of Macedon. Both claim our admiration as public characters, and our censure as private men. On a review however of their actions, their means, and

advantages of birth, it may perhaps be conceded that the more splendid career has been run by the conqueror of the Panjab.

X. — Observations on the Political Condition of the Dùránì States and Dependencies.

[ It may not be improper to state the circumstances under which this paper was written. In 1829, residing with the late Colonel David Wilson, then Resident at Búshír, he laid before me the work of the Hon'ble Mr. Elphinstone, and requested me to note freely in the margins of the respective pages, any remarks I choose to make. I accepted the task, but soon found my ability at fault, for the work contained more information than I possessed; and this was only natural, as the scanty knowledge I could acquire in a brief transit through a country, and with no very favorable opportunities, could not, of course, be comparable with that gained by the highly popular chief of a favored mission, to augment which even the monarch of the day was proud to exert himself. In this case, finding I could not do exactly what Colonel Wilson desired, the great political changes which had occurred in Afghánistán since the time of Mr. Elphinstone's visit to Pesháwer, enabled me, in another mode, to oblige him, and the wish to do so led to the composition of this document. In the original paper there were some inaccuracies, which I have now corrected. I have also made a few additions with the view of presenting with tolerable accuracy the state of Afghanistán up to 1830, in other respects there is no material alteration.

C. MASSON. 1841. ]

When we reflect on the former power, and extended authority of the Dúrání empire, and contrast it with its present feeble condition and limited sway, we cannot but be impressed with humble ideas of earthly prosperity. The sword which had triumphed in many a conflict on Persian and Indian soils which had wrested the fairest gem from the diadem of the vanquished descendant of Taimúr, and which even was supposed to menace the existence of European power in Hindostan, is now drawn only within the contracted limits of a few spared provinces, and in inglorious intestine commotions. The dependent states, whose chiefs obeyed the behests of the Sháh of Afghánistán, and heaped his coffers with tributary gold, are now independent, or reduced to subjection by Ranjit Sing, who once appear

ed a suppliant vassal, with closed hands, in the presence of the unfortunate Sháh Zemán.

Yet if we look at the composition of the Dúráuí empire, we have no occasion to wonder that such changes and misfortunes should have befallen it. It was founded by Ahmed Sháh, a soldier of fortune, and required a series of sovereigns equal to that illustrious chief in character and energy to have sustained it.

Although the sovereign belonged to the tribe, the most respected perhaps of the various Dúrání clans, there were many others much more powerful and numerous, the heads of which conscious of their stength, approached the throne rather with a feeling of equality than of respect. If a request were denied or a rebuke given, they retired to their castles, drew out their followers, and became rebels. It was evident that an aristocracy so turbulent and puissant, could only be restrained, and kept in due obedience, by a monarch of great personal qualities, who could both command and compel their homage. In short, it became necessary that the prince, in all splendid endowments should surpass his nobles.

Ahmed Shah was such a prince, but he was followed by successors of inferior ability, the consequence of which has been that the kingdom has been rent by rebellion, and broken up. What remains under Dúrání authority, with the exception of Herát, is parcelled out amongst the successful traitors of another tribe, the Bárak Zais, while the sovereign seems destined to pass his days in exile.

Mr. Elphinstone has narrated, in his work on Kábal, the history of the Dúránís, until the period when the troubles commenced which terminated in the expulsion of the king, and of the establishment in power of the rebellious subjects who dethroned him. It is not my object to detail the intermediate occurrences, indeed I could not follow the course of events, but merely to describe the state of the provinces, at the time I visited the country in 1827 and 1828.

HERA'T.

Herát is at present actually administered by Shahzáda or prince Kámrán; his father Shah Máhmúd, the nominal sovereign, and formerly of some notoriety at Kábal, being reputed imbecile, and incapable of conducting the government. Kámrán is popular, and is esteemed to possess energy and firmness. His government is said to be favorable to those engaged in trade and agriculture, hence his country is prosperous, and his capital has encreased in wealth and consequence. An Afghán questioned as to the state of Khorasan, would reply that it was nearly ruined, and that only two places, Herát and

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Kábal, were abád or flourishing. The Sháhzáda has abolished the slave trade, which was formerly carried on most flagitiously at Herát. To this desirable purpose, the establishment of a strong post at Ghoríán, is supposed to have contributed. He has many sons, one of whom holds the government of Sabzwár, another that of Farra. The eldest, the Sháhzáda Jehángír (of whom, it is said, he entertains jealousy) is retained near his own person. Kámrán is of the Sadú Zai family, and although inimical to his expelled relatives, is the implacable enemy of the Bárak Zai rulers, yet he is so circumstanced that it is not supposed he will ever again take a part in the affairs of the countries to the east. He has nevertheless still partisans in them, as was shewn by a transaction which happened when I was in Kándahár.

The Sirdars there had determined on an expedition to Shikárpúr, and Náib Gúl Máhomed Khán was to remain in charge of the city. This man had great influence, and was of the Popal Zai tribe. He had originally been Kámrán's Governor at Kándahár, and surrendered it to the Bárak Zai Sirdárs, who besieged it, when Kámrán informed him that he did not intend to march to relieve it, By his means therefore in some measure, the Sirdárs acquired the city they have since held, and Gúl Máhomed Khán distrustful perhaps of placing himself in the power of Sháhzáda Kámrán, remained with them, and appeared to attach himself to them. Courtesy permitted him to hold his title of Náib, and he was considered next to the Sirdárs, the man first in rank at Kándahár. Now that the Shikárpúr expedition was projected, and he was to remain in charge of the city, it is asserted, that he wrote to Kámrán offering to make it over to him. His messenger was seized near Gríshk, and the Náib, unconscious that his intended treachery had been exposed, attended the darbár as usual, and was made prisoner by Fúr Dil Khán. The caution and fears manifested on this occasion by the Sirdárs were very great. The Naib was detained throughout the day in the house of Fúr Dil Khán, and by night, he was privately removed in a palanquin to the citadel, where a part of the house of Kohán Dil Khán was set aside as his prison. The custody of his person was intrusted to Hindústání soldiers, it being apprehended that the sympathy of Afgháns might be excited, or that they might be seduced.

The gates of the city were closed and strictly guarded, — all was on the alert, it being thought probable that the numerous friends and adherents of the captive chief might attempt his rescue. Bodies of horse were instantly dispatched into those parts of the country inhabited by his Ulús or tribe to prevent insurrection, a necessary mea