A history of the Sikhs, from the origin of the nation to the battles of the Sutlej.

CHAP. vii RETROSPECT: AFGHANISTAN

207

wished to negotiate as an independent chief with the 1829-32.
British Government.' But the several brothers were friendship
jealous of one another, many desired separate principalities, or protecDost Muhammad aimed at supremacy, rumours of Persian tion of the
English
designs alarmed them on the west, the aggressive policy against the
of Ranjit Singh gave them greater cause of fear on the east, Sikhs,
and the chance presence of English travellers in Afghanistan again led them to hope that the foreign masters of
India might be induced to give them stability between
contending powers.2 In 1832 Sultan Muhammad Khan
again attempted to open a negotiation, if only for the release
of his son, who was a hostage with Ranjit Singh.3 The
Nawab, Jabbar Khan of Kabul, likewise addressed letters
to the British frontier authority, and in 1832 Dost Muham- Dost Mumad himself directly asked for the friendship of the English.4 hmades
All these communications were politely acknowledged, but the same,
at the time it was held desirable to avoid all intimacy of 1832.
connexion with rulers so remote.5
In 1834 new dangers threatened the usurping Barakzais. TheBarakzais, appreShah Shuja had defeated the Sindians and had arrived in hensive
force at Kandahar, and the brothers once again endeavoured of Shah
Shuja,
to bring themselves within the verge of British supremacy. again press
They had heard of English arts as well as of English arms; for an alliance with
the
1 Capt. Wade to Government, 19th May 1832. The brothers had English;
already (1823, 1824) made similar proposals through Mr. Moorcroft.
(See Travels, ii. 340.)
2 Mr. Fraser and Mr. Stirling, of the Bengal Civil Service, were in
Afghanistan, the former in 1826, apparently, and the latter in 1828.
Mr. Masson also entered the country by way of the Lower Punjab
in 1827, and the American, Dr. Harlan, followed him in a year by
the same route. Dr. Harlan came to Lahore in 1829, after leading
the English authorities to believe that he desired to constitute himself
an agent between their Government and Shah Shuja, with reference
doubtless to the ex-king's designs on Kabul. (Resident at Delhi to
Capt. Wade, 3rd Feb. 1829.) The Rev. Mr. Wolff should be included
among the travellers in Central Asia at the time in question.
3 Capt. Wade to Government, 19th May and 3rd July 1832.
4 Capt. Wade to Government, 9th July 1832, and 17th Jan. 1833.
Col. Wade in the Narrative of Personal Services, p. 23, note, regards
these overtures of Dost Muhammad, and also the increased interest
of Russia and Persia in Afghan affairs, to Lieut. Burnes's Journey
(to Bokhara, in 1832) and to Shah Shuja's designs.
5 Government to Capt. Wade, 28th Feb. 1833.