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CHAPTER III.

HISTORY OF SHAH SHOOJAH, AND FALL OF THE DOORAUNEE MONARCHY.

Ir was during the interval of repose which succeeded the events related in the preceding chapter, that the mission of the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone, from the government of British India, arrived at Peshawar, where Shah Shoojah at that time held his court. Before much had been done, however, to further the objects of the embassy, the quiet of the country was again disturbed by Mahmood, aided by the restless and indefatigable Futteh Khan, who had once more raised a rebellion, and taken possession of Candahar.

When the intelligence of this disaster reached Peshawar, the greater part of the royal army was

absent under the minister Akram Khan, who had been sent a short time previous, against the son of the late vizier, who still held out in Cashmere. The result of this expedition was most unfortunate. Akram Khan was betrayed by Motawullee, a chief in whom he placed great confidence, and the greater part of his army destroyed among the mountain passes, into which they had been traiterously conducted. The minister and the other chiefs, however, contrived to save themselves by flight. Simultaneously with the arrival of this disastrous news, information was brought of the capture of Cabool by Mahmood, and of his intention to march on Peshawar; but the progress of the victorious party was stayed by dissensions among themselves.

Shoojah was now placed in a perilous situation. Akram Khan had returned, and was endeavouring to re-assemble the scattered remains of his army; but this minister was very unpopular, both amongst the chiefs and the people. He was a man of fair abilities and invincible personal courage, but excessively haughty and avaricious. He was not, therefore, calculated to gain adherents to his master's cause, or conciliate his enemies ; but the disagreements of the latter among themselves, gave the King time to retrieve, in some

measure, his late reverses. A considerable body of troops was again collected, and it was resolved to march on Cabool. Unfortunately, the army did not advance with that precaution and attention to order which circumstances rendered necessary; and after a long and fatiguing 'march through the mountains, they were attacked while yet in confusion, by Futteh Khan, at the head of a small body of his followers. Akram Khan, who was with the king in the rear, directly he heard of the circumstance, dashed forward with a few horsemen to the assistance of the advanced guard; but he was too late, they were already defeated. Nevertheless, the courageous and gigantic chief, carried away by the impetuosity of his disposition, rushed on, and had penetrated almost to the very spot where Futteh Khan was, when he was overpowered by numbers, and slain, after a gallant and desperate resistance, in which numbers fell beneath his sword. Dost Mahomed, the future ruler of Cabool, who was a younger brother of Futteh Khan, is said to have greatly distinguished himself in this action.

This calamity, and particularly the death of Akram, appears to have broken the king's spirits, He despondingly regarded the defeat of his advanced guard as decisive of the contest, and retreated to the Khyber mountains, where he re

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mained inactive for some days, but was subsequently persuaded to advance on Candahar. But misfortune still attended him. Mahmood and Futteh Khan pushed on, at the head of six thousand horse, to intercept his progress, and came up with him at Jakan, near Candahar. A battle ensued, which was sustained with considerable obstinacy on both sides, till the treachery of Saloo Khan Astikzye, who deserted from Shoojah at the head of a large body of horse, decided the fate of the day, and compelled the unfortunate monarch once more to seek safety in flight. He pursued his way towards the Indus, which he crossed near Leia, and took refuge for a time in the territories of Mahomed Khan, a chief of his own tribe, who treated him with much hospitality and respect. Here he heard the satisfactory intelligence of the safety of his family, who, upon the breaking out of the troubles, had been prudently sent to Rawil Pindee, in the Punjaub, to be out of the reach of danger.

At this stage of Shah Shoojah's fortunes, Runjeet Sing, the celebrated Maha Rajah of Lahore, with the design of extending his own power, offered to assist him in the conquest of Mooltan. The Shah, however, appeared to penetrate his intentions, and evaded a direct answer to his overtures by proceeding to join his family at

Rawil Pindee. While there, he resolved once more to attempt the recovery of Peshawar, and crossing the river Attock, advanced at the head of his troops to attack the city. Mahomed Azeem Khan, the brother of Futteh Khan, to whose charge it had been committed, upon learning the approach of Shoojah, advanced to meet him; but after some days, finding his army greatly thinned by desertions to the Shah, he deemed it most prudent to decline an engagement, and retreated, leaving the Shah to take possession of the city unopposed.

His success, however, was but temporary. Mahomed Azeem, who had proceeded to Cabool for reinforcements, returned at the head of a chosen body of troops, and after an obstinately contested battle, in which Shoojah was defeated, he regained possession of Peshawar, and the Shah betook himself again to Rawil Pindee. Another attempt of the same kind was made by him shortly afterwards, but was equally unsuccessful, and he then relapsed into inactivity.

From this state of tranquillity, Shoojah was roused some time after by the adhesion of a number of the Dooraunee lords who had hitherto sided with Mahmood, but now represented themselves as disgusted with the tyrannical administration of that monarch and his minister, Futteh Khan,