Chapter LXXX: Appendix: VIII

(Referred to in Chapter LVIII, Footnote 5.)

_Letter from SIRDAR ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN to LEPEL GRIFFIN, ESQ., dated 15th April, 1880._

Whereas at this happy time I have received your kind letter. In
a spirit of justice and friendship you wrote to inquire what I
wished in Afghanistan. My honoured friend, the servants of the
great [British] Government know well that, throughout these twelve
years of exile in the territories of the Emperor of Russia, night
and day I have cherished the hope of revisiting my native land.
When the late Amir Sher Ali Khan died, and there was no one to
rule our tribes, I proposed to return to Afghanistan, but it
was not fated [that I should do so]; then I went to Tashkent.
Consequently, Amir Mahomed Yakub Khan, having come to terms and
made peace with the British Government, was appointed Amir of
Afghanistan; but since, after he had left you, he listened to the
advice of every interested [dishonest] person, and raised fools to
power, until the ignorant men directed the affairs of Afghanistan,
which during the reign of my grandfather, who had eighteen able
sons, was so managed that night was bright like day, Afghanistan
was, in consequence, disgraced before all States, and ruined. Now,
therefore, that you seek to learn my hopes and wishes, they are
these: that as long as your Empire and that of Russia exist, my
countrymen, the tribes of Afghanistan, should live quietly in ease
and peace; that these two States should find us true and faithful,
and that we should rest at peace between them [England and
Russia], for my tribesmen are unable to struggle with Empires, and
are ruined by want of commerce; and we hope of your friendship
that, sympathizing with and assisting the people of Afghanistan,
you will place them under the honourable protection of the two
Powers. This would redound to the credit of both, would give peace
to Afghanistan, and quiet and comfort to God's people. This is my
wish; for the rest, it is yours to decide.

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