YAKOOB KHAN.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3108, 3 February 1879, Page 2

YAKOOB KHAN.

I The proclamation of Yakoob Khan, M Ameer of Afghanistan, by the Ghilzaet, is an event of great importance.. But In order to understand it we must look at the/ constitution of society in that country^ It is peopled by tribes, eaclr of which iaaj i complete commonwealth within itself, the 1 Khan being its chieftain, while its ■übdii visions ire governed by a subordinate l chief, called tping hired, or white beard/ ; the whole of the tribes acknowledging alleig«nce, paying tribute, and furnishing !an armed contingent to the Ameer. All the tribes profess to be descended front the father of King Saul, and the most numerous are the Durani or Western Afghans, a pastoral and nomadic people who look upon the holy city of Candahar. as the centre of all the earth; Next to these in reputation rank the Gbilzaes/who are dividedinto eight tribei, and are rery impatient of authority exercised oat side their own body. When Dost Mahomed, the former ruler of Afghanistan, died, in 1863, lie left behind him sixteen sons. The third of these and his favorite, Shere Ali, he appointed as his successor. His two elder brothers contested the succession with him; and in the civil war which ensued the other- thirteen ranged themselves, on what they believed would prove to be the winning side. Mainly by the aid of his second son, Takoob Khan,- Governor of Herat, who exhibited great oourage and ability in this emergency, Shere Ali wag enabled, after five years of internecine strife, to plant himself firmly on the throne of Afghanistan. No sooner did lie feel himself secure than he made provision for the succession, passing over his eldest son ungratefully disregarding the inestimable^ services rendered to him by the second, and adopting as his heir Ahdoola, the favorite son of his favorite wife. This son died; we may remind our readers, greatly to the grief of his father, in August last. Fearing the just resentment of Yakoob Khan, Shere Ali endeavoured to deprive him of his office as Governor of Herat; but the young man rebelled. Owing to the interTention; of Lord Mayoj something like a reconciliation took place between father and son, and the latter was reinstated at Herat in 1871. Subae-. quently the crafty old Ameer invite^ Yakoob Khan to" Cabul, for the purpose of discussing family matters with him; and, having got him there, threw him into prison. After some months spent in confinement, Yakoob Khan prooured hit liberation by consenting to acknowledge Abdoola -as the rightful h«ir to the throne, and he,received the Goverrisfship of Balkh, as the reward of his ac« quiescence. When Abdoola died it is said that the •conciliation of the Ameer jtnd his second, son was completely accomplished, and there are reasons for apprehending that Yakoob's nomination to the sovereignty of Afghanistan is the efFeot of Eussian intrigue. The new Ameer has always been described as | ; bitter enemy of the English, and as the province he governs is coterminous with the Eussian territory, and as the embassy under General Abramoff must hare been admitted by Yakoob Khan through Balkh, it looks as though the Euisuns were: putting up this potentate as the most capable and warlike ruler of Afghanistan, and the best instrument they can use against a power. which they are going to fight under a mask and domino, just as they fought Turkey daring the Servian war; 7/ ?.y. ;.■■/; .■ ■:. - /.■■;.'-,., [■;{; ,-f : ', ;.:e; W ' Twoy'ears ago, Colonel Valentine Baker urged upon the Indian Government the occupation of Qnettah, the settlement of the Afghan succession, the garrisoning of the passes leading to India with British troops, the employment of British officers with an Afghan or Tarkoman frontier force, and the settlement of residents at Cabul, Herat, and Candahar, as indispensable to the safety, of our Indian Empire. It would now appear as if the whole of these precautions will be forced upon us by the logic of events.