Copy 1, Volume 1

Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, the countries adjoining the mountain-course of the Indus, and the Himalaya, north of the Panjab / By G.T. Vigne.

  • Vigne, Godfrey Thomas, 1801-1863.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, the countries adjoining the mountain-course of the Indus, and the Himalaya, north of the Panjab / By G.T. Vigne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    political agents. After Sir Robert Sale has been relieved and the prisoners have been ransomed, it would not be difficult to find, for the British army now collected at Peshawur, another and a more politic employment, although at this moment a very unjust one, than forcing their way to Kabul. The wild tribes of Afghanistan only fought for their religion and their country—pro aris et focis. We may, if we proceed, reconquer them; and justice will be dealt where actual treachery is proved : revenge, of course, would be unworthy of our name. Let us get as much inform¬ ation as possible, and make a display of our power, but leave them alone at Kabul for the present. We should take nothing by our motion, and the Afghans and other Oriental nations have sense enough to know that we were beaten less by them than by snow and want of subsistence.* There is no chief with whom we can treat without supporting him by a subsidy at the same time. Dost Mohamed was a master spirit, who, if supplied with money, could have supported himself, and organised a dynasty without the pre¬ sence of a British army. It may be much doubted whether there is any other man in Afghanistan who could do so. We can never have a firm and effective friend on the throne of Kabul without supplying him with money (if not a contingent),— at least : it is the penalty we must pay for our relative position; and we may then rest, but not sleep, upon our oars, until we think that Russian influence may be again so far or so unfairly advanced as to demand a more active interference in the affairs of Afghanistan. There is one individual of whom I gladly take this op¬ portunity of making honourable mention; and that is, the Nuwab Jubar Khan, Dost Mohamed’s brother. Every English traveller that has arrived at Kabul, and properly accredited, has been received into his house, and treated and protected as his guest during his stay. From the first dawn of his brother’s political power he has been most anxious for the friendship of * Vide Note at the end of these Observations. VOL. I. d