YAKOOB KHAN.

Southland Times, Issue 3296, 13 January 1879, Page 2

YAKOOB KHAN.

[Melbourne Argusi] The proclamation of Yakoob Khan, as Ameer of Afghanistan, by the Ghilzaes, is an event of great importance. But in order to understand it we must look at the constitution of society in the country. It is peopled by tribes, each of which is a complete commonwealth within itself , the Khan being its chieftain, while, its, subdivisions are governed by a subordinate chief, called sping liirai, or white beard, the, whole of the tribes acknowledging allegiance,paying tribute,and furnishing' an armecVcontingent to the Ameer. All the tribes profess to be descended from the father of King Saul, and the most numerous- are tbe Durani or Western Afghans, a pastoral and nomadic people who look upon -the holy city of Oandahar as the centre of all the earth. Next to these in reputation rank the Ghitzaes, who are divided into eight tribes, and are very impatient of authority exercised outside of their own body. When DostMahomed,the former ruler of Afghanistan, died, in 18G3, he left behind him sixteen sons. The third of these and his favorite, Shere Aii, lie 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 ou what they believed would prove to be the winning side. Mainly by the aid of his second son, Yakoob Khan, Governor of - Herat, who exhibited great com age and ability in this emergency, Shere Aii was enabledj'afier five years o£ internecine strife, to plant liimseli firmly on the throne of Afghanistan. No sooner did he 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, ancl adopting as his heir Abdoola, the favorite son of his favorite wife. The son died, we may remind our readers, greatly to the grief of his fattier, in August last. Fearing the just resentment of Yakoob Khan, Shere Aii endeavored to deprive him of his office as Governor of Herat; but the young man rebelled. Owing to the intervention of Lord Mayo, something like a reconciliation took place-be-tween father and son and the latter was reinstated at Herat in 1871. Subsequently the crafty old Ameer invited 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 procured his liberation by consenting to acknowledge Abdoola as the rightful heir to the throne, and he recieved the governorship of Balkh, as the reward cf his acquiescence. When Abdoola died it is said that the reconciliation of the Ameer and his second son was completely accomplished, and there are reasons for apprehending that Yakoob's' nomination to the sovereignty of Afghaniston is the effect of Eussian intrigue. The new Ameer has always -been described as a bitter enemy of the English, *- and as the province he governs is coterminous with the Russian territory, and- as the, embassy under General Abramoff must have been admitted by Yakoob Khan through Balkh, it looks as though the Russians were putting up this potentate as tho most capable and wariike ruler of Afghanistan, and the best instrument they can use against a power they are going. to figlvt under a mask and domino, just a? they fought Turkey during the Servia r war. - Two years ago, Colonel Valentine Baker urged upon' the Indian Government the occupation' of Quettah, the settlement of Afghan succession, the garrisoning of. the passes leading to India with British troops, the employment of British, officers with an Afghan y or Turkoman 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 the precautions will be forced upon us by* the logic of events.