THE NEW AMEER OF AFGHANISTAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3352, 6 January 1879, Page 3

THE NEW AMEER OF AFGHANISTAN.

♦ Yakoob Khan is the third son of the late Ameer, Shere Ali, and his father has ill requited his services. When 16 years of age he was left in charge of Herat, and he continued there until 18GG. Shere Ali had sustained a serious defeat that year at the hands of Mb brothers, and a conspiracy broke out in the western provinces, wbich Yakoob quelled, although he had only just attained his majority. Shortly after lie was compelled to fly with his father to Persia, and Yakoob endeavoured to persuade the Shah to assist them. Undaunted by the failure of his negotiations with the Persian monarch, the young Afghan got a small bund round him, and, at the head of 5000 men, stormed Candahar on behalf of his father, having a few weeks previously regained Herat by a coup de main His gallantry encouraged Shere Ali's adherents, and in the autumn of 1866 he was instrumental in obtaining possession of Cabul, and the Ameer again took the sceptre. At this time Yakoob discovered that his father intended to leave the throne to a grandson, and he demanded to be considered the heir. Shere Ali temporised for some time with his intrepid son, but nt length threw him into prison and subjected hiinoto most rigorous treatments after getting him to visit Cabul from Turkestan, whither he had fled from suspected treachery. Captain Marsh saw Ynkoob in 1873, and expressed great admiration of him. He is well disposed to the English, and is one of the few Afghans who can speak the language. He was released recently, it will be remembered, when the present difficulties commenced.