THE MURDER OF SIR A. BURNES
October passed quietly, and Macnaghten arranged to leave on the 2nd of
November. Burnes had received several warnings as to the formidable
nature of the confederacy of the chiefs. Mohun Lal, the principal
moonshee, who had been down to Sale's camp, told him that if the
conspiracy was not crushed in its infancy it would become too strong
to be suppressed. Burnes replied that he had no power at present, but
that as soon as Macnaghten left he would conciliate the chiefs by
raising their allowances to the former point. On the 1st of November
Mohun Lal again expressed his opinion of the danger. Burnes replied
that he feared the time was coming when the British would have to leave
the country. He was in one of his moods of depression, but from this
he recovered in the evening, and congratulated Macnaghten upon leaving
when everything was quiet.
At the very time he was speaking the hostile chiefs were assembled
together, and were discussing the methods that were to be taken to
overthrow the British power. They determined that the first step was
to forge a document in the Ameer's name, ordering all the people to
rise, and at the same time to spread a report that it was the intention
to seize all the principal chiefs and send them prisoners to England.
It was singular that they should not have waited a few days, for the
Indian government had sent peremptory orders that the whole force at
Cabul, with the exception of a single brigade, should return with
Macnaghten to India.
The chiefs decided that as a first step a tumult should arise in the
city, and this they at once set about exciting. They had no idea that
it would succeed, and none of them ventured to take any part in it,
as it was only intended to excite the passions of the rabble of the
city. Early the next morning a friendly Afghan brought Burnes news
that the residency was about to be attacked. He did not believe the
intelligence, as the city had of late been as quiet as usual; but
on sending out some of his servants into the street they reported
that there was certainly an unusual stir and excitement. He wrote to
Macnaghten saying so, but stating that he did not think the matter at
all serious, although at the same time he requested that a military
guard should be sent to him in order to overawe any disaffected persons.
Angus had gone out early with Azim. The latter had for some days past
spent his time in the city, and each evening had returned with the
rumours he had gathered. The talk in the lower quarters was all of the
understanding at which the chiefs had arrived, and the general opinion
was that in a few days these would pour down with all their forces and
annihilate the infidels.
Angus himself noticed the sullen expression on the faces of the lower
class and the manner in which they scowled at him as he passed, and
quite agreed with his follower that the troubles he had long foreseen
were about to come to a head. When in the streets, too, he had an
uneasy consciousness that he was being followed. Several times he
turned sharply round, but in the throng of natives in the streets he
could recognize no face that he knew. This morning the feeling was
particularly strong, although, as he had often done before, he assured
himself that it was pure fancy on his part.
"I am not conscious of feeling nervous," he said to Azim, "but I must
be getting so. It has been a very anxious time all the year, and I
suppose that without my knowing it it must have told upon me. However,
I will turn down this quiet street, and if anyone is following us we
shall certainly detect him."
A hundred yards down another lane crossed the one he had taken. Azim
had looked several times, but no one else turned down the lane, which
was entirely deserted. As they passed the corner of the next lane some
men suddenly sprang upon them. Cloths were thrown over their heads,
and in spite of their struggles they were lifted up and carried along
rapidly. In a couple of minutes they stopped. Angus heard a door open.
They were borne along what he thought was a passage, thrust into a
room, and a door was slammed to and locked behind them. They tore off
their mufflers and looked around. It was a room of no great size,
with strongly-barred windows. There were cushions on a divan that ran
along one side. On a low table in the middle of the room were two cold
chickens, a pile of fruit, a large jar of water, and two bottles of
native wine.
"What on earth does this mean?" Angus said, "and why have we been
carried off?"
Azim did not attempt to reply.
"We are prisoners, that is certain," Angus went on; "but it would
certainly look as if they meant to make us comfortable, and the room
must have been prepared in readiness for our reception. I see no
hope of getting away; the windows are very strongly barred, and," he
continued as he walked across and looked out, "this little yard is
surrounded by houses without windows on the ground floor, and with
no door that I can see. I suppose there is one below us; anyhow, if
we could get through these bars we should be no nearer liberty, for
at best we could only re-enter the house, and possibly the door is
fastened on the inside. There are certainly men in the house; I heard
voices in the passage just now, and no doubt one of the fellows is
stationed there. The only reason I can imagine for their carrying us
off is that we are to be kept as hostages. Of course I am known to be
Burnes's chief civilian assistant, and they might think that if I were
in their hands he would be willing to make some concessions to get me
back again. It is of no use worrying over it; we are not so badly off
as we were in that snow-storm in the pass. The best thing we can do for
the present is to make a meal, for we did not take anything before we
started."
[Illustration: AS THEY PASSED THE CORNER ... SOME MEN SPRANG ON THEM.]
They had just finished their breakfast when the sound of musketry was
plainly heard.
"There is fighting going on," Angus exclaimed. "What can it mean? There
are no troops in the city except the native guards at our house and the
treasury next door. It is either a fight between two factions in the
city, or they are attacking our place. It is maddening being fastened
up here just at this moment. The news brought by that Afghan this
morning that we were to be attacked must be true, though Sir Alexander
altogether disbelieved it. He was in one of his happiest humours this
morning, as to-day he was to obtain the goal of his hopes and to be the
resident political officer, with all power in his hands. When he is in
that mood he disbelieves all unpleasant tidings, while in his fits of
depression he gives credit to every rumour that reaches his ear. Still,
the house should be able to hold out against a mob until help arrives
from the camp; but whether or not, my place should be by his side
whatever comes of it."
"If there is really a rising in the town, sir, we are certainly safer
here than we should be in the streets, or even in the house."
"That may be," Angus said impatiently, "but my duty is to be there." He
paced restlessly up and down the room.
Presently Azim said: "I can't think how the men who seized us knew
that we were coming along. It was quite by chance that you turned down
the lane."
"They must have been close to us when we did so," Angus said, "and must
at once have run round by another lane and posted themselves at the
corner where we were seized. We were not walking fast, and there would
have been time for them to get there before us if they had run. But why
should they have taken this trouble? and why should they have prepared
this place beforehand for our reception? It beats me altogether."
After the firing had continued for a few minutes it ceased; then they
could hear a confused roar of shouting.
"Good heavens!" Angus exclaimed, "they must have taken the house. The
troops cannot have arrived in time, or we should have heard sharp
volleys. This is maddening."
"Well, sir," Azim said philosophically, "if we had not been carried off
we should have been in the house when they attacked it, and should have
shared the fate of the others, whatever it may be."
"That is true enough," Angus agreed; "still, I ought to have been
there. Ah!" he broke off suddenly, "they have not taken either your
sword or mine, or my pistols"--for although not in military uniform the
civilians generally carried swords, a necessary precaution when the
whole native population always went about armed; and Angus in addition
carried pistols also concealed in his dress. "It is extraordinary that
they should not have disarmed us."
"I do not think that they intended to do us harm," Azim said; "they
could have cut our throats had they chosen to do so, when they brought
us here, without fear of discovery. Why should they leave us our
swords and provide a good meal for us if they intended to murder us
afterwards?"
"That is so, Azim, and it makes the affair more incomprehensible. I
tried to get at my pistols as they carried me along, but they held my
arms too tightly for me to do so. It seems to me possible that this
is the work of someone who was aware of the intended attack, and who
doubted whether the troops would not enter the city and slaughter many
of the inhabitants, and so thought that by producing us at the right
moment he would not only clear himself, from any charge of taking part
in the affair, but would earn a reward for having saved our lives. I
certainly have no friend in the city who would be likely to seize me
for any other object. Of course, I was in communication with most of
the important persons here, but it has been simply in an official way."
"Whoever it is must have been watching you for some days, master, if,
as you thought, he has been following you whenever you went out."
"I can have no doubt on that subject now, Azim," and Angus sat thinking
for some time. "I think," he said suddenly, "it must be Sadut Khan;
if so, we are safe. We know that he was with the Ameer, and rode with
him when he defeated our cavalry, and it has been reported that he has
since returned to his tribe, though we have no certain information
about it. It is possible that, knowing we were about to be attacked by
the whole force of the tribesmen, he has borne his promise in mind, and
has employed men to watch me and take steps, if necessary, to secure my
safety. That certainly would explain what before it seemed impossible
to understand."
The noise in the town still continued. At one time there was sound of
heavy musketry firing.
"The troops have entered the city," Angus exclaimed; "there will be
hard fighting, for in the narrow streets an armed mob can offer a
desperate resistance even to the best troops. But in the end they will
put down this tumult, and if Sir Alexander has been murdered, exact a
heavy penalty for his death."
In half an hour the firing gradually abated, and the musket shots came
more faintly through the air. "Our men are falling back, Azim, there
can be little doubt about that by the sound. There cannot be any great
number of troops engaged. What on earth can Macnaghten and Elphinstone
be doing?"
The roar of shouting in the streets became louder, and there was an
occasional sound of firearms. "It is quite evident that the mob are
in entire possession of the city, Azim. They are looting the traders'
quarter, and probably murdering all the whites who have taken up their
residence there."
These fears were fully justified. The houses of Sir Alexander Burnes
and Captain Johnson, the paymaster of the Ameer's troops, adjoined each
other. Johnson had, fortunately for himself, slept that night in the
camp. Sir Alexander had with him his brother, Lieutenant Burnes, and
Lieutenant Broadfoot, his military secretary, who had just arrived.
Curiously enough, it was the anniversary of the disastrous fight at
Purwandurrah, in which fight Broadfoot's eldest brother had been
killed. Soon after Angus had gone out the Ameer's minister arrived and
repeated the warning already given by the friendly Afghan. Burnes could
no longer doubt that there was danger, but he refused to leave his
house, saying that as soon as the news that there was a tumult reached
the camp, the troops would be at once despatched to put it down. He,
however, wrote urgently to Macnaghten for support, and sent messengers
to the most powerful native chief in the town begging him to calm the
people, and assure them that all grievances should be redressed.
One of the messengers was killed on the way, the other managed to
return to the house desperately wounded. The gathering in the street
increased every moment. Burnes with the two officers went out on to a
balcony, and from thence harangued the mob. His voice was drowned by
yells and curses, weapons were brandished, and an attack was made on
the doors of both houses. Part of the mob were fanatics, who thought
only of slaying the infidels, but a still larger party were animated
solely by a desire to share in the sack of the Ameer's treasury next
door. The native guards both of Sir Alexander and the treasury opened
fire, and for a time maintained themselves with the greatest bravery.
Of the English officers, Broadfoot was the first to fall, shot through
the heart. The position became more and more desperate. A party of the
insurgents had set fire to the stables and forced their way into the
garden. Burnes was still attempting to lull the fury of the crowd. Long
ere this troops should have arrived to his rescue, but there were no
signs that they were approaching. At last, seeing that all was lost, he
disguised himself and went out into the garden with a man who had sworn
by the Koran to convey him and his brother safely into camp. No sooner,
however, did they issue out than the traitor shouted: "This is Burnes."
The mob rushed upon the brothers and hewed them to pieces. The
defenders of the two houses fought bravely to the last, but were
finally slaughtered to a man.
Sir Alexander Burnes owed his death to the faults of others rather
than his own. Having been previously at Cabul as the British agent,
and speaking the language perfectly, it was to him the people made
their complaints, to him they looked for redress. They knew nothing
of Macnaghten. When they found their condition growing from bad to
worse, their taxes increasing, their trade at a stand-still, food
extremely dear, and employment wanting, it was on Burnes that they
laid the blame; and yet he was all the time endeavouring, but in vain,
to persuade Macnaghten that it was absolutely necessary to compel the
Ameer to abandon a course that was exasperating for people of all
classes, from the most powerful chiefs to the poorest inhabitants of
the city. Burnes was unquestionably a man of great ability, and had he
been in Macnaghten's place with full power and responsibility, things
would probably have turned out differently.
The expedition from the first was a gigantic blunder, undertaken in
the teeth of his remonstrances. In any case it was doomed to failure.
It was impossible that we could maintain on the throne a man hated
by the whole of his subjects--a race of fighting men, jealous to the
last degree of their independence, and able to take full advantage of
the natural strength of the country. But under the administration of
an officer at once firm and resolute, and anxious to conciliate them
in every way, the British force might have remained until the Indian
government could no longer support the expense of the occupation,
and could then have withdrawn quietly with the puppet who had proved
himself so utterly incapable of conciliating the people upon whom we
had thrust him.
The great fault in the character of Burnes was instability--his
alternate fits of sanguine hopefulness and deep depression, and
his readiness to believe what suited his mood of the moment. These
characteristics were no doubt heightened by the unfortunate position
in which he found himself. He had had every reason to expect that
in view of his previous residence in Cabul and his knowledge of the
character of the people, he would have the post of political officer
of the Afghan capital, and he only accepted a secondary position upon
the understanding that Macnaghten's appointment was a temporary one,
and that he would succeed him. When, however, months and years elapsed,
and he was still without any recognized position whatever, when his
advice was never adopted and his opinions contemptuously set aside by
a man infinitely his inferior, he naturally came to take the worst
view of things, and his fits of depression became more frequent. At
last he fell, not because his house was isolated, for it could have
held out until aid had come, but because the three men whose duty it
was to rescue him--Macnaghten, the Ameer, and Elphinstone--were alike
vacillating, undetermined, and incompetent.
The Ameer was the only one of these three to take any steps. When he
heard of the riot he sent down a regiment of Hindoostanee troops to
rescue Burnes. Instead, however, of marching outside the town to the
end of the street in which Burnes's house was situated, they entered
the city by the nearest gate, and tried to make their way through a
maze of narrow lanes. Their advance was desperately opposed. From every
house and roof a fire of musketry was kept up, and, after losing two
hundred of their number, they fled in utter confusion to the shelter of
the citadel. Elphinstone in his report says that he received the news
at half-past seven that the town was in a ferment, and shortly after
the envoy came and told him that it was in a state of insurrection, but
that he did not think much of it, and expected the revolt would shortly
subside. Macnaghten suggested that Brigadier Shelton's force should
proceed to the Bala Hissar to operate as might seem expedient, while
the remaining force was concentrated in the cantonment, and assistance
if possible sent to Sir Alexander Burnes.
It was not, however, until between nine and ten that Shelton received
his orders; and almost directly afterwards another note arrived telling
him not to move, as the Ameer had objected. To this Shelton replied
that in an insurrection of the city there was no time for indecision,
and recommended the general at once to resolve upon what measures he
would adopt. He was then told to march immediately to the Bala Hissar,
where he would receive further instructions from Macnaghten. Just as
he was marching off, a note came from this officer telling him to halt
for further orders. He sent an engineer to ask the reason for this
order, but the officer was cut down by an Afghan while dismounting
just outside the square where the Ameer was sitting. Soon after this
the military secretary himself came with orders for him to enter the
citadel. When he arrived there, the Ameer asked him who sent him and
what he came there for, and he was forbidden to enter the town. All
that he could do was to cover the retreat of the Ameer's Hindoostanee
troops. In consequence of all these delays, it was twelve o'clock
before Shelton moved into the Bala Hissar, by which time Burnes and his
friends had been murdered and the riot had spread. Houses were burned,
shops sacked, and the families of several British officers massacred.
It is certain that had the slightest energy been shown, and had a small
body of troops been despatched when Burnes's first request for help
arrived, the riot would have been nipped in the bud, for all accounts
agree that for a considerable time not more than three hundred men
took part in the attack, and even when Shelton urged the necessity for
prompt measures Burnes might have been saved. Except in the case of
the rising at Meerut in the Indian Mutiny, never did such disastrous
effects result from the incompetence of a British general.
The day passed slowly to Angus. It was maddening to be helpless when
great events were happening. Until it became quite dark no one came
near them, but at seven o'clock they heard the bolt of the door
withdrawn, and a man entered with a torch, by whose light they at once
recognized Hassan, their guide over the passes.
"You here, Hassan!" Angus exclaimed. "I had always thought of you as
back again in your tower near Bamian. Is it you who has thus made us
prisoners?"
"We were sorry to use force, effendi, but there was no other way. Sadut
Khan charged us to look after your safety, and we have kept you in
sight for some days. He was living in this house in disguise. He was
absent yesterday evening to take part in the conference with the other
chiefs, and did not return until after midnight. Then he said, 'There
will be a tumult in the city to-morrow, Hassan, and probably the house
of the officer Burnes will be attacked. What will come of it I do not
know. I myself and the other chiefs are leaving at once, so that if
things go badly we can disavow any connection with the affair. The
young officer, my friend, is, as you know, at Burnes's house. He must
be rescued. Prepare this room for him. If he leaves the house before
the attack begins, you must seize him and carry him in here. If his
servant is with him, bring him also; he too must be saved. He waited on
me kindly, and did all in his power for me. If he should not leave the
house, then you and your followers must join the mob and keep together,
forcing yourselves to the front, so that you will be the first to enter
the house. Take long cloaks to throw round them, and get them out, even
at the cost of your lives.'
"I told him that it should be done. You saved his life, and you also
saved ours, for we should have been suffocated in the snow-storm had
you not cut your way out and come to our rescue. So it has been done.
We were glad indeed when we saw you come out. Had you not turned down
that lane, I should have come up and accosted you, and, telling you
that I had an important message to deliver to you, should have asked
you to come with me to a quiet spot, where I might deliver it safely.
As it was, directly you turned down, we ran round, and, as you know,
captured you without noise and without being observed by you. You will,
I trust, pardon me for having laid hands on you; but I had orders from
the Khan, who told me that I should have to use force, as he was sure
you would not, however great the danger, he persuaded to leave Burnes."
"What has happened?"
"The Englishman and two others with him have been killed. One of the
Ameer's regiments entered the town, but was driven back. There is
looting going on everywhere. Many have been killed, and many houses
burnt."
"But what is our army doing?"
"Nothing. There is a force at the Bala Hissar, the rest are under arms
in their camp."
"It seems impossible!" Angus exclaimed. "However," he went on, stifling
his indignation for the time, "I have to thank you deeply, Hassan, you
and Sadut Khan, for having saved our lives. Assuredly you took the only
way to do so; for had you only told me of the danger that threatened
Sir Alexander Burnes, I should have returned to warn him and share his
fate, whatever it might be. As it was, I cannot blame myself that I
was absent. I thank you with all my heart. Pray tell the Khan when you
see him that I am deeply grateful to him. He has nobly redeemed his
promise, and I hope some day to thank him in person."
"Now, sahib, we will start at once," Hassan said. "I have clothes for
you to put over your own, and there is no fear of our being suspected.
We will take you to within shot of your camp."
He called out, and his four men entered, bringing with them Afghan
disguises. When these were put on, they sallied out at once. The
five men were fully armed, and long Afghan guns were given to Angus
and Azim. The streets were full of people, for the most part in a
state of wild excitement, though the better class looked grave at the
prospect of the retribution that would probably fall upon the city,
perhaps to-morrow or certainly in a day or two. None paid any attention
to the group, who differed in no respect from the majority of those
around them. Issuing from one of the gates, they made their way to
the cantonments. When within a few hundred yards the Afghans stopped.
After a hearty farewell and renewed thanks, Angus and Azim left them.
They had taken off their disguises, and offered them to Hassan to carry
back, but he said, "You had best keep them; you may want them again.
There is no saying what may happen." And they accordingly carried them
with them.
In a short time they were challenged by a sentry, and halted till the
latter had called a sergeant and four men. Then they went forward.
Angus was recognized at once, as he was known by sight to everyone in
the camp. In a short time they met an officer, who told them the news
of the massacre of Burnes, his brother, and Broadfoot, and their guard,
which was already known, as one man had escaped the general slaughter,
and had, after hiding for some hours, come into the camp. Angus went
at once to Macnaghten's house and sent in his name. The envoy came out
into the hall. "I am glad to see that you have escaped, Mr. Campbell.
I thought that all had perished, though your name is not specially
mentioned as among the victims."
"I was not in the house, sir," Angus replied. "Sir Alexander Burnes had
sent me out to gather information, and I and my servant were suddenly
seized and carried into a house, where we were kept as prisoners all
day. After it was dark we made our escape, having obtained disguises
from a friendly Afghan."
"Well, I am glad," Macnaghten said; "but you must excuse me now, for
the general is here, and we are holding a council. You had better for
to-night take up your quarters in poor Burnes's tent. I shall have time
to attend to matters to-morrow."
Although Burnes had his residence in the city, he had a large tent not
far from the envoy's house. This he occupied when he had business in
camp, and it was here that he received natives who brought him news, or
who had grievances that they wished to report to him. Here Angus lay
down for the night, with a deep feeling of thankfulness that his life
had been spared, mingled with a foreboding that the troubles had only
begun, and that there was yet much peril in store before the army were
safely out of Afghanistan.
In the morning Angus again went up to the envoy's. "I have been
thinking, Mr. Campbell," Macnaghten said when he entered, "as far as I
have been able to think on any one subject, how your services can be
best utilized temporarily. I think that, if you would not mind, you
might be attached to the commissariat, and assist Captain Boyd and
Captain Johnson."
"I will gladly do so, sir," Angus said. "I will take up the work at
once."
"Anticipating your consent, I have already written a letter for you to
take to those officers."
Glad to have work before him, Angus went at once to the commissariat
camp. The two officers were at breakfast. Both rose and congratulated
him heartily on his escape. "How on earth did you manage it?"
He gave as brief an account as he had done to Sir William Macnaghten,
and then handed them the letter he had received from the envoy. "That
is good news," Captain Johnson said heartily. "We shall be glad indeed
to have your aid. I will have a tent pitched for you at once by the
side of ours. Of course you have not breakfasted. Sit down with us.
What do you think of the state of affairs? You know a good deal more
than we do of the disposition of the Afghan chiefs."
"I think things look very bad," Angus said gravely. "After what seems
to me the imbecility shown yesterday, to which the death of my chief is
due, it is impossible to feel anything like confidence in the general."
"That is the universal feeling in camp," Captain Johnson said. "If we
had Sale here I believe everything would go right, but poor Elphinstone
is only fit for a snug armchair in a comfortable club. He is no more
able to cope with a crisis like this than an old woman would be. In
fact, for choice I would take the average old woman.
"Orders have been given for an attack upon the town to-day, but it is
more than likely that it will be countermanded. If Elphinstone can make
up his mind to throw his whole force, with the exception of a strong
camp guard, against the city, we should certainly carry it. No doubt
there might be a considerable loss of life, but that could not be
helped. It would certainly be successful. Then I should say we ought to
turn the whole of the Afghan population out of the town, move all our
provisions and stores there, and settle down for the winter. We could
beat off any attack that the Afghans could make against us. As it is,
we are terribly anxious about the stores. You know that I originally
established all the magazines for the Ameer's army in the Bala Hissar.
Then Macnaghten came up with the Ameer from Jellalabad, and he told
me that the Ameer objected to the magazines being there. That was
quite enough for Macnaghten. He always gives in to the Ameer's wishes,
however ridiculous. So we had to leave the storehouses I had built and
move out bag and baggage.
"The only place that I could get was the camel sheds half-way between
this and the town, and unless a strong garrison is sent down there the
Afghans are certain to take possession of them. But Boyd's stores are
even more important. They are within four hundred yards of the defences
of the camp, and contain all our grain, our hospital stores, our wine
and beer, our sugar, and everything else. And if his stores and mine
are both lost, we shall have starvation staring us in the face at the
end of a week. Just look out over the plain. Since daylight there has
been a steady stream of men from the hills, and from all the villages
round, flocking into the city; they have heard of the capture of my
treasury, and are eager to share in the looting. If they succeed in
capturing the stores and provisions, God help us all."