ry to attack it. This necessity,
however, I was most anxious to avoid, and earnestly hoped that
our fighting would be over before we entered Kabul, for I had not
forgotten Delhi, and I dreaded the idea of the troops having to force
their way through narrow streets and crowded bazaars.

Yakub Khan was evidently much chagrined at my decision. He had left
Kabul hurriedly, his movements probably being hastened by hearing that
his uncle, Wali Mahomed Khan, and several other Sirdars with whom he
was at enmity, were on their way to join me. He had not even brought
a tent with him, and, had he succeeded in inducing me to delay our
advance, he would without doubt have returned to Kabul at once. As it
was, he was accommodated with a tent in the centre of the camp, and
the best arrangements possible, under the circumstances, made for his
entertainment.

When his own tents arrived, he asked leave to have them pitched
outside camp limits. To this I consented, at the same time ordering
that a guard of the same strength as my own should be detailed as his
escort, ostensibly to do him honour, but in reality that I might
be kept informed as to his movements. Unwelcome guest as he was, I
thought the least of two evils was to keep him now that we had got
him, as his presence in Kabul would be sure to increase the opposition
I felt certain we should encounter.

In response to the fears expressed by the Amir as to the safety of the
non-combatants, I issued the following Proclamation to the people of
Kabul:

'Be it known to all that the British Army is advancing on Kabul to
take possession of the city. If it be allowed to do so peacefully,
well and good; if not, the city will be seized by force.
Therefore, all well-disposed persons, who have taken no part in
the dastardly murder of the British Envoy, or in the plunder of
the Residency, are warned that, if they are unable to prevent
resistance being offered to the entrance of the British army, and
the authority of His Highness the Amir, they should make immediate
arrangements for their own safety, either by coming to the British
camp, or by such other measures as may seem fit to them. And as
the British Government does not make war on women and children,
warning is given that all women and children should be removed
from the city beyond the reach of harm. The British Government
desires to treat all classes with justice, and to respe