of the British force should be
delayed, in order that the Amir may have time to gain over the Herat
and Turkestan troops.

GENERAL ROBERTS replied: All these reasons will have full
consideration. The Viceroy's first order was to push on at once to
help the Amir; but I am sure His Highness's advice is friendly, and
that in any case he will do his utmost to co-operate with the British
Government. Therefore every consideration will be given to what His
Highness has desired you to say.

The MUSTAUFI: The Viceroy may be sure the Amir will do what he
pleases.

The WAZIR: When the Amir learnt from General Roberts's letter that the
Viceroy had given General Roberts power to deal with the whole matter,
he was very pleased, knowing General Roberts's character as a soldier
and his kindness of heart.

GENERAL ROBERTS replied that he would carefully consider the proposals
brought forward, and give an answer later on. Meanwhile, he must
request the Agents to stay a day or two in camp until he should
have thoroughly weighed the Amir's advice, which was of the utmost
importance to both the British and Afghan Governments.

The interview then came to an end.

(Signed) H. M. DURAND,
Political Secretary to General Roberts, K.C.B., V.C.,
Commanding Kabul Field Force.

[Footnote 1: The Agents here seemed surprised and anxious.--H.M.D.]

* * * * *

APPENDIX VI.

(Referred to in Chapter LIII, Footnote 3.)

_From LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR F. ROBERTS, K.C.B., V.C., Commanding
Kabul Field Force, to A.C. LYALL, ESQ., C.B., Secretary to the
Government of India, Foreign Department._

KABUL, _22nd November,_ 1879.

1. I Have the honour to submit a brief account of an interview
which took place between the Amir Yakub Khan and myself on the
22nd October. The interview was a private and informal one; but
recent events have lent some interest to what passed on the
occasion, and I have, therefore, thought it desirable that
a report should be prepared for the information of the
Governor-General in Council.

2. After some conversation upon matters of no special importance,
the Amir introduced his father's name, and thus gave me the
opportunity I had often wished to have of leading him on to speak
naturally and unconstrainedly about Sher Ali Khan's feelings and
policy during the last ten years. I was most careful to avoid any
expre