ABDURRAHMAN'S POLICY. 489 GENERAL SIR WM. I.OCKHART (iN THE FOREGROUND) AND I.OKI) MhlJlUEN ON BOARD THE "CHINA" ON THEIR WAY TO INDIA.

had other objects than the mere reduction of the tribes. It may have been meant also as a warningto the Amir of Afghanistan and his fighting general, Hyder Gholam Khan. AnAfghan armylay camped on the border of the Mohmund country, and the mullahs boasted that Afghan regularshad fought under their leadershipto the frontier raids.

In August the Indian Government had addressed a strong letter to the Amir, calling on him to take measures to prevent his subjects from aiding the hostile tribesmen. Abdurrahman's policy in these first weeks of the rising is anything but clear. Certain it is that it was not till near the end of September that he publicly disavowed the attempt of the mullahs to represent the rising against the British as the Jehad or Holy War with the Infidel, of which the Amir himself had written as oneof the good and virtuous practices of the True Believers of Islam. Once, however, he had made up his mind,he actedvigorously. The Afridi envoys were sent away from Cabul after being soundby rated for their impertinence in seeking the Afghan alliance,andHyder Gholam was instructed to close the frontier against refugees from British territory. It is quite possible that the Government, in putting rn enormousarmyin motionon the border,wasnot sorry- to have the opportunity of showing the Afghans the folly of challenging a quarrel with the rulers of India.