POLICY OF DOST MAHOMED KHAN. 295 of the same race out of his city ; but, in justice to the character of the prince, it must not be omitted to be stated that these measures were in all probability under- taken for the sake of self-preservation. A conspiracy against Prince Kamran was known to exist in Herat, which had originated with the Persian inhabitants of that place, many of whom had agreed to rebel against him whenever the army of Mahomed Shah should appear before the city. With reference to his declaration of war, the Shah observed at a public levee, that since the English Government thought itself justified in following up the interests of each individual merchant, he was surely within the limits of his rights in taking measures to prevent his subjects from being carried into captivity or driven from their homes by the Turkomans. At this time Dost Mahomed Khan of Cabul was endeavouring to establish his uncertain power by making suitable foreign alliances. His dethroned rival, Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk, was a pensioner in the British dominions in India, and he was endeavouring to enlist the Indian Government in a scheme for the recovery of his kingdom. His proposals were not accepted, but he at length con- trived to obtain an advance of the pension which he was receiving. If this indulgence be considered together with the fact that the Indian Government was well aware of the purpose to which the money so advanced would be applied, and that it took no steps to prevent its pensioner from preparing a warlike expedition against Dost Mahomed ; the latter chief will not be judged to have been without grounds for believing that the British Government of India was hostile to his interests. He consequently determined to seek the alliance of
