CHAPTER XLIX.

Massacre of the Embassy--The Kabul Field Force --Lord Lytton's foresightedness--Start for Kabul --Letter to the Amir --Proclamation to the people of Kabul --Yakub Khan's agents --Reasons for remaining at Alikhel

Hector Macdonald and Sher Mahomed--Yakub Khan --A Proclamation and an Order --The _maliks_ of Logar--Attack on the Shutargardan --Reconnoitring roads leading to Kabul

The Afghan position--The fight at Charasia --Highlanders, Gurkhas, and Punjabis --Defeat of the Afghans--Kabul in sight --Deh-i-Mazang gorge--The enemy give us the slip

Guiding instructions--Visit to the Bala Hissar --Yakub Khan abdicates--The Proclamation --Administrative measures --Explosions in the Bala Hissar

Afghans afraid to befriend us--Kabul Russianized --Yakub Khan's abdication accepted --State treasury taken over

The amnesty Proclamation --Strength of the Kabul Field Force --Yakub Khan despatched to India