EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

dacoits were committing deeds of amazing foolhardiness
and courage in order to steal grain and food. Ricks
were plundered within sight and sound of the Govern-
ment troops. Discontent was growing, and the Army
was still further in arrears with their pay.

It. was not till half-way through October, however,
that the tide of discontent broke. Even then it was
but a small section of the oppressed community that
dared show their restiveness. Within a few miles of the
Telegraph Office where I had slept the night, the tension
broke. A few score men of the tribe of Shinwaris, most
conservative, backward, and brave of the tribal races,
broke into rebellion against the tax-collectors, routed
a small force of Government troops sent to coerce them,
and declared themselves openly against Amanullah.

The news did not get across the Border. Amanullah
had had minor troubles before, and could easily instruct
his agents abroad to depict this as a small rising due to
inter-communal disagreements and blood feuds. He
did not even take the trouble at first to quash the
rebellion. He despatched a small detachment of troops
to arrest the leaders, and dropped leaflets from aero-
planes on the surrounding villages, warning the hillmen
of the penalties of disorder and resistance.

It is even doubtful whether Amanullah himself saw
the portent of this trouble. He did not, at any rate,
bother to prepare for a spread of the dissension. He
determined to crush the spirit of his people by a further
show of force. The drastic programme continued, the
taxes still came into the Treasury, wrung from starving
peasants.

The legations in London and in India continued to
issue boastful and optimistic communiques to the Press.
All was well, they said, Amazing progress had been
made. With care and tact, the Afghan nation was

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