372 
ROUTE OF THE RUSSIANS TO INDIA. 
From this position, in the event of a quarrel 
with England, by demanding a passage for 
troops, assembling soldiers, and making a 
a shew of invasion, Russia would threaten 
our possessions, and oblige us to make pre- 
parations against her, besides keeping em- 
bassies in the neighbouring states.” 
Col. Monteith, however, does not think 
that Russia for some years would be able to 
make any serious attempt or permanent 
impression, “ except through our own 
negligence Most true ; but where is the 
political observer in India who would say 
that British policy has been anything else 
than downright negligence ? 
“The aid of Russia would without doubt be 
eagerly courted by the different families now 
disputing the possession of Afghanistan, and 
repelling the Seiks ; or Persia would be happy 
to avail herself of their aid to recover Herat, 
and her former possessions in Khorasan. 
But it is useless speculating on the probable 
conduct of a state, which has every chance 
of falling into anarchy, and being incapable 
of any efficient external exertion. Civil war 
may bring forward some bold and able chief, 
like Nadir Shah, who will soon change the 
political state of his country.” 
The present state of affairs in Persia 
will now induce our readers to look 
upon the foregoing as a striking illus- 
tration of the position we have taken 
up ; and we will venture to say that Col. 
Monteith himself will look upon the state 
of affairs in that country as most inimical 
to British security. With respect, however, 
to any enterprize of Russia, either actually 
to invade or to threaten our possessions, Col. 
Monteith observes that 
“ The route by Tartary is, in my opinion, 
preferable. The line of her operations can be 
secured, from Orenburg to the banks of the 
Oxus, by her own Tartar subjects ; she can 
convey the necessary stores and supplies the 
greatest part of the way by water, with the 
same facility we ascend the Ganges, or great- 
er, as the current in the former river is less 
rapid than in the latter. Her army will be 
perfectly free from all fears regarding the 
conduct of Persia, where the most trifling- 
circumstance might bring on a rupture with 
the tribes who care but little for the royal 
authority, and which no precaution can al- 
ways prevent. The length of the march 
would most materially be diminished, and 
the extent of desert to pass not much increas- 
ed. One flank of the army will be covered 
by the double barrier of a great river and 
considerable desert ; and the force which un- 
der all circumstances she must leave at Khiva 
wmuld suffciently protect her against any 
attempts of Persia, even if she M’ere inclined 
to oppose the enterprise ; in fact she could 
have nothing whatever to do with that king- 
dom. 
On ascending the Amoo, or Oxus, to the point 
nearest Balk, a considerable corps must be 
established in an entrenched position, and the 
real land journey commenced, entirely through 
the countries subject to the Afghans. Their 
own vast empire, and the parts of Tartary 
through which they will have passed, abound 
in camels, horses, and other cattle, so no 
difficulty need be anticipated regarding car- 
riage. Balk is a considerable province where 
provisions would be obtained, and the coun- 
try between it and Cabul, with the exception 
of the Hindu Cush, is partially cultivated, 
and generally travelled by caravans and nu- 
merous bodies of people.” 
Here commence difficulties, but our 
author proves them to be imaginary. He 
acknowledges that they might have been 
deemed insurmountable, had we not seen 
Nadir Shah overcome them with the great- 
est ease, and in a short space of time, even 
when the Afghan monarchy was in its pow- 
er. The actual state of the country, there- 
fore, in our author’s opinion, favors the en- 
terprize. 
“ Herat, and the principal part of the great 
tribe of Dooraney, still adhere to Kamraun 
Mirza, or any other member of the Soddozye 
branch, whilst Candahar, and the principal of 
the other provinces, are held by Boost Mo- 
hamed Khan, chief of the Baurikzyes divi- 
sion of the same tribe (Dooraney). He again, 
is pressedon his eastern frontier by the Seiks. 
It appears to me, negotiation could hardly fail 
to gain the assistance of one or other of these 
chiefs. By the aid of her army the Afghans 
would probable soon recover all they have 
lost by their internal dissensions, and it 
woufd be equally certain of crushing the oppo- 
site faction. So supported their march to 
the Indus appears to me, though difficult, not 
doubtful.” 
Let then those, who sleep in their suppos- 
ed secure permanent Indian possessions, 
w-eigh well the opinion of one whose long 
residence in Persia and familiar acquaint- 
ance with the principal authorities in that 
country entitle it to respect ; and say 
whether the present system of government 
is calculated at this moment to meet the 
incursion of such a powerful enemy. 
“In forming an opinion of the probable 
result of the approach of an army, by the 
route I have mentioned, it is necessary to 
take into particular consideration, not only 
the political relations which exist between 
the Afghans and their neighbours, but also 
the peculiar formation of their government, 
which materially differs from that of the 
surrounding countries. The great tribes of 
Afghanistan more resemble an alliance of 
