, of course, be
forced to continue to reign at Kabul against his will, but that I
would ask him to retain his title until I could receive a reply from
Simla.

At noon I proceeded to the Bala Hissar, accompanied by my staff, the
Heir-Apparent, the Ministers, and a large gathering of the chief
Sirdars of Kabul. Both sides of the road were lined with troops, of
whom I felt not a little proud that day. Notwithstanding that the duty
required of them had been severe and continuous, now that they were
required to take part in a ceremonial parade, they turned out as clean
and smart as one could wish to see them.

As the head of the procession entered the main gateway, the British
flag was run up, the bands played the National Anthem, and a salute of
thirty-one guns was fired.

On arriving at the public Hall of Audience, I dismounted, and
ascending the steps leading to it, I addressed the assembled
multitude, and read to them the following Proclamation, containing the
orders of the British Government:

'In my Proclamation dated the 3rd October, I informed the people
of Kabul that a British army was advancing to take possession of
the city, and I warned them against offering any resistance to the
entry of the troops and the authority of His Highness the Amir.
That warning has been disregarded. The force under my command has
now reached Kabul and occupied the Bala Hissar, but its advance
has been pertinaciously opposed, and the inhabitants of the city
have taken a conspicuous part in the opposition offered. They have
therefore become rebels against His Highness the Amir, and have
added to the guilt already incurred by them in abetting the
murder of the British Envoy and his companions--a treacherous and
cowardly crime which has brought indelible disgrace upon the
Afghan people. It would be but a just and fitting reward for such
misdeeds if the city of Kabul were now totally destroyed and its
very name blotted out; but the great British Government ever
desires to temper justice with mercy, and I now announce to the
inhabitants of Kabul that the full retribution for their offence
will not be exacted, and that the city will be spared.

'Nevertheless, it is necessary that they should not escape all
penalty, and, further, that the punishment inflicted should be
such as will be felt and remembered. Therefore, such portions
of the city building