" Reuter " is usually trustworthy and well-informed; but the
Reuter" telegrams about Afghan affairs suggest to Anglo. Indians not only that the agent at Bombay believes native rumour too easily, but that his informants wish for disturbances. The message of September 26th, however, about Ayoub Khan looks primi facie true. According to this, the Afghan Pretender on September 12th entered Northern Beloochietan, which is just what he would do if he wanted to quit Persia, avoid entering Afghanistan, and yet open easy communica- tions with his devoted partisans in Candahar. There he was joined by Abdullah Khan Brijandi, who, with a force of two thousand men, bad deserted from the Cabalee Army. It is not at all likely that this story is baseless ; but it is just possible that the reference to Abdullah Khan's command is made only to indicate his rank, and that he reached Beloochistan alone. If his soldiers are with him, Can. clahar may be considered lost to the Ameer, unless, indeed, the Khan of Khelat, a man of splendid energy and a habit of -violence, should succeed, by some desperate march, in arresting his guest. He will not like doing it, however, and his nobles on the spot may not be either as British or as resolute as himself.
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