236 
ENGLAND IN TIIE NINETERNTH CENTURY, 
asked for peace, gave guarantees, and received a British envoy 
as a permanent resident in his capital. But this weak prince 
was totally unable to control his wild subjects, who rose in 
arms, murdered the envoy, Sir Louis Cavagnari, and all his 
escort, and proclaimed the “holy war” (Jehad) against the 
British infidels. Lord Lytton was obliged to launch his armies 
for a second time against Afghanistan. Roberts again marched 
on Cabul, and occupied it after the battle of Charasia, but was 
soon beset by a vast horde of insurgents who beleaguered him 
in his camp. He drove them off, however, and was completely 
triumphant long before reinforcements reached him from India, 
But matters went worse in the south, where the pretender 
Eyub Khan defeated at Maiwand the garrison of Candahar, 
Battle of and formed the siege of that city. It was saved, 
Maiwand-—-—- When in very evil plight, by the rapid march of 
Relief of Roberts from Cabul: in twenty-three days he 
Candahar. . . 
crossed the mountainous lands which separate 
northern and southern Afghanistan without the loss of a man. 
Falling on the besiegers, he scattered them at the battle of 
Candahar (September 1, 1880), and practically finished the war 
at a single blow. Lord Lytton would have liked to annex 
much of the conquered territory, but Mr. Gladstone was now in 
power at home, and the warlike viceroy was recalled, The 
Liberal Government withdrew our troops, after recognizing as 
ameer Abdur Rahman, a nephew of the late ruler, Shere Ali. 
He has, on the whole, proved a good neighbour to India, and 
kept faithfully the pledges which he made in 1880, 
"Ihe next important movement in our Indian Empire was on 
the flank furthest from Afghanistan. "The kings of Burmah had 
Final always been vexatious neighbours, and in 1885 
annexation we were drawn into war with T’heebaw, a despot 
of Burmalı. „po had massacred all his relatives and entered 
into intrigues with France. His worthless army was scattered 
with ease, and his whole dominion annexed; but the sup- 
pression of the brigandage (Zacoify) which had always prevailed