‘The Durbar-Khaneh of Shah Shoojah-ool-Moolk, at Cabaul [sic]’, c.1840 (lithograph, tinted)

‘The Durbar-Khaneh of Shah Shoojah-ool-Moolk, at Cabaul [sic]’, 1840 (c). Tinted lithograph from ‘Sketches in Afghanistan', 1838-1842. By Louis and Charles Haghe after James Atkinson, published by Henry Graves and Company and J W Allen and Company, 1 July 1842. After Dost Mohammed had received a Russian envoy to Kabul, Lord Auckland, the Governor-General of India, took the decision to replace him as Emir with a former ruler, Shah Shuja, who was considered to be more pro-British. In spring 1839 a 12,000 strong British-Indian force, the Army of the Indus under Sir John Keane, forced the Bolan Pass and captured Kandahar without a fight. Soon after the fortress of Ghazni was seized. Dost Mohammed fled from Kabul and Shah Shuja was duly installed as Emir in August. He is shown here receiving an assembly of Khans and Officers of State at the Durbar-Khana (official meeting-hall) in the Bala Hissar fortress.