James Atkinson, doctor, journalist and artist of the Afghan Campaign, became superintendent of the Government Gazette in 1818, and of the Press from 1823. In 1833, he became surgeon to the 55th native Infantry and between 1838 and 1841 served in Kabul. The present sketches are original drawings made by Atkinson on the spot and relate to his publications Sketches in Afghanistan and The Expedition into Afghanistan. The drawings are inscribed with references to the artist’ journal, and the artist’s notes explain where in his planned publication the various illustrations should appear. Clearly Atkinson intended many more drawings to be published than in fact appeared. His sketches in fact contain 25 drawings plus the original frontispiece (the original drawing for which is in this collection); 16 of the remaining original drawings are in the India Office Library. At the time when Atkinson was travelling Afghanistan was a little-known country. Atkinson took drawing lessons from the artist George Chinnery. He probably first met Chinnery in 1805 when he was appointed assistant surgeon at Backergunge, to the south of Dhaka, soon after Chinnery was in Dhaka from 1808. His wife became a student of the artist and Atkinson himself is known to have executed a number of copies after Chinnery in addition to his own original watercolours. The career of this ill-fated Monarch has been one of vicissitudes unparalleled in the modern history of Asiatic Princes. Defeated in his first attempt to mount the throne of his ancestors and forced to seek refuge among the Khyber tribes, he there collected troops which enabled him to drive his rival from Cabul, and secure the object of his ambition. After a precarious tenure of a few years, during which time the mission of the Honourable M. Elphinstone visited his Court, he was again overpowered and necessitated to seek the doubtful aid of the Sikh Chieftain Runjeet Sing. Subjected to many indignities by that wily potentate, he only escaped from confinement at Lahore, by creeping through the public drain of the city. Obtaining an asylum and pension for himself and relatives in the British station of Loodiana, he not long afterwards failed in an attempt to take Peshawur. The interval of fifteen years, subsequent to this disaster, he passed in repose in the bosom of his family, but in 1833he was once more in arms. Ill fortune still attended him, and he fled from Candahar before the victorious troops of Dost Mahomed, to seek protection, after an eventful campaign of two years at his former quarters in India. In 1838, the policy of the British Government inducing it to espouse his cause, opened once more the prospect of sovereignty to him, or, as he emphatically expressed it, “enabled him, before he died, again to see Cabul.” Although conscious of the unpopularity of the means employed to recover his kingdom, he was unable to remedy his position. His endeavours to conciliate his subjects, and, at the same time, act with fidelity to his allies, rendered him but an object of hatred to the one and suspicion to the other. His conduct during the late insurrection has been much commented on, but whatever may have been his errors, his fate is deserving of sympathy. Early this year he was induced, by the representations of the Chiefs, to quit the protection of the fortress of the Bala Hissar, and pitch his tents outside Cabul. When proceeding to the camp at Seeah Sung, he was waylaid and shot by a party of matchlock men under Shoojau Dowla, eldest son of Nuwab Zuman Khan, in revenge, it is said, for having instigated one of his followers to attempt to assassinate Ukbar Khan at the time he was besieging Jellalabad. It is worthy of remark, that the King was present at the birth of his murderer, on whom, in compliment to the parents, he conferred his own name. he often received his European visitors in a standing posture, and at such times used a staff of antelope’s horn to lean on as a support. His “Choga”, or outer garment, hanging loose over his shoulders, is ornamented with jewels at the loops – a slit is made on one side for the end of his dagger to pass through. From the corners of his cap of black velvet hang emerald pendants. The expression of his countenance is grave and care-worn, and frequent exposure to the weather had given a dark hue to his complexion.(1) Shah Soojah’s ancestors commenced with Ahmed Shah. Nadir Shah the celebrated conqueror was assassinated in 1747, upon which Abdullah Ahmed Khan proclaimed himself king, under the name of Ahmed Shah; his son, Tymoor Shah, succeeding him in 1773, and in 1793, he died, and the government was then broken up. Shah Zemaun, the son of Tymoor, mounted the throne of Caubul, whilst Humayoon seized upon Candahar; Abbass on Peshawer, and Hajee Feroz-oo-deen, and Mahmood on Herat, all sons of Tymoor, by different mothers. Political rivalry then sprung up, and Shah Zemaun dispossessed Humayon of Candahar, took him prisoner, and cruelly put out his eyes. He also seized upon Peshawer , and compelled Abbas to relinquish, and placed him in confinement. A conspiracy amongst the nobles and chiefs at Candahar then existed, and terminated by dethroning Shah Zemaun, and placing his brother Shah Soojah-oo-Moolk on the throne.(2) 1. James Atkinson, Captain Lockyer Willis Hart, The Character and Costume of Afghaunistan, lithographed by Charles Haghe, 1843, description of plate X 2. J. Atkinson, Sketches in Afghaunistan, description of plate 25
J. Atkinson, Sketches in Afghaunistan, lithographed by Louis and Charles Haghe, published by Henry Graves & Company, London 1842, plate 25