As we expected, Shere Ali has determined to fight, rather
than give up his independence. The necessity of a decision before the winter seems to have hurried Lord Lytton, and on September 21st, Sir Neville Chamberlain, with an immense retinue of 1,000 persons, reached Jumrood, the entrance to the Khyber. Thence Major Cavagnari rode forward to All Musjeed, the first Afghan fort in the Khyber Pass, to demand permission to proceed. This was refused by the Afghan officer in command, who had two days before received special instructions, and who threatened to resort to force. The responsibility of the Ameer was fully explained to him, but he remained firm, exhibited his force on the hills, and according to a Times' telegram, told Major Cavagnari that but for personal friendship for him he would shoot him dead,—probably a misreport of some incident in the conversation. As the Ameer's decision was clear, Sir Neville withdrew his Mission, which was at once broken up by order of the Viceroy, the Envoy returning to Madras.
