He was also worried by the slow response from his future subjects to his letters entreating them to rally to his standard. Ever since Macnaghten had informed him of the plan to reinstate him, Shuja had been engaged in an energetic correspondence with the different tribal leaders of his old dominions, inviting them “in accordance with their family traditions to come forward and offer allegiance, and have their ancient rights and lands confirmed in perpetuity.” But the response had been a deafening silence, except from some of the Ghilzai and the Khyber chiefs, who had replied asking him to send
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