text: "] The unsuccessful issue of this mission pretty clearly proved that notwithstanding the dread of the British power entertained by the Abdalli chiefs their reluctance to part with their town would not be easily overcome by peaceable means: while the Governor-general (then busily engaged at Simla in forwarding the preparations for the ill-fated invasion of Affghanistan) still declined in despite of a renewed application from Bombay to give any special sanction to ulterior measures--"a question on which"--in the words of the despatch--"her Majesty's Government is rather called upon to pronounce judgment than the supreme government of India