Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎173r] (35/174)

1870. ]
77
ARRANGEMENTS FOR SECURITY OF KHYBER PASS.
CHAPTER YI.
From the TJMalla Meeting to the close o/ 1 1869.
This Chapter comprises the following sections, in some of which, for the
sake of convenience, the narration of events is carried on to the middle of 1871:
Section I. —The Ameer’s arrangements for providing for the security of
the Khyber Pass.
Section II.—Arrangements connected with the internal administration.
Section III.—lie-organization of the Army.
Section IY.—Miscellaneous occurrences.
Section Y.—Events in Toorkistan.
Section I .—The Ameer’s arrangements for providing for the security of the
Khyher Fass.
A person mentioned here for the first time I- believe.
Probably a Wuzeer of Dost Mahomed.
377. On the 28th April the Ameer was at Jellalabad on his return from
the Umballa Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , and while there, he
married the daughter of the late Wuzeer
Nizam-ood-dowla.* The Mulliks of the
with a petition for the restoration of this allow-
refrain from highway robberies. They promised
the Pass should he unmolested, and the Ameer
promisedf them their allowances as of
old, conditionally on two or three caravans
without hindrance.
Khyber tribes waited on him
ance. He exhorted them to
that communication through
f Diary ending May 3rd.
passing backward and forward
378. The sequel of the arrangements made for the better security of the
Khyber Pass may be told at once.
On the 7th June information was received from Meer Akhor Ahmed
Khan, Governor of Jellalabad, that he had sent the chief Mulliks of the
Khyber Pass to the Arbabs (heads of Guilds) at Peshawur, in order to encourage
merchants to come through the Pass, and that, in consequence, traffic had
already begun, though in a timid, hesitating manner. The Ameer instructed
him, in reply, to take hostages from the Khyberees and keep them at Jellalabad;
and when Shahmurd Khan, who had been sent to bring up the guns presented
by the Yiceroy, was, on his return, to go himself to the Pass and complete the
arrangements for safe communication through it.
379. On the 29th July a report was received from Meer Akhor that the
Khyberees had plundered the Ameer’s own stores as they were passing through,
and that they had been ransomed by the payment of Us. 3,000. The Ameer,
who had too much on his hands in Toorkistan, said he must reserve their punish
ment till the winter.
380. In the end, however, instead of a punitory expedition, conciliatory
measures were again tried.
Meer Akhor, on the 26th September, brought into Cabul the influential
men among the Khyberees for the purpose of getting some arrangement made
with the tribes. In the diary of the 25th October 1869 there is the following
entry:
“ The Khyber Mulliks have been some days at Cabul, but no positive arrangements have yet
been made with them. The Ameer intends to grant them an annual allowance of Rs. 40,000,
instead of the Rs. 26,000 formerly granted, and to entertain Jezailchees for thannahs in Loondee
Khana, Ali Musjid, Shaddee Buggiaree, &c., to grant passports, and to tax goods, and to hold
the Khyberees answerable for the security of life and property of all travellers. The Ameei
has emphatically directed Meer Akhor Ahmed Khan, Governor of Jellalabad, to carry the
above proposals into effect, and to open a road as soon as possible from Loondee Khana to
Peshbulak towards Jellalabad, in order to relieve caravans from the injuries and extortions o
the Mohmund tribe/'’