Printed copies of correspondence relating to relations between the British Government and Khelat [Kalāt] state

Content

Correspondence between Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind; Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind; Captain Charles Henry Harrison, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Khelat [Kalāt]; Captain Robert Sandeman, Deputy Commissioner, Dehra Ghazee Khan [Dera Ghāzi Khān]; His Highness Mir Khudadad Khan, Khan of Khelat; and the Government at Bombay regarding affairs in Khelat 1869-1870 and relations between the British Officials responsible for maintaining friendly relations with the Khan.

The correspondence focuses primarily on Colonel Robert Phayre and his opinions of both the intentions of the Khan of Khelat during the period November 1869 to September 1870 and the actions of Captain Charles Henry Harrison, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Khelat during this time with responses to his letters from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, to whom Colonel Phayre reported, in which Colonel Merewether attempts to correct Colonel Phayre's views and opinions on Khelat affairs.

Particular matters focused on in the correspondence include the Khan's governance of his own state; relations with his Chief's and Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. ; correspondence with individuals from Seistan [Sīstān]; and his use of the title Khan of Beloochistan [Baluchistan].

Also included in the correspondence are matters relating to Captain Robert Sandeman who had taken up correspondence with Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Moollah Mahomed Raisanee [ Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Mullah Mohammed Raisani] despites orders from Colonel Merewether that no British official should have any sort of contact or communication with him and his people, and the difficulties that this correspondence caused for both the Khan of Khelat and the relations between him and the British Government.

The correspondence with the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. relates solely to Colonel Merewether's concerns over Colonel Phayre's actions and opinions and his treatment of Captain Harrison.

Extent and format

1 file, 36 items (156 folios)

It is grouped into

Letter No.1579 of 1869 from Colonel Robert Phayre, C.B., Political Superintendent on the Frontier of Upper Sind, Jacobabad to Sir William Lockyer Merewether, the Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karachi]

5 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 1-3

Letter No.785 of 1869 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner in Sind, Commissioner's Office, Camp Mora to Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Upper Sind Frontier

8 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 3v-7

Letter No.1725 of 1869 from Colonel Robert Phayre, the Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad, to Sir William Lockyer Merewether, the Commissioner in Sind

68 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 7v-41

Letter No.825 of 1869 from Sir William Lockyer Merewether, the Commissioner in Sind, Commissioner's Office, Camp Kanhur to Colonel Robert Phayre, the Political Superintendent, Upper Sind Frontier

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 41v

Letter No.57 of 1869 from Captain Charles Henry Harrison, Political Agent, Kelat, at Jacobabad to Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind

5 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 42-44

Letter No.1839 of 1869 from Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to Sir William Lockyer Merewether, the Commissioner in Sind

5 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 44v-46

Letter No.1828 of 1869 from Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to Sir William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind

14 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 47-53

Letter No.52 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner's Office, Camp the Tanda to His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, G.C.S.I., Governor and President in Council, Bombay

28 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 54-67

Letter No.528 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karachi] to His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, G.C.S.I., Governor and President in Council, Bombay

24 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 68-79

Letter No.159 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner in Sind, Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karachi] to His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, G.C.S.I., Governor and President in Council, Bombay

16 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 80-87

Letter No.523 of 1870 from William Lockyer Merewether, Colonel, Commissioner in Sind, Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karachi] to His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, G.C.S.I., Governor and President in Council, Bombay

18 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 88-96

Letter No.1120 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi]

6 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 97-99

Letter No.519 of 1870 from William Lockyer Merewether, Colonel, The Commissioner in Sind, Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind

8 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 100-103

Letter from Captain Charles Henry Harrison, Political Agent, Khelat [Kalāt] and Beloochistan [Baluchistan] to Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind

9 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 104-108

Letter from William Lockyer Merewether, Colonel Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi], to His Highness Meer Khodadad Khan [Mir Khudadad Khan], Khan of Khelat [Kalāt]

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 108

Letter from Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi]

9 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 109-113

Rough sketch of the neighbourhood of Sistan

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 113v

Letter from Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to Captain Charles Henry Harrison, Political Agent, Khelat [Kalāt]

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 114

Letter from William Lockyer Merewether, Colonel, The Commissioner in Sind, Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind

4 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 115-116

Letter No.514 of 1870 from William Lockyer Merewether, Colonel, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to the Government of Bombay

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 117

Letter No.1154 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi]

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 118

Letter No.522 of 1870 from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre, the Political Superintendent, Upper Sind Frontier

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 119

Letter No.1167 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi]

6 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 120-122

Letter No.1167 of 1870 from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 123

Letter No.555 of 1870 from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to The Government at Bombay

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 124

Letter No.596 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, Governor and President in Council, Bombay

34 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 125-141

Letter No.585 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 142

Letter from William Lockyer Merewether, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre

3 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 142-143

Letter from William Lockyer Merewether, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 143

Letter No.1248 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to William Lockyer Merewether, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi]

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 144v-145

Letter No.594 of 1870 from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Upper Sind Frontier

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 145v

Letter No.1199 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, The Political Superintendent, Upper Sind Frontier, Jacobabad to Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi]

4 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 146-147

Letter No.552 of 1870 from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to the Government at Bombay

3 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 147v-148

Letter No.1212 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind to Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi]

6 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 149-151

Letter No.539 of 1870 from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 152

Letter No.1218 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi]

6 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, ff 153-155

Letter No.557 of 1870 from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] to Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/22, f 156

Arrangement

The correspondence has been compiled and printed chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The file has been foliated using a pencil number enclosed in a circle located in the top right hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Mss Eur F126/22

History of this record

Date(s)

8 Nov 1869-16 Sep 1870 (CE, Gregorian)

Places

KhelatSeistan

People & organisations

Political Superintendent, Upper Sind Frontier DistrictKhan of Kalāt, rulers of KalātPolitical Agent, KhelatCommissioner, SindCharles Henry Harrison

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Printed copies of correspondence relating to relations between the British Government and Khelat [Kalāt] state, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/22, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a1> [accessed 15 June 2026]

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