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 [‎5r] (4/8)

we take our troops into worse ground for using successfully sucL as are at our
disposal, and we have to afford protection to a wild tribe, which begins to find
itself unable to hold its own against its neighbours, the Murrees.
5. 3rd.—With regard to the civilizing process. This undoubtedly is a
matter of very great importance, but I question much whether the means
proposed will have the desired effect. The extent of arable land at Sungseela
and Deyra is not such as to be sufficient for this purpose. Moreover the land
is held by the Boogtees under the Khan of Khelat, and all claims in respect to
it and its division would have to be settled throuerh His Hi (din ess' Officers.
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This would be a delicate matter to manacje unless we took the arrangement
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into our own hands, which I gather is in no way intended by Government. As
an instance of the diversity of rights likely to be brought forward, I may
mention that the Doombkees of Lehree lay claim to a share in the produce of the
lands at Sungseela. The Morow plain might be brought under cultivation, but
to render the produce secure from the Murrees, a post would be necessary at
Keychee-ke-Ghurree, to which there is a very fair road direct from Kahun,
the one which was generally used by the Murrees in passing towards the
Punjaub Territory. But all these arrangements, supposing them to be perfected,
merely provide for the civilizing process as regards the Boogtees. The Mur
rees are still left to their own devices and to provide for the cultivation of their
lands at Kahun, Moondahee, &c. This they can do now if they choose, for
no attempts have ever been made to molest them, either by Boogtees or others.
But the life of a border rider, with all its attractions of apparent freedom and
perilous adventure, has more charms for them, and until all means of engaging
therein are completely closed to them, they will persevere in their old habits
and leave chance cultivation as now to the non-combatants of the tribe. The
presence of our troops protecting and favoring the Boogtees will excite the
jealousy and discontent of the Murrees^ will be a standing war-menace with
out helping to overawe them, and if it have any effect on them will, instead
of civilizing, cause them to concentrate their power all the more to harass the
trade of Central Asia, by making raids on the Kafilahs as they pass through
the Bolan and Cutchee, a part of the country which they already among
themselves describe as their " Shikargah" or hunting ground. Unless there
fore the Murree country is occupied, as well as the 33oogtee, the civilizing pro
cess will be only half completed, while the main object of protecting the trade
will be rendered more distant.
G. The 4th point refers to the proposed post at Phoolajee. Phoolajee is
fifty miles nearly due north of Jacobabad. A detachment here would be in
the same line nearly as those at Sungseela and De3 r ra, but it would be of
little use to co-operate with the former, the nearest to it, the interval between
consisting mainly of ravines, rocks and hills, where a few determined footmen
might defy the best Cavalry in the world. If it is intended to prevent the
Murrees leaving the hills to attack Kafilahs passing down from Dadur, it
would be so far from the part of the country where these attacks are usually