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 [‎6v] (7/8)

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of resorting to the old plan of adjustment by hostilities. These tribes, with all
their wildness and tetehy nature, have a great respect for authority and es
pecially for that of their own rulers. They would themselves prefer and feel
more honored by regular payment through their own Government than through
any other.
X ott .—2fith Jan. 12. If at the same time that this plan was introduced, increased means*
1870. 1
* Gonl .lacoh's ^ irrigating the plain between the Sind Frontier, the Hills, and Cutchee were
(''u'lTTvLiiV' pn.- rti ven ' opportunity of peaceful livelihood by cultivation would be afforded to
vide this perfectly. members of the Hill tribes, who had a desire that way, and a healthy
W. L. M. civilizing process would be initiated, which could not fail to bear good fruit.
13. In the 4th para, of your letter you allude to the old trade route from
Hurrund to Khelat. This is not a very important one I think, though it did
once hold a name a hundred and odd years ago, when the then Khan of Khelat,
the great Nusseer Khan, had possession of Hurrund and Dajul, and his sway
was undisputed and dreaded throughout the Murree and Boogtee Hills. Let
the Khan's power be so again established, and this trade line would re-open, if
required.
14. The above remarks all refer to the question under review simply as
it affects the Sind border. I will now discuss it as it affects the neighbouring
Frontier of the Punjaub. Under the arrangements I propose, the Murrees and
IBoogtees would be equally bound down to respect the British territory and
harmless traders on that side as much as on the side of Sind, and for that pur
pose the arrangement with them entered into by Captain Sandeman, and which
has hitherto answered so well, might be continued, with this difference only
that, as it is undoubtedly advisable that all transactions with the subjects of the
Khan of Khelat should only be carried on by one responsible person r and that one^
the Officer who has charge of the political relations with the Khan, viz. the Poli
tical Superintendent on the Frontier of Sind, it would be best that all payments to
the Hill tribes, and all references regarding them, should be made through the
Political Superintendent. In the full discussion of all these matters which I for
tunately had with Captain Sandeman a few days ago at Hydrabad, and from a let
ter since received from him, it appears to me that he himself would advocate this
course. Such being the case, the matter could easily be arranged between you.
15. With regard to placing a post in the Shum plain, to which Captain
Sandeman attaches great importance, I see no reason why it should not be done
to strengthen that Frontier line. The objections against the Deyra plan do
not exist in this case. From what Captain Sandeman said, I understood that
the proposed post would be only about 12, at the furthest 15 miles, in advance
of the existing Frontier posts, close therefore to its supports, and that there
was easy inter-communication between these points, the road being good and