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 [‎13r] (12/68)

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A British Officer is not placed in my position roerely for the purpose of
protecting you against injury from your own subjects, caused by your own
misgovernment. The friendship of one individual is of little service to the
British Government, but that of a contented and well governed country on its
Frontier is of the utmost service. * * * *
(Signed) Henry Green,
In March 1861, Major (now Sir William) Merewether wrote to the Officer
Commanding in Sind, para. 9—" Having a friendly power steadily growing
" strong next to us, admits of this Frontier and Upper Sind being held by a
u weak Brigade, instead of a Division being required. If that power become
" hostile to us, or unmanageable from internal dissensions, we should have to
" defend the Western Frontier of Sind, not against a few hundred Belooch
" robbers as is sometimes supposed, but against thousands of most hardy and
" determined enemies, viz. the whole Brahoee nation. And again, when they
" by these quarrels and divisions had fallen to pieces, the Affghans would only
too readily take advantage of their weakness to possess themselves of their
<£ country."
In 1861 Sir Henry Green went on leave,, and Captain Dickinson replaced
him on the 21st of May that year ; the following are extracts from Captain
Dickinson's report dated 23rd January 18G2.
On the 18th June, having made the 3rd march within the Moolla Pass,
I received intelligence that 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. Taj Mahomed Zehree, the Chief of Jhalawan,
had assembled his tribe and was intending to plunder the country.
The character of this- Chieftain, the second in rank in Beloochistan, h&d
been described to me by Major Green as hasty, headstrong, and inclined to
intrigue ; he was one of the 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. who rebelled against the Khan shortly after
his accession, and has never since been on very good terms with the Ruler,
but the Khan having demanded his daughter in marriage, it was hoped that by
means of this alliance a more happy feeling might be induced. This expecta
tion was however defeated by the act of His Highness, who disregarding his
betrothal immediately after his return to the hills, and during the short period
that he was separated from the influence of 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. , married the
widow of his brother, the late Xusseer Khan who, although the sister, is inimical
to the Jhalawan 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. ,
This act on the part of His Highness was regarded by the Brahoee tribes
as dishonorable and insulting, and several of the Chiefs were prepared to take
up the quarrel of their compier ; and even the Khans personal adherents
admitted that their master had by such an act given deep reason for resentment.
On the 20th June I received a letter from the Khan's brother-in-law,
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. Syud Khan, informing me that the Jhalawan
Attempt to embroil us with nw r • u i rv • . • .l
the Chiefs. Chief was in revolt, and offering to assist me with
the force at his disposal. I declined his offer, and