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 [61r] (15/28)
The record is made up of 14 folios. It was created in 26 Jan 1870. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .
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( 13 )
Sir Henry Green, and would add my opinion that no Sovereign ever had a
more trusty servant, or one who had the interests of his master and country
more sincerely at heart. Besides the Shagassee, the only other Khanazadas
holding offices about the Khan, are the two sons of the Daroga Gool Mahomed,
but these have neither the talent, influence^ or venom of the old man, and may
be said to take no prominent part in the administration. The real working is
by His Highness the Khan and the Wuzzeer.
26. With regard to His Highness the Khan, the defects in his character
have been repeatedly brought to the notice of Government, some of them are
such as are particularly unfortunate in a Prince called on to rule over proud
and headstrong nobles, and a wild race of people. Capricious and occasionally
vindictive, as he has displayed himself to be, he has also shown that he could
act with firmness and generosity, as was evinced in the several rebellions of
the Jam of Beyla and the various outbreaks headed by Moola Mahomed
Kaisanee. He met all these boldly and vigorouslyj defeating each attempt as
it was made, and afterwards treating each with almost undue leniency. He
twice pardoned the Jam of Beyla and his confederate Nooroodeen Mingul, and
last spring of his own accord gave to Moola Mahomed Eaisanee most favorable
terms, in spite of the hostile attitude assumed by 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.
and of his
leaguing with the Khan's most inveterate enemies, the Jam of Beyla and
Azaad Khan of Kharan.
27. On his first ascending the throne, the Khan was styled " a lad of
weak intellect." The real fact is, little or nothing was known of him at that
time, his existence had never before been officially notified, and confined strictly
to the seclusion of the harem, he was not likely to have much chance of
displaying intellect, or having any natural manly powers at all developed.
The question of weak intellect may be dismissed, for he has since shown that,
whatever may have been the first opinion formed, he has displayed on occasions
much shrewdness and aptitude for public business. There can be no doubt,
however, that his early education among only women and slaves had a most
injurious effect on his character, while the reputation he came first on the public
scene with, led others to suppose that a creature was given to them to be
moulded to the will of the party having the greatest power in the State. Hence
came the scramble for that power, which took place from the very first, between
the Daroga with Gungaram, and the Chief
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.
of the country. On the
two former being removed, it was continued directly against the Khan himself
by the Jam and Azaad Khan, and afterwards openly joined in by Taj Mahomed,
the leading Chief of the Southern portion of Beloochistan, and Moolla Ma
homed Baisanee, head of the Northern part. That the Khan failed to draw
his Barons around and to him, and by his own conduct helped to increase the
differences that had arisen between him and them, is indisputable, but it must
be recollected at the same time that his position was an exceedingly difficult
one, unusually so for even the head of the wild clans of Beloochistan, and some
credit may be accorded to him that he has not entirely failed in all respects.
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Letter regarding Colonel Robert Phayre's report 'outline of Khelat [Kalāt] affairs from 1857 to 1869' and providing comments on each of the points made by Colonel Phayre.
Sir William Merewether's observations include explanations of terms used in the report; the influences around the young Khan of Khelat [Kalāt], Khodadad Khan; the difficulties caused by the Khan having been raised in seclusion by his mother; recent events in Khelat from 1857 onwards; grievances against the Khan by discontented nobles; attempts by the Jam of Beyla [Bela] to disrupt the Khan's government and rulership.
The letter goes on to give Merewether and others opinions on the Khan's Wuzzeer Wullee Mahomed Shagassee and of Khodadad Khan himself; as well as the apparent change in temperament of Moolla Mahomed Raisanee; and the ongoing difficulties with Azaud [Azad] Khan od Kharan not only in Khelat but in Beloochistan [Baluchistan] in general.
The letter also comments on the number of regular forces under the Khan's command; Captain Harrison's more favourable impressions of these forces and the arrangements for payment of these forces; as well as Merewether's disagreement with Colonel Phayre's opinion that the British Government should interfere in both these matters and that of the relations between the Khan and his Chiefs.
The letter proceeds by making observations on the state of affairs in Beloochistan and why he advocates that their should be no change in policy towards Khelat state. Merewether also comments on recent proposals around the future management of the Murree and Boogtee tribes as well as his recommendation that Government relations with these tribes should not be handled directly but should go through 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. The letter also outlines Colonel Phayre's proposals for the enacting of suggestions from the Punjaub Government on the protection of the frontier, and Merewether's disagreement with these proposals, giving reasons, and his alternative plan for taking these suggestions forward by using the local tribes to provide defensive forces for the frontier, along with details of costings for such a plan.
The letter concludes by noting that the current sum of 50,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per annum which the British Government pays to the Khan under the terms of their treaty does not actually re-imburse him for the duties lost from leveies on merchants passing through his territory and that a further sum of 44,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per annum should be granted to aid the Khan in acting on his engagements in regards to cattle-lifting and intertribal quarrels.
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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 [61r] (15/28), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/22, ff 54-67, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024195159.0x00007a> [accessed 18 June 2026]
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- Mss Eur F126/22, ff 54-67
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- 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
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![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 [‎61r] (15/28) 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 [‎61r] (15/28)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a1/Mss Eur F126_22_0121.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg)