![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 [‎66r] (25/28)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a1/Mss Eur F126_22_0129.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "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 [‎66r] (25/28)")
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 [66r] (25/28)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
( 25 )
to give up plundering entirely, and that Colonel Phayre should then submit
a project accordingly. As a basis to work upon, I would suggest that the
plan, which has so far succeeded well onthePunjaub Frontier, should be taken,
viz. that the principal Chiefs, and certain members of the Murree and Boogtee
tribes should be taken into pay. This however should be done in the name of
the Khan, and whatever money had to be paid to these tribes should be disbur
sed through the Khan's Officers at Jacobabad, in presence of the Political
Superintendent or his Assistant (should 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 not be
there, as would probably be the case), the Chiefs coming in themselves, or depu
ting suitable substitutes to receive their stipends each month. A certain number
of each tribe should also always remain at Jacobabad to keep up communications,
being occasionally relieved. The object of this is, that it would instil habits of
regularity and order into these wild people, would give them a feeling of confi
dence in the arrangement, and help gradually to civilise and improve them.
All this, and the regular payment of hard cash distributed amongst these two
tribes, would assist most materially (if it did not at once produce it) in bringino-
about their pacification and settlement, which has ever been a matter of anxious
desire and consideration. One long existing cause of difference between the
British and Khelat Governments would be put an end to, and the trade traffic
from and to Affghanistan would be free from all molestation, from the top of
the Bolan Pass to the Sea.
44 To effect this, the following might be taken as a scale for guidance.
The Boogtees have already some of their tribe employed in the service of Go
vernment on the Sind and the Punjaub Erontier, the Murrees only on the latter
I would propose that in addition to the above, Goolam Moortuza, Chief of
the Boogtees, should receive Pts. 100 per mensem personal pay, and provide
2 Jemedars at Pts. 20 .... Es. 40 0 0
50 Sowars at „ 15 ... . 750 0 0
Total per mensem Us. 8.90 0 0
I he Murrees being now divided into two distinct bodies, residing respectively
at Kahun and Kote Moondaie, and the breakdown of the late plan being
owing chiefly to its having been carried out with only one branch, that at
Kahun, I would recommend that a quota should be taken from each of
these divisions, pt tl^e same strength and on the same principle as from
Goolam Moortuza Boogtee.
Thus to Guzzun Murree, Chief at Ivahun,
personal allowance Rs. 100 0 0
2 Jemedars at Es. 20 „ 40 0 0
50 Sowars at „ 15 ;J 750 0 0
Total Ilupees. . 890 0 0
About this item
- Content
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.
- Extent and format
- 14 folios
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
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 [66r] (25/28), 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_100024195159.0x000082> [accessed 20 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024195159.0x000082
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024195159.0x000082">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 [‎66r] (25/28)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024195159.0x000082"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a1/Mss Eur F126_22_0129.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a1/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F126/22, ff 54-67
- Title
- 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
- Pages
- 54r:67v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence