![Letter No.528 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karachi] to His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, G.C.S.I., Governor and President in Council, Bombay [‎79r] (23/24)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a1/Mss Eur F126_22_0155.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Letter No.528 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karachi] to His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, G.C.S.I., Governor and President in Council, Bombay [‎79r] (23/24)")
Letter No.528 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karachi] to His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, G.C.S.I., Governor and President in Council, Bombay [79r] (23/24)
The record is made up of 12 folios. It was created in 25 Aug 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.
of the value of his position. Judging from all Colonel Phayre has written, and now writes
on the subject, under the views he holds, I can understand that he does not consider
Captain Harrison as a co-worker in his policy, but I maintain that Captain Harrison
has well acted up to the spirit of the instructions laid down for his guidance, and that he
i* justl}' entitled to approbation, and support from Colonel Phayre, instead of censure and
withdrawal of confidence.
20, Paras, 17 and 18 are again prompted by the wrong views entertained by Colonel
Phayre, Ever since our connection with the Khelat State, it has been the object of the
I blitical Superintendent on the Frontier to carefully avoid anything that may tend to lower
the power, and influence of the Khan. For this reason, in all dealings with the Murrees
and Boogtees, it has always been an object to make it known to them, that what we did, was
with the consent of, and in conjunction with, the Khan, This should be continued, and
there is not the least necessity, because a portion of the arrangements with these tribes
have reference to the Punjaub, that the old system should be abandoned. It is in reference
to this particular question, that I have so repeatedly urged, that all transactions with the
lull tribes should invariably, and solely bo conducted through the Political Superintendent,
frontier Uppei Sind, because he is the Officer in whose charge the political relations of
Khelat are placed, and who should see that the Khan's proper position is not ignored.
Captain Harrison having had experience under the abovementioned system, and being im-
pressed with its justice, naturally brings to notice any points, wherein it appears to
him, the old course is being deviated from. It is certainly not fair then that Captain
Harrison s proceedings should be written of, as in the ITth para, of Colonel Phayre's letter.
r Ihe Khan also has always shown himself most anxious to readily comply with any wishes
expressed by the British Government, and as Colonel Phayre is well aware (from copies
forwarded to him) of the proposals submitted by me to Government, that in the event of
any grant being sanctioned by the Government of India for the better settlement of the
Murrees and Bhoogtees, the amount was to be disbursed at Jacobabad in the name of
His Highness the Khan, and paid through his Officers; as well as that on such on ar
rangement being hereafter notified to His Highness, he would at once agree the rebuke,
contained in the above quoted para., should not have been administered.
21. I have already pointed out that there is no analogy between the state of affairs on
the Sind and Punjaub Frontier as regards Belooch, and Patau hill tribes. I would only
draw attention here to the dangerous tendency shown by C )lonel Phayre in the 18th
para, to act differently to the policy ordered and hitherto followed, and to express my opinion
that such a deviation from what is clearly our just line of conduct towards the ruler of
Khelat, will most injuriously affect the object we desire to bring about, viz. promoting a
strong Government in that immediately neighbouring State.
22. The subject of the 19th para, is discussed in remarks on other correspondence, and
I have only to add that, I notice with great regret. Colonel Phayre's persistance in consider
ing the rebellious and self-exiled
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 Beloochistan, as "unfortunate nobles" and
the victims of implacable repression."
23. After all that has been written on the subject, and what occurred at Khelat in
May 1869, I am at a loss to understand how he continues to hold these opinions, and
apply such terms, as above, to the proceedings of His Highness the Khan of Khelat in
respect especially to
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.
Moollah Mahomed Raisanee. It only proves how necessary
it is that there should be an early exposition of the views of Government in regard to
the policy to be continued towards the Khelat Government, and this I would beg to
ask for. .
Kurrachco,
18th August 1870.
)
/
W. L. MEREWETHER, Colonel,
Commissioner in Sind.
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Letter relating to matters which had recently occured on the Frontier of Sind.
The letter commences by stating Merewether's original assumptions that his comments on Colonel Phayre's narrative of events in Khelat [Kalāt] should have been sufficient to resolve the wrong impressions of affairs he had entertained and that his demi-official letters had been written with a view to ensuring he assessed matters in the correct light according to Government's wishes and abided by the key point that communications with Beloochistan [Baluchistan] should solely be with and through the Khan.
The letter reports that Colonel Phayre has ignored the above communications and has now attacked His Highness the Khan of Khelat and passed censure on Captain Harrison, unjustly in Merewether's view for a variety of alleged misdeeds none of which appear to have been committed by the Captain.
The letter also reports that Captain Robert Sandeman, Assistant Commissioner Dhera Ghazee Khan without formal permission but with the opinion that it would be sanctioned, had opened communications with rebel 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 Khelat in exile in Afghanistan and asking them to detail their grievances which would be righted.
The letter also notes that His Highness has appealed against these distasteful affairs and that Captain Sandeman's conduct has shown great discourtesy to His Highness and marked disrespect to Colonel Merewether himself.
The letter concludes by requesting that 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 be placed directly under the Commissioner in Sind, sending reports to the Political Superintendent.
Enclosed with the letter are the following papers:
- Letter No.29 of 1870 from Charles Henry Harrison, 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 [Kalāt] to Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, 24 June 1870 reporting on the period from 21 April 1870 including his journey back to Khelat, with news and reports acquired en route, his impressions on the changes in Khelat on his return; his meetings with the Khan and events including ongoing difficulties with the Jam of Beyla [Bela]. The letter contains comments alongside the paragraph's by Colonel Phayre and Merewether's opinions that many of the comments made by the Colonel are unjust and unfair to Captain Harrison and that his report shows a satisfactory state of affairs and great improvement of the condition of the country as compared to prior years. Merewether's comments also cite correspondence from other frontier officials which support statements made by Captain Harrison and his full support of the concluding paragraph of Captain Harrison's letter and his regret at observing Colonel Phayre's note affixed to the paragraph as well as his opinion that Captain Harrison deserves great credit for his work in Khelat.
- Letter No.1110 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to Captain Charles Henry Harrison, 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. , Khelat, 21 July 1870 requesting further information on several points in the Captain's report (No.29 of 1870) before it is submitted to Government, discussing Captain Robert Sandeman's visit to Kahun and the way in which this had been reported to the Khan, and accusing Captain Harrison of having been enlisted by the Khan to carry out his own aims with regards to certain tribes. The letter also contains comments by Colonel Merewether in regards to its contents including his own opinion that Captain Harrison had appropriately reported news that had been given to him, which Colonel Phayre had objected to; that Captain Harrison was best placed to report on the Khelat troops at Lus Beyla [Bela] and that Colonel Phayre was basing his opinion on what was 'generally believed' instead of accepting the Captain's account; supporting Captain Harrison's decision to turn his conversation with the Khan away from the question of Captain Sandeman's visit as not only as Colonel Phayre not informed the Khan of it, he ad also not given the Captain permission to discuss it, and also stating that the exploring expedition had nothing to do with Captain Sandeman's visit despite Colonel Phayre's claims otherwise. Merewether also raises his concerns over the wording used by Colonel Phayre in regards to relations with Khelat and the Murrees and Boogtees and records his dissent against any possible plans the Colonel may have to contemplate action against those tribes without the Khan's consent. Merewether also contests the 'partizanship' which Colonel Phayre accuses Captain Harrison of, and states his opinion that the Captain has fully endorsed the spirit of the treaty with Khelat. The letter concludes by noting that much of Colonel Phayre's comments and opinions are still based on the incorrect views expressed by Colonel Phayre in 1869, which despite having been corrected on in several correspondence, he still appeared to pursue.
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Letter No.528 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karachi] to His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, G.C.S.I., Governor and President in Council, Bombay [79r] (23/24), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/22, ff 68-79, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024195159.0x00009c> [accessed 21 July 2026]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F126/22, ff 68-79
- Title
- Letter No.528 of 1870 from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, K.C.S.I. & C.B., Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee [Karachi] 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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- 68r:79v
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- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
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