Letter No.1120 of 1870 from Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind, Jacobabad to William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind, Kurrachee [Karāchi] [‎98r] (3/6)

13. Leaving that point however, for the present, all important though it be, I would
solicit attention to the specific causes of complaint mentioned by the Khan, These are—
1st. That Captain Sandeman's correspondence with the outlawed Chiefs, would
probably lead to another rebellion in the country.
2nd. That whilst Captain Sandeman was in the Murree hills making arrange
ments with that tribe, they plundered Poolajee ; and that His Highness requests Go
vernment to forbid Captain Sandeman from interfering with his subjects, by assistance
or promises.
3rd. The Khan complains about some commercial project of Captain Sande
man's, in connection with Kandahar and Deyra Gazee Khan, which Captain Sandeman
himself will give an account of.
14. With regard to the first of these points, I can say confidently that, to do justice
to these unfortunate nobles, by granting such of their demands as are reasonable, would not
create a rebellion in His Highness' country. The Khelat Government have not yet tried
that policy in the present ruler's time. If they would, they would soon reap the full bene
fit of it. To curb the unjust and tyrannical acts of subordinates, to give real security to
life and property, to impart general confidence by the character of the rule, will never
drive Belooch and Brahooes into rebellion, though the contrary assuredly will, however
fair the surface may appear for a time. Indeed, it is a fact which cannot be controverted,
that it is the moral power of the Jacobabad field force, over the masses of Beloochistan,
that maintains general tranquillity at all times, in spite of isolated ebullitions of rebellion.
15. It is a significant fact, that the Ameer Shere Ally Khan, has interested himself
in such a marked manner on behalf of these unfortunate nobles, and their still more
unfortunate families; and I hardly think that Khodadad Khan will address the Ameer of
Cabool, accusing him of endangering rebellion in his country, by an act of sympathy and
kindness. It is not however the cause of a few individuals that is involved in this matter.
Khelat history shows, that the reigning faction inaugurated the present reign by syste
matic attack upon the powerful classes in Beloochistan, which this handful of men repre
sents ; a class that includes the real strength of the country, and as such is of much more
importance to us nationally, than the present ruler at the head of his Khanazads and Mer
cenaries. I submit that our power and influence should be used, to place the Khan at the
head of a happy and contented people, as an honored and respected sovereign; and it can
not be denied, that such an object is equally worth aiming at for the Khan's sake, as for
our own. Such a policy would create no revolution, nor run the least risk of it. We
should simply, by kindly aid and advice, lead the Khelat Government as it stands, to adopt
the principles of a civilized and enlightened rule, and leave the rest to time. Results
like these will never, I submit, be attained by agreeing with the Khan on all occasions,
without reference to those principles of right and wrong, which are universal in their appli
cation ; nor will they be obtained by swimming with the tide of Khelat politics, irrespec
tively of their eventual tendency; illustrations of both of which lines of action may be
found in the present correspondence.
16. The second cause of complaint contains a statement so calculated to mislead
persons unacquainted with local details, that its complete refutation becomes necessarv.
Yet the letter containing it was translated, and forwarded by 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. for the
information of Government, without one word of comment, as to its unreliability in the
sense intended. The words are " whilst Captain Sandeman was in the Murree hills,
" making arrangements with that tribe, they descended into the plains of Cutchee, and on