'Report on the Baluch-Persian Caravan Route and Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani Districts' [‎6r] (11/72)

shadowy ; revenue has been collected only at the point of the sword ; water,
the private property of the Khan, has been seized upon and divided; the allow
ances which the Zagar Mkngal Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. has hitherto received from the Khan
have been discontinued. The various factions, Mkngal and Rakhshani, have
quarrelled and fought, and quarrelled again, just as pleased themselves. And
as to whether the Mengal and Rakhshani cultivated their fields in peice, or
put their numerous feuds to the issue of the sword, appears to have interested
the Khan but little. This is a matter for comment. It is evident that in
proportion as these inter-tribal feuds became more acute, so more lands were
thrown out of cultivation and revenue diminished. The key to the problem
is to be found in the policy of the Khan’s Naib, who, fully recognising the
precarious nature of his master’s tenure in Nushke, has been the foremost
in fostering these same inter-tribal feuds and quarrels, with the deliberate
object of keeping the various factions apart and preventing any combined
action, which would first be directed towards his own overthrow. Had not
last year’s Boundary Commission taken place, the Khan would have been
compelled in the immediate future either to take decisive action to re-establish
his fast waning authority on a solid basis or be satisfied to see Nushki slip
from his rule for ever.
9 . The revenue the Khan enjoys is derived from two sources, viz .—•
(o) Land revenue at the rate of ^,-th on all produce, excluding that of
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Muhammad Ali Khan Zagar Mengal, and his
“ following.”
( 6 ) Two sheep annually from each Toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. in the name of “ Mehmani.”
As to the actual amount of revenue so raised, it is difficult for me to offer
an opinion, as there are no records to which I have access. On arrival at
Nushki, I was told by the Naib’s Assistant that it amounted to merely “ thora
tukra mithi” or nothing, whereas the Naib, on my return a few months later,
placed it as high as Rs. 5,000. According to my latest researches, I believe that
the amount realized last year, and paid to the Khan, was Rs. 4,700, and this
figure may be taken as fairly accurate.
10 . We are now confronted with the problem as to what is to be our
future policy towards Nushki. With the conclusion of last year’s Boundary
Commission, under which no less than 80 miles of Nushki bordering on
Afghanistan have been carefully demarcated, the only excuse we ever
possessed for holding aloof has been swept aside. To maintain our policy of
indifference longer is impracticable. As Oapt. McMahon, when Boundary
Commissioner, very truly pointed out, the presence of a number of irresponsible
Chiefs on the frontier, answerable to no one, is calculated to keep us conti
nually embroiled with the Amir, and to be a source of continual weakness, if
not of actual danger.
11. From what I have just said, I think no one will question that
the district must be administered in future under the supervision of a British
officer. Shadowy and precarious as I have shown the Khan’s authority to be,
and likely at no distant date, had the old regime continued, to have been
summarily extinguished, still G-overnment is averse, and rightly so, to permit
ting the cession of any integral portion of a Native State to British adminis
tration. Thus, only two courses appear open—
(«) Either to take over, under an amicable arrangement with the Khan
the administration of Nushki, judicial and fiscal, giving the Khan
in exchange a fixed amount of, say, Rs. 15,000, or close on four
times’ the value of the revenue which he has of late years enjoyed.
( 6 ) Or to call on the Khan to administer the country on lines that
promise some hope of success. And an essential feature of such an
administration—as on it would hinge the entire success of the plan—
would be the appointment of a capable, trustworthy official, with
some small experience of British methods of collecting revenue and
administration, and answerable in all matters relative to revenue