Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎165r] (19/174)

DeoisTs. } UNSUCCESSFUL ADVANCE OF AZIM AND ABDOOL RAHMAN.
61
309. This Sheikh Ali tribe also attacked* and routed Shahaboodeen
* Diary ending 19 th November 1868 . Bamkzai, as he was bringing up Budnk-
shanee succours to Abdool Bahman. They
plundered and burnt his supplies at Dooab and Dusht-i-Sufed, and wrote to the
Ameer that they had cut off communication between the main body and the
rear of his army.
310. And an intercepted* letter from Hyder Khan, the Governor of
• Diary ending 19 th November 1868. Tukhtapool, to Abdool Rahman, showed
that the Meers ot Andkhoee, Shiberghan,
and Siripool, who had been the earliest to throw off Abdool Bahman’s yoke*
were now attacking the Akcha country, where, apparently, some remnants of
his authority still continued.
311. This news encouraged the Ameer to depute Mahommed Alum Khan,
his Peshkidmut (Private Secretary), who had recently arrived from Herat, via
Deh Zungee, and Shahgassee Sheredil Khan, with 1,000 horse and foot, via the
Kohistan, to watch their opportunity of joining the Sheikh Ali Huzarahs, and
falling on Abdool Kahman’s rear.
In the end of the month* Abdool Bah man and Azim, with eight regiments
• Diary ending soth November. of infancy, 500 strong, 1,500 Jezallobees,
1,000 regular cavalry, and 14 guns,
inarched to Gurdun Dewar. The Ameer moved on to Kot Ashroo, Yacoob to
Sir Chushma, while Putt eh Mahomed, Shere Ali Candaharee, and Peramoz
Khan left Kot Ashroo in the greatest haste to strengthen the entrenched position
at Killa Moostufa Khan. They had altogether about 5,000 or 6,000 regular
horse and foot in that position, with Jezailchees and others.
312. The two forces were now face to face with only one stage between
them. But it was not the policy of Azim and Abdool Bahman to risk a con-
* Diary ending 12th November. 5^' f brotlier-in-law, SlirfuraZ'"
Khan, had, for the last three weeks, been
up in arms in the country about Tugab, having raised 500 of his own tribe, the
Aboobukhur Ghilzais, apparently with the incentive of being able to plund#r
caravans from Jellalabad. And he had been joined by Hashim Khan, Azim’s
son, who had, about the middle of November, made his escape from Cabul.
313. Azim now sent his son, Surwur Khan, with Bs. 30,000 in cash, a
guard of 100 horse, and four of his principal adherents to join Surfuraz. They
slipped past the opposing force, and took their way close to Cabul. As they
passed the city, some of the Chiefs left Surwur Khan’s force, entered the city,
and tendered their submission.
314. This move alarmed Shere Ali for the fate of his capital, so he sent (a)
Alum Khan thither at once, and told Uslum to leave a small detachment at
Chareekar, and go himself at once to Cabul, and on to the parts where Surfuraz
was. in arms, and, with the help of Ursulla Khan, the faithful Ghilzai, to break
up his force.
315. In this mission Uslum was completely successful. He cut* up the
* Diary ending 7th December. fU® °f S . U1 7[ Ur and Surfm'aZ Khan, razed
me torts in those parts, and then marchedf
to Loghur. Surwur and Surfuraz thenj came in, with what force remained to
t Diary ending 14 th December. them, under the protection of Ursulla
Knan. but uslum, disregarding the pledge
t Diary ending 21st December. thUS Sf ® n ’ attacked them by _ Surprise,
completed the break-up of their follow
ing, seized their families, and then went on to Tezeen and Bootkhak to put down
{ct.) From this fact, and from the presence of Shahgassee Sheredil Khan too with the camp (see §315), it would ap*
pear either that their mission to communicate with the Sheikh Ali Huzarahs was never accomplished, or else that they
had found no means of getting through the Hindoo-Khoosh unopposed, and had returned to the Ameer.