Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎166r] (21/174)

Jan.—Eeb. 1869 ] wandehings of azim and aedool
E AH MAN.
63
*
322. This was the account which reached the British Agent at Cabul
The account given by the defeated Prince’s emissaries to Colonel Graham*
when he was conducting the negotiations mentioned further on, was as follows •
The forces under Mahommed Azim Khan and Abdool Rahman Khan, numbering from
Political A., Proceedings, May 1869, No. 57, (§§
15 to 18).
10,000 to 12,000 men, with 20 guns, had taken
up a position at Sultan MahmooTs Ziarut, about
a kos distant from Ghuznee, where the combined
army entrenched itself, and awaited the attack of the Ameer Shere Ali Khan, who was en
camped with 20,000 men [number of guns unknown] at Shush Gao, about six kos off.
. “ The latter declined to attack, but endeavoured to starve out the enemy by placiim ] aro . e
bodies of cavalry on the three roads by which supplies reached his camp.
“ The opposing armies thus faced each other for 38 days, during which 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. Abdool
Rahman Khan, with a choice party of troops, had twice cleared the roads of the Ameer’s
troops, and proceeding a third time for thesame purpose with 4,000 men, leaving Mahommed
Azim Khan in camp. The Ameer seized the opportunity of falling upon the enemy's divided
forces, and moved out with his whole army to attack Abdool Rahman Khan, and totally
routed him. L •
li The defeated 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. sent a message to Mahommed Azim Khan to join him in his flight
[as the. remaining portion of the army could have no chance of success], which he did, with
out giving notice to his troops; and the latter, hearing of Abdool Rahman Khan's defeat and
flight and deserted by their Chiefs, mostly joined the standard of the victorious Ameer."
323. In all his wanderings Azim had apparently dragged his half brother,
Shureef Khan, as a prisoner along with him. He was now released and took
possession of the deserted camp with its treasure. This he made over to
Peramoz Khan, and, with the Ameer’s sanction, blew away from a gnn General
Sohrab Khan, in revenge for the hardships which that officer of Azim’s armv
had made him suffer.
324. Two more acts of severity followed. The Ameer blew away from
guns two of Azim Khan s Generals, who had been in confinement before the
battle.
. 325. On the 14th January all the troops, with the exception of six
regiments, received furlough for six months.
326. The subsequent wanderings of Azim and Abdool Rahman may best
be told here.
Followed by Ursulla Khan, who with his retainers was sent into Zoormut,
Koorum, and Khost, to watch their movements and prevent them from doin^
* Diary ending i 4 tii January. mischief, they went into the independent^
' Wuzeeree country, thence to Dour near
Bunnoo, from whence they sent to the Deputy Commissioner a request for
asylum in British territory.
* Telegram to Lieutenant-Governor, dated 28th Government, On hearing of this appli-
i 869 , a No. 4 i 6 9 ) (P ° litical Proceedings ’ January authorized* the Commissioner of
Derajat in the following words to arrange
with them :
“ You can °T er su ch allowances as you may think suitable, not to exceed one lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees a year
m all. The ex-Ameer and his followers must reside at such place as the Government may
decide on. And they must rigidly abstain from all intrigue* of any kind."
Fiom. a misapprehension as to the intentions of the Viceroy, the Punjab
authorities told the fugitives that their departure from British territory to any
other country would be subject to the concurrence and permission of Govern
ment. And then Azim (21st February) replied as follows :
My friend, not one of the objects and desires of which I wrote is mentioned in your
reply. But the requests and the answers are extremely different. Whereas I have of old
Political Proceedings, May 1869, No 517. regarded the British as my friend, therefore should
, _ any one go in to the country of his friend, how can
ie abandon the objects he.has in view? On the contrary, the natural expectation is, that he
» mu d attain his object with the aid of his friends in a better manner and with success. Please
be yourself the judge in this matter. After coming to so great a Government, to give up all