Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎174v] (38/174)

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arrangements for security of khyber pass.
[ 1871.
to different places. This is a notoriously rebellious tribe. I require four guns of hght a,til.
f el . v "nd should you order me, I shall punish them with two cavalry and one infantry regi merits
at Jellalabad The people of Khyber are very untrustworthy, and as regards their puni*.
merit,! shall act in conformity with your instructions.
xlifcJIl -L Oilw-li ct j
"Sultan Mahomed Khan, Mullik Been Kheyl, and the representatives of Sebpaand
Kookee Kheyl Afreedees are with me in Lohargee. Bash Kheyls, a section of Zukha Kheyl
J fhfi nhove raid.
The Ameer said lie could not for the present spare any Cabul troops, and
that Meer Akhor had better therefore arrange the matter in .consultation with the
Jirs^as The TChybeerees appeared, so the British agent said, to have acted in
this way with a view to getting their allowances increased.
This, too, was the opinion of the Officiating Commissioner, Mr. Macnahb,
for, on the 25th March, he wrote as follows :
“The Bash Kheyl are a section of a very troublesome tribe called the Zakha Kheyls, and
J they and some of the Shinvvarees and others who
Letter from Commissioner of Pesliawur, dated 25th rece ^ ve p ags allowances from the CaW Govern-
March 1871, No. 109—739. ment, have been dissatisfied with the distribution
of these allowances by the Meer Akhor at Jellalabad, to whom the management of the Pass
is entrusted by the Ameer. They have therefore adopted their usual way of testifying their
displeasure by plundering a few traders travelling through the Pass.
“ 2. The Meer Akhor has turned his serious attention to the matter, and if he acts judici
ously it is possible he may soon be able to arrange
He has made them give up the plundered property. ^ security of the road. I have the more
hope of his succeeding in this, that I am informed he has been joined by Sultan Khan of
Lalpoora who may consider it at this time his best policy to give him cordial assistance, even
though he has been a very heavy loser by the substitution of the Khyber for the Lalpoora
route.
“ 3. Sultan Mahomed Khan knows that suspicion of instigating the Khyber. tribes to
mischief would attach to him, unless he should prove by his acts that he had not interfered
in this way with the arrangements made by the Cabul Government for keeping the Pass open,
and I understand that he professes himself willing to assist the Meer Akhor Ahmed Khan
to the best of his power.”
386. On the 23rd of March intelligence came that Meer Akhor Ahmed
“ had recovered a portion of the plundered property from the people residing near the Khyber
Pass; that he had not been able yet to do so from
Diary ending 23rd March 1871. the p eop i e 0 f Jorati and others living at a distance
from it, hut he was still endeavouring to recover it. Also, that he had got all the representatives
of Khyberees, &c., with him, and had left Lohargee for Ali Musjid, whence he.will be able to
submit a full report. Further that the “ Ooloos” desire to punish the raiders with some troops
and a battery of mule artillery. In reply to this the Ameer remarked that at present the
matter should not he adjusted by military force, but in consultation with the Jirgahs, &c. j but
next winter these tribes should be punished by the aid of troops for the sake of future security
of life and property.”
387. The Khyber people now wrote to the Ameer themselves complain
ing of the partiality of Meer Akhor Ahmed, and begging the Ameer himself
to give his personal attention to the matter. The Ameer sent no answer hut
remarked :
“ God willing I shall proceed to
Diary ending 3rd April 1871.
Jellalabad with troops in winter, and, after punish*
the Khyber tribes, will make the Pass qui e
mor
secure.
388. On the 10th of April there came an account from Meer Abhor
* tv v i n+n a -i 1071 that, having* started on the 3 rd April hmn
the village of Jorah, he arrived atmu
place where the raiders dwelt. “ They fired,” he wrote, “ guns from the crest o
the Shiluk Hills, and I, after detaching the infantry troops to the top, sent
sowars round the base of these hills. Eight marauders have been killed an
six captured as prisoners, of whom two being Mulliks have guarantee
recovery of the plundered property, and the Khyber Pass matter has bee
adjusted.”