Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎179r] (47/174)

1870. ]
army organization.
89
In Cabul there are 8 battalions and 18
there are—
Jezailchees
Irregular horse ...
Regular ,,
guns. Throughout the Ameer's dominions
2,500
... 14,000
2,000
There are seven batteries of artillery, and he has received six large guns and a mule bat
tery consisting of six guns from the Government.
The entire population of the Ameer's dominions is 2,468,900 souls, and his total revenues
amount to one crore Equivalent to ten million, or one hundred lakhs. Used especially in connection with money (rupees). and eleven lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees Cabul Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
In 1856, when Ameer Dost Mahomed Khan was meditating the invasion of Herat, the
strength of his army was as follows:
Regular Infantry, 16 battalions, nominal strength of each—800.
Ditto Cavalry, 3 regiments, strength of each—300 sowars.
Heavy guns
Field ,,
Mountain suns ...
J ezailchees
Militia
Irregular horse ...
5 in number.
3.500
1.500
20,000
During the rule of Mahomed Afzul Khan and Azim Khan, the entire strength of the
army throughout their dominions (Cabul, Candahar, and Toorkistan) consisted of 24,000 horse
and foot.
\
414 In the diary of the 13th January 1870 there is an entry that the
Ameer was much displeased with Yacooh for having paid in full his irregular
levies, who had nothing to do, while the regular troops had, owing to the lack of
funds, received no more than 10 months’ pay. The Ameer ordered him to
recover pay for three months, and a similar order was issued to Ibrahim, who had
also paid his men in full. Uslum interceded for Yacoob and procured his pardon.
[Clearly it was the policy of the two “ Shahzadahs,” Ibrahim and Yacoob,
to attach the levies who were under their authority by payment in full, in
opposition to the policy of the Ameer, the aim of which was to foster the
regulars under the central authority.]
The Ameer had, however, fully intended to pay all the troops in full
during the current year; and eventually the officials charged with the finance
arrangements stated that they could manage to do this, and yet keep a balance
• Diary ending 14th April 18T0. ° f ^ .t 0 ’ 0 ® 0 : , When ^° in S , S0 > h ° WeVer >
they estimated for no more than* 10,000
levy troops, hut owing to subsequent emergencies more levies were appointed,
and, consequently, a deficiency having occurred, the troops only received the
following proportion of their salaries :
Infantry and Cavalry Regiments ...
Cask on account of salary, 10 months.
Deductions on account of uniform, 2 months.
Artillery Batteries
Levy Troops ...
f (I.) Cash salary, 9 months.
\ (2.) Deductions on account of uniform, 3 months.
... Some 7, some 8, and some 9 months' salary.
By the end of August the agent had to write—
ec * Out of the six months in this
Diary ending 4tli September 1870.
year, the Cabul troops have received only three
months salary. All the regular as well as the irre
gular troops are consequently much distressed."