Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎182v] (54/174)

96
REVENUE DIFFICULTIES,
[ 1869.
himself and put down the disturbances, and even for a few days persisted m
this determination against the advice _ of his counsellors but gave it up on
receipt of the alarming news from Toorkistan, which arrive, on .ie n ot
November. Instead of going himself, therefore, he determined to send Uslum
Khan with thirteen troops of cavalry into the Candahar District a movement
much opposed by Yacoob and Noor Mahomed, who saw in this movement a
fresh obstacle to their scheme of getting the Governorship of Candahar for
Yacoob. This was on the 25 th November. The next day news came of the
defeat and flight towards Hazara of Jehangir Khan and his followers, and of
the confiscation of his property by Sufdar Ali. The Ameer therefore resolved that
instead of tlslum, Colonel Putteh Ali should go with the thirteen troops of cavalry.
This detachment by the way, though it had 400 horses, yet could only muster
22 saddles and two swords among them. They were to get their accoutrements
and arms at Candahar, where they were being prepared. Yacoob made another
attempt to be sent as Governor to Candahar, but was met with a fresh refusal.
The defeated Alum Khan made several attempts to procure forgiveness, and
sent his son Abdoollah Khan into Cabul
* Diary ending 31st January. £ or purpose ;* but, before he had 00016
in, the Ameer had accepted the submission of Alum’s brother, Suddoo Khan,
made him leader of the Hootuk levies, and gave him an annual allowance of
. n , Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 30,000.f On Abdoollah Khan’s
t Diary ending t ecemier. arrival, his father too was pardoned, t and
% Diary ending 21st February 1870. promised an allowance of Rs. 15,000
per annum for his subsistence, if he made his submission, i. e., came in person.
On the 28th April he came in on the security of Ursulla Khan, and was very
kindly treated.
On the 3rd January news came that Sufdur Ali had completed the restora
tion of order in and about Khelat. Nevertheless, in April next, another leader,
Mahomed Uslum Khan, raised the Tokhee levies, some 600 or 700 men, and an
outbreak appeared so threatening that traffic between Cabul and Candahar was
suspended; and that it was found necessary to send a regiment from Candahar
to restore confidence and to keep him down. But it was not the Ameer’s policy
now to proceed to extremities with such men. On the 2nd May he wrote a
conciliatory letter to Mahomed Uslum, and it was expected that he, too,
would come in, like Mahomed Alum Khan, the Hootuk leader, under the
security of Ursulla Khan. Before the letter could arrive, however, the Governor
* ^ of Khelat-i-Ghilzye, having received rein-
mry en mg ot i ay. forcements from Candahar, attacked^ the
Tokhee leaders, Uslum and Jehangir, and put them to flight.
434. Difficulties in the revenue collection .—Another consequence of the
intrigues of Yacooh and Noor Mahomed in November 1869 was the disincli
nation of the Candaharees to pay their revenue. Indeed, this disinclination to
pay revenue manifested itself very generally about this time throughout the
Districts of Afghanistan, as will be seen from the following entries in the diary:
(a.) “ *The Ameer has heard from 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. Shere Ali Khan, Governor of Candahar,
* Diary ending. 18th October 1869. that the people of the fiontiers of Candahar, the
... # Ghilzai tribe of Zumindawur in particular, are
disinclined to pay their revenues, and have sent a message to the 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. inviting him ciIoub
in person to Zumindawur, stating that, if he brings even one man with him, they will not
pay him a single pice. The 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. has suggested that troops should be sent for the purpose
of realizing the Candahar revenues.”
The revenue of this District, however, had been paid in by the 8th November;
hut next year, a similar difficulty was experienced in collectino’ its revenue,
for, in March, 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. Shere Ali wrote
“ *that the people of Zumindawur had deferred the payment of their revenue merely on ac
* Diary ending 31st March 1870. count of the produce of their territory bein<;
,, i j • i i ir -i -i • comparatively little this year; but, on his arriva
they had paid halt revenue and had given an agreement to the effect that they would pay th<
remaining half revenue after a short time ; also that, as the greater part of the revenue o