Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎185r] (59/174)

1869. ] DISTURBANCE AT ARCHAH—MOVEMENTS
OP BOKHARA TROOPS.
101
417. As it was,* there was a serious outbreak _ of marauding among the
* Diary ending 28th June. Toorkorimn tribes along the south bank
of the Oxus, stirred up, it was thought
by an adherent of Abdool Rahman. Alum sent Shahgassee Mahomed Hussun
Khan to put them down, but he turned traitor and joined the rebels. Alum
then sent Shahabood-deen Akhoondzadah to coerce them, the insurgents who as
f He betook himself to Sherabad on hearing that SOOU US llis force approached, exupllprl tlao
Ishak Khan was there with the Bokhara troops. aVw-*>a ^
1 ohahgasseef and gave up their own lead
ers. . These Alum at first sentenced to death ; but on the intercession of their
families, he contented himself with the lighter punishment of cutting off their
ears, which he sent to the Ameer, and deporting them across the Oxus with
their families.
418. These acts of severity, however, did not put a final stop to the dis
turbances among the Toorkoman tribes, which still continued, more especiallv
* The habitual restlessness of the people about Akohah in the parts about Akcliall.* But On the
is illustrated in §§145 and 233. 19th July a wa§ received from
Alum, saying that they had tendered their submission, and that he had sent
Lall Mahommed Khan to complete the restoration of order at Akchah, and to
bring in the guns, the property of the Afghan Government, which were there.
t Diary ending 26th July. A week later ^* a letter was received for
warding one from Lall Mahommed, in
which he said that he had met the headmen of the Aka-Sukal tribe of
Toorkomans, and was engaged in making friendly arrangements with them to
punish marauders, and to secure the safety of property of travellers in the
country.
449. Lall Mahommed presently returned, having satisfied Alum Khan as
to the success of his mission ; but by the 23rd August it was reported that
* Diary ending 23rd August. the ? e Toorkoman tribes were again pre
paring to rise. Syud* Reza Khan, who
succeeded Lall Mahommed as Governor, said that the real reason was the oppres
sion they suffered at the hands of the Afghan officials, for which they were
about to seek redress by waiting on Alum in person.
450. Meantime fresh causes of anxiety had arisen, partly due to the
movements of the Ameer of Bokhara in his expedition against his rebel
lious son and his revolted cities, partly to the proceedings of the Meer of
Budukshan, -partly to the danger of collusion with external foes, on the part of
adherents left in the Province by Abdool Rahman. Of these causes of anxiety
the chief arose from the movements of the Bokhara troops. Simultaneously
with the first account of disturbances among the Toorkoman tribes about
Akchah (i. e., 28th June), there arrived a letter from Alum, reporting that the
Ameer of Bokhara had conquered Sherabad and driven out the Meer Astan-
kool who, with 3,000 men and a gun, took refuge on the Afghan side of the
river. The Ameer, on hearing this, directed Alum to entertain the Meer with
due honour, and to distribute his followers here and there in the Province,
giving them plots of land for their cultivation and subsistence. The Bokhara
General, Yacoob Anak, sent over to announce this victory over the rebel Meer
Astankool who, he said, had taken refuge in a place called Toghee Zar, and he
begged that Alum, mindful of the friendship between Afghanistan and Bokhara,
would drive him and his followers from this retreat. Alum replied that
Astankool had already taken refuge with the Afghan authorities, and said—
“ *The enemies and disloyal persons of either Government shall be disgraced and will
, tv v t i -.o^n receive punishment from Government. Several
* Diary ending 5th July 1869. „ , . , , .
men or our Government have absconded to your
king’s dominion ; if he sends them over to us, I shall ask the Ameer to make over your enemies
to you, with a view to promote mutual friendship between the two Governments.”