Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎190v] (70/174)

112
MENACES OF BOKHAKA.
[ 1869.
unnoticed to the hills south of Cabul, and there fan the dying embers of
disorder-among the Hootuk and Tokhee tribes. If this was his object, he was
foiled by being caught up by a party of cavalry, whom Alum had despatched
in pursuit, and who brought him into Cabul on the 11th December. W hen he
waited on the Ameer, the latter kissed his beard in Afghan fashion, but was
not friendly m his demeanour; and a
week afterwards* * sent him off into British
fmn’itrvinr.
* Diary ending 18tli December.
469. Meanwhile AMool Rahman had written,* announcing his arrival to
the Ameer of Bokhara, who had, it was
* Diary ending 27th November. ^ re ply s refused him permission to
enter the territory of Bokhara, and had at the same time desired Ishak to
quit it.
470 The Ameer of Bokhara about this time sent* an envoy, Khwaja
Eshan Oorak, with a letter to Alum
* Diary ending 1 st December. Khan, to convey intelligence of the re
covery of Deh-i-now and Hissar by his General, Yakoob Anak; and this envoy
said that the object of the letter and of his own mission was to take this oppor
tunity of opening friendly communications with the Ameer. He said, too, that
Abdool Rahman—
“ had written to the King to the effect that, if His Majesty would show him some
attention, he would be able to realize his views; but His Majesty has addressed 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.
promising subsistence for the sake of the Ameer if he remains quiet, but that if he entertained
bad designs against the Ameer, he should not enter Bokhara, as the King considers the Cabul
Government as bis own, and is a friend of the Ameer.
This shows that the friendly feeling between the two Ameers had not as
vet been lessened by Shere All’s act in letting the rebellious Abdool Mullik
leave Cabul, and return to Bokhara territory; and yet he was now in Koolab,
against which and its rebellious Meer Surrah Beg, Yakoob Anak was on its
march, after having recovered possession of Deh-i-now and Hissar..
471. But this entente cordiale was to be for a time broken by the events
■which followed immediately afterwards. When the Bokhara forces approached
Koolab, Surrah Beg left (a) it under pretence of a shooting expedition and
crossed the Oxus. Yakoob Anak then wrote from Koolab to Ismail Khan, of
Roostak, and Sooltan Moorad Khan, demanding his extradition under penalty of
an attack in case of refusal.
472. When Ismail and Sooltan Moorad received Yakoob Anak’s first
letters, they sent them on to Alum and said that the refugee Meer was to start
next day for Tukhtapool. Alum wrote to ask how he should treat him if he
came. The Ameer Shere Ali replied :
u You should act in regard to Ameer Surrah Beg Khan, after ascertaining the manner in
*' In communications from Cabul, the Ameer of ' v hich Sildai Abdool Rahman Khan is treated by
Bokhara is always called King improperly, ac- the Ameer of Bokhara.* If the King keep the
cording to all our other authorities. 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. as a refugee, and fixes some allowances for
his subsistence, you should deport the Meer to Cabul, informing him, at the same time, that
if he comes to Cabul, he will not again be permitted to leave. Should the King not shelter
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. , and expel him from his country, you must also represent to the Meer that as Cabul
Government is an ally of the Ameer of Bokhara, it is not advisable that he should remain in
this kingdom, and he should therefore proceed wherever he wishes to go.”
(&) Rumoured in diary of 30th. November, confirmed in diary of 16th December.
A week later’ he renewed this demand in a still more peremptory manner, and he and Jehandar Shah, whom he
* DHrv endine- 24 th Decemhpr found in Koolab, wrote to Ismail Khan with the object of bringing him over to
° ‘ their side. Mahmood Shah thereupon wrote petitioning for assistance, as
there seemed every prospect of an immediate attack. In fact, it had already been reported that the Bokhara forces
were at Asul within 20 Icos of Tashkurghan.
F. B. in his letter from Tashkurghan, dated 20th December, said that on hearing that Surrah Beg had received
harbour from the Afghans, the Ameer of Bokhara consulted Abramoff, who referred him to the Russian envoy with his
camp, Eshan Vahea Khoja. He and the four Russians who, dressed as Mahomedans, were with the camp, advised the
Ameer to do nothing hastily, but to write to Alum offering to surrender Abdool Rahman in return for the requested
extradition of Surrah Beg. . The Ameer adopted tins counsel, and sent Mansoor Khoja to convey the proposal to Alum,
who met it by applying “improper and obscene terms” to the Ameer of Bohkara and his family, and thus stirred the
wrath of the Ameer. Alum is a Sheeah, and hates the Soonnees of Bokhara.