Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎191r] (71/174)

1S69. ]
DOUBTFUL ATTITUDE OF BOKHARA.
113
473. On hearing of the threat of the Bokhara General, Alum* sent off
* Diary ending 24 th December. a detachment of Toorkistan sowars, ac
companied by 10 Afghan sowars, to each
post along the frontier, with directions to prevent any one from crossing it.
He reported the following state of affairs :
“ "^General Daood Shah is at Akchah with one infantry and two cavalry regiments under
^ Diary ending 24th December. Colonels Mehr Ally Khan and Said Ahmed Khan,
twelve companies of Jezailehees and two guns.
I am at Tukhtapool with four infantry and three cavalry regiments under Colonels Sher Jan
Khan, Abdool Rahman Khan, and Khooshdil Khan, fourteen guns and two companies of
Jezailehees. There are three infantry regiments and six guns in good order at Tashkurghan,
and 16 ‘ Khurwars* (one Khurwar == SOOIbs) of gunpowder, one ‘ KhurwaK lead bullets,
and 300 cannon balls at Akchah ; and though lead is hardly procurable here, still I get two or
three seers every day in order to prepare cartridges for the troops. Briefly, I do not require
any further troops or cash assistance, but as lead is most necessary, I bring this want to your
notice, and you can manage as you like. The Ameer of Bokhara has arrived in Hissar, and
has summoned 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. Abdool Rahman Khan to him ; he has also reassured Meer Jehandar
» t i. tit Shah.f I am not aware of the chief aims of the
f Late Meer of Buduksnan. . m? ,. . . „ .. t-.ii
King. The dismissal of the Bokhara envoy is
pending your orders, though he is anxious to leave. Should Yakoob Anak attack Budukshan,
X beg your instructions with regard to the steps I should take in the matter, in order that
objections may not be raised hereafter to my doings. Should I oppose the attack ? I have
honored and entertained the Bokhara envoy in a marked manner; he is an intelligent and
clever man, and is highly pleased with his reception. Yesterday I showed him your letter to
my address, regarding our non-interference with the King^s border affairs, and he is much
gratified with its contents, fie has written a letter to the King, stating, that the Ameer has
directed Naib Mahomed Alum Khan to be careful in not communicating with the King's
border Chiefs, as the King is a friend of the Ameer, and their kingdoms are one and the same."
474. The Ameer replied—
“ *It has been directed before, with reference to Meer Surrah Beg Khan, that, if he desire
to remain in this kingdom, he should be des-*
* Diary ending 24th December. patched to Cabul, informing him at the same time
that he will not be permitted again to leave. As the Russians have obtained a full and
thorough possession of Toorkistan, and as the Cabul Government and the Ameer of Bokhara,
being Mussulmans, are allies to each other, and as the King has a strong enemy near him, the
Cabul Government does not wish that any injury or interference may be caused by it (Cabul
Government) to the King. If accidentally any frontier Chiefs of the King should raise, or
attempt to raise, disturbances in this kingdom, which stretches from the borders of Buduk
shan to those of Maimanah, suitable measures will be adopted^ Me are perfectly assured that
the officials of the King will not do anything aggressive, as this has never been done hitherto,
nor will it be committed in future by this Government. Torah (the rebellious son of the
Ameer of Bokhara), who waited on me, was received with honor for the sake of the Ameer of
Bokhara, but when it was known that the King was displeased with him, and that Torah also
entertains bad designs against the King, he (Torah) was expelled from this kingdom."
475. On. nearly the same day* news came from Alum that Abdool
Rahman, whose reception by the Ameer
* Diary ending 24tb December. of Bokhara at Karshi had been known
in Cabul by the 16th December, had been
f A tungah is «325 of a rupee. given an allowance 0 f p 2,000 tungas f 476 477
476. On hearing this, Shere Ali wrote again to Alum—
that in the event of the Ameer of Bokhara's crossing the boundary of his kingdom and entering
into that of Afghanistan, he (the Naib Alum) should proceed with his troops from Tukhtapool
to Kundooz for the purpose of protecting his frontier, and to stop there if he is perfectly satisfied
of the tranquillity of Toorkistan; also, that if the Naib consider that disturbances will je
raised in Toorkistan, he should consider the protection of the same his first duty, and conse
quently remain in Tukhtapool."
477. On the 27th December a letter was received from Alum reporting
the arrival of a second envoy from Bokhara, one Khwaja Meer Akhor. He
brought a letter from the Ameer to Alum, which merely announced the re-cap
ture of Koolab and its depdendencies. With it, however, came one to the addiess