Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎194r] (77/174)

1869-70.]
SURIIAH BEG.
Governship of Eoostak or Killak-Cliap. Surrali Beg prefenwl ih^
Eoostak being already the fief of a relative ; so Abdool Buheem Ehan Govomnr
of Talikhan, brother of Moorad Beg, of Koondooz, was told to watch Mm
On his way to TukhtapooHie had been overtaken by messengers from Yacoob
Goshbegee of Yarkund, inviting him to Yarkund, promising assistance, and
* it is doubtful which. lecommending him to seek it also from
his maternal uncle* or sister’s son, Khoda
Yar Khan of Kokund. Surrah Beg having great hopes of receiving still more
powerful assistance from Shere All, declined these offers.
He was accompanied in his exile by Gunjuri Beg, a Chief of the Turko
mans, about Kowadan, 12 Jcos North of Shereabad and Lakhye, whose forays
much impeded traffic as far South as between Muzar-i-Shureef and Khoolum.
Gunjuri Beg had sent two of his brothers to the Ameer of Bokhara on his
advance to ask for terms, but they were executed, and then Gunjuri Beg fled.
Alum Khan, Surrah Beg’s nephew, also followed him into exile on account
of the severities practised by the Bokhara troops in Koolab, and remained
with Surrah Beg’s family near Talikhan; but on hearing of his forcible de
tention at Cabul, went to Bokhara, and was thence despatched as Governor to
Koolab.
493. Here I may mention that this emissary of Captain Grey confirms the
account given in the Cabul diaries, of the oppressions of Alum Khan and the
disquiet of the Meers of Toorkistan, e. g< 9 the brothers of Koondooz. Alum’s
whole object, the emissary says, is to amass money which he sends to his home
in Herat. According to his account, too, the Afghan people are discontented at
Shere Ali’s haughty, careless ways, so different from those of Dost Mahomed,
who would make no scruple to sit knee to knee with a circle of villagers.
494. This account is confirmed by that of Sooltan Mahomed, an Afghan
in the British service, who returning from a period of leave which he had spent
at Cabul in the autumn of 1869, said that the Ameer had curtailed his inter
views with his people, and spent the greater part of his time in his zenana:
when he did see his people it was to dilate on the excellence of the British
army and administration in India. He found the Ameer’s soldiers complain
ing that they were paid at no more than Es. 20 or Es. 7 according as they
were horse or footmen, while the Ameer was, so they thought, paid for them at
Es. 25 and Es. 8, respectively by the English. He said that British uniforms
were now common in Cabul, whereas formerly the men on leave from the British
service used to leave their uniforms behind.