Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎195v] (80/174)

122
IBRAHIM AND ALUM.
[ 1870.
[Faineant. The agent said that the Ameer’s motive was to weaken the authority
of Ibrahim as of Yacoob, his next eldest son, in order to strengthen the party
of his youngest, Abdoollah Jan.
And he had already sent off his favorite TJslum to restore good feeling
between the three co-ordinate Governors of Toorkistan. This, the Ameer heard
on the 10th of February, TJslum had tact enough to effect. He wrote that,
God willing the three officers would not disagree with each other m future.
497. From the occurrences narrated in paragraph 558 there seems some
reason for thinking that Ibrahim, failed in his open endeavours to get Alum
put under his authority, took now to underhand intrigues against both Alum
and the favourite ITslum. This attempt, too, was, however, unavailing; but,
in the end of May, Ibrahim managed
* Diary ending 9th June. t() i nteres t* j n Pig behalf the MeerS
of Toorkistan, and they spoke to Feramoz Khan, who was just completing
his successful mission to Toorkistan, described below, paragraphs 500 to
502, and at his instance the Ameer granted him the cash revenues
of Tashkoorghan, exclusive of octroi receipts and grain collections, i. e., about
Kupees 23 or 24,000, against which, however, had to be set some Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 20,000
which he had been receiving from the revenue of Mookur, and which he had
now to abandon.
498. On the 11th April news came of his having forcibly released from
the Kotwalee a retainer of his own, who had committed adultery, and then
killed the husband, who caught him in the act.
499. Alum was clearly still uncertain as to the amount of power which
it was the Ameer’s policy to commit to him; for, when in the end of January,
reporting that Summundur Khan, Governor of Ghoree [an adherent of
Yacoob’s] had managed to collect more revenue than before, but had not paid
it into the treasury, he said that he himself had not interfered. The Ameer
directed him to insist on Summundur Khan’s accounting for all that he had
collected.
500. Feramoz Khan, it will be remembered, had been sent to inspect the
troops-in Toorkistan. He found them, so
* Diary ending 15th February. ^ £ eported) * in good Order, W and that
excellent horses had been entertained for the cavalry. He was —
“ highly* satisfied with the manner in which Naib
* Diary ending 17th February. Mahomed Alum Khan, Governor of Toorkistan,
had performed his duties
was about to look into matters at Akchab , fbJ in company with Alum, and then
to go on to Koondooz, in order to have an interview with the newly-appointed
Meer of Budukshan, whom he had summoned to meet him there.
501. In the course of this mission, Alum and Feramoz learnt that the
Meer of Maimena, to whose firm adhesion to his cause Ameer Shere Ali owed
* He had shown symptoms of insubordination in SO much, had, UOW that all Opposition had
the time of Fyz Mahomed,—see § 145 . vanished, shewn symptoms of disaffection,*
and had sent an agent to the Ameer of Bokhara. And within a few days the
Ameer heard again that the Meer—
“ after killing some of the well-wishers of the Cabul Government residing in his territory,
Diary ending 7th March 1870. had been excavating a ditch and constructing a
fort, and was also collecting supplies for his troops.” (a) (b)
(a) He wrote in March that “ five sowars of the cavalry of Colonel Mehr Ali Khan, being tampered with by 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, had taken flight from Akchah, but had been captured by border Chiefs near the Oxus, and
hanged as a warning to others .”—Diary of ith April.
(b) The journey of Feramoz and Alum to Akchah gave rise to a rumour, which, till its falsity was shewn by Hamid
Khan, who happened fortunately to know the facts, caused some anxiety in Bokhara, that they were about to attack
Kirkee.