Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎197v] (84/174)

126
DANGEROUS STATE OF TOORKISTAN TROOPS.
[1870.
“ The troops stationed at Tashkoorghan showed signs of mutiny. They were paraded by
the Commander-in-Chief, who informed them that he had directed their transfer to Ghoree.
They refused to proceed to Ghoree, and demanded that the arrears of pay be paid them on the
spot. The Commander-in-Chief then informed them that their arrears would be paid up at
Ghoree, whereupon the troops in a loud voice urged the injustice of their arrears being with
held and cash being sent to Cabul, and forthwith the Commander-in-Chief was fired upon.
He was not shot, but he became insensible and remained in that state for some time. In the
meantime Naib Mahomed Alum Khan persuaded the troops by entreaties to return to duty
and promised to pay the arrears for two months. The lollov\ing day 60,000 Tungas were
borrowed from the merchants (British subjects) and paid to the troops. After this the
Commander-in-Chief left for Tukhtapool. Nine of the ringleaders have been arrested, and the
Commander-in-Chief proposes to take them with him to Cabul.'”
In the opinion of Teramoz and Alum, three or four infantry regiments
should be transferred from Tukhtapool to Cabul, in order to present further
extension of the mutiny; but the Ameer replied that he could not spare the
two reliable Heratee regiments then at Cabul, and that the other five Afghan
regiments were incomplete, several men and officers having been allowed^ to
winter at their homes, and not having yet returned. Eeramoz should, therefore,
re-assure the troops in Tukhtapool, and bring their ringleaders with him to Cabul,
where they would be temporized with at present, and dealt with when an
opportunity occurred. Eeramoz complied with these instructions by sending
nine of the ringleaders to Cabul.
“ Of these men,” the agent wrote, “ the Ameer does not entertain any favorable designs
towards them, and, in a general way, repiesents
Diary ending 5th May 18<0. that they will be blown from a gun as warning to
others. It remains to be seen what will follow.”
507. On the 9th June the agent wrote—
“ It is reported that, owing to the tyranny of the Naib, many people are escaping across
.. n ,, T the frontier to other States, and the Naib is so-
unpopular with the troops m Toorkistan that,
when he chances to come near their lines, the soldiery assail him with endless terms of abuse.'”
508. And the Ameer heard at the same time that Feramoz had transfer
red to Cahul the cavalry regiments under Khoosh Dil Khan, and two troops
of the cavalry regiment, called Husht-deh-Nuhuree, owing to their ill-feeling
towards Alum. The Ameer was much displeased when he heard this, and told
Lall Mahomed, who was under orders to take Alum’s place during bis
temperory absence, that if he met Khoosh Dil Khan’s regiment, he was to take
it back with him to Toorkistan, but might allow the Husht-deh-Nuhuree troops
to go on to Cabul. Lall viahomed was also to communicate to Eeramoz the
Ameer’s surprise, that, during the six months of his stay in Toorkistan, he had
not been able to imbue the troops with a
* Diary ending 9th June i87o. better feeling towards the authorities, and
, to say that—*
^ there were not sufficient troops in Cabal to admit of men being detached annually to Toorkistan,
in order to relieve those who dislike the Naib. dhe officers only of the regiments thwarting
the Civil Governor should be transferred, and not whole regiments.”
Before* these orders could reach Beramoz, a letter was received from
* Dior, ending 16 th June 1870 . him, urging the _ transfer of Daood Sliah
. _ with his four regiments from Toorkistan to
Cahul, as it was not possible that he and Alum would agree well with each
other and remain quiet in one place, and that General Kudrut-oollah Khan,
with his four new regiments, might be sent in his place. He wished, too, that
the levy troops, who were connected with the period of Abdool Kahman’s
administiation, should be removed to another place. The Ameer told him
to send orf Daood Shah at once to Cabul with three of his old regiments, and
C T rt i als ° the disaffected men of the levies, sarving that now
that loorkistan was tranquil, five regiments would suffice to keep the peace
dis JtreJ ui AnLthad'SvTnDdt 6 the Province of Afghan-Toorkistan was menaced had entirely
the troops •* ““*■ witi