Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎200v] (90/174)

132
SURRAH BEG.
[1870.
Whether the Ameer heard this or not, he presently desired that Snrrah
Beg should be sent to Cabul. Alum and
Diary ending 5th May. -n x i j-
Beramoz represented that—
e ‘ all the Chiefs of Koondooz have guaranteed to the effect that if the Meer causes any interfer
ence within the foreign borders, they will bring him at once to Cabul, and hold themselves
answerable to the Cabul authorities for his misdoings. They allege that it is desirable that the
Meer should be allowed to remain in Toorkistan, as the Bokhara authorities have afforded
^ T shelter to Meer Jehandar Shah* and other adver-
* Late Meer or Dudukhshan. • c ^ , j -j • \ i
saries of the Cabul Government, and it is hoped
that they will not depute any of these opponents to cause disturbances in Afghan border so
long as the Meer is in Toorkistan.”
The Ameer, however, insisted, and Surrah Beg came in under an escort of
150 sowars on the 2nd June. He was allowed Rs. 150 a day for his expenses.
527. On the 13th June—
“ a recommendatory letter having been received by the Ameer on his behalf from General
.. , 0 ., T Feramoz, His Highness summoned the Meer and
Diary ending 13th June. , -i i • . • c , • , r. , •
directed him to inform him (the Ameer) of his
objects. The Meer represented that as he has sought the door of the Cabul Government, he
desires that some assistance and strength may be afforded to him in order that he may re-take
possession of his territory. In reply to this request, His Highness stated that as the strong
friendly relations of the Cabul Government with the Ameer of Bokhara are as clear as daylight,
and as the Ameer has submitted to the Russians, and the latter have come into juxtaposition
with Bokhara, &c., no assistance (for hostile designs) can be granted at present; but if the
M eer will consider Cabul as his home, God willing, some suitable allowance will be assigned
to him for maintenance, and, on condition of his remaining quiet, some place in Toorkistan will
be fixed for his residence, and he will be despatched from Cabul to it shortly.”
An idea was then entertained of sending Surrah Beg as Governor of
Khinjan, in Toorkistan, with a right of taking from its proceeds Rs. 30,000 and
five khurwars of grain ; hut news came on the 11th July of an insurrection^
in Koolab, and Surrah Beg begged to be allowed to take advantage of their
Diary ending nth July 1870 . existence and return thither. The Ameer,
however, refused and told him—
“ f° remain in Cabul till the disturbances were over. Also, that when peace prevailed at
Koolab, he could apply for permission to proceed there if advisable, and it would be granted to
him, conditional on his not again seeking shelter in Afghanistan.”
On the 1st August he again urged the Ameer to let him go, saying that,
as his family would remain in the Ameer’s power at Tukhtapool, as the hopeless
ness of contending against the united power of Bokhara and Afghanistan was
palpable, and as his followers were all scattered, no harm could happen in
consequence. The Ameer agreed on condition that he and his family should
he taken to the Budukshan border, or to Yarkund or Kashgar, and "said that
he would not be allowed again to seek shelter in Afghanistan These condi
tions Surrah Beg accepted ; hut the Ameer postponed his dismissal till he should
hear of Shahgassee Shere Dil’s dismissal from Bokhara (diary ending 8th
August 1870), and when news of his dismissal came (21st August), put off
Suirah Beg s departure till, on the Shahgassee’s arrival, he could learn more about
the disposition of the Ameer of Bokhara. By the time the Shahgassee returned,
there came disquieting rumours about Abdool Rahman’s projects, so the
Ameer said that till this danger disappeared, Surrah Beg had better stay on; and,
to console him, a niece of the Ameer’s was betrothed to him on the 31st Octo-
Diary ending 10th November 1870. her. He WRS, moreover, given Rs. 100
r. « m , a day; and the Toorkistan officials gave
his family m Toorkistan an order to realize Rs. 5,000 and 200 khurwars of
just across the Oxus. It was governed by th^soi/ of jl 1 ! j tl V[ 3ai i Ce \ Were rl in , thG Per & unnal1 of Baljawan (Birjowan),
the daughters of the people drove then/and the oermW l/ 1 Bai ,^, ak ’ an J,. hls ^ganny and violent dishonouring of
Koolab, to rise in insurrection, in which 30 or 40 Bok/ K ( Kun S rat ) and Mommabad, two other divisions of
arrived from Bokhara, a numbei of the Tnsurgents Ire ^ SW Reinforcement, however, presently
Ameer Mosuffur-ood-deen attributed the disturbance and taken P^oners, and the troops returned to Bokhara.
Shahgassee Shere Dil about the surrender of the Bokhara reWe^T 6 ! ° 1 f f burr I ak and s P oke a 8' ain strongly to
jiutu oi me Bokhara refugees, who had found harbour in Afghanistan.