Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎205v] (100/174)

ABDOOI/ RAHMAN AND ISHAK.
T 1870.
Section IV.—The doings of the Afghan refuges in trans-Oxm and in Persia.
54 t) The storv of Abdool Rahman’s and Ishak’s movements^ during this
period is as follows: On the 3 rd of Eebmary the Ameer received a report,
probably quite untrue, that the Russians had commended Abdool Rahman to
the care and assistance of the Ameer of Bokhara ; but that in consequence ot
the disturbed state of the troops, owing to the Hissar and Koolab campaigns,
the King had deferred compliance with the request. Ear, indeed, fiom giving
assistance, the Ameer of Bokhara allowed Abdool Rahman, Ishak, and Jehandar
Shah to remain uncared for, bivouacking, for instance, in the open air, during
the army’s return from the campaign in Koolab, while Hamid Khan, Alum s
• ' envoy, had been, so he wrote, well received
Diary ending 3rd February. an( J Viveil a tent ; and a letter from
Yacoob Anak stated that at his representation of the impolicy of leaving the
Afghan refuses near the Afghan border, the Ameer of Bokhara had taken,
them back to the capital; that he himself was carefully guarding his bolder and
would allow no injury from thence to
Diary ending 10th February. Shere Alt’s interests. Oil the 21st Bel>-
runrv, the following letter was received from Hamed Khan, addressed to
Alum:
“ The King* intends to entertain some of the followers of 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
in the regular regiments, and to allow only a few
Diary ending 21st February. persons to remain with the 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. . A follower of
the 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. , bv name Meer Alum Khan, Barukzai, having visited the people of Toorkistan, has
returned to Bokhara.
And on the 7th March the following :
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 Bahman Khan has requested the King, through Mahomed Hussun
Shaghassee (1) to permit him to collect Toorko*
Diary ending 7tb March. man levies and attack Balkh ; (2) or to allow
him to go to the Akhoond of Swat, via Koolab ; (3) or to give him permission to proceed
towards Samarkand. The King has remarked that, as 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. Mahomed Ishak Khan has
derived no benefit in his recent campaign by attacking Balkh with the aid of Toorkomans, he
(the King) does not think that he ( 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) will succeed, and, conse
quently, permission cannot he given for it ; but if he wishes, he can go towards Samarkand
with some troops. The 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. has therefore left Bokhara on 16th Zahad (corresponding with
the 18th February 1870) for Samarkand, via Meean Gool, in company with 24-0 troops."”
By this time Abdool Bahman had been joined in Bokhara by Ahdool
Bmheem, of the Tokhee tribe, which had been in rebellion during the preceding
autumn. They were both, in the end of Eebruary, offered employment by the
King of Bokhara, and, on their declining the offer, were told that if they re
mained quiet, they would receive an allowance for their subsistence.—[Mer
chant’s letter dated March 4th, 1870, sent on by B, B.]
543. In March Ahdool Rahman left Bokhara and went to Samarkund.
After he had left, a letter to him from his maternal uncle, Hajee Jan Mahomed
Khan, a resident in Samarkund, fell into the hands of Bujuh Ali, who sent it
on to the Ameer. It was as follows :
“ I beg to state that this is the fourth time that the Russians have enquired from me
tv a- ooxi -vr i about von. I have represented to them that
Diary ending 28th March. ■ “ . . ‘ . , ,
though you have been declared a great friend ot
theirs, still nothing has been done on their side in your behalf. In reply to this, the Russians
(a) Here I add what is to be found in Ibrahim’s account regarding the movements of Abdool Rahman and Ishak, taking
the story up from the close of the preceding chapter. It substantially agrees with the account in the Cabul diaries.
Abdool Rahman and Jehandar Shah, he says, reached Bokhara this day after the King. Both were assigned homes for
their residence, and Jehandar Shah was also given some money and presents, but Abdool Rahman received nothing, nor
was he during his stay invited to visit the King. General Nusseer Khan and some other of his followers were offered
appointments but refused them, and Abdool Rahman accompanied by Ishak and about 270 follow T ers left for Samarkund
on the 19th February, escorted to the frontier by high Bokhara officials. At Samarkund he was welcome by his own
maternal uncle, Hajee Jan Mahomed, and Poordil Khan, a son of Sooltan Jan of Herat, and received from the Governor
a daily allowance of 500 Tunqas (Rs. 162) ; but, endeavouring to procure Russian assistance to further his designs, was
told that the Governor of Samarkund (Abramoff) had no authority to discuss such matters, and that he had better go
to Tashkund. This he accordingly did on the 13th March, with a few followers, leaving the rest under Ishak. Two
months afterwards, it was noised throughout Toorkistan that the Russians were about to employ Abdool Rahman to raise
a body of troops. This stirred the Meers of Afghan-Toorkistan, one and all, to despatch to Ishak letters which were
f ent on to Tashkund. It was also currently rumoured at Samarkund that the Meers of Toorkistan had determined to
separate from Ameer Shere Ali Khan, and to become independent either by the aid of the English Government or by that
of the Russians, owing to their being extremely oppressed by the Naib Mahomed Alum Tihan, and being without
hope of redress from the Ameer.