Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎206r] (101/174)

1870. ]
ABDOOL BAHMAN AT TASHKTTND.
143
stated that, as you are a wise and experienced man, you have probably not seen any advantage
>„ coming t° Samarkand, and that, had you cons.dered it advisable, you would certainly have
asked the King of Bokhara to permit you to proceed towards Samarkand On mv liwf n ®
before the Russian authorities that, perhaps, you have not received the permission of thp Kina*
to wait on them, they remarked that, if you had reported this to them, they would have nv r e
suitable arrangements. If you consider that there is any advantage in living in Bokhara well •
and if you think that you are. not properly entertained or respected there I beo* to
inform you that great . honor is shown in Samarkand, and as there is* no person
here to object to your doings, your aims will be attained. If you do not desire to come here
I hope you will summon me to yourself, and I will serve you as a cook, as shoe-bearer or as
dog-keeper, as there is no use in my further residence here for our objects. If
however, you, taking a far-sighted view of things, consider it necessary to keep an official in
Samarkund, let me know the same. God knows that I am exceedingly sorry for you, but can
not do anything further than cry to God for mercy. If I had thousands of sons *1 should
have been glad to pour out their blood at your feet if your objects could thus be realized. The
Russians enquire about you from me very often, and expel all foreign persons from their
audience at time of my waiting on them. I hope you will be kind enough to favour me with
an account of yourself.”
544. On the 25th March Hamid Khan, Surteep, wrote to Peramoz Khan
to say that the liussians had sent Abdool Rahman on to Tashkund, and that
Ishak was at Samarkund with his followers receiving 550 Tung as a day for his
subsistence.
On the 23rd May another letter was received from Hamid Khan to sav
that—
Cl when 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 arrived at Tashkund, he represented to the Russian
Governor that if some regular troops were given him, he would first settle Bokhara, and then
take possession of Toorkistan. On this the Governor replied to 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. that, on two or three
occasions when 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. was in difficulty, he had received kindness from the King of Bokhara,
and that it was proper that 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. should return and remain contented under the hospi
tality of the King of Bokhara.^
Abdool Rahman remained on however at Tashkund.
The account which readied Shahgassee Sheredil Khan of what happened
there, was that Ahdool Rahman with his officers, Abdool Raheem and Nusseer
Khan, represented their ability to conquer Afghanistan for the Russians, if
they were given some troops for the purpose ; that the Governor, saying he
could not act of his own authority, sent on their representations to St. Peters
burg, whence a reply came that the Russian Government had not depended
for its policy in Central Asia on foreign aid, nor would it take steps to gain
such aid now ; that the Governor, unwilling to break with Abdool Rahman and
hearing of the arrival of the Afghan envoy in Bokhara, had concealed the
tenor of this reply from 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. , but had allowed him to return to Samarkund
with an allowance of 500 Tungas a day : and that in consequence, Abdool
Rahman and Abdool Raheem had returned to Samarkund on the 22nd
May.* There an informant of Shah
gassee Sheredil Khan reportedf that
t Diary endmg 5th July. they and Ishak were living in a very dis
tressed condition, though the allowance of 500 Tungas a day was continued to
the whole lot apparently. The refugees numbered about 200 or 300. They
were quarrelling among each other, and whenever they saw an opening lor getting
away, they did so. Three of them had just waited on Shahgassee Sheredil
Khan. Abdool Rahman intended to return to Tashkund.
545. A man was now deputed by Peramoz to find out all about the
movements of the refugees, and he
* Diary ending 11th August. reported* that Abdool Rahman possessed
three lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. which he was going to spend in an expedi
tion against Balkh ; that he heard all that was going on in Cabul
through Syud Gholam and Esa Shah, merchants; that one of the Ameer’s
favourites, Rujjub Ali, was the holder of 40,000 to be spent in Abdool
Rahman’s cause, and Syud Gholam, the holder of a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The Ameer dis
believed the accusation against Rujjub Ali, but quite credited that against Syud
Gholam, who had, he said, always been an adherent of Azim’s, and was lor
* Diary ending 13th June.