Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎228v] (146/174)

188 YACOOB DETERMINES TO SEEK FORGIVENESS IN PERSON. [ 1871.
683. Meantime YacooVs adherents, headed by Yahya and Shumsooddeen,
were doing their best to raise up for him a strong party in the capital, i hey de
prived his assurances of effect by giving out that Yacoob was bent on aggressive
measures; that letters had been received
Diary ending 15th June 1871. f rom hi m telling them of a projected attack
on the camp of Feramoz at Subzwar, and urging them to co-operate by stirring up
the Heratees and others in Cabul to rise and prevent the Ameei fiom. moving
against him. And Yacoob did something himself to give rise to continued dis
trust by wntino- to the IVleer of IVtaimena a letter which the IMeei at once sent on
to Shere Ah, and in which it was mentioned that the enemy s foice was at
Subzwar, an expression which much vexed the Ameer.
684. All the Ameer’s courtiers were in their hearts much opposed to his
projected move on Herat, hut dare not argue with him on the subject. TJslum
and Feramoz wrote from Subzwar on the
* Diary ending 15th June 1871. 26th May to urge* him not to leave
Cabul, but their representations were deprived of effect by the fact that they
believed him to be coming via Candahar, thus leaving the direct route to the
capital open to Yacoob. Taking advantage of the Ameer’s first'instructions
when he heard of Yacoob’s advance on Herat, they had not themselves advanced
beyond Subzw T ar, but v r ere watching events at Herat. If they found that, as
they anticipated, discord had sprung up between Yacoob and his supporters, they
w r ould advance to attack him soon. If, on the other hand, nothing occurred to
weaken his pow T er there, they would aw 7 ait reinforcements from Candahar and
Cabul. And with that view Shere Ali should be sent up with troops from
Candahar, leaving under Sufdur Ali sufficient force to collect the revenue. No
harm could ensue from the delay. Yacoob v T as terribly ill-provided with
materiel, as much w r as lost and plundered during the siege of Herat. And there
vms little chance of his being able to strengthen himself by collecting money or
supplies from a country (a) Ivhich w r as in a disturbed state. They on the contrary
w T ere well off. The son of Mahomed Alum Khan was sending them the re
venues of Poosht-rood. Abdool Ali v r as about to collect and send on the
revenues of Girishk.
Uslum at the same time wrote to his brother, saying frankly, that
as they were, they could have little hope of worsting Yacoob. It seems
generally acknowledged that the Heratee horseman is more formidable than the
Cabulee horseman.
685. The Ameer discussed the matter with his counsellors, and, rejecting
the advice contained in the letters from Feramoz and Uslum, persisted in his design
of going to Cabul via Huzara. Indeed, he sent men to make the road along that
route passable for guns. The 19th June was fixed by the astrologers for his
departure. He issued orders to Shere Ali to join the force at Subzwar with a
Cabulee infantry regiment and 800 Candaharee irregulars; and, on receipt of a
letter in which Feramoz had reported his own desire to advance on Herat, and
Uslum’s opposition, replied that Uslum was right and that they should both await
his arrival.
686. Before Abdoollah Khan, Nasiree, could return from his bootless mission
Letter from British Agent, dated 15th June 1871. ° f intercession, YaCOob, On the 2nd June,
wrote the following letter to the Ameer :
rr From what I have seen I consider that I cannot obtain forgiveness, unless I wait on your
Highness without seeking any mediation, and solicit your pardon to my faults, which warrant
a capital punishment for me. In verification of these representations, God willing, I shall wait
on you quickly after the receipt of my letter/"’
Letter from British Agent, dated 15 th June i87i. The bearer of this letter reported
“ tha t Herat matters were much disturbed; that Yacoob had sent General Fukeer Ahmed Khan
with some Syuds to the Commander-in-Chief with a message that he was going to leave for
. U) Indeed, Abdoollah Nasiree had told the Ameer that atta could scarcely be procured at seers of Peshawuree
weight per Rupee, and that about 1 j, 000 people of Meshed, besides those of Herat, had already died of starvation.