Kalat Affairs [‎304v] (16/172)

20. He is since described by Sir H. Green, as being of a capricious and
unstable character, and Sir William Merewetlier speaks of him more than once
as an unsatisfactory ruler.
21. It must be observed, however, that he hashed the wisdom to select
and give his entire confidence to a most able Minister, described by Sir Wil
liam Merewether as one of the most true and honest men in Beloochistan,
whose appointment was warmly approved hy General Jacob and of whom Sir
H. Green has said that no better selection could have been made.
22. It is recorded of the Khan by Sir H. Green that, from the time of
his accession to the throne, not a single Chief of any description has been put
to death by his order or by that of any of his people in authority, although few
Princes have had the provocation he has had to put up with. Accusations
have been made against him of having removed his enemies out of his way by
assassination, but, apart from the fact that such charges are invariably made
under Oriental Governments whenever any one of eminence may happen to
die, in the two prominent instances of Taj Mahomed and the attack on 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.
Hinna Koord, subsequent investigation has brought to light nothing to show
that the accusation had any foundation. 'Whatever his other faults may be, the
Khan may be considered a temperate ruler, who has shown himself clement in
the hour of success and invariably willing and anxious to be guided by our ad
vice. On the whole, he may be considered, I think, a favorable specimen of an
oriental sovereign and quite as good as any other with whom we have to deal.
It is always possible that he may be led into acts or to the adoption of a policy
that might be disapproved or condemned by us, but nothing is so likely to
lead to such a result as the manifestation by our chief political authority
on the frontier of a ceaseless hostility to his Government and the encourage
ment of those who have for years been bent on the subversion of his authority
23. I fail to see in the circumstances now detailed any claim the Oiiiefs
named can have for our interefence, even if the Khan had treated them with
severity, after they had risen in rebellion against him. No doubt, the Khan
would be stronger if he had the united support of all his feudatories, and it is
a proper exercise of our influence to counsel moderation in his dealing with
them. Such advice has been given and followed. But Colonel Phayre seems
to consider that the Chiefs have rights which it is our duty to see maintained,
and be quotes from despatches written at various times by General Jacob,
in support of his views. But the state of affairs in General Jacob’s time or
even a few years ago was very different from what it is now. In truth the
change appears to be taking place in Beloochistan of which history gives so
many examples in the old world when feudal relations between a sovereign and
his Chiefs are from force of circumstances, from the growing power of the
sovereign, from his ability to maintain a regular force and in consequence to
suppress rebellion, succeeded by a regime in which the power of the sovereign
becomes paramount and his feudatories take the diminished rank of powerful
subjects. I do not believe it to be our policy to prevent this result. These
papers show what the inevitable consequence must be, of the continuance of
feudal relations among an unruly and armed population.
24. The slightest provocation, personal or political, has been the
signal for immediate rebellion. Sir H. Green writes that “ while much
of the ill-feeling against the Khan is doubtless caused by his capricious and
ustable character his Chiefs by the unreasonableness of their demands and the
insolence of their conduct towards him render any permanent settlement of
their differences most difficult. His power over them is slight, and although
their lands are held by feudal tenure, any attempt made by His Highness, even
to enforce the extradition of a culprit, leads to their banding together and
defying his authority.” In more than one instance in these papers, we find a
Chief who has been unsucessful in his rebellion inviting the interference of a
foreign power, the latest example of which may be seen in the case of Moola
Mahomed who declares all Beloochistan to be subject to the ruler of Calm],
as Aga Khan had before acknowledged the supremacy at one time of Candahar,
at another of Persia.
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