Kalat Affairs [‎324v] (56/172)

personal difference with the Khan, and were he within reach of my personal
influence, I can confidently say that all that is now under report, and a good
deal that has occurred since last year, would not have taken place. I am daily
eno'ao'ed in transactions that promote Khelat interests, and the welfare ot khc-
latTsubjects, on a far larger scale than falls to the lot of any other British
Officer on the border, and therefore I do not think that the Khan would se
have ventured to do what I complain of; hut even if he would, he had Captain
Harrison at hand to instruct him differently. I therefore naturally hold him,
as my subordinate officer, responsible for the awkwapfl dilemma m which he
has placed the Khan and myself. /
I fnllv anticipated some contretemps of this kind when I read Captain
JLZSl h..J. — ->*/-“ “sri
Superintendent’s letter No. 1110, dated 21st July 1870. MflVlast, and had
the correspondence as per margin with him on the subject of Captain Sande-
man’s visit to Kahun.
7. Turnin" now to the matters under report, you will have already learnt
from my letter No. 1100, to Captain Sandeman’s address, that I in no way
defend his interference on the present occasion, in having written to the
Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. and their friends at Seebee and Candahar; on the contrary, I consider
it was imprudent and quite unnecessary for the reasons given ; but, notwith-
standin" this, I cannot as the principal Political Officer on the Frontier, allow
the serious imputations and inaccuracies contained in the Khan’s letter to your
address, to pass unnoticed, because an undue effort seems to have been put
forth, to make much more of this affair, than there is really any necessity foi ,
most of what the Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. have now written, being in print with the corre-
spondence of 1869.
8. I believe I am right iri asserting that, up to the time of Captain
Harrison’s arrival at Khelat, no Ivhaii lias ventured to speak ol an Hnglisli
officer, and of a policy, which H)s Highness perfectly well knows, has received
the sanction of Government, in the following strain :
“ How therefore could Officers, without the permission of their Government,
enter into correspondence with my rebel Chiefs in such a manner as vould
probably lead to another rebellion in my country. ’
9. This paragraph refers only to the correspondence with the Sirdars 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
the word “ Officers” is used, whereas Captain Sandeman’s name only appears in
the correspondence. Captain Harrison should explain this. The next para
graph attacks the policy;
“10. How then hhs Captain Sandeman entered into communication with
these turbulent Chiefs, and promised them aid without consulting me. I would
also bring to your notice that whilst Captain Sandeman was in the Murree hills
making arrangements with that tribe, they descended into the plains of Cut-
chee, and on the 3rd (instant) plundered the village of Poolajee, killed fifteen
men, and carried off their flocks.
“ As you have always been a friend to me, I hope you will represent
what has occurred to your Government, and that they will forbid Captain San
deman’s interference with my subjects, either by assistance or promises. If
this is done, I a/n certain that there will be peace and quiet in my country.”
11. Any/one well acquainted with what has been going on, on this border
since 1868, will see that in these few passages, the Khan lays the axe at the
root of everything, simply because a wholesome check to the growth of his un
bridled power has been interposed- The tone, I would submit, is one which
should be improved by good advice, otherwise it may ripen into unfortunate
action at an unfortunate moment. If it be really the voice of the Kuler of
Khelat winch speaks, it only shows, what a marked difference the mercenary
Brigade has already wrought, from the time when the homely unfanatical tribes
of Beloochistan were Khelat’s household guards, and Jacobabad the only ac*
fcnowledged centre of power in the country.
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