شؤون أفغانستان [ظ‎‎٨‎٧] (٢٨/٢٠)

a force to punish Azad Khan, "about six years ago and, on th s occasion,
deprived him of the small fort, Gwajehuck situated m the Mushkai plain, Khelat
territorv.” In retaliation, Sirdar Azad Khan annexed a tract of fertile country
in Suravvan, about forty miles in length with plenty of spring water. So conti
guous is this land to Sirdar Azad Khan s own Districts that the spring water can
he utilized for the cultivation ofKharan, which, under former circumstances, was
entirely dependant on rain. Sirdar Azad Khan has erected two forts in this
part of Surawan, and the Kumbranees and other Brahooee residents have
Lquently called upon His Highness for redress and protection. One of Azad
Khan’s latest acts was the plundering of Sohrab. .
4 prom the correspondence attached, it will be seen that His Highness
distinctly states what claims he has against Sirdar Azad Khan, whilst the latter
only mentions in a casual way that he has been deprived of and m lunjgoor.
Xlis Highness has also endeavoured to impress on His Highness the Ameer s
Government that Sirdar Azad Khan’s conduct has been such as to entitle him,
“ the Khan ” to receive redress, but not give it; further, that he has always been
willino* to come to some settlement with Sirdar Azad Khan, provided that the
latter ^restored the country he had annexed, and the property plundered from
Punjgoor and other places.
5 In 1869 Sirdar Azad Khan was invited by me at His Highness’s
request to state his claims ; at the same time he was informed that the plunder,
in o- 0 f Pun moor, Sohrab, and annexation of Surawan country would he
brought forward in any discussion that took place. This invitation was refused.
6. Prom previous paragraphs it will he seen that the only place Sirdar
Azad Khan could urge any claim to, is the fort of Gwajehuck, which was
taken from him six years ago under circumstances stated in paragraph 3;
counter claims by iiis Highness have been so often urged that I surmise the
present agitation on Sirdar Azad Khan’s ^part is merely to deter His High
ness the Khan from taking any action regarding the land he has annexed in
Surawan. Sirdar Azad Khan by his predatory habits has placed himself in a
false position with the countries bordering on his own District.
7. In conclusion, I would refer to Sirdar Azad Khan’s having sent a letter
to Gwadur. Prom the direction it was supposed to be for General Goldsmid, and
was to the effect that the whole of Mekran from Bampur to the sea coast
belonged to His Highness the Ameer, and that the District of Punjgoor was
his, Azad Khan’s, special property, though it had been wrongfully taken from
him by His Highness the Khan of Khelat.
No. 1309, dated Jacobabad, the 14th August 1871.
Endorsed by the Political Superintendent, Upper Sindh Frontier.
Submitted in original,—copies have not been taken in this Office.
No. 488, dated Kurrachee, the 23rd August 1871.
Endorsed by the Commissioner in Sind.
True copies with accompaniment submitted to Government for inform
ation, in reference to paragraph 4 of Cabul diary from the 19th to the 22nd May
1871, forwarded under Government endorsement No. 2633 ,. dated 20th June
1871.
Translated substance of a letter from Amber Sherb Ali Kkan, Cabal, io His Highness the
Kean of Khelat.
^ After salutations, — I understand from a petition just received from
Sirdar Azad Khan, Nowsherwan, that you have taken possession of certain
Districts belonging to him. Azad Khan is a subject and well-wisher of mine, and
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