'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎69v] (143/310)

8
to the Imperial Government. One of the other
letters demanded blood-money for the murder
of a Bokharan subject drowned in the Oxus by
three Afghan soldiers from Kila Bar Panja.
The Governor of Badakhshan denied the whole
of the Russian statements, and requested in
structions as to the reply to be given, as he
was forbidden to reply himself. The Governor
reported that a dispute had arisen between
Russian and Afghan subjects about the
ownership of an island, about 20 miles square,
situated between the channels of the Oxus,
near Yangi Kila, and that the Russians had sent
guards, who were within 300 or 400 yards
of the Afghan guards. The island is shown
on the map of Afghanistan to the north of
Rustak, and is said to have been in the posses
sion of Afghans and Bokharans in turn
according as the river shifts its channel. The
main channel is now said to be on the north
side. In sending the letters, the Amir added
that it was plain that the Russians were seek
ing for causes of offence; and he asked for
advice as to the reply which he should send.
Mr. Dane has been instructed to ascertain the
facts more fully and report them to the Gov
ernment of India, and to inform the Amir
that the case will be laid before His Majesty’s
Government.
The health of the Mission continues ex
cellent, in spite of the extreme cold which
reached 21 ° below zero Pahrenheit on the 1 st
February.
Miss Browne, the lady doctor, has given
the Amir notice that she intends resigning her
appointment, as it is useless for her to stay
in Kabul, where she is not allowed to practise.
It is rumoured that troops are to be
raised from among the Hindus of Kohistan
and the Jamshedis on the Herat side. The
Shiah elders Kabul of have been asked to send
one-seventh of their adult population for
training. Two new Shinwari regiments have
been raised and are now under training at
Jalalabad. The Amir’s intention is said to be
to bring up the number of recruits recently
enlisted for the Afghan army to 100,000
men. Reports from various sources in Afghan
istan indicate considerable military activity
in Badakhshan. The troops there are reported
from one source to have been re-armed with
MartiniHenry rifles, and from another with
Kabul-made Lee-Metfords.
The Amir completed his new arrange
ments for the administration of Afghanistan
towards the end of January. All wmrk has
been redistributed and new posts created.
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nasrulla Khan has been made Naib-
us-Sultanat, with Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Inayatulla Khan as
his Assistant under the title of Muin-ud-
Daulat. The latter arrived in Kabul on his