'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎71v] (147/310)

12
Derajat Movable Column marched to Tank m
ease of a general disturbance, but none has
followed. On the 27th February, at Jandola,
Cokmel Deane met the Mahsud jirga with
reults which are on the whole satisfactory. There
seemed to be no fanatical spirit among the
tribe, and the elders undertook to be
responsible for Mahsuds enlisted in future*
but not for those recently disarmed, among
whom a desire for the notoriety to be gained
by acts of fanaticism appears to have existed.
The jirga has offered to arrest and hand
over any one suspected by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency.
to be implicated in the murder of Colonel
Harman. In view of the jirga’s attitude
the Movable Column has been withdrawn
from Tank and the re-enlistment of a certain
number of Mahsuds will be proceeded with.
While this information from Wana gives
no cause for suspicion of any general dis
affection among the Mahsuds themselves, there
appear to have been some disturbing influences
at work on the Tochi side. A messenger
from the Mulla Powinda reached the Madda
Khels on the 12 th February to warn them to
be prepared for an important event on the
11th night of the moon, i.e., the 17th February.
On the same day another messenger warned
the ToriKhel Wazirs and lower Dauris not to
attend the annual fair at Tappi and Daur, or
if they did go to carry arms and wear “ Ghaza ”
clothes. The Tahsildar and Subadar-Major who
attended the fair found hardly any one there,
and the general attitude of the villagers was
uncivil. There have also been rumours that
no rule in Waziristan had lasted more than 10
years, and that the time of the British Govern
ment was up. A fajdr from Birmal has
been trying to induce the Madda Khel Wazirs
to join him in “Ghaza”. These reports tend
to show that a general disturbance was intend
ed, and it is thought that Colonel Harman’s
murderer may have acted prematurely. This
view is confirmed by a statement attributed to
the Mulla Powinda that the disarmament of
the Mahsud sepojs of the Militia prevented
a mutiny.
BALUCHISTAN.
The prisoner in the recent murder case
at Chaman (see Journal for January) is still in
confinement. Judgment has not yet been pro
nounced in his case. 1
The new Mekran Levy Corps marched :
full strength from Mastung to Panjgur whe
they arrived on the 1 st January. The marc
was a trying one owing to the severe col.
out the health of the men w as excellent.
Calcutta, \
The let March 1905. j L ' CR ™P.
Foreign Office Preei-Ko. 1195- 8-3-05— 65.