'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎91v] (187/310)

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those Afridis who assisted the British author
ities in the Darshi raid case. They also propose
making some arrangement for the protection
of bad characters and the punishment of
persons who supply news to the British
authorities.
During the course of the negotiations at
Kabul, Mr. Dane mentioned the question ol
the demarcation of the undefined portion of
the frontier between the Nawa Kolal and Sika
Kam, but was unable to induce the Amir to
settle the general principles on which the
work should be carried out. Shortly before
the Mission left Kabul, however, the Itimad-
ud-Daula informed one of the Kative Attaches
attached to the Mission that, as the prolonged
stay of the Mission at Kabul had made the
Afghans suspicious that great concessions were
being made to the British, the Amir had not
thought it convenient to prolong Mr. Dane’s stay
at Kabul to discuss the principles upon which
the border should be demarcated; but thar,
when the local officers had visited the spot and
made reports to their Governments, the Amir
would not raise unreasonable difficulties about
the boundary, and that the British Govern
ment might rest assured that His Highness
would not quarrel with them about a few clods
of earth or a couple of barren hills. Colonel
Deane reports that any attempt to have the
proposed boundary surveyed by a British or
Joint Commission, before deciding the main
lines which the boundary should follow, would
be attended with great difficulty and danger,
and could only be carried out if a strong
body of troops were sent as escort, and that
there would be very great risk of disturb
ances. The state of affairs prevailing among
the Mohmands on the Afghan border at the
present time is particularly unsatisfactory.
There have, for some time past, been at work
in the Mohmand country strong religious
influences directed from Afghanistan against
Government. Two influential Mullas \\^\Q
been touring through the country, declaring
that any persons dealing with the British
Government, whether by interviews with
officers or by receiving allowances, are infidels,
and that to such persons and their relatives
the rites of Muhammadan burial should be
refused. The Mullas in question are undoubt
edly men of influence and backed by a strong
following of Mohmands from Afghan territory,
Asa result, the Halimzai jirgas, with whom our
relations are closer than with the majority of the
other clans, only came in after considerable hesi
tation in order to receive their allowances. The
Dawezai and Utmanzai jirgas have sent in word
that they will come shortly, but they too are
hesitating and waiting to see what action, if
any, the Mullas will take against the Halirn-
zais. The latter themselves appealed to the
Deputy Commissioner, Peshawar, for Goveru-