'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎93r] (190/310)

number of men engaged is believed to be
seven hundred, though the Mulla is credited
with possessing only seventy breech-loading
rifles at present.
On the afternoon of the 27th May,
Lieutenants White and Gunning went with
20 Militia scwars, at the request of the Poli
tical Agent, to arrange for the arrest of a man of
Daur who was defying the Naib Tahsildar and
had taken up a position with a Martini-Henry
rifle in a tower at Hakim Khel. On the way
from Idak to Hakim Khel, the party passed a
Mohmit Khel kirri the men of which suddenly
ran up to high ground and opened fire on the
Militia, under the impression, apparently,
that the party intended to arrest them. The
Militia returned the fire and a Mohmit Khel
was shot in the head when his companions
made oft‘ in the dark. No one of the Militia
was hurt. The matter is being enquired into,
and meanwhile the sheep and cattle of the
kirri have been detained.
There has been a marked increase of fana
tical preaching of Mullas directed against
Government, and there are signs of a consider
able amount of unrest in the Tochi. The
presence of the survey parties is ascribed to a
desire on the part of Government to map out
the country with a view to regular settlement
and the levy of revenue, and the Mullas are also
working on the popular belief that the late
Mission to Kabul has resulted in strained
relations between the Amir and the British
Government, and that hostilities are possible—
a belief which is strengthened by the recent
additions to the Afghan garrisons on the
frontier. The Mulla Powindah has taken
advantage of this state of affairs to extend bis
influence as a religious leader over the Darwesh
Khels, as well as the Mahsuds, and he may take
advantage of the position which he has attained
to induce the former to commit themselves with
Government. The position is thus not entirely
free from anxiety, and precautionary measures
are being taken.
Kwmm.—The Khanni Khel Chamkanni
Maliks have been interviewing the recalcitrant
Haii Khel, Mirza Khel, and Awidarra Khel
Maliks (see last Journal), but up to date have
not met with success, and a settlement of cases
against them does not appear imminent.
With reference to the case of the theft
of the Government rifles from Ibrahimzai
village (see last Journal), the jirgas of the
Samfl and Gara xMassozai were interviewed at
the end of April, and the former were given
to understand that they must return the stolen
property, release the kidnapped persons, and
pav a fine of Rs. 1,000. The stolen rifles and
kidnapped persons were brought m by the
Samil Massozai jirga on the 12th May.