Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎178v] (46/174)

88
AMY ORGANIZATION
[ 1869-70.
“*The Ameer had at first fixed the pay of the infantry at Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 7 per mensem; l a t er
on seeing the extent ot his deficit, this was re’
* Diary ending 8th August 1869. duced to Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 6, but the higher rate is tempo"
rarily retained owing to the great scarcity of provisions.
411. And those in the diaries of 1st and 5th July 1869 show the new
system of paying the army :
T u p c: V ot e m of o-ivino- cheques to the Cabul troops to realise their pay from the revenue
& ^ of the country has been discontinner
a *
Diary ending 1st July 1869.
of the country has been discontinued. The
— o « evils of the system were, that the recipients of
orders on villages used to live at free quarters till the sums were paid, causing much annoyance,
and when the troops were required to muster, there was diffieuhy in collecting them fr 0m
the various quarts there they were billetted ; also officers, to increase the,,- allowances, nse<l
to dismiss some of their men during the intervals between musters. The whole revenue will
in future be credited to the Government Treasury and the pay of the troops will be regular],
issued thence The Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. who were in the habit of cheating the State by decreasing the
streno-th of their regiments after the issue of such cheques, and increasing the sums nominally
at the time of the distribution of their regiments’pay are much dissatisfied with the above
t m A regular system for the maintenance of the army has for the future been directed
bv the Ameer °The troops deputed to Herat and Toorkistan have received their arrears as well
as an advance’of two months’pay from the money given to the Ameer by the English
Government The troops at Cabul are dissatisfied with the new system of issuing of then
F ay, and would be glad of a disturbance and a return to old customs.
* ■ r rron oava i rv corps have received pay for the last three months at the rate of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 6
per sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. per month ; in future they will be paid
. Diary ending 5th July 186 - 5 . at. the rate of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 20 per man per month under
<e #
“ The Ameer is certainly anxious that the strength of the cavalry levies should be reduced
and the regular regiments increased; but he finds great difficulty in canying this view into
effect as the Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. and other notables are entirely averse to it, and refuse to serve under the
proposed regular system.”
412. An entry in tlie diary of 25tli August illustrates the method
actually existing:
u * f phe Ameer has received burrats (remittance documents) for 20 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. fiom the
revenue officials for distribution amongst the re-
* Diary ending 25th August 18fO. gular troops in payment of their salary; and
having made over the same to the treasurer, has directed him to realize this amount from the
territories referred to in the said documents, and to credit it to the Treasury, in order that the
above troops may be paid every month.”
413. E. B. in liis letter of 10th January 1870, written from Cabul, thus
estimates the Ameer's forces :
Strength of each
regiment.
Locality.
Description of troops.
Regular.
Irregular.
Nominal.
Actual.
-
Infantry
6 Regiments ...
Foot 600.
Balkh terri
tory.
Cavalry
3 batteries Horse Artillery ...
1 ditto drawn by bullocks ...
4 Risalas
Horse 400 ...
1 to 200
.
Herat .|
Infantry
Cavalry
18 Guns
6 Regiments ...
3 Risalas
.-. 400.
Candahar... j
Infantry Regiments
12 Guns
-
/
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