Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎207v] (104/174)

146
ABDOOL EAHMAN—SUIIWUE KHAN.
[ 1870-71.
He was said to be affianced to tbe daughter of Jehandar Shall, whom, however,
the Ameer of Bokhara claimed for his son. Jehandar Shah had, it may be
remembered, given his sister in marriage to Azim, when the latter was in
Budukshan in 1865.—Wheeler’s Memorandum on Afghan-Toorkistan, § 156.
549. The Bokhara envoy, who came to Cabul at the end of 1870, reported
that—•
(l at the request of Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Abdool Rahman Ivhan, the Russian auth orities had intimated their
wish to the King of Bokhara to afford him a sate
Diary ending 12tli January 18/ L. passage to Afghanistan ; but His Majesty wrote to
them that, in the event of his permitting the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. to return to Afghanistan, via his king
dom, his old-sianding friendly relations with Afghanistan would be changed into enemity, and
God*knows what would be its result ; consequently, the Russians remained silent. _ His High
ness doubts the accuracy of the statement of the envoy, and is of opinion that, with reference
to their (the Russians’) friendly relations with the British Government, they would hardly
meddle with such matters.”
550. On the lltb March a letter was received from Bokhara, stating that
Abdool Rahman was in receipt of an allowance of 250 Timgas a day; bad
married Jehandar Shah’s daughter, and was living in luxury, acknowledging that,
so long as Shere AH lived, he had no prospect of conquering Afghanistan; that
lie had started on his way to St. Petersburg, but bad come back to Samarkund;
and that Surwnr Khan, heard of last as on the Russian shore of the Caspian,
had gone to St. Petersburg, and was now on his way back.
551. This mention of Surwur Khan leads me to review the correspond
ence about the Afghan refugees in Persia from the date of that summarised in
paragraph 328 of this prdcis.
In his despatch to Lord Clarendon, No. 79, dated the 13th November 1869,
Mr. Ronald Thomson, the Chargd d’Affaires at Teheran, reported that the whole
party of refugees received from the Meshed authorities 25 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (about
£10) a day ; that when the party came to Teheran, their reception was anything
hut encouraging; for the Persian Government, finding that their expectation of
pecuniary assistance was far beyond what the Shah was disposed to give, took
very little notice of any of them, beyond recommending them to dismiss most of
their retinue, about 100 in number, and to reduce their expenditure. When they
had done this, a sum would probably be assigned for their maintenance ; and
the Persian Government distinctly told all the Afghan refugees in Teheran, that
they would not be allowed to remain in Persia if they engaged in intrigues
against Shere Ali.
On the 7th April 1870 Mr, Ronald Thomson sent the Viceroy of India
the following list of the leading Afghan refugees then in Persia :
“ Shah Newaz Khan, son of Sultan Ahmed Khan (late ruler of Herat) and grandson of
Mahomed Azim Khan [the brother of Dost Mahomed Khan], receives l,2o0 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a year
from the Persian Government, besides 200 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. extra allowance during the Ramzan, 100
Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. for Nowrooz, 240 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a year house-rent, also 40 khat wars wheat (worth 120
Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. ). The Ameen-ood-Dowlah also gives him 100 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a year, making in all 1,960
Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . He is now in Teheran.
“Mahomed Surwur Khan, son of Mahomed Azim Khan [late Ameer of Afghanistan],
grandson of Dost Mahomed Khan. He is accompanied by Mnhomed Aziz Khan, son of
Abdoollah Khan, the son of Peer Mahomed Khan [brother of Dost Mahomed Khan], with
70 attendants and 50 horses in all. To this party the Shah allows 3,600 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a year.
Tliey have lately dismissed about 40 of their attendants, and have now about thirty remaining
with twenty horses, all at Teheran. In this party there are four f Generals/—Ali Asker
Khan, Jumsheed Khan, Koorbun Ali Khan, and Shere Mahomed Khan.
“ Mahomed Surwur Khan, son of Mahomed Kooli Khan, grandson of Wuzeer Futteh
Khan [ Dost Mahomed Khan s eldest brother ], with ten attendants came to Teheran with the
son of Azim Khan, and receives 600 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a year and a house.