Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎227r] (143/174)

* Letter dated 18th May, from 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. Mahomed T i i
Yacoob Khan, to the Commander-in-Chief.
1871. j EFFORTS OF ABDOOLLAII KHAN, NASIREE, TO EFFECT A RECONCILIATION. 185
677 Fortunately at this crisis. Sirfar Abdoollah Khan, Nasiree, who has
already been often mentroned.besnrrea himself to mediate a reconciliation which
should put a stop to this dreadful civil war. One result was that Yacoob sent oft*
Abdoollah himself with a letter containing expressions of penitence to the Ameer
And he wrote to Feramoz to the following effect:
“* 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. Abdoollah Khan having been informed of your ill-advised movement, and
having inspected the standards of the troops which
I had raised to oppose you, waited on me and
made some representations in the interests of the
kingdom, and in regard to the duty incumbent on me and His Highness the Ameer. Consider
ing his counsels good and thinking him a well-wisher, I quickly gave him an expression of
my views and intentions; and, with reference to the past events, he said that what had
happened could not now be helped. I replied that some proof should be brought forward
before I was blamed for past occurrences. I have never hitherto stirred up disaffection or
disobedience towards His Highness the Ameer, nor will I ever do so, and I fled from the
country merely on account of the ill-disposed persons in the kingdom who were working to
ruin me and the Ameer. To verify my statement, and though the act was, in public opinion,
opposed to my interests having put aside self-glorification, I read the Khoolba anti struck coin
in the name of the Ameer, on Friday, in the presence 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. Abdoollah Khan, and he was
re-assured. He said that, if such is the case, I should not, for the sake of God and the
prophet, proceed further, and that he would go over to the Ameer to deprecate His Highness's
displeasure; and that a letter should be sent to you that, until his return from Cabul and until
the receipt of news to a friendly or warlike effect from the Ameer, you should not move, hut
should await the result of this 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. 's deputation. A detachment of cavalry, which did not
amount to even one hundred people, was on its way to me; you ordered five cavalry regiments
to kill or take this small force as prisoners, and your sowars went in pursuit of it from
Khowaja-Oorya to the Oorskun border. Such actions do you no credit. How long will you
endeavour to produce disaffection between the father and the son, and how long will you choose
to kill Mahomedans and to ruin the kingdom ? Paying regard to God and the prophet you
should remain in one place until the arrival of instructions, to whatever effect they may be,
from the Ameer, and refrain from further mischief. I am well acquainted with you and your
army, and have not the least occasion to fear; but I consider that it would be disgraceful for
me to come into collision with the Ameer's troops, which must lead to the slaughter of people
on both sides. You are my servant, and I am under the impression that by the help of
God, if I am obliged to wage war with you, your disloyal conduct will bring disgrace on
you both in this world and in eternity. Besides this, I do not wish to allow that His Highness's
kingdom should he ruined, and the people of rank and position should be killed. I therefore
send you this letter by the hand of Syud Akasee with some niessages, and should you delay
your departure until the receipt of instructions, good or bad as they may he, from Cahul,
well and good, otherwise yon will be responsible for the result of following a contrary course.
Sufficient troops are with me, and, if you believe me, Herat cannot support a larger army.
Four fferat infantry and one cavalry regiments, one infantry regiment of deserters, who
separated from me formerly, one Cabulee cavalry and one infantry regiment, eight hundred
khasadars, and four thousand sowars of Herat, Cabul, and Candahar, such as Jilkas, Jumsheedees,
Hazarees, Taimunees, Ferozekohees, Kohistanees, Salarees, and Saroghees, have sided with me
and are ready to oppose you in hand-to-hand fighting. You must have heard how they fought
on some former occasions. Ho not think that I have written this to delay your operations and
to strengthen myself."
To this Feramoz replied—
“If you are sincere in your professions of allegiance to the Ameer, you should }ouiself
proceed to Cabul, leaving your younger brother in charge of Herat. In that case rnyse ,
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. Meer Afzul Khan, and 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. Shere Ah
See letter from Punjab, No. 708 (confidential), dated Khan, Candaharee, will proceed to Cabul to pn-
5tb July .871. [Enclosure No. 4 of Secret letter ^grcede on your behalf, and to procure the forgive-
to Secretary of State, dated list July, No. 4L] ^ of ^ Ameei , t If [ however, you should
not deem it expedient at present to go to Cabul, then you should send your younger
brother. Should you not be disposed to do even this, then permit my troops at hubz y‘
proceed to Herat,'o here they win ^ remain somewhere in the neighbourhood until a rep y
should be received from the Ameer."
678. Uslum’s letter already mentioned, to his brother in' Cabul, is very
shrewd. He said—
“ None of the Heratees of note have j°ffied the
camp, nor does there seem any probability
From 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. Mahomed Uslum Khan, to 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. Maho
med Hoossein Khan, dated 22nd May 18 m-
(See docket from Commissioner of Peshawur,
dated 13th June 1871.)
their doing so.