Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎237r] (163/174)

1871. ]
HUMOURED DESIGNS OE THE RUSSIANS.
205
744. And a Bokhara official, Astana-Kul Kurawul IWoo wvifi™ t
the camp at Karshee on the 8th May to Ameer Shere Ali, saidttratlhe Rus^ns
had now been prevented from carrying out their designs on Khiva that thev
were negotiating for the possession of Kirkee on the Oxus, hut that the Ameer
of Bokhara was unwilling to grant the request; that Abdool Rahman was
still m Samarkand m receipt of his allowances ; and that General KautW™
had come there too for the purpose of getting his son married to the daughter
of a Persian resident of Samarkand. The same correspondent on the \lt\i
* Diary ending 25th May. IVTcty Wrot©^ to tllclt to this McHTlclgG
i\/r ^ cn 1 • a 1 -tt".; t -rr- ceremony Kaufmann had invited the
Meers of Shuhr-i"Subz, Kitab, Kurmeena, Khuturchee, and Tora-ata
^and after a great discussion with the above Chiefs regarding the Kin^ 0 f Bokhara the
Goobernatt expressed himself satisfied wjth His Majesty. Then the Meers°said that four of
them would go to see the King, and the Goobernatt also intimated his wish to accompany
them; but the Meers stated that, as their people are unscrupulous, there was danger lest any
injury should happen to him whereby both they (the Meers) and the King might be disgraced
nnd the intention was abandoned. The Meers received Milluts, and the Russians bein<? much
gratified with them, permitted them to return to their homes. On Monday an a^ent °on the
part of the above Meers waited on the King with a letter, and said that the Meers had told
him to communicate to His Majesty that the Goobernatt had expressed himself satisfied with
him (the King), and that he would, therefore, proceed towards Kokan ; also, that the Meers were
nlso pleased with the Goobernatt. Before the arrival of the Goobernatt in Samarkand, 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 Khan had a difference with the people of that place, and one or two of his foh
lowers were killed. When the Goobernatt arrived, he took him to Tashkund, and asked him why
he had done so, but he threw the blame on the shoulders of the people of the city of Samarkund,
and fully excused himself. The Goobernatt then encouraged him, and, after saying that he
would make him master of a territory, showed him kindness and granted him a, JcMllut. He
(the Goobernatt) requested the King to give him Kirkee for the residence 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 Khan, and for the purpose of constructing a cantonment there; but the Kina’has
declined assent, and no further letter has been received from the Goobernatt/”
745. A letter was at the same time received from Eujjub Ali saying that
the Prussians had arranged with the Ameer of Bokhara that he should pay
1,000 Tillas annually, and give up one or two positions.
746. In a letter received on the 15th June, Alum reported that the
Ameer of Bokhara had agreed to pay 60,000 Salor Tillas to the Eussians for
two years; that he had sent his troops to Shuhr-i-Subz, and, after arranging for
the departure of the Turkish envoy, would return to his capital from Karshee.
And other letters following confirmed this account generally.
747. An occasional correspondent, writing from Cahul on the 20th March,
furnished the Punjab Government with the following news sent to him hy a
friend from Cahul:
“ The King of Bokhara is very desirous of organizing bis army on the regular system.
Several regular regiments have been already raised, and it is His Majesty’s intention to dis
pense with all irregular troops; but there are no suitable persons in the country to instruct
regular troops in drill, &c., and the jealousy of the durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). officials instigates false accusations
against any foreigners who succeed in acquiring any position of influence, which result fre
quently in their expulsion. Transfers into the regular army desired by the Ameer's servants
are already sanctioned, but they are not compulsory.
“The Bokhara artillery consists of two hundred cannons, half of which number are dis
tributed in the country, and the remaining half are in the capital; of the latter, 50 are un
serviceable.
“ At the present time Ali Mahomed Khan, of Cabul, a servant of Abdool Rahman
Khan, is a favourite of the Ameer of Bokhara. He has been appointed General of the
Cavalry.
* * * * * *
t( Two envoys have arrived from the Emperor of Russia in Bokhara. They represented
that the Emperor having bestowed Shuhr-i-Subz on the Ameer, it was proper that the latter
should cede to the Emperor the territory of Karmina, in the neighbourhood of Kutta-Kurghan,
well as the territory of Charjooi beyond the Hamoon River, as His Imperial Majesty was