Affairs in the Punjab and the Countries Beyond the Indus, notably Afghanistan and Persia

Content

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of India Secret Department (Camp at Meerut) to the East India Company Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. , Number 1 of 1838, dated 8 February 1838. The enclosures are dated 18 September 1837-7 February 1838.

The primary correspondents are: Captain Claude Martine Wade, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Loodeana [Ludhiana, also spelled Loodiana, Lodhiana and other variations in this item]; William Hay Macnaghten, Secretary to the Government of India; and Captain Alexander Burnes, on a Mission to Cabool [Kabul, this spelling and other variations also used in this item].

Enclosures 3-120 and 126-128 (ff 49-505 and ff 525-532) comprise despatches between Wade and Macnaghten and between Burnes and Macnaghten. The despatches concern British policy towards and relations with the ruling parties in Afghanistan and with the Sikh Ruler Maharajah Runjeet Singh [Maharaja Ranjit Singh, this spelling and variations of ‘Ranjit’ also used in this item]; the latter two’s relations with each other, notably over Peshawar [also spelled Peshwar and Peshawur in this item]; Afghan relations with Persia [Iran] and Russia; and other political, economic and military affairs in Afghanistan and the Punjab. Burnes’s despatches are forwarded to Macnaghten by Wade and often include Wade’s critical remarks on Burnes’s situation assessments and actions, in addition to Wade’s own political analyses. The correspondence takes place amid a rumoured then an actual Persian expedition to conquer Herat.

The papers cover the following matters in detail:

• British relations with Maharajah Runjeet Singh, including: the issue of the return of Mazari territory to the Ameers of Sinde [Amīrs of Sindh] by Runjeet Singh; intelligence reports by Wade’s munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. [secretary] (ff 52-56, ff 110-115); correspondence regarding a potential meeting between Runjeet Singh and the Governor-General of India; and reports of Lieutenant Frederick Mackeson on affairs on the Peshawar frontier (ff 265-268, ff 272-274, ff 277-289)
• Relations of Herat with Persia and British policy regarding them, including: news of the arrival in Tehran of an envoy from Shah Kamran [Shāhzādah Kāmrān Durrānī], Ruler of Herat; and views of Burnes and Wade on the ‘designs’ of Persia on Herat (ff 297-301)
• British policy towards Dost Mahomed Khan [Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy], Ruler of Cabool, including: Burnes’s reports from Cabool on his meetings with Dost Mahomed (ff 134-141, ff 360-369); Burnes’s and Wade’s views on the ambitions of Dost Mahomed regarding branches of his family in Candahar [Kandahar; this spelling is also used in this item] and Peshawar, and his relations with Persia and Russia; British encouragement of Dost Mahomed to seek a reconciliation with their ally Runjeet Singh; Burnes’s and Wade’s assessment of the geo-political situation on the western frontier of British dominions in India and the aim of maintaining a balance of power advantageous to Britain between Cabool, Candahar, Herat, Persia, the Punjab and Sinde and which might avert any alliances with Russia (ff 78-82, ff 345-358)
• Burnes’s activities with regard to Candahar, and Candahar’s relations with Cabool and Persia, including: Burnes’s efforts to prevent 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. Kohin Dil Khan [Sirdār Kuhandīl Khān Muḥammadzay] sending his son Mahomed Omar Khan [Muḥammad Umar Khān] with an envoy, to conciliate Persia (ff 235-237); Kohin Dil Khan’s and his chief advisor’s letters to Dost Mahomed expressing obedience to the Ameer of Cabool, fear of Persia and the desire to depose the Ruler of Herat who repeatedly threatens to attack Candahar (ff 379-383); and Burnes’s instructions to Lieutenant Robert Leech, whom he deputes to Candahar with an offer of monetary and military support in the event of Persia conquering Herat (ff 471-477)
• Dost Mahomed Khan’ s relations with Russia and Persia, and British policy regarding them, including: Burnes’s alarm at the arrival in Cabool of a Russian agent, Captain Waitcawitch [Jan Prosper Witkiewicz] (ff 444-449); Wade’s detailed views on the positions of Persia and Russia in connection with Dost Mahomed and Afghanistan and the policy of discouraging the latter’s ‘ambitions’ (ff 415-421); and Macnaghten’s disapproval of Burnes’s promise of troops and pecuniary aid to the rulers of Candahar in the event of the Russian-supported Persian capture of Herat (ff 451-457)
• The Persian expedition against Herat, including: news of the defeat of Ghurian [Ghuryan, also spelled Ghoorian in this item] and siege of Herat; and Wade’s suggestion that Lieutenant Eldred Pottinger, detained by the Herat authorities, act as a mediator (albeit without authority from the Government of India), provide intelligence, and ensure that Kamran Shah resists Persia.

The following matters and documents are also included:

• Wade’s response to overtures of friendship made to him by Mir Alam Khan [Mīr ‘Ālim Khān], Ruler of Bajour, and Fatah Khan Panjtari, [Fatḥ Khān, Ruler of Panjtar] (ff 124-125)
• Disruption to the indigo trade in Cabool caused by differences between the Governor of Mooltan [Multan] and the Ruler of Bhawalpoor (ff 132-133, ff 152-153)
• A report by Lieutenant Leech, Bombay Engineers, entitled ‘Description of the Khyber Pass and of the Tribes inhabiting it’ (ff 143-150)
• Praise by Wade and Burnes of intelligence provided by Charles Masson in Cabool (ff 180-183)
• Burnes’s emphasis on conciliating the Lohani [a Pashtun tribe] ‘chiefs’, described by Wade as ‘meritorious merchants’ (f 184)
• Burnes’s report on the ‘commercial views and prospects of Russia in Central Asia’ (f 203), notably Russia’s relations with the rulers of Bokhara, Khiva [also referred to as ‘Orgunge’] and Kokan (ff 199-207)
• Burnes’s deputation of Dr Percival Lord and Lieutenant John Wood to Meer Moorad Beg [Mīr Murād Beg] Uzbeck ruler of Koondooz [Uzbek ruler of Kunduz], to treat the eye ailment of Moorad Beg’s brother (ff 251-263), and Macnaghten’s approbation for Burnes’s improvement of British relations with Koondooz.

Enclosures 121-125 (ff 506-524) comprise despatches between Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pottinger, Agent to the Governor-General for Sinde, and Macnaghten, notably regarding the apparent procrastination of the Ameers of Sinde over the establishment of a British Resident in their territory. Also covered is the progress made by Lieutenant Thomas Greer Carless in his survey of the Indus and Kurachee [Karachi] Harbour.

Extent and format

1 item (505 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM INDIA', Vol 48

1548 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/129

Written in

English and French in Latin script

Type

Archival item

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/5/129, ff 28-532

Former external reference(s)

No. 1 of 1838

History of this record

Date(s)

8 Feb 1838 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Trade missionsEconomic relationsMilitary campaignsMedical treatmentMilitary intelligenceDiplomacyInternational relationsTerritorial disputesSiege of Herat (1837-1838)Internal politicsPolitical conflictsPolitical intelligence

Places

BokharaSindeCentral AsiaPunjabAfghanistan

People & organisations

Representative of the Russian Empire to PersiaAmir of Lower SindhMaharajah of the PunjabPolitical AgentAgent to the Governor-General for the Affairs of SindhGovernment of IndiaGovernment of the Russian EmpireGovernment of Persia, Qajar dynastyGovernor of HeratEldred PottingerJan Prosper WitkiewiczDūst Muḥammad Khān BārakzāyAlexander BurnesFrederick Mackeson

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Affairs in the Punjab and the Countries Beyond the Indus, notably Afghanistan and Persia, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/129, ff 28-532, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100139136445.0x000004> [accessed 2 October 2024]

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