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| Free Balawaristan - Old secret documents |
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Yasen From a Memorandum forwarded by the Maharaja of Kashmir, dated the 21st July 1870, it appears that in 1844 a rival of Gauhar Aman, the Ruler of Yasen, waited on the Kashmir Military Governor of Gilgit and urged his claim to the territory of Yasen. In consequence of this Gauhar Aman entered into an engagement with and acknowledged fealty to the Governor of Kashmir to whom he sent his brother Khalil Aman with presents. Khalil Aman remained in Kashmir for some years as a hostage and the annual tribute was paid through him. Some time after this it was reported to the Maharaja that the Kashmir Military Governor of Gilgit has omitted to occupy Yasen. Troops were then sent into Yasen, and the Fort of Sher was besieged. The Ruler of Yasen then waited personally on the Kashmir Military Governor of Gilgit, and eventually peace was made under the terms of which the Ruler of Yasen and his allies, the Rajas of Hunza and Nagar each gave a daughter in marriage to the Military Governor of Gilgit, and according to the Kashmir memorandum the Ruler of Yasen at the same time acknowledged, for a second time, fealty to Kashmir, and agreed to pay the usual tribute. From 1847 to 1852 Kashmir troops occupied Gilgit, when, in the latter year they were expelled by the Ruler of Yasen, in whose hands Gilgit remained for a period of eight years, when as the result of his death Kashmir troops re-occupied it without much trouble. The Victorians Kashmir troops then pushed on to Yasen, which they only held for a few days and then abandoned, after making it over to Azmat Shah if Dir who soon lost it. According to Kashmir statements the Yasenis were "still troublesome", and "with the view of good order being preserved and perpetual tranquility being secured, Yasen was made over to Mir Wali" a son of the Ruler of Yasen who has opposed the Kashmir troops. Mir Wali’s Agent “waited on His Highness the Maharaja, “and a patent conveying the gift was granted to him”. As regards this, Mr. Girdlestone’s writing in 1871 in his “MEMORANDUSM OF CASHMERE” remarks :- “that the Cashmere troops have not occupied Yasen since 1860, and in that year only for a short time the Maharaja of Cashmere claims to have conquered it in the campaign of that year and to have bestowed the sovereignty of the district by sunnud on Mir Wali. But trustworthy proof of the document has never been produced”. In 1863, some messengers of the Maharaja of Kashmir were robbed and imprisoned in Yasen which resulted in another expedition being sent there ending in the complete defeat of the Yasenis, who paid the tribute imposed upon them. This defeat made the Yasen leader submissive, and for a few years the Chiefs sent their Agents to Jammu with presents, and they were anxious to keep on good terms with the Maharaja. Up to the year 1870, Mir Wali’s relations with Kashmir “had been very varied; he was always ready to lend himself to any opposition formed against it, and afterwards prompt with profuse professions of attachment, for the last year or two (1868-690 a friendship more or less sincere had existed; his messengers had come and gone freely, and presents had passed. The precise nature of his relations with Kashmir were difficult to gauge, but he appeared to be thorn in their side, if not their bitter enemy. In 1870, a proposal was made to permit the Maharaja of Kashmir to occupy Yasen. Mr. Wali, the Ruler, was in consequence of the murder of Mr. G. Hayward, the explorer, forced to fly from the country. The proposal (occupancy of Yasen by Kashmir was, however, negatived by the Government of India. In 1872, the question was again raised, this time by the Government of India themselves, but it was negatived by the Secretary of State. In 1877, the Districts of Yasen, Kuh, Ghizr and Ashkuman were under the rule of Mehtar, Pahlwan Bahadur, a members of Kushwakt section of the Chitral Ruling Family. Pahlwan Bahadur acknowledged the suzerainty of Kashmir, from whom he received a subsidy, but he failed to act up to his engagements; and in 1880 he invaded Punial. Yasen was occupied in his absence by Aman-ul-Mulk of Chitral, and Pahlwan, having failed in his attack in Punial, fled from the country. Aman-ul-Mulk was permitted by the Kashmir Darbar to incorporate the whole tract in his own territory, and, with their consent, he partitioned it. No. 2269 FROM…THE BRITISH AGENT AT GILGIT TO.........THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR Dated Gilgit the 15th May 1894. Sir, I have the honour to forward a copy of a note dated the 11th April 1894, from Captain F.E. Younghusband, C.I.E., Political Officer, Chitral in which he expresses his opinion as to the advisability of giving presents to the Governor of Yasen. The question arose on a petition recently received from Mehtar Jao Tahmal Shah in which he represented that in return for the loyal manner in which he has served the Government of India in his capacity as Governor of Yasen he trusted the Government of India would allow him a fixed subsidy similar to that enjoyed by Sirdar Nizam-ul-Mulk (the present Mehtar of Chitral) when he was Governor of Yasen. 2. The cases of Sirdar Nizam-ul-Mulk and Mehtar Jao Tahammal Shah are of course not analogous, neither do I think that there exists any obligation for Government to subsidize the Governor nor do I think it would be desirable to do so. Having in view, however, the power which the Governor of Yasen possesses of affording assistance both of the Political Officer in Chitral and the Officer Commanding the Detachment at Gupis. I agree with Captain Younghusband in thinking that it would be money well spent if we were to give the Governor liberal presents from time to time. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient servant, A. MORAL BRUCE POLITICAL AGENT, GILGIT. Copy of a note No. 158, date 11th April 1894, from Captain F.E. Younghusband, C.I.E., Political Officer, Chitral, to the British Agent, Gilgit. _________________ In my opinion it is at present neither necessary nor would it be wise for us to directly subsidize the Governor of Yasen. To start with a great part of the subsidy would directly or indirectly go to the Mehtar, and then if we subsidized the Governor of Yasen we should likewise have to subsidized the Governor of Mastuj and the whole country from Roshan to Reshun would consequently be in a state of half serving us and half serving the Mehtar. Each of the two Governors would have to serve two masters while we on the other hand would have three people to look after instead of one. Matters are at present going on very fairly well-they are capable of improvement certainly, but still they have been improving and they show signs of still further improvement along the lines we are present working on. The Mehtar appears to be getting an increased hold over the Governors both of Yasen and Mastuj and at the same time is using his authority in our interests. Any disturbance of this state of things might loosen both the Mehtar’s and the Governor’s authority for the Mehtar’s good feeling towards us might be lessened and his support given less willingly and readily both to us and the Governors on their side not having his support from the Mehtar would find their authority dwindle and their plans perhaps thwarted. It is possible, however, that Mehtar Jao Tahammal Shah may have mad this request for a subsidy with the consent or possibly at the instigation of the Mehtar. But if that were in fact the case there is not the slightest doubt that the Mehtar would have only given such a consent from consideration of avarice and that just as his subsidy was nearly all absorbed by the late Mehtar, so in turn would demand from the Governor of Yasen nearly all the subsidy we might give him. If the Mehtar has indeed given his consent to Mehtarjao Tahammal Shah making this request to us I think such consent would only have been given on these conditions. Consequently we should, in that case, derive little benefit from subsidizing the Governor. But while I would be inclined to oppose the grant of a regular and especially a direct subsidy to the Governor of Yasen. I think we ought to be prepare to give him substantial and liberal presents from time to time on the occasions of a British Officer visiting Yasen or his visiting Gupis or from the annual Durbar at Gilgit. Such presents serve to grease the wheel of administration very considerably and as the Mehtar appears because it makes them more ready to obey his orders to attend to us. There is nothing in such a system which would be objectionable on the score of running against the Mehtar and I think that all the influence, it is necessary for us to acquire with the Governor of Yasen directly, can be acquired by this means. No. 2419 FROM......... LIEUTENANT-COLONEL D.W.K. BARR, RESIDENT IN KASHMIR. TO…. THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. Dated Srinagar the 30th May 1894 Sir, I have the honour to submit for the orders of the Government of India copy of a letter No. 2269, dated the 15th instant from the British Agent, Gilgit, and of its enclosure being a note a by Captain F.E. Younghusband, C.I.E., Political Officer in Chitral, on the subject of a proposal to grant presents from time to time to the Governor of Yasen. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient servant, D.W.K. BARR RESIDENT IN KASHMIR. No. 1356-F FROM… THE DEPUTY SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. TO……. THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR. Dated Simla the 20th June 1894 Sir, I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter no. 2419, dated the 30th May 1894, regarding a proposal to grant presents from time to time to the Governor of Yasen. 2. I am to say that the Government of India agrees in the opinion expressed by the Political Officer in Chitral and the British Agent at Gilgit, that it would be undesirable to accede to the Governor’s request for the grant of a subsidy. There will, however, be no objection to the British Agent presenting MehtarJao Tahammal Shah with any articles, not money that he may think fit, provided the Budget grant of the Agency under the head “Darbar presents” is not exceeded. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient servant, A.C. TUTUR DEPUTY SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA. No. 3020 A copy of the undermentioned paper is forwarded to the British Agent, Gilgit, for information. By order, J.L. Kaye ASSISTANT TO THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR KASHMIR RESIDENCY DATED THE 5TH JULY 1894. Letter from the Government of India in the Foreign Department, No. 1356-F, dated the 20th June 1894. TELEGRAM FROM…THE POLITICAL AGENT IN GILGIT TO……..THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR No. 3240. Dated the 22nd October 1911. Please refer August Diary telegram just received from Governor Yasen and Agency Munsi Gupis that Mehtarjaos Muhammad Rahim and Sultan Mohy-ud-din, brothers of Governor Yasen with about 120 followers left Yasen last night with probable intention proceeding Khili. Have wined Gupis and Ghizr to try and stop part but fear too late. TELEGRAM FROM…THE RESIDENT OF KASHMIR TO……..THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. No. 5875. Dated the 25th October 1911. My telegram 5804 of 23rd. Political Agent, Gilgit, wires today that he has announced temporary arrangements for administration Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh to people and that number of followers who accompanied Mehtarjaos to Khili was 62 only. No Government rifles were taken. Political Agent reports all quiet Gupis. Extract from the Gilgit Political Agency official diary for the month of July 1911. X X X X Yasen It is reported that Raja Phukhtun Wali has been endeavouring to get on good terms with the Governor of Yasen but the latter is not inclined to respond. The Governor has also been on rather bad terms lately with his two brother Muhammad Rahim and Sultan Muhiuddin owing it is said to the intrigues of their mother. X X X X TELEGRAM FROM…THE POLITICAL AGENT IN GILGIT TO……..THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR No. 309/C. Dated the 23rd October 1911. I am making following temporary arrangements for administration Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh which I hope will meet with your approval viz Saiad Eshani-Hazrat to run Yasen where he has twice previously officiated as regent and Khan Sahib Murad Khan to be put in charge Ghizr and Kuh; latter is thoroughly reliable and previously several times acted in similar capacity in other places. I propose proceeding Yasen to announce above arrangements returning Gilgit 26th where I have much work in connection departure Chiefs for Delhi etc. I anticipate no trouble but Ames who has arrived here from Chitral will remain Gupis next few days and watch events. TELEGRAM FROM… THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR TO……… THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FOREIEN DEPARTMENT No. 5955. Dated the 30th October 1911. My telegram 5875 of 25th instant. On 23rd Political Agent wired that to facilitate introduction new administration and prevent intrigue it was most essential to deport Governor Yasen immediately to Kashmir. Political Agent desired to send Governor off soon as possible after latters arrival Gilgit where he was expected 25th so as to get him out of way before other Chiefs start Delhi. He asked for early sanction to deportation to enable him make necessary arrangements and added his proposals regarding Hakim Ghizr would follow. I replied that deportation required Governments approval and that pending fuller information regarding Governor's offence and proposals as to future treatment I hesitated to sanction deportation and was unable to address Government. I suggested Governor be detained in custody Gilgit without facilities for communicating with other Chiefs before latter depart Delhi when full enquiry can be made and case reported in detail for orders of Government. Political Agent now telegraphs 27th Begins. I am anxious Governor Yasen be deported immediately as I consider this only step likely prevent misunderstanding and restore order Agency where situation generally rather serious owing intrigue against Pakhtun Wali having reached such a pitch that his position has become entirely undermined and his unpopularity both in and outside his territory so intense that probability his being attacked from Yaghistan now openly discussed. I have also discovered since making arrests that extensive plot existed Punial involving almost whole district for attacking Pakhtun Wali which only prevented by my prompt action in arresting Governor Yasen. As all this largely due lenient treatment accorded Sifat Bahadur after his last raid Darel and his subsequent restoration to power giving rise to belief such acts especially if successful can be committed with comparative impunity it seems imperative decided action be taken present occasion as otherwise probability most serious trouble hereafter. Governor Yasen has been very unsatisfactory ruler and as there can be no question my mind advisability his deposition it seems desirable every point of view he be deported now before passes close question of his allowances etc during exile which relatively unimportant being settled later for present he should be detained Hari-Parhat Ends. In above circumstances I support Political Agents proposals and trust sanction be accorded same by wire. Hari-Parhat is fort in Srinagar used and suitable for confinement. TELEGRAM FROM…THE FIRST ASSISTANT TO THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR TO……..THE CHIEF MINISTER, JAMMU No. 6080. Dated the 2nd November 1911. On the 18th Ultimo Mehtarjaos Mohammad Rahim and Sultan Mohy-ud-din brother of Governor Yasen with 62 followers left Yasen for Khilti. On hearing news which reached him too late to stop Mehtarjaos Political Agent proceeded Gupis and arrested Governor Yasen and Hakim Ghizr. His reasons for such action being (1) interception by him of 2 highly seditious and mischievous letters written by Hakim Ghizr to Raja Pakhtun Wali regarding which Governor must have had cognisance (2) Continuance by Governor of active intrigue against Pakhtun Wali in spite of warnings to desist (3) Undoubted complicity of both Governor and Hakim in Mehtarjaos flight to Khili. Political Agent then appointed as temporary measure Sayed Eshan Hazrat to administer Yasen where he was twice previously officiated as Regent and placed Khan Sahib Murad Khan in charge Ghizr and Kuh he being thoroughly reliable and having had previous experience in other places. Above arrangements which were approved by Resident were well received by people. Political Agent subsequently reported that to facilitate introduction new administration and prevent intrigue it was most essential Governor Yasen be immediately deported to Kashmir. He considered this only step likely prevent misunderstanding and restore order. Agency where situation generally rather serious owing intrigues existing Punial and involving almost whole district for attacking Pakhtun Wali. In his opinion decided action is imperative if most serious trouble is to be avoided. He added Governor Yasen had proved most unsatisfactory ruler and that his deportation before passes close is desirable from every point of view. Government of India approve proposed deportation and confinement Governor in Hariparbat fort. Please wire immediately whether Darbar concur. Details regarding duration of detention, allowances, etc. can be decided later. TELEGRAM FROM… THE CHIEF MINISTER, JAMMU TO……… THE FIRST ASSISTANT TO THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR Dated the 3rd November 1911. Your telegram 6080 of 2nd instant. Darbar concurs in proposed deportation and confinement of Governor Yasen as a proved of by Government of India. TELEGRAM FROM…THE POLITICAL AGENT, GILGIT. TO………THE FIRST ASSISTANT TO THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR. No. 3414 Dated Gilgit the 6th November 1911. Your 6412. Governor Yasen leaves Gilgit today and should arrive Bandipur 18th. TELEGRAM FROM…THE FIRST ASSISTANT TO THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR TO……..THE CHIEF MINISTER, JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE. No. 6219 Dated the 8th November 1911. My letter 6080 dated 2nd instant. Political Agent, Gilgit, wires that Governor Yasen left Gilgit 6th instant and should arrive Bandipore 18th. No. 3326. FROM…MAJOR A.D. MACPHERSON, POLITICAL AGENT IN GILGIT TO……..THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR Dated Gilgit the 30th October 1911. Sir, I have the honour to report for your information in connection with the recent arrests of Shah Abdur Rahman, Governor of Yasen and Loghal Shah, Hakim of Ghizr, that my reasons for taking this serious step were as follows :- 2. On the evening of the 19th October I received telegraphic information from Gupis that the Mehtarjaos Mohammed Rahim and Sultan Mohy-ud-din brothers of the Governor of Yasen, had bolted the previous night from Yasen with the probable intention of proceeding to Khili, and had taken with them their followers numbering 120 persons. The actual number of the latter was subsequently found to be only 62, but it included men from Yasen, Kuh and Ghizr as well as several levies. On receipt of the above information I immediately sent urgent telegrams to Gupis and Ghizr with instructions to try and stop the Mehtarjaos, if possible, and at the same time I also reported the matter by urgent telegram to you. 3. The following morning, i.e., on the 20th I received by post from the Agency Munshi at Gupis a letter with an enclosure which he had intercepted written by Hakim Loghal. Shah to Raja Pukhtun Wali of Tangir. This letter, of which an English translation is attached (Enclosure I) is, it will be observed, highly seditious and apart from its accusation of treachery and faithlessness imputed to Major Dew and myself and the British Government generally, warns Pukhtun Wali against having any intercourse with me. 4. The above letter taken in conjunction with the flight of the Mehtarjaos and the active intrigue which has been going on in the Agency against Pukhtun Wali ever since the Government entered into negotiations with him last year, seemed to me to be so serious and to reveal such a state of insubordination in the Agency and disrespect for the orders of Government that I decided to immediately proceed to Gupis and arrest both the Governor and his Agent Loghal Shah, which I accordingly did on the evening of the 22nd. There were no difficulties in connection with these arrests which were carried out by me with a small guard of the infantry detachment in Gupis, and on the following morning very early, almost before the people were aware of what had happened, I started off the two prisoners under a military escort for Gilgit where they arrived on the 26th. The next day I proceeded to Yasen with Captain Ames, Military Assistant, who had opportunely arrived in Gupis the previous day from Chitral, and there I announced to the people of Yasen the reasons why I had arrested their Governor and the arrangements already approved by you, for carrying on the provisional government of the country. On the following day I mad a similar announcement in Gupis to the people of Ghizr and Kuh. 5. On the same evening that the arrest of the Governor was effected, the second seditious letter (Enclosure 2) written by the Hakim of Ghizr to Pukhtun Wali was brought to me. There is no reason to doubt the authenticity of these two letters as apart from the fact that both bear the Hakim’s seal they are written by two separate munshis on bad terms with each other, and were also intercept previous to the arrests and so are not in ay way the outcome of them. Moreover the tenure of the letters is entirely in accord with the general scheme of intrigue which has since long been going on and which I will no endeavour to explain. 6. Immediately after Pukhtun Wali made his submission to Government last spring and as the direct outcome of it, a very great change took place in his position on the frontier. Whereas formerly he had enjoyed the support of the Lower Indus tribes and which indeed was the chief source of his strength and influence, the moment he surrendered himself to Government he not only lost this support but a strong re-action set in against him, and he is now cordially detested as a traitor. Added to which he has become equally unpopular in his own country by his acts of oppression. The position therefore now is that except for his few personal retainers consisting mostly of cut throats and outlaws from other countries, amongst whom there is also now said to be some dissatisfaction, he has practically no following at all and is thoroughly in disfavour all round. Although it is true that he was formerly accepted as their Raja by the Jirgas of Darel and Tangir, etc., there is no doubt now I think that these people did not do this by choice but simply because at the time they had no option in the matter.st Pukhtun Wali has been that a perfect crusade of intrigue has been started against him, particularly perhaps in the Agency, where he has bitter enemies in the persons of both the Governor of Yasen and Raja Sifat Bahadur of Punial, and no stone has been left unturned in the effort to undermine his position. Pukhtun Wali too, instead of being content with what he already has and directing his energies to consolidating himself in Darel Tangir, etc., has, most injudiciously, been intriguing to acquire more power and territory and has thus got himself into trouble with the people of Khili and Bashgar, the former a large valley adjoining Tangir and immediately to the south of it on the north bank of the Indus and boasting a force of some 4000 fighting men, and the latter a less important tract of country at the extreme head of the Upper Swat Valley and closely associated with Yasen Mastuj and Ghizr. 8. Although neither the people of Khili or Bashgar are the least anxious to be governed by Rajas of any kind, their fear lest Pukhtun Wali should dominate their country and bring them like Darel and Tangir, etc., under the submission of Government, has so alarmed them that in self defence they have turned for assistance to the Governors of Yasen and Punial, and those nothing loath have been only too ready to render help, seeing in this a great opportunity for not only undermining Pukhtun Wali’s position and recovering their lost territories of Tangir and Darel respectively, but also of revenging themselves on their bitter enemy. The mishap too to Pukhtun Wali, who broke his leg a month ago while playing polo, and which it is anticipated will incapacitate him for another two months, has also naturally both encouraged and facilitated the efforts of the intriguers against him. 9. Although the Governor of Yasen is now adopting the role that his brother left Yasen without permission, in fact contrary to it, this plan cannot for a moment be accepted and for the following reasons :- i. as reported in my diary for July the Governor has recently been on rather bad terms with his brothers and would therefore be only too anxious to be quit of them; ii. he has been ardently pressed by the people of Khili and Bashgar to help them and had apparently promised them help (vide enclosure 3); iii. he had personally twice previously requested my permission, once at Rattu (vide diary for August) and again recently at the beginning of this month in Gilgit, to allow his brother to go and I had refused him on each occasion; iv. the Mir of Hunza had also interceded with me on his behalf urging me to let the brothers go on the grounds that whatever happened Government would be the gainer, as if they were killed or disappeared the Agency would be well ridded of tow Gushpurs; of which there were already too many in it, while if their enterprise succeeded they would come in and salam like Pukhtun Wali and Government would gain territorially. Again I refused and on this occasion added also that if they went they would do so at their peril; v. the Mehtarjaos took their departure actually from their homes in Yasen, their houses being situated only about half a mile from that of the Governor’s, who was also present in Yasen at the time, and it is inconceivable therefore that he should have been ignorant of their intentions; vi. about a week previous to their departure Gushpuria, the accredited agent sent by the Governor of Khili (see diary for September) returned from there with a couple of goats as tribute and had an interview with the Governor, at which it can be safely assumed he gave the Governor tidings of the latest development of affairs in that country; vii. the Mehtarjaos have no influence of their own apart from their brother, and would never therefore have embarked on such an enterprise without his consent and approval. 10. In connection with Khili I should mention that, so far as I have been able to ascertain, this country is divided into two main factions, viz., the Shadam Khel and the Maulai (or Maula Khel). The former faction which is apparently the more powerful and whose headmen are Hayat and Gulsher, are strong partisans of the Governor of Yasen and during the past summer just before the Governor came to see me at Rattu, he received a visit from Hayat. I was also informed after the flight of the Mehtarjaos that this man would probably meet them at the head of Khili Nala with a following of 300 men, but whether he did so or not I have not heard, nor do I know yet to what extent the arrest of the Governor has modified the situation in Khili. It is believed however that this event will very seriously prejudice the chances and position of the young Mehtarjaos. 11. In addition to the above evidences of intrigue on the part of the Government of Yasen in Khili there are also the complaints against him by Raja Pukhtun Wali that he as well as Raja Sifat Bahadur have been actively working against him during this past summer, and that whereas the former instigated the recent raids by the people of Khili against the Tangiri flocks, Sifat Bahadur was again preparing to attack Darel. In this connection I attach extracts of several letters from Pukhtun Wali. (Enclosure 6) 12. With regard to Sifat Bahadur and Darel a very serious state of affairs has been confidentially disclosed to me since the arrest of the Governor of Yasen. It appears that for some time past Sifat Bahadur has been contemplating another raid into Darel with a view to ousting Pukhtun Wali, believing that this time, with Pukhtun Wali is so sore an plight as he is, his efforts would certainly be attended with success. He refrained however, from actually taking the step as he thought it inadvisable for one thing to deceive me so soon after my arrival in the Agency and for another that it would be better to wait and see what my views were and whether he could calculate on my backing him up with Government in the event of his attempt meeting with success. This is probably strictly correct as the one thing that Sifat Bahadur is, and always has been, anxious to avoid is falling foul of the Sirkar. The prospects of a successful attack on Pukhtun Wali, however, looked so bright while the feeling of bitterness against him had grown so strong, permeating all classes in Punial, that even Sifat Bahadur and Mihrbaz Khan of Gakuch, who have long been on very bad terms, had recently made it up and had agreed with all the other Gushpurs in Punial which would have involved almost the entire population of that country, to enter Tangir en masse and attack Pukhtun Wali. When news of the flight of the Mehtarjaos was received, the moment for action was considered to have arrived and many of the conspirators were for starting without further delay. Fortunately however, wiser counsels prevailed and it was eventually decided to wait and see what action I would take with regard to the Mehtarjaos. I have little hesitation in saying now that had I shown the slightest hesitation on this occasion or had I in fact taken any step shot of what I actually did take, there is every reason to believe that by now the greater part of Punial would have been across the frontier attacking Pukhtan Wali. As it is I believe and hope that this movement has been absolutely checked and no further attempt will be made. 13. I have mentioned the above facts at some length in order to show the somewhat critical state of affairs at present existing in the Agency, or rather in Yasen and Punial, and the necessity for very severe measures being taken in the case of Shah Abdur Rahman and Loghal Shah, as there is no doubt, unfortunately, that the present intrigues have been very largely, if not entirely due to the lenient treatment accorded Sifat Bahadur, viz., his restoration to power after his last attempt on Darel, and which has given rise to an impression that such acts: especially if successful, can be committed with comparative impunity. 14. If any leniency is shown now in dealing with the Governor of Yasen or if he is not deposed from his position and the other severe measures indicated by me taken against those who fled to Khili as regards the confiscation of their property etc., I have no hesitation in saying that the result will be disastrous to the general welfare of the Agency and to the maintenance of order within it. Apart from the fact the Shah Abdur Rahman has in spite of innumerable warning disobeyed the order of Government times out of number is not refraining from interference in the affairs of the people outside his country, and has recently entered into a conspiracy to wage war against Raja Pukhtun Wali, now one of the recognized chiefs of the Agency and a servant of the Government, he has proved himself from every point of view an unsatisfactory ruler and even so long ago as in Major Gurdon's time he was forbidden to enter Ghizr, though nominal ruler of that state, more than once a year as he was so cordially disliked in it and oppressed the people. Major Dew who was very intimately acquainted with this Agency, has left on record with me the following not regarding Shah Abdur Rahman, Governor of Yasen :- "The worst type of Chitrali……his mother was a low born zemindar……he is a gross, fat sensual……a certain amount of cunning but no broad outlook on life. He can of course be amusing like all Chitralis, but I look on him as a treacherous liar and most undependable…...he surrounds himself with foolish counsellers. It was one of the mistake of 1895 his appointment as Governor and a greater mistake still in my opinion was handling over Ghizr to him…… Abdur Rahman is very slack over his work, takes ages to settle cases and then always from a partisan point of view……A very tight rein should be kept on him, and he should be carefully watched…..If the Governor does not behave satisfactory I should not hesitate to suggest his removal……I have given him every chance but I am afraid he is both knave as well as fool". I endorse every word of the above criticism on Abdur Rahman's character. 15. With regard to Loghal Shah it is only necessary to mention that he is the foster brother of the Governor and his intimate friend as well as confidential agent and employee, to understand the nature and object of the seditious letter written by him to Raja Pukhtun Wali. If further evidence is required of the close relationship existing between the Hakim and the Governor it is to be found in the letter seized in the Hakim's house and in that of his confidential munshi, Mullah Ghulam, and of which copies (Enclosures 3,4 &5) are attached to this report. Major Dew has left the following note on record regarding Loghal Shah :- "A most untrustworthy person and I think it was a great mistake he was ever put in ………the people don't like him…… I had to put him in Jail for some time for intriguing with Pukhtun Wali 2 years ago. An unsatisfactory person". Hakim Loghal Shah has I consider shown himself quite unfitted for further employment and, like the Governor should therefore be immediately deposed. 16. In what I have said above I trust I have made sufficiently clear the necessity for the immediate deposition of both the Governor and Loghal Shah. Any less stringent measure, in view of the present state of affairs existing in Yasen and Punial would, I am convinced, be attended with most unfortunate results. Indeed so serious a situation has already arisen in connection with Pukhtun Wali that I would invite your special attention to the following points and enquire what action I should take if, as seems not improbable, Pukhtun Wali is attacked by a force from Khili or any other part of Yaghistan :- i. When Government originally recognized Pukhtun Wali as Raja of Darel and Tangir etc: he had considerable power and influence. Now he has practically none except what he derives from his personal escort; ii. he is cordially disliked in his own country and the people want to get rid of him; iii. if Government supports him it will have to do so not only against the people of Yaghistan generally but against the people of Yaghistan generally but against those also of his own country, i.e. Government is virtually forcing on the people a ruler whom they do not like and wish to get rid of; iv. Pukhtun Wali is equally if not more unpopular in this Agency than he is even outside it. To support him therefore means to increase the dissatisfaction of our own people as well as those of Darel, Tangir, etc.; v. if Government does not support Pukhtun Wali it finds itself in the somewhat invidious position of practically deserting one of its own subjects, for now that Pukhtun Wali has tendered his formal submission to Government and takes his place in durbar as one of the ruling chiefs of the Agency and receives a subsidy, he is, presumably, entitled to consider himself a subject of the Government. 17. It is open to argument of course whether Pukhtun Wali's position is quite on a par with that of the other chiefs in the Agency as Government did not actually put him in power as ruler of Darel etc.; but merely recognized a state of affairs already existing there. At the same time, however, it is difficult to get away from the fact that Pukhtun Wali will, and certainly does already, look to us for support and will consider himself deserted if he does not get it. 18. There can of course be no question as to the unqualified nature of the support Pukhtun Wali is entitled to receive at our hands against the intrigues of the people of this Agency but I am somewhat doubtful as to the extent of the support we should render him against his own people or from those of Yaghistan. The decision of the question rather seems to depend on the policy that Government intends to pursue in future with regard to Darel and Tangir. If it is the intention to retain and consolidate our influence in those states the best course to pursue would probably be for a British Officer to visit that country with the least possibly delay, taking a small escort with him, if necessary, and thereafter to exercise a more direct control in the management of the affairs of those states. Up to now the people of Yaghistan probably do not regard Darel and Tangir as properly under the protection of Government. If they did so they would certainly be less hesitant about attacking them. On the other hand, if it is not the intention to acquire a more direct interest in Darel etc: but merely to keep on friendly terms with the ruler these, so long as there is one, the only course would seem to be, if the necessity should ever arise, to inform Pukhtun Wali that as he is himself responsible for his present position in Darel and Tangir, it behaves him to keep himself in power there if he can and we are not prepared to support him either against his own people or those of Yaghistan. An alternative policy would be to let matters take their own course and for us to refrain from active interference across the border, in which case Pukhtun Wali, if hard pressed, would certainly fly to us for protection, when his deposition would take place as a matter of course and the States of Darel and Tangir, etc: would then revert more or less to their former conditions, which would be the happiest of all solutions. 19. In the meantime and until there are further developments across the frontier there is probably no necessity for us to act otherwise than as we are doing at present, but I have considered it advisable to inform you in advance of the exact state of affairs now existing in Darel, etc: as the situation there has undoubtedly of late undergone a complete change, and it seems desirable that Government should be aware of the possibilities with which it may now at any moment find itself confronted. 20. I am not submitting any recommendations at present with regard to the eventual arrangements to be made for the administration of Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh as, apart from the fact that to do so now would be pre-mature before a decision is arrived at as to the final disposal of Shah Abdur Rahman, the subject is one which will require some consideration and I do not wish to delay this report further. I will therefore only mention now that there are several young Mehtarjaos in the Agency, notably Badshah, the nephew of Pukhtun Wali, and Sahahid-ul-Ajam, both of whom are claimants and who would probably do well as Governors, particularly the latter youth, so that there will not be any difficulty in replacing the present incumbents. In the meantime the temporary arrangements already approved by you for carrying on the administration are sufficient for the purpose and will serve until final orders are passed. 21. As regards Shah Abdur Rahman I trust I have said enough to show the necessity for the severe measures which I felt it my duty to adopt against him and that my action will meet with your approval as well as that of Government. In the event of my recommendations being accepted as regards his deposition it will be absolutely necessary of course that he should be banished from the Agency, and in this case I would suggest that for the present he be detained in Hari Parbat Fort and that his subsequent exile be passed in Kashmir or elsewhere under such conditions as may hereafter be decided upon. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient servant, A.D. MACHPHERSON POLITICAL AGENT IN GILGIT. Enclosure 1 Translation of a Persian letter Dated the 4th October 1911 from Hakim Loghal Shah, Hakim of Ghizr to Raja Pukhtun Wali of Tangir. ………………….. After compliments, I am your old and faithful and loyal servant. Your are fully aware of my late services rendered to you and I have therefore every hope from you. Now to show the quality and character of my faithfulness and loyalty to you, I beg to inform you that you must never trust the alliances and promises of Europeans. You will never seen good at the hands of the English, but troubles. They are trying to effect your arrest by trickery. You are no doubt aware that in former days your father had killed an English officer in Yasen which is well known to all the English and they are therefore angry with you. This year Dew Sahib invited you to the Durbar and showed you much leniency but this was only meant to take Tangir and Yaghistan by trick and he was not true to you in heart. Such knindness on the part of the English is not to be relied on. When Dew Shahib invited you to join the Gilgit Jalsa I could not inform you of the treachery of the English owing to the heavy snow on the Chashi and Balti Passes. You did wrong at that time not to ask me (your well wisher) my advice but you accepted the invitation of Dew Sahib and went to Gilgit. He met you kindly outwardly and you trusted him. It is the policy of these English that in the first instance they show kindness and do not immediately arrest their enemies but afterwards they make all pakka arrangements to arrest them. Now out of faithfulness I inform you that Macpherson Sahib will either summon you to meet him in Gilgit but you must not go, or he will invite you to the Delhi Darbar and there arrest you, so do you not go the Delhi Darbar either, otherwise you will be very sorry for what you have done. About two years ago you were good enough to kindly send me one shikari dog and some cartridges of which Dew Sahib was informed by some one and he arrested me. I concealed those cartridges and every search was made by Munshi Akbar Ali to find them but he did not. I was then released on my denial of the charge before Dew Sahib. He told me you were the enemy of the Sirkar and asked me why I had made friendship with you. In the end I beg to point out that the bearer of this letter is the son of Zarmast Jashtero, who is my relative and also he is the son of the sister of my uncle Sarbaland Khan of Yasen. He may be treated kindly on my behalf as he is a reliable man. Moreover on receipt of this letter kindly send me some cartridges through your servant Mir of Tangir for which I shall be grateful. After reading this letter it should be torn into a hundred pieces. (seal of Hakim Loghal Shah Hakim of Ghizr) Enclosure 2 Translation of a letter Dated the 20.10.11 from Hakim Loghal Shah, Hakim of Ghizr to Raja Pukhtun Wali of Tangir. ………………….. After compliments…….It should be known to you that Colonel Machpherson Sahib has sent the Mehtarjaos to go and take Khili. It is rumored that you had refused to come to see the Colonel Sahib and on this account he has become angry with you. I had informed you previously that you should be aware of the treachery of the English, but you did not accept this statement. Behold now what good the English have done to you. The people of Khili also have become your enemies owing to your friendly relations with the British. Be careful, I have warned you. ………………….. Enclosure 3 ………………………………… Translation of a letter dated ……………………… from Hayat, Gulsher Khan and Kaskar Khan, Maliks of (Khili) to Hakim Loghal Shah of Ghizr. ………………………………………………………………………………………… The Mehtar of Yasen had promised us that as Pukhtun Wali is giving us trouble, he will assist us bye sending his brothers. His brothers have not come as yet. If Pukhtun Wali afterwards takes this country no blame will attach to us. It is not advisable that the Mehtar should delay in sending his brothers. It is urgent that you Hakim Loghal Shah Sahib send our message to the Mehtar Sahib. May this letter of ours reach the Hakim and Mehta Sahib. …………… (N.B. This letter was found in the house of the Hakims Munshi, Mullah Gulam, on the 24.10.11.) …………… Enclosure 4 ………………………………… Translation of a letter dated ……………………… from Ali Beg, Mir Ghazah Losh, the inhabitants and all the Maliks of Bashkar to the Hakim of Ghizr. ……………………………………………………………………………………… After compliments……..Pukhtun Wali having made friends with the English in oppressing us. You should help us. …………… (N.B. This letter was found in the house of the Hakims Munshi, Mullah Gulam, on the 24.10.11. A.D.M.) …………… Enclosure 5 ………………………………… Translation of a letter dated 10.08.11 from the Governor of Yasen to Hakim Loghal Shah of Ghizr. ………………………………………………………………………………………… After compliments……. Hayat Khan, Malik of Khili, came here and after staying a few days with me is now going back through you Ilaka and will see you. I write this to you therefore that you should treat him as you would myself and show him all honour and respect and help him with riding ponies and men etc: within your Ilaka. The men should go with him as far as the first village across the pass and then return. He can go by any way he likes. …………… (N.B. This letter was found in the house of the Hakims Munshi, Mullah Gulam, on the 24.10.11. A.D.M.) …………… Enclosure 6 ………………………………… Extracts from letters from Raja Pukhtun Wali to the Political Agent in Gilgit. …………… (1) Letter dated 16th August 1911. …………… I beg to state that Major A.B. Dew had declared during the Gilgit Darbar that the Rajas who are subject to the Government should never interfere in the affairs of each others country. Now the Governor of Yasen has send a Saiad to Khilli with the message that they should not allow any servant of the Raja of Tangir amongst themselves and that if they adopted friendship with the Raja of Tangir, their country too would become subject to the British Government like Darel, Tangir etc: Also Raja Sifat Bahadur Governor of Punial has sent word to the Khilli people that as Government has made no satisfactory arrangements for him he has determined to come to their country. This message has been sent through the fellow tribesmen of the Fakir who live in Punial, and the people of Khilli as instigated by the messengers, have now consulted amongst themselves and are ready to attack the flocks of Diamir. I have posted 60 men to guard the pastures of the Diamir people and if the flocks are attacked my guard will flight with them. …………… (2) Letter dated 27th August 1911. ……………………………………………………. These mischiefs are being done by Raja Sifat Bahadur owing to his personal enmity with me. The Government of Yasen is also intriguing in the affairs of the Khilli people against my interests. If they (the governors of Punial and Yasen) are not punished for this sort of mischief or Government will not take any action in such matters how can I keep my position amongst my people and who will fear me. (3) Letter dated the 19th Sept. 1911. ……………………………………………………. After compliments………A man named Rasho of Mankial in Darel has arrived here today and station that Raja Sifat Bahadur of Punial has sent a message through him to the people of Darel to the effect that he is ready to start for Darel after the Id festival. Rasho also states that Sifat Bahadur has obtained 30 rifles from the Gilgit Treasury and will come here after the month of Ramzan. Rasho being my well wisher has brought the news to me. A letter has already been sent to you on this subject. The news is quite correct. Had he interfered before this my arrangements for checking his advance were complete. The Governor of Yasen has also closed the roads of Balti and Chashi since the last spring and I think he will also, if possible, interfere in the affairs of Tangir. I will now complete my arrangements and remain in Darel. Kindly inform me of your orders in case Raja Sifat Bahadur should enter Darel. I will comply with your orders. Kindly send a reply early as I m anxiously waiting. ……………………………………………………………………………………… (4) Undated letter Recd. At Gilgit 28th Sept’ 11) ……………………………………………………… Since my return from the Darbar at Gilgit the Governors of Punial and Yasen have been interfering much in my affairs. The Governor of Yasen has instigated the people of Khili to take away 240 goats of the Tangiris. I have now sent my servants to bring back the goats ……………………….. ………………… No. 3415 FROM… MAJOR A.D. MACHPHERSON, I.A. POLITICAL AGENT IN GILGIT TO…….THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR. Dated the 6th November 1911. Sir, With reference to the correspondence ending with your telegram No. 6142, dated the 4th instant, I have the honour to inform you that Shah Abdur Rahman Khan, Governor of Yasen, accompanied by one servant left Gilgit today under a Military escort of 2 Havildars and 8 Sepoys for Kashmir and should reach Bandipur on the 18th instant. The allowances etc. at present enjoyed by Shah Abdur Rahman Khan and Hakim Loghal Shah as well as by the two Mehtarjaos Muhammad Rahim and Sultan-Mohiy-ud-din who fled to Khhili, are as follows :- Levy allowance Pay (1) M.J. Shah Abdur Rahman Khan……. 60/- 160/- (2) M.J. Muhammad Rahim…………….. 40/- - (3) M.J. Sultan Mohiy-ud-din……………. 40/- - (4) Hakim Loghal Shah………………… - 40/- Total 140/- 200/- I would recommend that the above be disposed of as follows :- i. the levy allowances amounting in all to Rs. 140/- to laps to the State for the present, i.e., until such time as final arrangements are made for the administration of the Yasen District; and ii. the pay of Shah Abdur Rahman Khan and Loghal Shah amounting together to Rs. 200/- to be appropriated to meet the following expenditure viz., Details Amount (a) allowance of Rs. 60/- each for Saiad Eshan-i-Hazrat and Khan Sahib Murad Khan while acting as Governors of Yasen, and Ghizr and Kuh, respectively………………….. 120/- (b) an allowance of Rs. 40/- to be set aside to meet the personal expenses of Shah Abdur Rahman Khan, while in Kashmir. This should amply suffice for the present I think…………… 40/- (c) Rs. 10/- per mensem to meet the cost of a local munshi for Khan Sahib Murad Khan. The latter being illiterate must have a munshi of his won selection to write his reports…………… 10/- (d) extra duty pay at 1/- each for 12 levies to be attached to Khan Sahib Murad Khan for duty in Ghizr and Kuh. As these levies will be fighting levies drawn from Sai and Gilgit they are entitled to extra duty pay at 4/- per mensem but only 3/- each is available from the Body Guard allowances of the Governor …... 12/- (e) allowance of Rs. 18/- per mensem to meet the expense of Hakim Loghal Shah while in detention in Gilgit………….. 18/- Total 200/- In the event of the above proposals meeting with your approval, I would request that I may kindly be informed of the same by telegram. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient servant, A.D. MACPHERSON POLITICAL AGENT IN GILGIT. GILGIT POLITICAL AGENCY Gilgit the 16th November 1911 My dear Colonel, With reference to my telegram informing you that there was some doubt now as to whether these two intercepted letters were genuine or not I am making enquiries into the matter and will let you know the result later. It is annoying having a thing like this now but it dose not in anyway in my opinion alter the general situation as to the necessity for the removal of both the Governor and Hakim and a change of administration in Yasen and Ghizr. A good deal of information one way ad another regarding the flight of the Mehtarjaos is now coming to light and from the fact that neither the Governor of Hakim took any steps to try and prevent it, although aware of their (the Mehtarjaos) intentions before hand, it can only be assumed that they connived at it and that this is the case I have not the slightest doubt in my own mind. I have recently received two very interesting letters from Pukhtun Wali which shall be forwarding you in a few days officially as in one he says he expects to be attacked by the Mehtarjaos next summer as soon as the snow clears from the Passes and enquires in this event what action he is to take. Had the Governor of Yasen not been arrested the Mehtarjaos with their brother at their back would I believe have occupied a very formidable position in Khili, while Pukhtun Wali's position would have been proportionately weakened and these would in consequence have been every prospect of very serious trouble in the near future, added to which I firmly believe that Sifat Bahadur and half Punial would also have been across the frontier by now. As it is we may first be able to help things going but it is early yet to say anything definite. I would send you Pukhtun Wali's letter now only I am waiting first to hear the report of a man I sent to Khili to get information of the state of affairs there and he has only just returned to Chilas. I hope he will be in Gilgit in 3 or 4 days and I will then get my report off as soon after that as possible. I hope you will be able to fix up the business about Haughton as until Governors are finally appointed in Yasen etc., there will be a lot of intrigue going on there I expect, and a British Officer's presence therefore is absolutely necessary to keep an eye on things. It is a fortunate coincidence that Badshah and Shahidul-Ajam the two claimants are both away at the Darbar or it would have been difficult I expect to keep them out of mischief. With reference to the Governor Shah Abdur Rahman I would suggest that as soon as he is released from Hari Parbat he should be sent down to Riasi or somewhere Jammu way, as I do not think it would be sound for him to be left in Srinagar where he would be more or less in touch with people from this part of the world and where he could also meet Mohammad Akbar Khan of Punial who is shortly about to be released. If you think it necessary I will write officially about thi. Yours sincerely A.D. MACPHERSON POLITICAL AGENT IN GILGIT. To, Lt. Colonel K.D. Erskine, Resident in Kashmir. No. 101, dated Srinagar, the 13th (received 16th) May 1612. From - Honourable Mr. S.M. Fraser, C.I.E., Resident in Kashmir, To – THE HONOURABLE LIEUTENANT COLONEL SIR ARTHUR HENRY MCMAHAN G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., C.S.I., Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department. I have the honour to invite a reference to the correspondence connected with Foreign Department telegram No. 580-F, dated the 1st November 1911, on the subject of the incursion into the independent territory of Khili, made last October by Mehtarjaos Mohammad Rhaim and Sultan Muhai-ud-din, for complicity in which their brother Shah Abdur Rahman, the Governor of Yasen, was deported to Kashmir, and Loghal Shah, the Hakim of Ghizr, confined at Gilgit. The time has now come to obtain the orders of the Government of India on the treatment to be accorded to Shah Abdur Rahman and Loghal Shah and on the future administration of the Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh districts, but before explaining my proposals on either point it will be convenient to recapitulate the events which led to the arrest of the Governor and the Hakim though the main facts are already in possession of the Government of India. 2. (a) On the evening of the 19th October 1911 the Political Agent, Gilgit, received telegraphic information from Gupis that Mehtarjaos Mohammad Rahim and Sultan Muhai-ud-din had left Yasen the previous night with the probable intention of proceeding to Khili and that they had taken with them 120 followers. On hearing this news he immediately telegraphed urgent instructions to Gupis and Ghizr to stop the Mehtarjaos, if it was too late to do so, and at the same time reported the matter to the Resident. The actual number of the Mehtarjaos’ party subsequently proved to be only 62, but it included men from Yasen, Kuh and Ghizr as well as several levies. (b) On the following morning i.e., on the 26th, the Political Agent received by post from the Agency Munshi at Gupis a letter, which had been made over to the latter by Rahmat Khan, Loghal Shah’s Munshi (the Hakim cannot write), purporting to have been written by order of Loghal Shah to Raja Pukhtun Wali of Tangir. This letter, of which a translation is attached (Enclosure 1), was for several reasons of a most objectionable character, and directly compromised its author. It not only imputed treachery, and faithlessness to the British Government and its officers generally, but warned Raja Pukhtun Wali against any friendly relations with the Political Agent. Taken in conjunction with the departure of the Mehtarjaos and the active intrigue which had been current in the Agency against Raja Pukhtun Wali ever since the negotiations with him of last year, it appeared to the Political Agent to be so serious and to reveal such a state of insubordination and disrespect for the orders of Government, that he decided to proceed forthwith to Gupis and to arrest both the Governor of Yasen and his agent, Laghal Shah. (c) The arrests were effected without difficulty on the evening of the 22nd and very early the next day, almost before the people were aware of what had happened, the two prisoners were started off under a military escort for Gilgit, where they arrived on the 26th. On the 24th the Political Agent, accompanied by Captain Ames, his Military Assistant, who had opportunely arrived at Gupis the previous day from Chitral, marched to Yasen and there announced to the people the reason which had led him to arrest their Governor, and that Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat had, with the approval of the Resident, been place in charge of the provisional Government of the country. On the 25th the people of Gizr and Kuh were similarly informed that Khan Sahib Raja Murad Khan had been temporarily appointed as Governor of those districts. (d) On the evening of the arrest of the Governor and the Hakim a second letter, also purporting to have been written by the latter's direction to Raja Pukhtun Wali, was brought to the Agency Munshi by the same Munshi Rahmat Khan. From the attached translation of the document (Enclosure 2) it will be seen to be of much the same nature as the first letter intercepted by the Munshi at Gupis. On the 23rd, Political Agent in order to facilitate the introduction of the new administration and to prevent intrigue telegraphed for permission to deport the Governor at once to Kashmir. In the absence of further information as to Shah Abdur Rahman's offence, and of fuller details regarding his treatment while under detention in Kashmir, my predecessor was at first reluctant to authorize his deportation or to address the Government of India on the subject. He suggested instead that the Governor should be kept in custody at Gilgit, where full enquiries could be made into his conduct at leisure, and the case reported in detail for the orders of Government. But in view of the serious situation depicted by the Political Agent in his telegram of the 27th, and of his repeated representation that nothing short of the action he had recommended would be effective, Lieutenant Colonel Erskind eventually supported his proposals and obtained the sanction of the Government of India, subject to the concurrence of the Kashmir Darbar, to the deportation of the Governor and to his detention in the Hari Parbat fort at Srinagar. The Darbar readily gave their agreement to these measures, and Shah Abdur Rahman was accordingly brought last November down to Kashmir where he has since been confined at the capital as political prisoner. 3. Owing to his misadventure with a mad dog, which necessitated his absence from Gilgit from the end of November to last February, the Political Agent has only recently been able to submit a full report of the case. I forward for the information of the Government of India a copy of those portions of his report that dealt with the degree of blame attaching, in the opinion of the Political Agent, to Shah Abdur Rahman and Loghal Shah in connection with the raid of the Mehtarjaos, and contain his proposals as to the treatment to be accorded to the two former offenders. I have omitted paragraphs 23-30 and 34-40 of the report, for they are devoted in the main to the future administration of Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh and the recommendations they embody have since been considerably modified by the Political Agent. 4. The charges against Shah Abdur Rahman may be summarized as follows:- a) That he has recently intrigued generally against Raja Pukhtun Wali. b) That he was indirectly responsible for the two seditious letters (Enclosure 1 and 2), dated the 4th and 20th October 1911, alleged to have been written by Loghal Shah to Raja Pukhtun Wali, with the object of estranging him from the British Government. c) That he connived at the Mehtarjaos' departure for Khili, which involved disobedience of the Political Agent's express orders. d) That his conduct as Governor, as displayed by his recent record and his failure to control his brothers last October, has been unsatisfactory. The first of the above four charges is, I understand, primarily based (apart from Shah Abdur Rahman's complicity in his brothers' adventure) on two letters (Enclosures 3 and 4), without date, which purport to have been written to Loghal Shah by Hayat and other Maliks and inhabitants of Khili and Bashgar and which are alleged to have been found in the house of one of the Hakim's Munshis, Mullal Ghulam, on the 24th October, and on a letter (Enclosure 5), dated the 10th August 1911, which was admittedly written by Shah Abdur Rahman to Loghal Shah. The authenticity of the two former letters, and of the 2 mentioned in paragraph 2(b) and (d) above, has been exhaustively discussed by Captain Daukes in the report to which the Political Agent refers. The Political Agent agrees generally with the conclusions at which his assistant has arrived and believes Enclosures 3 and 4 to be unquestionably genuine and Enclosure 1 to be probably so, both Enclosure 2 is, in his opinion, doubtful. 5. (a) I do not consider it necessary to forward to the Government of India a copy of Captain Daukes' report of the précis of evidence recorded by him. For the Political Agent no longer attaches to the five letters in his possession the importance with which he invested them last October, and his recommendations are not based upon the assumption that Shah Abdur Rahman was guilty of sedition. But while holding that the letters call for no detailed examination on my part, I feel it my duty briefly to note my opinion that it would be unfair to allow even a prejudice to attach to either the Governor or the Hakim from their discovery. Shah Abdur Rahman was undoubtedly interested in the future of Khili and Bashgar, and, as pointed out by the Political Agent in his diary for August 1911, there would be in ordinary circumstances have been no objection to the young Mehtarjaos trying their chances in those valleys. Khili and Bashgar had paid tribute to the Khushwakht Governors of Yasens, families from Ghizr were settle there, Mehtarjaos Mohammad Rahim was born in that country and in fact Shah Abdur Rahman may legitimately have thought that he had a better right that Pukhtun Wali to seek ascendancy there through his brothers, whom he wished to get rid of out of Yasen. His ambition, as the Political Agent observes in paragraph 14 of his report, was not an unnatural one nor even a hopeless one in the light of political vicissitudes in the Agency. Letter 3,4 and 5 involve therefore no guilt against the British Government. (b) The remaining letters (Enclosure 1 and 2) are also “seditious” in character in that they abuse the British Government, but I am more doubtful even than the Political Agent as regards the authenticity of either of them. At the time they purport to have been written by Loghal Shah (who is exhypothesi on with Shah Abdur Rahman) the latter and Raja Puktun Wali were on bad terms. It is indeed a charge against the Governor that he was intriguing against Pukhtun Wali and Pukhtun Wali was complaining bitterly in the Political Agent of such hostile action. It is hard to fathom the subtleties of border intrigue but in these circumstances the theory that Loghal Shah or the Governor wrote these letters to Pukhtun Wali to prejudice him against the British Government as a way of ultimately discrediting him seems highly improbable, since the method was too uncertain, remote and indirect to effect the injury of Pukhtun Wali. On the other hand there is ground for believing Munhsi Rahmat Khan to have quarreled with Loghal Shah over the formers rejected addresses to the Hakim’s daughter, and the more natural explanation is that Rahmat Khan forged letter No. 1 (which is admittedly in his hand writing), and got a certain Levy Havildar, Bulbul, who was employed by Loghal Shah to write letters, to forge No. 2 in order to ruin Loghal Shah. 6. (a) The case against Shah Abdur Rahman, beyond the charge of general incompetence, rests therefore on his neglect of duty on the occasion of the Mehtarjaos raid into Khili. His own acknowledged interests and ambitions, the improbability of any genuine ignorance on his part of his brothers’ intention and departure, his subsequent inaction and half measures, the conduct of his subordinate Loghal Shah, the evidence of Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat and the letters (Enclosures 3 and 4) found in Mullah Ghulam’s house all point to his complicity in the Mehtarjaos’ venture. Further, in the face of the simple calculations of time and distance made by the Political Agent, and of his emphatic orders against interference over the border, it is difficult to see what explanation by Shah Abdur Rahman of his failure to stop the Mehtarjaos would be possible. But the charge of connivance at the disobedience by his brothers of the Political Agent’s orders cannot I must remark, be regarded as judicially proved against the Governor as the proceedings have throughout been ex-parte. The offences of which he has been accused have never definitely been explained to Shah Abdur Rahman and he has neither heard the evidence on which the charges are based nor had the opportunity of cross examining the witnesses on whose statements he has been to be a great extent condemned by the Political Agent. On the 30th of December last the Assistant Resident for Loh recorded in Srinagar his answers to certain questions which had been framed by the Political Agent, but these interrogatories, of which a copy is attached, are no substitute for the defence allowed to the ordinary criminal. Further examinations of Shah Abdur Rahman at this stage and at this distance from Gilgit presents however many difficulties and is, I consider, unnecessary in view of the abandonment of the more specific charges brought against him. (b) To prove the last charge against Shah Abdur Rahman of general incompetence no concrete instances of mal-administration are essential. His conduct in the crisis which led to his arrest and deportation is in itself sufficient indication of his inefficiency. Major Dew, who had a very intimate knowledge of the Agency, left on record the following note regarding the Governor. “The worst type of Chitrali……..his mother was a low born zemidar………he is a gross, fat, sensual…………a certain amount of cunning but no broad out look on life. He can of course be amusing like all Chitralis, but I look upon him as a treacherous liar and most undependable………..he surrounds himself with foolish counselors. It was one of the mistakes of 1895 his appointment as Governor and a greater mistake still in my opinion was handling over Ghizr to him………….Abdur Rahman is very slack over his work, takes ages to settle cases and then always from a partisan point of view……….a very tight rein should be kept on him and he should be carefully watched…………If the Governor does not behave satisfactory I should not hesitate to suggest his removal……..I have given him every chance but I am afraid he is both knave as well as fool.” Major Macpherson endorses every word of the above criticism. Major Gurdon, when in charge of the Agency, did not apparently hold such a low opinion of Shah Abdur Rahman but it is noteworthy that in his time the latter was forbidden to enter Ghizr, though nominally ruler of that district, more than once a year, as he was so cordially disliked by the people for his oppression. 7. Taking therefore the Governor’s offence to be as found in the preceding paragraph viz :- Firstly, Complicity in his brothers raid, and, Secondly, Incompetence, the question arises what his punishment ought justify to be. The Political Agent advocates his permanent deposition from his post of Governor, and his indefinite banishment from Yasen to some place in the Jammu Province. It is certain that the prompt action taken by Major Macpherson last October averted a serious situation, but the infliction on Shah Abdur Rahman of the double penalty he proposes would, in the circumstances of the case, after making every allowance for practice on the frontier, be, in my opinion, opposed to the fundamental principles of British justice. Shah Abdur Rahman’s behaviour in connection with his brothers’ raid was an act of disobedience, which, as his first specific offence might be viewed with some lenience even if he had taken less action that he did to arrest the Mehtarjaos’ further progress. For this and for his generally unsatisfactory conduct as Governor mere dismissal from office would appear sufficient on the merits of the case. Any further action against him mush be base solely on political considerations. Now the reasons advanced by the Political Agent for the Governor’s deportation to Kashmir were as follows :- a) To facilitate the introduction of the new administration and to prevent intrigue. b) To protect Raja Pukhtun Wali from intrigue. In neither of these reasons can I find sufficient cause for the sentence of indefinite banishment to Jammu now proposed by the Political Agent. I consider it would be unjust to detain Shah Abdur Rahman for longer than will give the new administrators of Yasen, Ghzr and Kuh time to settle well into their saddles. Raja Pukhtun Wali’s position has proved to be a much stronger one than the Political Agent feared when he pressed last October for the Governor’s deportation, and it would be unfair to impose so disproportionate a penalty on the latter for the sake of the much favoured Pukhtun Wali. 8. For the above reason I recommend that Shah Abdur Rahman be deprived of his appointment of Governor of Yasen, and that he be released from Hari Parbat fort and required to live as a political detune for a period of 3 years at such place in the Kashmir valley as may be found suitable. On the expiration of that period it might be left to the Resident to permit his return to the Agency as soon as may be deemed safe, and on such conditions as regards security as may then be found desirable. I agree with the Political Agent’s proposals regarding the allowance to be granted to Shah Abdur Rahman while in exile. The degree of surveillance to be exercised over him during his detention in Kashmir might be left to depend on his abstention from intrigue, it being clearly explained to him that the failure he has proved as a Governor, both in normal times and in a crisis, definitely precludes his appointment to office of any kind in future. 9. The case against Loghal Shah is that he abetted Shah Abdur Rahman in conniving at the departure of the Mehtarjaos and that he acted in the matter as the tool of the Governor. His past record and conduct have been generally unsatisfactory and in themselves justify his removal from his appointment of Hakim. I support the Political Agent’s proposal regarding his dismissal, and agree that he may without danger be allowed to reside at his home in Ghizr. As no further punishment is suggested in his case, detailed comment on his behaviour last October is unnecessary. 10. (a) I turn now to the question of the future administration of Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh. For the last 6 months Yasen has been in charge of Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat while Khan Sahib Raja Murad Khan has been officiating as Governor in the two latter districts. These arrangements have worked well. Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat and Raja Murad Khan are both experienced administrators and are said to enjoy the respect and confidence of the people. The Political Agent regards them as thoroughly loyal and reliable servants of Government. Saiyid-E-Hazrat, who is 65 or 70 years of age, is the leading Sunni Pir in the Agency, and has lived nearly all his life in Yasen where he acted as adviser or regent to Shah Abdur Rahman during his minority. None the less the Political Agent does not advocate his retention as Governor of that district. The objections to his appointment are firstly, that not only is he not a Khushwakht but that he does not even belong to the ruling class; and secondly, that he being a Sunni and the great majority of the people of Yasen being Maulais, his appointment would give much offence and inevitably lead to trouble. The Political Agent's final recommendations are :- a) that Mehtarjaos Shahid-ul-Ajam be appointed Governor of Yasen, and b) that Khan Sahib Raja Murad Khan be left for the time being in charge of Ghizr and Kuh. The claims and qualifications of these two men as set forth by the Political Agent here call for mention. (b) Mehtarjaos Shahid-ul-Ajam is the son of Khushwakht and grandson of Padshah, formerly ruler of Mastuj. He is a fine prepossessing youth of about 26 years of age who has done very well as leader of the Chilas Levies during the last 6 years. He is generally liked and believed to be reliable. His father rendered very distinguished services to Government, having been employed on several occasions by Major Biddulph and other British Agents on secret service mission in Hunza, Chinese territory, Russian Turkistan and elsewhere. He was also present at the disturbances in Hunza and Chitral. Being a Khushwakht he belongs to the ruling classes. His appointment would therefore be an accord with local sentiment and tradition. This last argument cannot perhaps be advanced in favour of Raja Murad Khan as he is an outsider. But the Khan Sahib's services have been notoriously distinguished and meritorious. It may be claimed, without going into particulars, that he has done uniformly well on every occasion on which he has been employed. He is regarded by the Political Agent as one of the most trustworthy men in the Agency. The fact that he is not a Khsuhwakht will probably prove no handicap to his success in Kuh at least, as that district has in the past been governed by a variety of rulers. The Political Agent submits that it is for several reasons desirable to leave both Ghizr and Kuh for the present in his hands, deferring for future consideration the question of his permanent confirmation as Governor. 11. The separation of Ghizr from Yasen represents, it is true, a partial reversion to the arrangements which were held in 1905 to be unsatisfactory. But the Political Agent is convinced that the step is a desirable one. He points out that the people of Ghizr, besides occupying a most important position on the line of communication with Chitral, enjoy the reputation of being, with the possible exception of the people of Hunza, the best fighting men in the whole Agency and that it is very advisable therefore that they should be kept happy and contented, which has been far from the case since they were put under Yasen 7 years ago. Although for reasons which seemed sound at the time Major Gurdon advocated the amalgamation of these two districts, Major Macpherson reports that the experiment has not proved successful. There have, he observes, been constant troubles and complaints, which have at times led to some difficulty in dealing with the people of Ghizr. He states that Major Dew was very strongly of opinion that the change made in 1905 was a mistake. 12. The proposals of the Political Agent for the administration of the 3 districts appear to me to be sound, and I have the honour therefore to recommend that they be accorded the favourable consideration of the Government of India. There remains certain connected proposals regarding allowances and rewards. Prior to the arrest and deportation last October of Shah Abdul Rahman the allowances attached to the Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh districts and paid by the Darbar were as follows :- _______________ Pay per mensem. Levy allowance per mensem. Shah Abdur Rahman, Governor of Yasen … … … 160 60 Loghal Shah, Hakim of Ghizr … … … 10 … Mehtarjao Muhammad Rahim … … … … 40 Mehtarjao Sultan Muhai-ud-din … … … … 40 Total … 200 140 Mehtarjao Shahid-ul-Ajam is in receipt of Rs. 50 monthly, as Levy Leader in Chilas. This item need not be considered, since in the event of Shahid-ul-Ajam being appointed Governor of Yasen his allowance will be of course be transferred to his successor as Levy Leader. The Political Agent suggest that the Mehtarjao, as Governor of Yasen, be given Rs. 100 per mensem, and that Raja Murad Khan, while in charge of Ghizr and Kuh, should continue to draw the pay viz., Rs. 60 per mensem, that he is now getting as officiating Governor of those tracts. He also proposes that the personal allowance of Rs. 40 per mensem, enjoyed at present by Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat from the Darbar, be increased to Rs. 55 in recognition of his past services and as an incentive to further good work on occasion arising, and that he be given in addition a cash reward of Rs. 250. He recommends, for similar reasons, an increment of Rs. 30 in the *emoluments of Raja Murad Khan, and a bonus equal to that proposed for Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat. In support for theses rewards the Political Agent writes ;- “The absence of trouble of all kind and the degree of happiness and content enjoyed by the people of the whole of the Yasen District, including Ghizr and Kuh, under the rule of these 2 loyal and faithful servants during the past few months has been something phenomenal, and also I hope therefore that the above recommendation will meet with the approval of both the Government of India and His Highness the Maharaja”. In seeking sanction to the above allowances and rewards I would point out that it is not proposed to give effect to the increment in the emoluments of Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat and Rajah Murad Khan until the time comes for them to vacate the appointments in which they are now officiating. The increased expenditure falling on the Kashmir Darbar in the event of the proposals mad in this letter being sanctioned will be small, as the Levy allowances formerly dream by Shah Abdur Rahman and his brothers will of course be transferred to others. 13. My proposals may be summarized as follows :- a) That Shah Abdur Rahman be removed from his appointment of Governor of Yasen (including Ghizr and Kuh) and required to reside, subject to the conditions mentioned above in paragraph 8, as a political detenu for three years in the Kashmir valley, it being understood that he is precluded from office of any sort in future. b) That Loghal Shah be likewise dismissed from his post of Hakim of Ghizr, but permitted to live at his home at that place. c) That Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat be appointed Governor of Yasen on a salary of Rs. 100 per mensem. d) That Khan Sahib Raja Murad Khan be left for the time being in charge of Ghizr and Kuh on the pay he is now receiving, viz., Rs. 60 per mensem. e) The Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat and Raja Murad Khan receive respectively increments in their personal allowances of Rs. 15 and Rs. 30 per mensem and, in addition, a bonus of Rs. 250 a piece. The Government of India will, I assume, require the concurrence of the Kashmir Darbar in the above proposals before they finally receive their sanction. I have, to avoid delay, communicated them to the Darbar provisionally and am confident that their acceptance by the latter can be relied on. 14. In concluding this letter a few remarks on the present position of Raja Pukhtun Wali will not be out of place. It is satisfactory to find from the Political Agent’s letter No. 1080-C., dated the 2nd April 1912 of which a copy is attached, that he appears to be assured of his footing in Darel and Tangir, and it is hoped that the moral support of the Political Agent will suffice to prevent Sifat Bahadur from intriguing to disturb the status quo within the Agency limits. As regards Pukhtun Wali’s ambitions beyond the boundaries of Darel and Tangir the Political Agent was right in telling him that he was not to look for Government assistance and that whatever he undertook was at his own risk. At the same time I think it would be wise if the Political Agent’s advice took more positively the from of deterring Pukhtun Wali from attempts to acquire further power and territory. Whatever distinction may now be drawn between our obligations to Pukhtun Wali within or without the Gilgit Agency, there remains the possibility that if he brings trouble upon himself by aggressive action in the direction of the Indus and Upper Swat Valleys, Government may be unwillingly embroiled by the necessity of going to the rescue of one who, qua Darel and Tangir, now occupies in may essentials the position of a Chief of the Agency. And while it is to our interest that he should be strong in Darel and Tangir as a barrier against the possible intrusion of the Pathan element from Swat, the peace of our borders makes it as undesirable in his case as in that of Punial or Yasen that he should meddle with the affairs of neighbouring tracts. From this point of view it is to be regretted that Pukhtun Wali has already involved himself in the attempt to dominate Khili and Bashgar, the people of which, there is no reason to believe, really desire to be governed by Rajas of any kind. It is too late now to attempt interference with the struggle which seems impending there between Pukhtun Wali and the Yasen Mehtarjaos and events must take their course, but the general line of our policy should, in my opinion, be to discourage him from further attempts to extend his frontier and to direct his energies towards the consolidation of the considerable territory he has already been fortunate to acquire. In this connection it is important to observe that the privileged position occupied by Pukhtun Wali is calculated to excite the jealousy of the other Chiefs in the Agency and to encourage the hope among the more ambitious that similar successes may win similar recognition from Government. _________________ Enclosure 1 Translation of a Persian letter dated the 4th October 1911, from Hakim Loghal Shah, Hakim of Ghizr, to Raja Pukhtun Wali of Tangir. After compliments – I am your old and faithful and loyal servant. You are fully aware of my late services rendered to you and I have therefore every hope from you. Now to show the quality and character of my faithfulness and loyalty to you, I beg to inform you that you must never trust the alliances and promises of Europeans. You will never see good at the hands of the English, but troubles. They are trying to effect your arrest by trickery. You are no doubt aware that in former days your father had killed an English Officer in Yasen which is well known to all the English and they are therefore angry with you. This year Dew Sahib invited you to the Darbar and showed you much leniency but this was only meant to take Tangir and Yaghistan by trick and he was not true to you in heart. Such kindness on the part of the English is not be relied on. When Dew Sahib invited you to join the Gilgit Jalsa I could not inform you of the treachery of the English owing to the heavy snow on the Chashi and Balti Passes. You did wrong at that time not to ask me (your well wisher) my advice but you accepted the invitation of Dew Sahib and went to Gilgit. He met you kindly outwardly and you trust him. It is the policy of these English that in the first instance they show kindness and do not immediately arrest their enemies but afterwards they make all pakka arrangements to arrest them. Now out of faithfulness I inform you that Macpherson Sahib will either summon you to meet him in Gilgit but you must not go, or, he will invite you to the Delhi Darbar and there arrest you, so do you not go the Delhi Darbar either, otherwise you will be very sorry for what you have done. About two years ago you were good enough to kindly send me one shikari dog and some cartridges of which Dew Sahib was informed by some one and he arrested me. I concealed those cartridges and every search was made by Munshi Akbar Ali to find them but he did not. I was then released on my denial of the charge before Dew Sahib. He told me you were the enemy of the Sirkar and asked me why I had made friendship with you. In the end I bed to point out that the bearer of this letter is the son of Zarmast Jushtero Khan, who is my relative and also he is the son of the sister of my uncle Sarhaland Khan of Yasen. He may be treated kindly on my behalf as he is a reliable man. Moreover on receipt of this letter kindly send me some cartridges through your servant, Mir of Tangir, for which I shall be grateful. After reading this letter it should be torn into a hundred pieces. Enclosure 2 Translation of a letter dated the 20th October 1911, from Hakim Loghal Shah of Ghizr, to Raja Pukhtun Wali, Khan of Tangir. After compliments – It should be known to you that Colonel Macpherson Sahib has sent the Mehtarjaos to go and take Khili. It is rumoured that you had refused to come to see the Colonel Sahib and on this account he has become angry with you. I had informed you previously that you should be aware of the treachery of the English, but you did not accept this statement. Behold now what good the English have done to you. The people of Khili also have become your enemies owing to your friendly relations with the English. Be careful, I have warned you. ______________ Enclosure 3 Translation of a letter dated ……………………., from Hayat-Gulshar Khan and Kaskar Khan, Maliks of Gabrial (Khili), to Hakim Loghal Shah of Ghizr. The Mehtar of Yasen had promised us that us Pukhtun Wali is giving us trouble, he will assist us by sending his brothers. His brothers have not come as yet. If Pukhtun Wali afterwards takes this country, no blame will attach to us. It is not advisable that the Mehtar should delay in sending his brothers. It is urgent that you Hakim Loghal Shah Sahib send our message to the Mehtar Sahib. May this letter of ours reach the Hakim and Mehtar Sahib. ______________ (N.B. – This letter was found in the house of the Hakim’s Munshi, Mullah Gulam, on the 24th October 1911-A.D.M.). ______________ Enclosure 4 Translation of a letter dated ………………..from Alim Beg, Mir Ghazah Losh, the inhabitants and all the Maliks of Bashgar, to the Hakim of Ghizr. After compliments – Pukhtun Wali having made friends with the English is oppressing us. You should help us. ______________ (N.B. – This letter was found in the house of the Hakim’s Munshi, Mullah Gulam, on the 24th October 1911-A.D.M.). ______________ Enclosure 5 Translation of a letter dated the 10th August 1911, from the Governor of Yasen to Hakim Loghal Shah of Ghizr. After compliments – Hayat Khan, Malik of Khili, came here and after staying a few days with me is now going back through your Ilaka and will see you. I write this to you therefore that you should treat him as you would myself and show him all honour and respect and help him with riding ponies and men etc., within your Ilaka. The men should go with him as far as the first village across the pass and then return. He can go by any way he likes. ______________ (N.B. – This letter was found in the house of the Hakim’s house on the 24th October 1911-A.D.M.). ______________ REPORT Flight of the Mehtarjaos to Khili. The main facts in connection with this incident are – 1. previous to their departure Shah Abdur Rahman, the then Governor of Yasen, had twice asked my permission to let his brother go, once in August at Rattu, and again later in the beginning of October at Gilgit, and this request had on each occasion been definitely and most positively refused by me; 2. the actual departure of the Mehtarjaos took place from Yasen itself where the Governor wash himself present, the respective dwellings of the Governor and his brother being only about half a mile apart; 3. the Mehtarjaos left Yasen on foot at about ten o’clock on the night of the 18th October and did not actually cross the pass at the head of the Chashi nala leading into the Khili until sometime during the day of the 21st. Their progress therefore after leaving Yasen was quite leisurely as they spend two full nights en route, the first in the Sosot nala (near Dahimal in Ghizr) which they entered on the morning of the 19th and whence they crossed into the Chashi nala on the 20th, and the second in the Chashi nala at a spot only about half a day’s journey from the village of Chashi itself, which is the place of residence of the Hakim of Ghizr who was present there at this time. 4. It is admitted by all, Shah Abdur Rahman and Logical Shah included, that had the Mehtarjaos been promptly followed up they could certainly have been overtaken before they crossed over into Khili. 5. The Governor (Shah Abdur Rahman) alleges that he sent the necessary order to this effect to the Hakim but the latter failed to carry them out. The Hakim admits this but excuses himself on the ground that it was too important a matter for him to act on the instructions of the Governor and that he felt it incumbent on him to await the specific orders of the Political Agent to whom he had already telegraphed. 6. Hakim Loghal Shah first became aware of the departure of the Mehtarjaos on the afternoon of the 19th. The Governor's instructions subsequently reached him through Taman Shah about midnight the same evening, and finally he got my orders about midday or early in the afternoon of the 20th. 7. It is admitted that it is only full day's journey from the village of Chashi to the head of that nala, so that it is clear that, had the pursuing party under the leadership of Taman Shah started even after the receipt of my orders, they could easily have overtaken the Mehtarjaos before they crossed over into Khili - they would in fact have probably overtaken them at the spot where they spent the night and which, as already stated, is only half a day's journey from Chashi. The pursuing party, however, did not actually leave Chashi until late in the afternoon of the 20th and then, instead of pushing on energetically all night, merely marched until dark and then rested for the night. The following morning only a few of the party (Taman Shah him self remaining behind), were sent on ahead, and these coming across the Mehtarjaos' tracks concluded they had gone on already and returned, and there the matter ended. 2. The above facts are all admitted, and the only points therefore that remain for decision are, whether the Governor's statements can be believed that the Mehtarjaos left him without permission, and that, subsequently, he did all that was possible to stop them. No. 67-G., dated Camp Gulmarg, the 29th June 1912 From - HON'BLE MR. S.M. FRASER, C.I.E., Resident in Kashmir, To – THE HONOURABLE LIEUTENANT COLONEL SIR ARTHUR HENRY MCMAHAN G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., C.S.I., Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department. I have the honour to invite a reference to the correspondence ending with my letter No. 143, dated the 10th June 1912, on the subject of affairs in Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh. 2. My recommendation as regards Ghizr and Kuh was that they should be left for the time being in charge of Khan Sahib Raja Murad Khan, who has been officiating as Government of both tracts for the past 8 months. My reasons for suggesting that the appointment of a permanent Governor should be left open for present were given in paragraph 7 of my above mentioned letter. My proposals for the future administration of all three districts, as submitted to the Government of India, were communicated to the Political Agent, Gilgit, who now recommends that, in the circumstances. Khan Sahib Raja Murad Khan be confirmed as Governor of Ghizr and No. 430-F., dated Simla, the 2nd July 1912. From – THE HON'BLE LIEUTENANT COLONEL SIR ARTHUR HENRY MCMAHAN G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., C.S.I., Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department. The Government of India have considered the proposals in regard to the treatment to be accorded to Shah, Abdur Rahman and Loghal Shah, and to the future administration of Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh, contained in the correspondence ending with your letter No. 143, dated the 10th June 1912. I am to say that your proposals as detailed below are approval, viz.: - i. that Shah Abdur Rahman be removed from his appointment as Governor of Yasen (including Ghizr and Kuh) and be required to reside, subject to the conditions specified in paragraph 8 of your letter No. 101, dated the 13th May 1912, as a political detenu for three years in the Kashmir valley, it being understood that he is precluded from office of any sort in future; ii. that the Loghal Shah be dismissed from the post of Hakim of Ghizr, but be permitted to live at his home there; iii. that Mehtarjaos Shahid-ul-Ajam be appointed Governor of Yasen on a salary of Rs. 100 per mensem; iv. that Khan Sahib Raja Murad Khan be left for the present in charge of Ghizr and Kuh on the pay he is now receiving, viz., Rs. 60 per mensem; v. that Saiyid Eshan-i-Hazrat and Raja Murad Khan receive, respectively, increments in their personal allowances of Rs. 15 and Rs. 30 a month and in addition a bonus of Rs. 250 a piece – the increments to be with effect from the date of their vacating the appointments in which they are now officiating. It is noted that the Kashmir Darbar concur in these proposals. 2. As regards Raja Pukhtun Wali, the Government of India agree that he should be discouraged from further attempts to extend his frontier. In view, however, of the assurances given him by Major Macpherson, as detailed in his letter No. 1080-C., dated the 2nd April 1912, such discouragement should take the form of friendly advice and not of active interference. No. 6372 FROM....… THE FIRST ASSISTANT TO THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR TO……...... THE CHIEF MINISTER TO HIS HIGHNESS THE MAHARAJ OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR. Dated the 25th October 1913. Sir, I am directed to invite your attention to the correspondence ending with your letter No. 25-C., dated the 16th May 1912, regarding the removal of Shah Abdur Rahman from the post of Governor of Yasen and the administration of Yasen, Ghizr and Kuh and to that ending with your letter No. 237-C., dated the 7th November 1912, regarding the treatment accorded to Khan Bahadur Sifat Bahadur in consequence of his raid into Darel in November 1909. 2. I am now to address you with regard to the future administration of Yasen and Punial. It has recently been reported by the Political Agent, Gilgit, that Shahid-ul-Ajam, who was appointed Governor of Yasen in July 1912, died on the 4th ultimo. During the year that Shahid-ul-Ajam, held charge of his district he proved himself to be both a just and capable ruler, governing his country with firmness and integrity, while at the same time winning the respect and affection of all those with whom he was brought in contact. His death therefore at the present juncture, so soon after the recent trouble in Yasen, is greatly to be deplored, especially in view of the fact that there is no suitable member of his own family to succeed him. His only near relatives who may be said to have any claims at all are his uncle Raja Sher Ghazab, at present residing at Basin near Gilgit and his cousin Nadir Aman. The former would have been a suitable selection had he been younger but he is both old and deaf, while Nadir Aman is not well-born on his mother’s side and otherwise has no particular claims. 3. After giving the matter his most careful consideration the Political Agent’s choice of a successor fell on Raja Sifat Bahadur, Governor of Punial, and the Hon’ble the Resident, having had the opportunity of a personal discussion of the matter with the Political Agent during his tour in the Gilgit Agency, is in entire agreement with him. The Government of India were accordingly addressed on the subject and have been pleased to convey sanction to the arrangements proposed which may be summarized as follows: i. Raja Sifat Bahadur to be appointed as Governor of Yasen on the same emoluments that he gets at present in Punial i.e. Rs. 100 from the Imperial Government, Rs. 60 from the Darbar and Rs. 40 Levy Allowance. The present allowance of Rs. 100 payable by the Darbar to the Governor of Yasen to be transferred to the Governor of Punial but to be placed at present at the disposal of the Political Agent for administrative purposes. Raja Sifat Bahadur’s recognition as Governor of Yasen to be subject to such conditions regarding the disposal of the estates in Punial now in his occupation as may hereafter be laid down; ii. Gushpur Mohammad Anwar Khan, who is now 17 years of age, to be recognized at once as Jagirdar of Punial and to receive the revenue and other rasums of Punial as well as the Levy allowance of Rs. 40 in return for which he will perform certain duties but will exercise any powers until his training is completed some two years hence. The administration to be carried on in the meantime by the Wazir, assisted by a Council of elders, working under the general control and supervision of the Political Agent. The recognition of Mohammad Anwar Khan as Governor of Punial to be accompanied by the stipulation that orders will hereafter be passed about the revision of existing Punial Cash Allowance; iii. The Cash Allowance of Rs. 300 per annum paid to Mohammad Anwar Khan himself to cease on his being recognized as Jagirdar when he will enjoy the surplus revenues of Punial which have been credited to the State as a temporary arrangement during the acting Governorship of Raja Sifat Bahadur, the question of the allowances paid to other relatives of the late Jagirdar, Mohammad Akbar Khan, being left for subsequent consideration, as stated in (ii) above. 4. I am to request the favour of very early approval of the Darbar to the arrangements described above. 5. I am to add that further proposals are awaited from the Political Agent in Gilgit, in regard to the Punial estates and cash allowances. Yours truly B.H.S. JAMES FIRST ASSISTANT TO THE RESIDENT IN KASHMIR JAGLOT, TANGIR. 6TH NOVEMBER 1913. Kind Major Sahib, Your kind favours of 20th and 21st were duly received through my servant last night. Their bearer had been stopped by snowfall in the Karga Pass, so he came by Chelili via mouth of Khanbary, and hence the delay. Thanks for your kind wishes. Kind Sahib Bahadur, I never envy Khan Bahadur Sifat Bahadur’s or others appointment at Yasen. As the rule of that country is hereditary claimed by members of our Kushwakht family, I humbly requested you to kindly recommend my nephew, Badshah for the Governorship of Yasen in due time and course. You frankly refused to do so, and the command went into the hands of an undeserving personage. Such injustice never took place before you. All Rajas and their offsprings are regarded claimants to their own countries. Members of Raja of Astor can never claim rule of Hunza and Nagar or such other territories. It is only your policy to deprive my family members, so many in number, for unknown and unexplained reasons, of their due right. If you thought Badshah unfit to rule Yasen, his brother cousins, or other close relations could have served your purposes. You did not point out to me where the wrong lay with my family, so that it might have been corrected. I don’t know Government favours all showered on Kushwakht family in my thought the family is almost actually ruined on the contrary. Yasen the chief seat of the above family is made into two parts, divided among Murad Khan K.B. and K.B. Sifat Bahadur, who both though Government old loyal servants, have no claim to the right whatever, of the Governorship of Yasen, and Ghizr. Government can fully compensate their services with cash or otherwise from Imperial Funds. You twice deprived my nephew of best opportunities of serve Government, what other chance you would look for him, and in what other way he can serve Government? I have not seen the Government. It knows nothing about me expect through your kind medium. So I look upon you as my Supreme Government. You are the chief and first maker of all things so solicit ever your kindness. You kindly suggest me that I gain, more than lose, by your removal of my illwisher K.B. Sifat Bahadur from Punial, in close neighbourhood of my country, far away to Yasen; but I believe I shall get the worse of it. My countrymen’s fluctuations towards Chashi and Batret, in hot seasons is evident. The places are under K.B. Murad Khan, who is brother-in-law of K.B. Sifat Bahadur. So the continuation of intrigues against me and my relations is never ended. When you are kind to me I don’t care a bit for mischief of all of my rivals. As for my advice to Badshah, he lives under your direct control and is away from me. I advised his brother here, read your kind letters before him, and am sending a special man to enjoin the purport of your letters to his brothers at Soma. If inspite of this they go against the gain, you can treat them as you like i.e., whether imprison them or banish them from their home. I would never recommend their cause again. They may better appeal to self-help adjusting their character. I got enough instructions from the ineffective recommendations I made so many times to you for their interest. I don’t know fully yet what are the means of livelihood of Badshah and those dependent on him, perhaps about 100 souls. He gets Rs. 50/- from you and Rs. 15/- from Wazarat monthly, a total of Rs. 65/- quite insufficient for their support. I hear his piece of a cultivated land, with a belonging house, are usurped by K.B. Murad Khan. This land had been granted to him by your predecessor when he was a child, now when he grew old and stood at the head of a large family and several servants, his source of supplies was pitilessly forfeited, under your kind protection. My advice can seldom affect such a disturbed mind wanting in very necessities of life. So you may better advise him yourself and favourably consider. Just when I was writing you so far an accidental death took place in my court room. One Zarmast, Mughli of Ghizr was killed by No. 1 shot of a gun in the hands of one Ashraf Khan of Mastuj. The shot gun was already full ready for fire. Ashraf Khan wanted to take it in his hands and go out, the cock struck with piller, the gun was discharged and the deceased standing by chance in its front instantly got killed by it. Hoping it is all well with you. I remain to be, Major Sahib, Yours most sincerely, RAJA PUKHTUN WALI KHAN WALI TANGIR AND DAREL To, Major A.D. Machpherson, I.A., Political Agent in Gilgit. English version of a Persian letter dated the 24th August 1916, from the Resident in Kashmir to Khan Bahadur Sifat Bahadur, Governor of Yasen. -------------------------------------- I regret very much to have received from Major Macpherson a very unfavourable report of the manner in which you have carried out the administration of your District since your appointment as Governor of Yasen. He informs me that he has fined you Rs. 1000/- as a punishment for general disobedience of his orders and he has also warned you that, it there is any further occasion to complain of your conducts Governor, he will recommend that you should be removed from this position, in which case you will probably have to leave the Gilgit Agency altogether. I am sorry to address you, an old friend of mine, in this way on the first occasion after me return to Kashmir, but I wish you to take warning and to clearly understand that the retention of your present position is entirely dependent on your ability to show me that your are fit for the post. If it is proved therefore by your acts and general behaviour and the dissatisfaction of your subjects with your rule that you are not fit for the position you hold, you will certainly be removed there from, especially as I am informed that your methods of administrating Punial, when this district was under you, were equally unsatisfactory. In addition to the punishment already inflicted on you by himself. Major Macpherson has recommend that the present allowance of Rs. 60/- p.m. which you receive from the Kashmir Darbar should be forfeited for a period of two years or until such time as the Political Agent is able to recommend that you are fit to receive it again. I have agreed to this proposal and it will take effect from the date from which you have completed the payment of the fine of Rs. 1000/-. -------------------------------------- Rs. 100/- as Governor, paid by the Imperial Government. Rs. 60/- personal allowance paid by the State. Rs. 40/- Levy allowance paid by the State (vide Total Rs. 200/-) As the other Governors in the Agency viz. those of Ishkoman, Ghizr and Kuh, and Punial each receive only Rs. 100/- plus the 40/- Levy allowance, there is no reason, really, why Sifat Bahadur should receive more than the others, especially as the revenue of Yasen is considerably greater than that of any of the other states mentioned, and R. Sifat Bahadur is, also personally better off than the others. The deprivation, therefore, of the proposed amount will only place him on a level with the other Governors and will in no way be a hardship to him except for the loss of "IZZAT" involved, which, however, is the chief thing to be aimed at in the present circumstances. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Major, Political Agent in Gilgit geovisit();  <img src="http://visit.webhosting.yahoo.com/visit.gif?us1219855960" alt="setstats" border="0" width="1" height="1">
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