Page 370 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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and not to the town itself, which was a free gift, with tho other half revenue. In this view,
our right to raiso the question of revival of claim on behalf of Kelat would not, it is presumed,
bo recognized by Government, or contemplated for a moment.
“ Tho Bolaidis arc members of a Bcluch tribo which was, in those days, of great influence.
Their Chief was Nur Mahomed, and ho held the greater part of Lower Mckran, inclusive of
Bawu Dustyari. I take this tract to represent the Government of Sirbar, once of considerable
local ropute, called from a town or village of that name situated almost midway between
Bampur and Kedje. Nur Mahomed was succeeded by his son, Mir Dostin, whoso name is
well remembered in Mekrani annals. Among his vassals, or confidential sorvants, was ono
Soban, afterwards known as Mir Soban, who, under Nowab, the brother and successor of Dostin,
was strong enough to wrest for himself, out of the hands of the Bolaidis, the Government of
Hawu Dustyari. In tho struggle Nowab was slain. Comparing this account with that of the late
Lieutenant Grant, Mir Soban would seem to be one of tho Jedgals invited by Dostin from
Bela to assist him in resisting aggression from Kedje. This view at once explains the location
of Sindis so far to the westward : for the Jcdgal (Jett gal ?) is a term used in Baluchistan
to distinguish theSindi from tho Bcluch, and not the mere name of a tribe or clan. The period
of Mir Soban's rule is unmistakably marked in the above lamented officer's diary. On the
30th January 1S09 he arrives at1 Gwettur, village of Mir Soban .' On the 1st February
following ho is at Nagor. * Mir Soban lives here : territory from Jconi to Choubar, and about
40 miles inland, called Bawu’ Dustyari, from two largest villages. Jcdgal, 300 cavalry,
3,000 infautry, with sword and matchlock : revenue about rupees 6,000, tribe of great
weight .'
“ In paragraph 18 of my Report of tho 19th ultimo I suppose Mr. Badger's version of the
Choubar tenure the correct one. The further details now obtained on this subject strengthen
tho supposition. About 60 years ago Shuffi Mahomed Bolaidi was Governor of Choubar.
Mir Soban, then in the plenitude of his power, was in receipt of a fourth of tho revenues.
Allah Rukkhia Khwoja proposed to the Imam Syed Sultan to annex Choubar to Maskat.
The Imam made the proposition to Shuffi Mahomed, who compromised the matter by giving
him a quarter of the revenue. This arrangement lasted for ten years, when the place fell
wholly into the hands of Syed Sultan. It was captured by surprise during the night at tho
invitation and through the intrigues of the aforesaid Allah Rukkhia, an enemy of Soban.
Shuffi Mahomed afterwards returned accompanied by Mahomed Khan, assaulted Choubar with
the intention of destroying the Mehman inhabitants, and so far succeeded that he slew Allah
Rukkhia.
This account would show the capture of Choubar to have been effected only half a century ago,
whereas Mr. Badger shows it to have been about a century ago. It must, at all events, have
occurred before 1809, for Lieutenant Grant's Journal, written in the early part of that year,
states that, at Choubar the ‘ duties amount to rupees 5,000, formally divided between the
Syed of Maskat and Mekran Chiefs. The former has seized, and keeps the whole.' At
Maskat there could be no difficulty in finding tho exact date.
“ With your letter of the 29th ultimo I was favoured with a copy of Mr. Alison's letter to
Lord Russell, No. 15, of the 15th October 1863. It supplies the information alluded to in my
P. S. of the 22nd ultimo, and though not in any way modifyiug the opinion deferentially
submitted in paragraph 20 of my Report of the 19th idem, it certainly proves the necessity of
immediate enquiry with regard to Gwadur. But Choubar is equally dwelt upon in the Persian
Minister's letter of the 10th October last, the ‘ two Ports ' being the places referred to in tho
marginal extract. I shall therefore make investigation into tho title of those, a matter of
paramount importance.
“In 1810, when Lieutenant Pottinger was travelling in Baluchistan, it is quite clear that
Persia had no acknowledged footing so far
Volume 80 of 1864, page 60.
eastward as Mekran, even supposing tho Western
District of Bampur to be within the limts of that State. The revolution which gave to Nussir
Khan Braliui freedom from the Shah's control was succeeded, at his death in 1795,* by
another which set aside individual supremacy, but admitted a number of potty Chiefdoms, the
stronger to prey upon the weaker. Doubtless most, perhaps all, of these had prior existence
as tributary or subordinate Governments. It was only when Nussir Khan had ceased to
exercise the controlling power that they asserted claims to independence. I have already
alluded to Pottinger's division of Mckran. This was strictly geographical, and may be open
to amendment. I wish it were now in 'my power to furnish a complete division, political as
well as geographical. One thing is tolerably certain; excepting the two porta belonging to
Maskat, the whole line of coast westward of Gwadur up to Chodar, the boundary of M ekran,
is under no Chief of any pretensions, but the Chiefs of Geh and Baho Dustyari. On those
two Governments I have collected some scraps of information, which are in my opinion
trustworthy; and if not so piece by piece, at least in affording a generally correct outhn e o
narrative. But it will be well to revert to Bampur and its status since 1810.
u In that year not only was the Shah's authority disavowed in Bampur which, it should
always be borne in mind, if Mekran at all is the most westerly, that is, the district nearest o
Beluchistan, and
• Motion differs from Pottinger, and makes Mohbut Khan the nominee of Nadir Shah in
^ Ssss-ys ■StfSiaftS
modify the detail of, without altering the conclusions drawn from, Roport of tho 19th ultimo.