Page 393 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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which they levy periodical tribute, we have districts on or contiguous to the frontier, and
moro or less important, as follows :—
Persian. Ketat.
Jftlk. Punjgur.
Dizzuk. Koj.
Sirbaz. Toonip.
Poshing or rosbin. Nnasirsbad.
Palio. Mund, professedly independent.
Now it is quite clear that Toomp is wholly out of the hitherto acknowledged line of encroach­
ment. It is a step beyond, and a stop which affects our ally the Khan of Kelat. The Chief
of Toomp is the Khan's vassal.
“It is possible the report may be false, hut I can well understand that Ibrahim Khan
should either make the Shah's mandate to assist us in constructing the Coast Telegraph a
pretext to come down and attempt new encroachments on behalf of his King; or that, having
failed in his endeavour to act in concert with us (in other words, to share the likely profits we
may hold out), while dealing with the local Chiefs, ho should wish to utilise the toil and
labour of a long and difficult march with men and guns in the most advantageous manner.
“ The story continues that the Chief of Toomp, on receiving the demand for tribute,
consulted Faquir Mahomed, Naib of Kej, who advised resistance, promised aid, and has
himself proceeded with a considerable body of men to the quarter threatened. Further, that
Mahomed Khan, a Chief of the Gitchki tribe, who has a claim against the Naib of Kej, is in
Ibrahim Khan’s Camp. Mir Morad, Chief of Toomp, is moreover a Gitchki."
59. About this time was received in India a second despatch from Her
Majesty’s Minister in Persia, conveying the further reply of the Persian
Ministor for Foreign Affairs respecting tlio recent alleged intentions before
noted, of the Shah’s Government to despatch a force into the Kelat territory :
“ I have been assured by His Excellency, after he had communicated with the King's
Chief Minister, the Mustofi-ul-Memalik, that the
Mr. Alison, to tho Viceroy, 18th January 1809.
Persian Government had no intention of making
any movement against the Khan of Kelat, but that the Governor of Kerman had been
authorised, as in former years, either to despatch a small force, or to proceed himself in the
direction of Charbar and the Gwadur territory, in order to maintain the Shah’s authority in
these parts, which were, n6 had been often explained during the negotiations last spring for
the Mekrau Coast Line of Telegraph, considered to form part of the Persian dominions."
60. The Commissioner in Sind, drawing attention to this despatch, would
To Hi, Eiccllency tho Eight Honourable “ P0^1 °U‘ that if this is to bo accepted
Governor of Bombay, No. 1S6C, oi 23rd March as a clear definition of Persian territorial
1869, rights, any part of Mekran may equally
be said, when it suits tho purpose of that Government, to be considered to
form part of the Persian dominions.” He further alludes to the claim made
by Ibrahim Khan to Toomp, within thirty miles of Kej, and in the same
valley, adding that the same Chief last summer “ threw out hints of his inten­
tion to visit Kej, and directed Kazim Mahomed • * to lay in supplies for
the coming Persian troops.” Sir AV. Merewether had “ requested the Political
Superintendent of tho Frontier of Upper Sind to address His Highness the
Khan, with a view to his strengthening the hands of his Governor of Mekran,
Faquir Mahomed, tho Naib of Kejbut he represents the Khan’s position a
difficult one, and he, the Khan, “ naturally will feel it very hard that his
difficulties should now be much increased by the action of a power said to be
in alliance with the .British Government, whose ally the Khan also is.” The
Commissioner mentions a further report from Captain ltoss, that Ibrahim
Khan talked of “ going to Kharan, on the W. N. W. boundary of Kelatand
concludes by earnestly recommending that early steps may be taken to check
the Persian proceedings, and, if possible, arrive at a clear understanding “ as
to which is the proper boundary of Persia to the eastward.”
61. 171111 a later letter Sir W. Merewether forwards Captain Iioss’s
reports, confirmatory of Ibrahim Khan’s
No. 185 of 7lb April 18G9.
claims on Toomp. He states:
u l canuoc express too strongly my opinion of the mischief which must follow proceed­
ings such as those of Sirheng Ibrahim Khau. Not only is be most unjustifiably infringing
•1026 K. D.