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Biluch tribes leads me to believe emphatically that an agreement of this nature is not likely
to be lightly disregarded; any breach of it should, beyond doubt, be severely dealt with/*
92. By order of the Government of India a Court of Enquiry met at Gwadur
in March 1885 to further investigate the Rind cases. They fell into three
groups, vis.,—(a) telegraph cases, (£) claims by Maskat and British subjects
at Gwadur against the Rinds, and (c) counter-claims for blood-money preferred
by the Rinds against the Maskat administration of Gwadur. As to tile first
• Foreign Secretary to Agent to the Governor* gTOUp there W3S nO difficulty J aild the
General, No. uafl-E., dated the 13th September 18*5. counter-claims in the third were dis­
allowed* by the Governor General in Council. In regard to the remaining
cases it was found that the Rinds had “ committed during the past twelve
years five raids on a large scale," and also " numerous smaller cases of cattle-
lifting, besides highway robberies." The upshot was that a sum of Rs. 7,010
was decreed against the Rinds, and in favour of Maskat and British subjects
on account of cases of the second group. With reference to the execution of
.... . this decree, and to the expediency of not
treating the Rinds severely, the decision t
of the Governor General in Council was as follows :—
“The blood-feud claim has been rejected, and therefore all considerations relative to
that claim are inadmissible. Nor are the Government disposed to accept the pleas which
turn upon the hereditary antagonism of the Baluch of Mckran and Gwadur Govern­
ment, the temptations to which the Rinds are exposed, poverty and disunited char­
acter of the tribe, the importance of their friendship, or the possibility of harsh mea-
srnes compelling them to seek refuge in Persia. On the other hand, the Governor
General in Council is willing to attach weight to the following circumstances:—(1)
the improved behaviour of the tribe since 1883 ; (2) the fact that the peace of the country
is probably secured for the present; and (3) the consideration that, on the whole, now that
the Rinds have submitted, a policy of leniency seems best calculated to insure a permanent
settlement for the future. While, therefore, holding that the Rinds might justly be called
up to pay the fines awarded, and coerced in the event of refusal, the Government of India
are prepared to revert to the original proposal explained in the Foreign Department letter
of the 24th December last. By the adoption of this course, the Governor General in Coun­
cil does not apprehend any detriment to the interests of peace and security. Accordingly,
while the whole amount (Rs. 7,010J awarded against the Rinds will be held to be formally
decreed, the tribe will be relieved from the immediate payment of the fines, con­
ditionally upon the execution by the Rind Chiefs and Mukxadams of a bond or en­
gagement for their good behaviour and for the payment of the whole sum decreed within
five years; the bond to be enforced only in the event of further aggressions or future mis­
conduct on the part of the tribe. In accordance with this arrangement, the funds necessary
f'>r the due execution of the Gwadur awards will now be provisionally advaaced by the
British Government and distributed amoug the claimants."
93. In pursuance of this decision Colonel Reynolds \ went to Gwadur 1
I Colonel Reynoidi to Agent to the Governor in February 1S86, distributed the amount
General. No. 331, dated 7th April 1886, decreed to the claimants, and obtained
from the Rinds the bond quoted below, which was executed in his presence :—
** Whereas the Government of India have been pleased to direct that the sum of
Rs. 7,oio awarded against the Rind tribe in Mekran by a Court assembled at Gwadur in
the month of March 1885 be held to be formally decreed, but that the tribe be relieved
from the immediate payment of this sum conditionally upon the execution by the Rind
Chiefs and Mukkadams of a bond or engagement for their good bahaviour of the future,
and for the payment of the whole sum decreed within five years ; and further that this bond
be enforced only in the event of further aggressions or further misconduct on the part of the
tribe, we. the headmen of the Rind tribe, do hereby agree to abide by the conditions above
stated, and to be responsible each and every one of us for the good behaviour of our respec­
tive sections, that none of our tribesmen shall hereafter damage the telegraph line or
injure any Government servant, and that travellers and traders passing through or sojourn­
ing in our country shall not be molested, and that none of our people shall commit any act
likely to disturb the peace of the country. We also hereby agree to make ourselves res­
ponsible for the payment to Government, within five years of the above-mentioned sum of
Rs. 7,010."
:
94. Colonel Reynolds at the same time submitted § two proposals for the
future management of the Rinds of
{ Colonel Reynolda to Agent to the Governor
General, No. 331, dated the 9th April 1886. Mand, namely (a) that dealings with
them should be carried on through Wali
Mahammad, Ghazkandi, who was nominated in his presence by their headmen
to be their representative Sardar, and (b) that some subsidy should be paid to