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YEAR 1895 - 1896
News.D.No.61 F. No. 344-C., dated Sibi, the 12th February 1895. 4. I visited the principal mosque yesterday, and was astonished to hear the Mulla read a notice, before the commencement of prayers, that it was the chief desire of His Highness the Amir that the people of the Hazara tribe, being Shias, should not be considered as Musalmans, and should not be left alive wherever they might be found. The object of this proclamation is, I think, simply to keep his authority high and to make people avoid Shias. * A newly appointed British News-Writer at Kandhar News.D.No.156 F. No.2529, dated Quetta, the 20th April 1895. Four sepoys of the 24th Baluch Regiment stationed at Chaman, who came to Kandahar in search of two deserters from the regiment, were provided with the necessary passports and returned to Chaman on Friday, the 5th instant. Nothing could be done towards securing the rifle brought to Kandahar by the deserters, as they had been imprisoned and the rifle confiscated by the Afghan authorities long before the arrival of the regimental party. Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining the passports as the sepoys belonged to the Hazara tribe, and as a rule men of that tribe, whether in the service of the British Government or otherwise, are not granted passports. In the present instance, passports were granted, but I was informed that, in future, I should not recommend any Hazara for a passport.
News. D.No,192 F. No.2919, dated Quetta, the 8th May 1895. 4. Murders are often committed in this country, and innocent people are made to pay blood-money for them. Recently, a murder was committed outside the town by a Hazara,* and the members of his tribe have, in consequence, been ordered to pay Rs. 5 each towards the blood-money due. Similarly all the Kakars were fined some days ago for the murder of a servant of Kazi Abdul Shakur Khan, the Kazi of Kandahar as the dead body was found buried in the grave-yard belonging to the Kakars. *Pharsigo is Persian-speaking race
News. D.No.231 F. No. 3545, dated Quetta, the 3rd June 1895. Last year the Brigadier's pay clerk, Mir Jafar by name, was summoned to Kabul to render his accounts. While there, one of the Amir's officials induced him by promises of liberal treatment to admit that a sum of one and a half lakhs of rupees was due by him to Government. In reality nothing was due by him. On the strength of his admission, however, he was imprisoned by the Amir, who ordered the confiscation of his property including a magnificent house which he had built at Kandahar. The Amir fixed the value of this house at Rs. 15,000 and ordered the Farsiwans (Hazaras) collectively to purchase it by pro rata contributions on the ground that Mir Jafir belonged to their tribe. The Hazaras have petitioned His Highness praying for a reconsideration of the order.
Diaries. No. 331 F. No.792-C., dated Ziarat, the 5th August 1895. 8. Several Hazara prisoners, who have been set at liberty by order of the Amir, have arrived here en route to their homes. They say that their fellow tribesmen have been responsible for their imprisonment, and that they will be revenged on them when they reach their homes.
News. D.No.357 F. No.854-C., dated Ziarat, the 21st August 1895. 3. Some Hazaras have fled from Kandahar towards Chaman without passports. Their object is to obtain employment in British territory.
News.D.No.360 F. No.883-C., dated Ziarat, the 26th August 1895. 6. I stated in a previous letter that the Hazaras (of Kandahar) had been called upon to pay the price of the house of Mir Jafar, the late Military Amin. This order was repeated, but the Hazaras failed to pay the money. The house has now been purchased by Nizam-ud-din Khan, the Superintendent of Trade.
News. D.No. 391 F. No.5876 F., dated Quetta, the 17th September 1895. 2. Some Hazaras who were going towards Chaman without a passport, were arrested and brought back to Kandahar last week. They are now in prison pending the receipt of final orders from His Highness the Amir.
News.D.No.426 F. No.6576, dated Quetta, the 12th October 1895. 5. Orders have been issued that the Hazara female slaves captured during the late rebellion in Urzagan should be liberated.
Nws.D.No.475. F. No,7388, dated Quetta, the 16th November 1895. 6. Certain Hazara Sardars came to pay their respects to the Shahzada. Garde Khan and Rahm Ali, who were the leading Sardars of the deputation, brought presents for the Shahzada's acceptance, and were granted khilats in return.
News.D.No. 34 F. Some days ago under His Highness's order very young horses, numbering about 250, were made to race in a plain outside the city. They were run twice over a race-course of three miles, with extreme cruelty. The result was that four of them fell down dead on the race-course, while most of them are now ill, and perishing one by one. They stood as below in the 2nd race:-
News.D.No.57 F. A Hazara labourer while clearing snow from the Pul-i-Khisti slipped and fell into the stream and was drowned. Nur Ahmad Khan, who was a General in Amir Sher Ali Khan's time, has been a long time in prison, for saying during the Hazara warfare that the Amir would not be able to conquer the Hazara country. After the conquest of the country, His Highness the Amir had him imprisoned. His property, &c., have now been confiscated and he will be expelled to Herat. Some men of the Mir Khel tribe of Hazara waited on the Amir to pay their respects. His Highness presented them with khilats and sent them back to their country. His Highness has received a report that three sepoys have been murdered in the Hazara Country. Orders have therefore been issued to arrest all men suspected of the crime and sent to Kabul.
News.D.No.73 F. Three days ago the Amir received Rs. 70,000, the revenue sent by the Hakim of Hazara. Secret news has been received from Turkistan that some Russians have arrived in the Hazara country disguised as Hazaras, and that they intend coming to Kabul. By the Amir's orders they were arrested, and they will be brought to Kabul for examination.
News.D.No. 88 F. General Sher Muhammad Khan of Urzagan in the Hazarajat was ordered to make a tour in that country, and to report secretly to the Amir as to the feelings of the people towards the Government, because the Amir was assured that the Hazaras were about to forsake their allegiance. But the General's report says that all the Hazaras are loyal and sing the praises of the Amir's Government. Mirza Muhammad Aslam of the Audit Office submitted an application to the Amir, stating that he had received information that the Mirzas of the Hazarajat Office were taking large bribes; that if ordered he would try to bring to light these corrupt dealings. The Amir assented, whereupon the Mirza has sent for the papers, also for a few headmen and husbandmen necessary to confirm his statement. *Mirza = Clerk News.D.No. 103 F. As desired by the Amir 17 Mir Khel Hazaras have been brought from the Hazarajat to Kabul as prisoners. They are in charge of Kotwal Muhammad Husain Khan, and have not yet been taken to the Amir.
News.D.No.121 F. The Amir is thinking of keeping the Ramazan fast himself. He has compelled the officers of State and his consort and her suite to do the same. All the big officers and the princes will break their fasts in the citadel with the Amir. Then they will have their dinner with His Highness also.
News. D.No.131 F. About 40 Hazaras came and waited on the Amir and complained that their Maliks had ruined the people; that they take away from them all their grain, cattle and other property by force, and they say that they were doing this at the bidding of the Amir, and begged His Highness to institute enquiries or to put them (the complainants) to death. According to the orders issued by the Amir, 10 sowars with a parwana to the address of the Hakim of the place have been sent with instructions to arrest the Maliks and send them to Kabul in view to make enquiries into their conduct. The Hazaras have also been sent back, so that they may point out the Maliks. Sherindil Khan, Hakim of Khost, wrote to the Amir stating:-"The men of the Hazara and Sheikh Miri Regiments fought among themselves, Killing 11 men of the Sheikh Miri and 15 of the Hazara Regiments, and wounding a few others. The origin of the fight was a religious altercation. The Hazaras, though they outwardly profess to be Sunnis, are Shias at heart and abused the five companions. They spoke something insulting to the creed of Sunnis which I am unable to express in writing. What shall I do in regard to these people? Orders have been sent to arrest those concerned and send them to Kabul. General Sher Muhammad Khan sent 14 persons from Urzgan to Kabul under a guard. They were accused of murdering seven soldiers. When they were taken to the Amir, they made a statement to the following effect:- "The soldiers outraged our women-folk, and we reported the circumstance to the local Hakim, but he took no steps to redress our grievances. We were at last obliged to murder them. Your Highness is at liberty to do what you like." Upon this His Highness told them:- "Take oath by the name of God, who has created you, that the statement you have made before me is quite true." They then took the oath and said they spoke the truth. The Amir released them and told them to leave their native place and remove to some other place. They expressed their desire to live in Ghazni. The Amir after having granted their proposal, gave them leave to depart.
News.D.No.176 F. A portion of Deh Zangi was confiscated by the Amir, who sent for certain headmen of that village and told them:- "If you give Rs. 1,500 every year as revenue, and supply provisions to the troops which are stationed there, I will release those lands; and you will get seed for sowing from the Government stores." They gladly accepted the offer, and the matter has thus been settled. The Amir sent for Murad Ali Khan of Tibar and ordered him to be thrown into the black well. Somebody reported secretly that he had helped the Hazaras during the Hazara campaign.
News.D.No.211 F. The Amir has arranged to employ the Kafirs, the prisoners of the Afghan jails and the Hazaras in road-making. They will receive food twice a day for this work.
News.D.No.225 F. Mirza Buland Khan was a Hakim of a portion of the Hazara country. A case of bribery for Rs.1,000 was brought against him. The Amir has sent orders to the Hakim of Hazara to arrest the Mirza and send him to His Highness. The Amir sent a letter to the Hakim of the Hazara country, asking him the reason why he had been sending revenue of the country less than it should be as the country was extensive. He answered:- "By Your Highness's orders many Hazaras have been expelled from the country; and many have left of their own accord. A great portion of the country is lying waste. This is the reason why the revenue has decreased." Orders were issued that the Hazaras who were living in different parts of Afghanistan should return to their country, and that those who are quite poor should be supplied with grain-seeds and advances of money for cattle from the State coffers, on the condition that, when the produce of the land was ready, they should pay up the money by instalments. The Amir sent for all the influential men from the different quarters of the town, and told them to give up all bad characters male and female, and thieves; if they failed to do so, and if the State officials found any such people in any quarter, the influential men of that quarter would be fined Rs. 1,000 each. They asked for a fortnight's time to search for such men, and said that after expiry of the period they would wait upon His Highness and report the result. The Amir having accepted their terms, dismissed them from his presence. Four Hazara Maliks, named Muhammad Ali, Muhib Ali, Dilawar, and Azam, who were undergoing imprisonment for some time past on a charge of bribery, have been released after their eyes were gouged out by the Amir's order.
News.D.No.242 F. Two days ago the Amir sent for the influential men of Chandaul and the Hazaras living in Kabul, and told them to abandon the customs observed by the Shias and adopt the principles of the Sunni creed, or to tie red turbans on their heads like the Hindus, so that others might not mistake them for Sunnis. They replied that they were Sunnis, but that some of their women would not give up their old customs. Upon this the Amir said:- We keep jails, cannon, and gibbets. These should remove from the minds of those women the bad customs they observe. Bring them all to me. The men then pronounced the sacred kalema. After they had left, the Amir told the spies, who are working in different quarters of the town, to collect and send truthful reports of the customs and practices they observe. General Sher Muhammad Khan has written from Urzagan reporting that the Hazaras of Deh-I-Kandi are thinking of rising. A reply has been sent to the effect that he should send two infantry regiments, four guns and a cavalry detachment to the place to punish the would-be rebels; that unless they repent their deeds and until they carry out the King's orders heartily swords should remain unsheathed. Last week the Amir released 400 Hazara prisoners and placed them in charge of Arbab Hasan of Kajao, and told him to supply them with grain and cash from the Government stores for their cattle, and to recover the cost by yearly instalments. A guard has also been placed under him to forcibly send such Hazaras back to their country as will refuse to go without assigning any proper reason.
News.D.No. 384. F. 9th June 1896:-- Ali Jan gave great trouble to the Amir's troops during the Hazara campaign, and killed hundreds of men and afterwards fled. The Amir heard that he had return home lately, where upon he had him brought into his presence and asked him if he had no fear of his life, when he gave trouble to His Highness's troops. The man replied that-"We must die one day, but nobody gives up his country and property easily." The Amir ordered him to be thrown into the black well. On the 30th May, 22 Hazara Arbabs and Maliks arrived at Kabul, and presented to the Amir Rs.4,000 and 4 Kadaghani horses. His Highness bestowed a khilat consisting of a lungi and a coat on each of them. They are being entertained at Government cost. The Hakim of Hazara has written to the Amir that those Hazaras, who have returned and resettled in their homes, possess neither cattle nor agricultural implements; that some arrangements for the supply of money may be made. The Amir has sanctioned the loan of a lakh of rupees, on condition that two lakhs should be recovered at the time of repayment. The money has already been sent.
News.D.No.441 F. Mir Iman Bakhsh, who is a Malik of the Hazarajat, brought 65 fat sheep as a present to His Highness, who accepted them and expressed his pleasure.
News.D.No.480 F. Forty Hazaras who tried to escape to Baghdad by way of Turkistan were arrested and brought to the Amir, who said:- "Has Afghanistan turned a bad country, so that the people wish to go to the country of the infidels? Put the men to death, as an example to others." The orders have since been carried out.
News.D.No.515 F. Eight Breech-loading guns were found in the house of one Nadir of the Hazara country. The guns and the man were sent to the Amir. On enquiries being made, he said that when the British troops came to Kandahar, the guns fell his hands; that they bore inscriptions with English letters. The Amir confiscated the guns and imprisoned Nadir. News.D.No.528 F. Karm Beg wrote to the Amir from the Hazara country, asking for the contract for making the Barak uniforms of the army, The Amir has given it to him for two lakhs of rupees, out of which a lakh will be advanced to the contractor. The Amir has written to General Sher Muhammad Khan, at Urzagan, to make a tour in the Hazara country and report on the state of affairs.
News. D.No.569 F. One of the Hazara Khans visited the Amir, and brought 20 pieces of barak, 100 pieces of karak and 8 carpets as a present for the Amir. His Highness accepted them and gave him a khilat. The Khan is still in Kabul.
News.D.No.616 F. Malik Dost Muhammad Khan of Hazara was summoned to Kabul to render his accounts. He brought four horses and 25 pieces of "kurk" cloth and presented them to the Amir, who in return, bestowed a khilat on him and promoted him to an appointment in Hazara, and exempted him from rendering accounts.
Diaries. D. No. 685 F. A large number of Baluchis, said to have been turned out from their country by the British Government, came here lately, and His Highness has allowed them to settle in the Hazara. country towards Waziristan. The Hazara country has been greatly ruined on account of its inhabitants having fled towards Bokhara and other places.
Diaries.D. No.697 F. A Hazara named Nazir related to Sultan Hazara was confined for misappropriating some public money, but he has now been released for want of proof.
Diaries. D.No. 5 F. An order is said to have been issued to the Hazara and Munkul people to the effect that they should supply as many men from their country as will be required for forming two battalions. During the last week three men of the Hazara country, who were proved guilty of committing robbery and murder, were put to death.
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Last Updated: Jan 15, 2009
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