The influence of Qizilbashes in Afghanistan
at the time of Dost Muhammad Khan
(Inclosure.) ― Mr. Mc Neill to Mr. Secretary Macnaghten. Tehran, January
22, 1837.
(Extract.)
With reference to your letter of the 23rd
of May, 1836, I beg leave to offer a few observations on the state of
Affghanistan, according to the best information I have been able to obtain
here; and on the nature of its present relations with Persia. But the
intercourse between these countries is very limited; and the arrival of a
well-informed person from beyond Herat is rare.
Though the sovereignty of the Affghans has passed out
of the hands of the descendants of Achmed Shah, the Dooraunee tribe appears to
maintain an undoubted ascendancy in the nation. The Barukzyes have usurped the
greater portion of the power of the Suddozyes, but the latter family still
maintains itself in Herat, and has a strong hold on the prejudices, if not on
the affections, of a large part of the Dooraunees.
The Barukzyes holding Cabool and Kandahar in
independence, and Peshawur as tributaries to the Seiks, would appear not to
have conciliated the attachment of the Dooraunees, and to depend, in a great
measure, for their power on influences foreign to that tribe. Dost Mahommed
Khan, of Cabool, descended by his mother from the Kuzzilbashes, or Persians,
who have for some generations been settled in Cabool, has connected himself
with that powerful body, and in any emergency, must trust rather to them than
to the native Affghans, for the means of pursuing conquests or repelling
aggressions.
There appears to be no doubt that these hereditary
soldiers would arm for the defence of the country, as they have hitherto been
ready to do; but it would appear to be doubtful, how far they could be induced
to march in pursuit of any enterprise on which their Chief might desire to lead
them. I am informed, that the system of hiring substitutes has become so common,
that a Kuzzilbash, unless unusually poor, never thinks of going on any ordinary
service himself. They are, nevertheless, the substance of Dost Mahommed Khan’s
military strength, and as they are all Sheeahs, and have in some degree
preserved their family, as well as religious connection with Persia, they are
desirous of inducing their master to form an alliance which, they believe,
would strengthen themselves, and confirm their influence with their master, and
their authority over the Affghans. Their influence is naturally great, because
of their strength; but it does not appear to rest on this alone. His maternal
descent from the tribe, his own predilections, and the devotion of the
Kuzzilbashes to his interests, have identified Dost Mahommed Khan with that
portion of his subjects, in a manner that would seem to have almost obliterated
all feeling of religious distinction, or national animosity, between him and
the Persian Government or people. Pressed on the one hand by the Seiks, and on
the other fearing that some member of the Suddozye family, either from Herat or
from India, may unite the Dooraunees against him, he has for some time been
seeking to strengthen himself by a foreign connection.
Herat has gained strength; but it is rather in the
connections its Government has formed with the surrounding Chiefs, that from
any increase of its own integral power. The defences of Herat have been
materially improved, and are represented to be of great strength. All the
Sheeahs of any weight or influence have been obliged to fly from the town, or
have been deprived of their power and their property. A large proportion of the
irregular horse, furnished by the city and the surrounding country, has been
converted into infantry; two foot soldiers being provided in place of one
horseman; the control of the Government of Herat has been fully established,
and large sums have been levied from all the wealthier inhabitants, to provide
for the defence of the place.
By letter received this morning from Herat, it would
appear that the Herat army, of 12,000 men, under Yar Mahommed Khan, accompanied
by a son of Prince Kamran, has actually moved out of the city, preparatory, it
is said, to an expedition against Kandahar.
It is perhaps more probable, that Yar Mahommed Khan
will content himself with re-establishing Kamran’s authority in Seistan, from
whence a nominee of the Herat Government was last year expelled by the people
of Kandahar.
In the meantime, Prince Kamran, probably with a view
to the assertion of his pretensions to the Throne of Affghanistan, has assumed
the lofty title of Kebleh Alum, and has given to Yar Mahommed Khan and Sheer
Mahommed Khan, the titles of Ausef-ud-Dowleh and Ameen-ud-Dowleh.
Great Britain. Foreign Office. Correspondence relating to Persia and
Affghanistan — London: J. Harrison & Son, 1839, pp. 25―26.
No comments:
Post a Comment