Mir Dovlet Khan Afshar, ruler of the
Andkhoi Khanate
Into the composition of Afghan Turkestan enter the
Khanates of Maimene, Saripool, Sheebeerkhan, Aktcha, Andkhoi, Balkh, Goorzevan,
Darzab, Koondooz, and Badakshan. At the present moment, only one of these is
semi-independent ― Andkhoi. The rest are all of them in a subjugated condition.
The Khan of Andkhoi has managed to preserve his power
through the assistance and co-operation which he afforded Shere Ali’s army four
years ago, during the conquest of Maimene. In 1878 Meer Dowlet Khan was in
receipt of an annual pension of 12,000 rupees from Shere Ali. At Andkhoi is
always stationed a regiment of Afghan cavalry, to protect the Khanate from the
incursion of the Turcomans. Every year the Khan is bound to present himself
before the Lueenaib with offerings, which latter are forwarded to Cabul. As
regards the internal administration of Andkhoi, the Khan acts without
restraint, and has the power to dispense life or death to his subjects. In
effecting this arrangement with Meer Dowlet Khan, the late Ameer Shere Ali
obviously followed the practice of the English in India. Having no legal
pretext for annexing the Uzbek State, he made the Khan his pensioner, and
afterwards quartered upon the capital a detachment of troops, nominally as a
safeguard against nomad attacks, but, in reality, nothing more than a sword of
Damocles, ready to fall upon and crush the petty despot should his existence
become disagreeable to the Ameer.
Charles Marvin, Colonel Grodekoff's ride from Samarcand to Herat,
through Balkh and the Uzbek states of Afghan Turkestan. ― London: W. H. Allen &
Co., 1880, p. 38―39.
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