Historical Notes by Munshi Mohammad Azim
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The news of Rome in the year 1298
AH/1881 CE
The number of soldiers in the Rome state (Ottoman
Turkey) while fighting with Russia was more than 500.000. This number, after
the war has decreased to 380,000. But these remainders are more skilful and
experienced than those 500,000.
Population of Britain at the same year
(1298 AH/1881 CE)
In Great Britain, including Ireland, the Channel and
Mann Islands, there live 35,246,562 persons. This number includes the land as
well as the navel armies.
According to the census of 1871 population of
Anglistan (Great Britain) was 31,845,379 persons. Thus, it seems that in ten
years, the population had an increase of 4,147,236 persons [(by subtracting the
difference or the increase seems to be 3,401,283)]. From this number,
17,253,947 persons are male and 17,992,615 persons are female. Accordingly, in
Great Britain, females are in majority. The population of the capital - London
– in 1871 CE was 3,254,260, while ten years later; in 1881 CE it reached
3,800,471. From the population of London, 1,794,106 persons are male and 2,020,465
are female [(the calculation of male and female does not respond correctly)].
There are 486,208 houses in London, from which
37,000 houses are uninhabited and 8,000 houses are not yet completed. Thus, in
every house in London, on average, there live 8 persons.
Amir Abdurrahman khan visiting The Viceroy
(1302
AH/1885-1886 CE)
The visit of Amir Abdurrahman khan, the king of
Afghanistan, took place in Punjab at the town of Rawalpindi, in the year 1302
AH/1885-1886 CE. [(The subject is mentioned in another place with more details,
but without the date, as follows)] : You, the British State, cannot disregard your four thousand-year old State
and dignity, and we cannot disregard our eight thousand-year old home and
chastity and property. The account of the visit was written by Mirza Mohammad
Nabi khan Dabir-ul-mulk of Afghanistan. The account was printed, ordered by the
praised Amir. It includes all conversations as well as governmental questions
and answers. By reading this booklet, one may learn the quality of the visit in
detail.
Demarcation of the Afghan-Russia border
(1302 AH/1884 CE)
British Sahibs, [(sahib here means high-rank English
officer)], came to mark the border between Afghan and Russian states. They had
come from India through Baluchi road, and landed at Zenda-jan of Herat, where
they visited the Governor of Herat. They arrived Zenda-jan and visited Deputy
Mohammad Sarwar khan on Friday, Muharram 25, 1302/November 14, 1884 CE, year of
pichi eel [(which is the Chinese name of the year)].
British Sahibs were 27 persons in their commission.
And other army officers, including cavalry and infantry were 500 persons;: 250
from platoon infantry, and 250 from mounted rasala, [(a group of mounted
soldiers)]. They were totally one
thousand two hundred twenty seven persons including officers, soldiers, and
servants. There were two thousand rented camels and mules loaded mostly with
their foodstuffs.
Their commander in chief, at first, was General
Lumsdon, who had come along with a few accompaniers through Iran. He returned
later to his country. Then there came Colonel Ridgway, with a few mounted and
infantry-men, from India, through Baluchi (Baluchistan). At first, he was being
appointed to look after Lumsdon; when the latter was leaving, he appointed
Ridgway as the commander in chief, to carry on the demarcation of the border
with the state of Russia. He completed the demarcation, from Herat to Turkistan.
Then he went to Kabul, wherefrom he
returned to India. General Lumsdon had
asked for his resignation when the Punjdeh war had taken place, He returned to
his country, but Ridgway and his military companions stayed and completed the
demarcation. The abovementioned commission was consisted of seven hundred
Indians and it included totally one thousand two hundred twenty seven persons,
as previously mentioned.
Sulaiman khan Sahib-ikhtiar and
demarcation with Russia (without mentioning the date)
Sulaiman khan Sahib ikhtiar, was appointed, in the time
of Nassiruddin Shah, to fix the border with Russia on behalf of the government
of Iran. He gave over, intentionally or by mistake, many parts of Iranian
territory and the soil of Khurasan to Russia. Russians still have control over
those places.
Endowment property in Herat
(1302 AH/1883-1884 CE)
Aqa Sayyed Hussein Herati, who had been settled in
the Holy land [(Mashhad)], in the year 1302, endowed his twenty one units of
shops to Imam Reza (POH). There were some other places, like real estates, bath
house and shops in the city of Herat and rural areas like Urtkhwan and Pashtan,
which were endowed to Imam.
Death of deputy Sarwar khan
(1303 AH/ 1886 CE)
Deputy [governor] Mohammad Sarwar khan had been
appointed as Governor of Herat, after Sardar Abdulqoddoos khan, at the end of 1298
AH. At the end of 1303 AH/1886 CE he left Herat for Kabul where he passed away.
Russian Commissioner left Balamurghab
(1303 AH/1886 CE)
The Russian State’s Commissioner moved out from the
Qrawolkhana lodging place of Balamurghab, on Sunday 13 Rajab, 1303/17 April,
1886. Russian commissioner’s name was Kolberg, and they said [(from this place
at least two four pages of Monshi’s notebook is being missed)]…
Ayyoob khan’s last flight (1304
AH/1887 CE)
Sardar Mohammad Ayyoob khan fled to Iran three
times: First fearing of his father,Amir Shir Ali khan’s appalling army; second, after being defeated
in the war in Kandahar, by Amir Abdurrahman khan, and third, when Deputy-governor
Sa’duddin khan and
Commander-in-Chief Framorz khan were
appointed to Herat by Amir Abdurrahman khan. The last time Sardar came from
Tehran to Khurasan and from there to the places of Kaland and Mando, at the
border. He and a few Herati mounted soldiers were defeated by Kabuli cavalries who
had been sent from Herat. Sardar Ayyoob khan suffering difficulties arrived to
Mashhad. Then receiving allowance from British State, he and his companions
were taken, through Baghdad to India, where they still live.
Later, Amir Abdurrahman khan showed affability and
caress to all Mohammadzai Sardars and other Khans of Kabul and Kandahar, who
had fled to India and Iran, at the time of disturbances and revolts of
Afghanistan. They returned to Afghanistan, and received salary at the reign of
Amir Abdurrahman khan as they receive now, at the reign of late Amir Sahib’s
successor, Amir Habibullah khan.
Governorship of Sa’duddin khan in Herat
(1304 AH/1887 CE)
At the beginning of the year 1304 AH/1887 CE, Amir
Abdurrahman khan appointed Sa’duddin khan as his Deputy-governor of Herat. He
was appointed after Deputy-governor Mohammad Sarwar khan, and arrived in Herat
four days before Nawrooz.
A letter from Panjdeh
(1308 AH/1890 CE)
A letter arrived from Tarkhanov, Officer and Governor
of Panjdeh, to Sa’duddin khan governor of Herat, on 10th of
Dhul’hijja 1308/17th January1890. To summarize, he had written that:
Happy Eid and God accept your sacrifice. Then he had added that from Panjdeh’s
Takhta-Baazaar to the Fair Market is a distance of seven- day [ride]; and from
Takhta-Baazaar to Great Mecca, through Baku and Istanbul takes fourteen
days. If Afghan merchants come and buy
their goods from the Fair Market they will make benefit. Now, your merchants buy
their goods from Bukhara and Iran, and the benefits go to those people’s
pockets. Moreover, your Hajj pilgrims will reach sooner to Mecca, if they
travel through this way. At the mean time, we also will help them. We informed
you as your neighbors.
Months of the Christian year
1892 (1310 AH)
This year is 1892. The first month and the beginning
of Nawrooz [(perhaps he intended to write: New Year)]: 1. Month of January, 2.
Month of February, 3. Month of March, 21 days [to] Nawrooz, 4. Month of April,
5. Month of May, 6.Month of June, 7.Month of July, 8. Month of August, 9. Month
of September [(in the copy: satamber,
which is similar to a Persian word)], 10. Month of October, 11. Month of
November, 12. Month of December [(in the copy: dastamber, which is similar to a
Persian word)].
Rebellion of the governor of Maimana
(1310 AH/1893 CE)
Deputy-governor of Herat, Sa’duddin khan, left Herat
for Badghis and Murghab, and then entered Maimana, where he stayed for more
than six months. His travel took six months and ten days, from first of
Dhu’lqa’da 1310/17 May 1893 to Jumadi I, 10, 1310/19 November 1893. During this
time, Mohammad Sharif khan, governor of Maimana, who had rebelled and defeated
by the troops of General Ghowsuddin khan, had fled, with his companions to
Panjdeh, and sought refuge there. The governor of Punjdeh was a Russian officer.
Sa’duddin khan sent his physician, Abdulhamid khan, who was a friend of Sharif
khan’s Father, Mohammad Hussein khan, along with a letter encouraging him to
return. Sharif khan returned to Maimana, and Sa’duddin khan took him to Herat
along with his family, companions, and belongings; from Herat, all were sent to
Kabul, to the presence of Amir Abdurrahman khan. [(From the list of Munshi’s
expeditions seems that Munshi had accompanied Deputy-Governor in this trip. In
the list he counts this as his fourteenth trip.)]
Governor of Panjdeh in QAl’a-naw
(1310 AH/1892-1893 CE)
Prestov [( in the copy: Frestab)] was previous
governor of Panjdeh. Responding the
invitation of Qal’a- Naw’s Hazara and Firoozkoohi tribes, he, along with a few Turkmen
horsemen from Panjdeh, had come to Qal’a-naw and stayed there for a few nights.
When Sa’duddin khan, governor of Herat, along with a group of Herati khans, and a mounted regiment
arrived Badghis, Prestov left Qal’a-naw
and returned to Panjdeh. The governor of Herat sent the governor of Merv a
letter inquiring that: Why had your officer broken the rules, entered the
Afghanistan soil and came to Qal’a-naw? Their chief- officer had written in
response, that he had come without our permission and by his arrival we fired
him; he had done it because of madness and mental alienation. Then Pawchic
Lawrov was appointed as governor of Panjdeh. Hazara tribe that had moved toward
the Russian soil, returned to their places.
Because of the action of the governor of Panjdeh who
had come to Qal’a-naw, all tribes of Herati Oimaqs as well as Uzbeks of
Maimana’s suburbs, even Mohammad Sherif khan governor of Maimana rebelled. [(here, Munshi repeats what he wrote under the
incident of Rebellion of the governor
of Maimana (1310 AH/1893 CE)]
[(at the margin)] The state of Russia, has built
places and fortifications in its properties in many places near Herat, including
Sheikh Jonaid, Tanoora, Qaratappa, Dahna- Dhulfeqar and near Kushk that is
better than the other places. Their rail-way has been extended to Panjdeh and
Sheikh Jonaid.
Command Officer of Maimana (1310 AH/1892-1893 CE)
In the year 1310, when we were in Maimana, the
Command Officer of the army of Maimana was General Ghawsuddin khan, who was the
Head of Kabuli Platoon, and there were three officers [(under his command)]:
Brigadier Rahmat khan, Commandant Faqir Mohammad khan and Commandant Noor
Mohammad khan.
Conquest of Hazara of Oruzgan
(1310 AH/1892 CE)
The conquest of Hazara of Oruzgan took place in the
reign of Amir Abdurrahman khan, in 20th of Safar, 1310/ 13 September
1892. [(this note is repeated, shorter, in another place)].
Demarcation the border with the British
Government (1311 AH/ 1894 CE)
Demarcation of the British State with the State of
His Excellency Amir Abdurrahman khan took place on Sha’ban 22, 1311/February
28, 1894.
(To be continued)
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