Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-28
FATE OF UMRA KHAN OF JANDoL.

FATE OF UMRA KHAN OF JANDoL
Forty-Five Years Old, and Long En-
gagged iu Warfare.
0ondon Times)
The District Of Jandol. over which Um
ra Khan ruled. is bounded by the Ba
rawal range on the north, the Utma
Khel territory on the south. the Banjko
| IA river on the east. and Pashat AM
| Khar on the west. Ii may be noticed ina
! Baber in his memoirs refers TO being en-
camped in the Jandol valley. The capl
tai of the district is Barwa, where Umr'
| Khan possesses a fort Of considerable
| strength. The country has an abundance
| Of water. Is irrigated, and largely cultiva
| ted; nor Is Il unhealthy. The population
| numbers about 1900, including 1900 night
| ing men. In this district the rule OF Cmrs
| Khan Is said to be popular At any
| rate, IL is not characterized by the tyran
| ny exercised by his grandfather Faii
| Talab Khan. Umra Khan's revenue /:
estimated at about half a lac Of rupees
| $1,000 rupees. and the merchandise pass
| ing through the country has value OF
| about two laos year.
Irmra Khan Of Jandol Is related to the
| Khans of Nawagai. Khar, Babkara, and
the former Khan OF Asmar, who are all
descendants Of his great grandfather. He
| is married to a sister OF Amir-u-Mulk,
the present de facto Mehtar Of ChtraL
IImra Khan's age is about forty-fiye,
| and he has long been engaged in constant
warfare About two years after his IA
| theirs death In 1879 he murdered his elder
| brother, and seized on the family chief
| dom OF Jandol In 1857 we find him hard
pressed by a combined attack of Mu-
manned Sharif Of Dir and Safdar Khan
OF Nawagai. but he eventually succeeded
In dispensing his enemies and retaknS
some villages which they had captured.
In 1855 efforts were made by the Ameer
OF Afghanistan TO extend his influence
| in Baiaur. OF which Jandol forms a part.
To this influence the Khan of Dir sub
mitted, but neither Umra Khan nor his
late opponent, Safdar Khan Of Nawagai,
responded to the Afghan advances, and
their common resistance led TO a recon
Citation. About the same time and IN
the following year Umra Kahn succeeded
in annexng several large villages In Ut
man Khel territory. and in obtaining the
allegiance of the Shamozais and Salar-
zais. In 1859 he was again at war with
the Khan of Dir, and succeeded in cap
turing two forts. together with number
OF the DIT ltNltS anu Nitii ANNAt
year. 1880, being Joined by the Khans Of
Nawagai and Asmar he followed up his
successes by completely defeating the
Khan of Dir, occupying the chief town,
expelling the chief. and setting up In his
place his own brother, Muhammed Shah.
The defeated Khan, Muhammed Sharif
of Dir, took refuge in Swat, where the
people discussed a proposal to make him
their chief. but abstained from doing so
for fear of Umra Khan.
In 1891 fighting continued. A powerful
combination was formed against Umra
Khan. He was however victorious, first
over the Nawagai Khan's force Of 10000
to 1900 men. then over the swatis under
the leadership of the Milan Gul, and finally
over the Mohmands who, possibly at the
instigation Of the Ameer had been per-
suaded to help the eX-Khan Of Dir. The
efforts of the latter and his allies TO obtain
the direct assistance OF Afghanistan were
not successful. In 1890 Shah Tamasp, the
Khan OF Asmar, had been murdered and
the vacant khanship became an object
Of desire among several competitors.
After his defeat in Bajaur the Khan OF
Nawaga sent some leyies TO seize Asmar
in 1891. Umra Khan, however. forestalled
him. dispatching a force which took pos
session Of the country after defeating the
Asmaris The infant son Of the late chief
OF Asmar was expelled. and replaced In
Umra Khans interests by the late chiefs
half brother. The new Khan was, however,
shortly afterward driven out by the
forces of the Ameer OF Afghanistan.
by whom the country has been occupied.
The intervention Of the Indian Govern
ment was required 10 check a further
advance Of the Afghan troops into Bajaur.
In 1892. on the death OF the Mehtar
Aman-ul-Muk, Of Chitral, Umra Khan
succeeded in occupying the Mari or Mar
sat district of that State--an eneroach-
ment which he has since extended by
the occupation of Kala Drosh. In 1893
Umra Khan was not so successful in his
hostilitles with the Khan OF Nawagai.
at whose hands he suffered two serious
reyerses. But he beat back an attempt
by Muhammad Sharif, the expelled Khan
OF Dir, and gained fresh successes over
the Swatis, a number Of whose forts and
villages he reduced. The agreement Of the |
Indian Government with the Ameer
brought about by Sir NJ. Durand's mis- !
sion 10 Cabul, left Asmar within the !
Afghan sphere Of influence, but excluded |
Bajaur from that sphere. In consequence. |
the Khan Of Nawagai, losing all hope |
OF Afghan assistance effected a recon- |
citation with Umra. and cemented the |
alliance by the marriage Of his son with |
Umra Khan's niece.
AS is well known, Umra Khan received |
repeated warnings from the Indian Gov |
eminent with regard 10 his encroachments |
on Chitral territory, which, however, he /
lsregarded. with the results that we have |
day by day in our telegraphic |
columns during the past three weeks. |
What his future may be II would be fool |
sh even TO conjecture. But that he has a |
future unless his career is prematurely |
cut short by death, may be inferred from |
his past. He proved not altogether uDser- |
9iceable TO British interests during a /
critical period in our intercourse with |
To that period the Durand |
treaty put an end. But up to last year /
Umbra Khan was still regarded with rot |
lnfriendly eyes by many OF our frontier |
officers. Mr.. S. 8 Thorburn. In his work |
On our "Asiatic Neghbors," published to- |
ward the end OF 1884, mentioned the gen. |
sral belief that it was by the help Of |
presented by US or per- !
nitted TO be brought into British terri |
.ory, that Umra Khan rose TO power. We |
low know how far that general belief was |
correct Mr.. ThOrburn contemplated with /
the further development Of |
Jmra Khan's power. Were Umra Khan"
lie says, "to become Ameer OF Bajaur and !
De well disposed to us-as he would neces- |
dtAAg DC hio ROWNi AtlcilllN3 Oh our r.
,ognit.on, and probably, also, material
would be accessible all
he year round, and weeks nearer 10 In
LA than 1t at present Is by the clrcultous
cute now followed via Kashmir, Gllgit
nd Mastuj." Umra Khan's subsequent
onduct has completely changed a sltua,
ion which year ago was all In his favor.
lie could not keep his hands or Chitrai,
Though we again and again warned him
hat 1t lay beyond his sphere. The short
cute to Chitral has had to be opened. not
y his aid, but by a British army, which
vas sent for his subjugation, and which
or the time being has shivered his power
o pieces.
The Hamadryas.
Good Words)
The keeper OF the ZOO describing 10 me
be hamadryass appearance when ii