The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-22

Mulk He is consequently the brother-in-
law of the Mehtar who was murdered two
years ago, and on this score claims a voice
in Chitral affairs. In 1887 he connived at
the attempted assassination of the Khan
of Dir. but the plot miscarried and after
this occurrence the policy Of the neighbors
complete dependence on the Ameer OF
Afghanistan, and that OF Jandoi to indie
Umra Khan proved the more popular and
the more successful. While the Amer was
Umra invaded Dir, drove its Khan into
exile and absorbed his territory. After the
annexation of Dir Umra seized Khan and
Bajaur but he was compelled to evacuate
the latter in 1892 by an Afghan expedition
under the Ameers general, Gholam Hyder.
For some time thereafter he kept quiet.
watching the course of events. but MAIN
tanning his independence of the Ameer
THE MURDEROUS UL-MULKS.
The murder of the Mehtar of Chitral. Az
zul-ul-Mulk. in 1893, caused a revolution
there and led directly tc the present COM
plications Afzul-ul-Mulk had only few
months before became Mehtar, on the death
of his father. While he was consolidating
his newly acquired power, his uncle Shere
Afzul. who HAD been for some time ref
ugee with the Ameer, was intriguing 10
turn him out and seize the reins of power
and it was not only the boldness of the
scneme he planned but also the conduct
of Afzul since his fathers death that in
sured his success.
This latter, since his accession to power,
had perpetrated series OF crueities and
murders that disturbed the confidence of his
most trusted followers. He possessed him
self of the greater part OF his fathers
treasure, and he gave his head men one
more month to produce the remainder, after
death on them all were it not forthcoming,
and whether not he was able to prove
known to have said, AT last / have found
out how to make men respect me-that is,
kill them
lie put to death all his brothers who had
any claim to the throne in most treacher-
Gus and cruel manner, after they had sworn
allegiance to him.: Nizam-ul-MuIk, however,
escaping to Gilgit. Such fell under his
dispieasure suffered death. paying off old
quently came to Gilgit with letters, was tor
tured In most horrible manner before
being killed. After thus Kidding himself OF
his enemies and opponents, he said of All
Marian Shah, ex-mir. of Wakhan, refugee
in the Ishkuman, valley of Wasin: There
kill Ali Mardan Shah and eat his flesh" He
gave out that he was far too great a per-
sonage to be seen by his people every day,
and that only once in eight days would he
hold his durbar.
He organized the court after the most ex-
allied pretensions, appointing ministers with
high sounding titles, which, in country
like Chitral. both limited in area and popu-
there is much to show that in, spite of the
strength of character and shrewdness he
a homicidai mania, and of the most pre-
tentious vanity. In these countries Of the
Hindoo Koosh, where even. warfare does
not entail much loss of life, and where
murders are on the whole rare, II is little
to be wondered at that the Chitralis began
certain dread and anxiety, and that their
condition of mind was ripe for the reception
of any well-arranged plot that would result
In the meantime Shere Afzul, with a few
followers, appeared at the head OF Lupku
his way from Badakshan; here he strength
ened his cause by winning over adherentS
and killing the headman of the valley;
whom as his most trusted servant, Afzul
had appointed Governor of Luku. telling
Durbands. as the Ameer was so bound by
the government of India not to interfere
in Chitral that no attempt would be made
AfzuI sent most of his avale ole men and
rifles to Kila Darosh, in tha lower part OF
already seized the fort of Narsat. and
seemed to be meditating further extern
sion Of his territory at the expense OF the
Now, therefore, was Shere Afzuis oppor-
tunity The feeling in the Lutku valley was
in Afzul was waning. marching suddenly
on Shoghot, at the mouth of the valley ne
took precautions that the news of ms
his presence in Lutku was unknown in
Afzul; then turning. south into the Kunar
to Chitral- during the night: Appearing be-
fore the gate of the fort in the dark, he
with one Of Afzuls followers Going
a-tower, his men commenced firing, and, as
the frightened inhabitants came out OF
their houses they were put 10 death, until
Afzul himself appeared, when he was inn
mediately shot and subsequently cut to
pieces with swords the possession of the
fort and country thus becoming that of the
hitherto refugee. Both bold In its concep-
ton and successful in its undertaking.
Shere Afzups enterprise perhaps, merits
admiration. Among his followers were a
few Afghans, extremely few. however. and
this IL was that gave rise to the report that
Shere Afzul had seized Chitral with the
aid of an Afghan force.
>, me distance which the british expedi-
Peshawur to Chitral is about two hundred
miles The route was first trayersed by
other traveller in 1870 went over it, and has
given full account OF it, He first en-
have now forced, with debouches from the
hills almost due north of Peshawur. and
which he found an exceedingly easy one OF
a575 feet between adjoining peaks of 6.oOo
feet to 1000 feet in altitude. He then reached
aiia sSaa the capital Of Swat, small town
starting he came to the Swat river, which
De describes as large. rapid stream. which
the Lurrum mountains into the Talash dis
trict,. and in two days time reached the
larger than the Swat. At this point Timra
Khans authority commences, and days
MiankiIla. the capital Of his hereditary st State
d Jandol. which Is the largest division CT
Bajaur.
The journey from Mianlilai to Dir takes
four days. and formerly the Bashyali Kahrs,
who paid a nominal tribute to Chitrai,
levied toll on all travellers beyond this
place; but umra Khan pu. an end to this
brigandage by subjugating this branch OF
the Kafirs. West of Dir Is the Lab lori or
Lawarai pass, close TO peaks of 1900 feet
which gives access from Dir to the kunar
valley, and which held in force by
Umra Khan. In the Kunar valley itself he
fortified the village of Ashreth at the foot
Of the Iahaori pass. we'll as Brkot end
other places.