IOR/L/PS/5/228, ff 40-49

This part of the volume consists of a copy of an enclosure to a secret despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secret Committee, Number 30 of 1856, dated 17 July 1856. The enclosure is numbered 3 and is dated 28 June 1856.

The enclosure consists of a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel John Jacob, Acting Commissioner in Sind [Sindh], to the Secretary to the Government of India. Jacob forwards translations of letters, along with the original letters (not present in this item), received from Captain William Lockyer Merewether, Acting Political Superintendent Frontier of Upper Sind, containing intelligence regarding Persia [Iran] and Afghanistan. The intelligence, chiefly from sources in Kelat [Kalat], notably covers:

• The capture of Ghorian [Ghurian or Ghoryan] by Persian forces, and their advance towards and investment of Herat
• The supposed collaboration with Persia by the ex-Sirdars [sirdārs, leaders] of Candahar [Kandahar, also spelled this way in the item] and their relatives, who castigate ‘the uncivil people of the red face (English)’ (f 45) for failing to assist them and warn that ‘Hindoostan’ [India] will suffer a similar fate in at the hands of Persia
• Claims that a detachment of the Persian Army is approaching Candahar with the aim of ousting Ameer Dost Mahomed [Amīr Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy] and reinstating the Candahar Sirdars
• Claims that Esau Khan [ʻĪsá Khān], chief minister in Herat, has: had the Ruler of Herat, Mahomed Yessuff [Muḥammad Yūsuf Khān Muḥammadzay] imprisoned and his property plundered; come to an understanding with Persia; intentions of becoming Governor of Herat
• Reports that ex-Sirdars of Candahar, Khooshdil Khan [Luynab, ʿAbd al-Hamid, Khushdil Khan] and Mahomed Omer Khan [Muḥammad Omar Khān Muḥammadzāy] and others have been captured by Dost Mahomed Khan’s soldiers, but that Rehimdil Khan [Raḥam Dil Khān] is still at large in Ghilzee [Ghilji] country.

Both Jacob’s and Merewether’s letters contain apologies and explanations to their superiors regarding the erroneous inclusion of an oral report as part of the translation of one of the letters.