LIGHT ON A DARK PLACE.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8160, 15 April 1895, Page 4

LIGHT ON A DARK PLACE.

The following oxbract from Tho Times throws a good doal of light upon tho recent quarrels among tin .r embers of tho reigning family of Chitriil whicli havo necessitated British interference : " The death of Moh tar Aman ul Mulk in Soptembor, 1892, ended bho state of things that he had creabod by a vigorous assertion of authority during a period of 40 years. He unitod Upper and Lower Ohitral into a single state, he disposed of all his rivals in open strife or by silon' intrigue, and with a statesman's eyo ho saw whence he could derive his surest revenuo by coming bo terms in 1870 with the Maharajah of Kashmir and indirectly with our own Government Aman ul Mulk ruled until ho was considerably over 70, but noithor ago nor reputation could avert tho fa to of his ancestors. In the autumn of 1892 he suddenly expired. It appears certain that ho was poisoned, but by whom is still doubtful. His death gave riso to internal troubles that might well havo disturbed the wholo frontier. Out of his 70 children three sons occupied prominent positions. His eldest, Nizam ul Mulk, the Me'itar jusb murvlered, was Governor of Mastuj, bub when ho found that his succession would be disputed he fled to Gilgib. His nexb brother, Afzul ul Mulk, who happened to be at Chitral, and who was probably tho poisoner of his father, seized tho power and was proclaimed Mehtar His triumph was brief, although the peril catne from an unexpected quarter. He murdered his younger brother, who alono seemed dangerous at Chitral, when an uncle of his, Shore Afzul, a brother of the formidable Aman ul Mulk, made a desccab on tho place from BadakshaD, ab the head of a band of Afghan and other adventurers. Afzul ul Mulk wa9 taken by surprise, and shob ut tho g.ito of his castle, and it looked as if Shore Afzul was certain to maintain his authority. This resulb might, perhaps, havo been unfavorable to the policy of the Indian Government, as he undoubtedly looked to Kabul, rather than to Calcutta, for support ; bub the energy and new found courage of Nizam ul Mulk soon solved the dilliculty. Ho had fled at the first sight of danger to Gilgifc, bub it was prudence that guided his flight). After the murJer of his brother and •he establishment of the usurper Shero Afzul, Nizam ul Mulk raised a small bub trustworthy force of Punnal and Hurzi fighting men, and in October, 1892, proceeded to Chitral with the object of te ting whether he or his undo should bo Mehtar. Shero Afzul made only a nominal resistance, and sought sifety in flight. 110 threw himself on the protection of tho Ameer, by whom ho is still kept in custody. Within a fow weeks Nizam ul Mulk was master of the whole of Cliitral, jut-t as his father Aman al Mulk had been, and until his assassination his authority had not been disputed. Nizam ul Mulk, who was born in the year 18G0, was convinced of the wisdom of the policy which attached him to the British raj. During his reign of little more than two years he had given increased stability to tho friendly understanding a> rived ab with his father, and the mo^t encouraging views were held as to his hoarty co-operation with us in any scientific or other operations on the Hindu Kush The sudden termination of his promising carcor i 3, therefore, a most regrettable event ; and even if his murderer, Amir ul Mulk, should he disposed to continne his policy it will nob bo easy for him to establish with us any cordial relations. Ab tho present crisis it is impossible to ray who would bo the i est candidate for the Mehtarship, but wo have no reason for anxiety, for Mastuj is still held by a garrison of 100 of our troops, and the force ab Gilgifc and Chilas is sufficient to copo wifc'i any emergency until the spring.