A Strange Ally.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 127, 7 November 1885, Page 3

A Strange Ally.

An interesting ceremony recently took place it Quetta, when the famous Azan Khan, Chief of Kharan, the most prominent figure in Belooch politics for the last fifty years, came in to receive a " khillut " from the Governor General's agent. Many a wild raid and " chapao " has the old bandit been engaged in during his chequered career, and countless are the stories told of the wonder ful strength and power of this Belooch Rob Roy. Aithough 90 years of age, he still sits a horse as well as many a younger man — and up to a very few years ago he was constantly engaged in harassing his old enemy, the Khan of Khelat. In these days it takes us back over vast changes in the quickly-shifting history of Afghanistan to remember that Azad Khan was one of the chief Sirdars present with the Ameer Dost Mahomed when the latter captured Herat. The old Sirdar came into Quetta to receive a "khillut" of the value of Es. 5,000, which the Governor- General's agent, Sir Robert Sandeman, presented to him in a full durbar in the presence of all the Sirdars and Chief. This ' c khillut " has been given to him by order of the Government of India, in recognition of the groat help he afforded the Boundary Commiesion when crossing the deserb between Nushki and the river Helmund last October. The Sirdar, who of late years, under Sir Robert Sandeman 's influence, has become a faet friend to the British power, was of the greatest assistance to Colonel ftidgeway and his party He provided not only guides and camels, but also food, and had it not been for the aid which the Commission got from him, they would never have made the passage of the desert with the ease they did. His two eldest sons, Nauro Khan and Ameer Khan, accompanied the old man. Azad Khan has now arranged, to keep open the roads from Kharan to the Kelmund in the interest of the British Government. It is worth remark that while at Quetta he expressed his opinion that the Afghans would show their bona fides and loyalty to the English by allowing them to occupy Herat and make arrangements for its fortification and defence.

The Kimborlv extension, about 80 miles, probable cost £400,000, willbring the total length of railways in Cape Colony to 1,642 miles, at an expenditure of £14,788,600.