1 THE RAWALPINDI ASSEMBLAGE. 6038
2 that from the Murghdb to the Oxus settled. The Zulfikar Pass was retained
3 for the Amir, and, on the whole, Russia got very much less than she claimed.
4 The proceedings on the part of Russia were conducted by Genera: Komeroff,
5 the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian forces in the Trans-
6 Caspian Province, whose head-quarters are at Ashkabad, which was con-
7 quered by the Russians under General Skobeleff in 1880-81. Colonel
8 Alikhanoff was, at this time, the Russian Governor of Merve, which inclu-
9 ded Panjdeh and other tracts of Afghan country ceded to Russia. <A small
10 part of the work of demarcation, which could not be finished by the Com-
11 mission, was gone through subsequently, and the frontier settled as far as the
12 And-Khui territory. Most prompt and effectual aid was throughout given to
13 the mission by the Amir’s officials, who spared no pains in providing supplies
14 and the means of transport, which materially tended to facilitate the ardu-
15 ous work of the Commission. The labours of the Commission have added
16 materially to our knowledge of the countries it visited. The defences of
17 Herat have been improved under the superintendence of Captain Peacock.
18 The Intelligence Department under Captain Maitland, explored the routes bet-
19 ween Nushki and the Helmand, which are of great strategical importance.
20 The country from Maru Chak on the Murghdb to Kilif on the Oxus was
21 surveyed, and the routes to the Khanets of Maimena, And-Kh&i, Shibarghan
22 and Akhcha were explored. Independently of the Afghan Boundary Commis-
23 sion, the routes from Yarkand to Charshambd, across the Pamir and of
24 Chitral, Kafristén, Badakshdén and Dardistén were explored by Mr. Nevy Elias
25 and Colonel Lockhart. The Survey Department of the Commission under
26 Captains Gore and Talbot surveyed almost the whole of western and
27 northern Afghanistdn, including Khorasan east and south-east of Mashhad.
28 A valuable collection of botanical specimens was made in western and
29 northern Afghanistén, while, in the natural history branch, many birds, beasts
30 and reptiles were collected. In the geographical surveys, important contri-
31 butions were made by Captain Griesbach, while Captain deLaessoe made
32 interesting discoveries in the Archeological Department, which he repre-
33 sented. He opened up an extensive series of ancient cave dwelling in the
34 valley of the Murghdb near Panjdeh, and Captain Yate had similar cave
35 dwellings excavated near Kildhi-nou. Old coins and other antiquities were
36 also collected by Captains Durand, Talbot and other members of the Mission.
37 The Amir Abdul Rahman Khan has been very energetic in improving
38 the lines of communication throughout his territory. He has linked Kabul
39 to Balkh and Herat by good roads; and the road from Kabul to Herat and
40 the Hazdrajdt has been improved. The Amir has also strengthened the
41 garrison of Afghan Turkistan. On the return of the Mission from Central
42 Asia, the Amir gave a sumptuous entertainment to the members in his new
43 palace at Kébul, and expressed himself highly pleased with the result of
44 their labours.
45 In April, 1885, the Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, received a visit from His
46 Highness Abdul Rahman Khan, Amir of Afghanistdn, at Rawalpindi. A
47 grand assemblage took place which was attended by seven ruling chiefs of
48 the Panjab. His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, His Excellency
49 the Commander-in-Chief of the army in India, the Commanders-in-Chiefs of
50 Madras and Bombay, the Lieutenant-Governors of the North-Western Pro-
51 vinces and the Panjab, and the members of the Executive Council, also took
52 part in the proceedings.
53 On the morning of 6th April, a grand military review took place, when
54 20,000 British troops of all arms, and contingents from the States of Patidld,
55 Bahawalpur, Jhind, Nabhé, Kapurthdlé and Faridkot, forming a total of
56 Friendly attitude of
57 he Amir,
58 Political and scienti-
59 fic results of the
60 Boundary Commission,
61 Improvements of
62 means of communica-
63 tion in Afghanistén ”
64 under the new Amifr,
65 The Rawalpindi
66 Assemblage, 1885.
67 The meeting between
68 Lord Dufferin and
69 Amir Abdul Rahman
70 Khan,
71 The grand military
72 roview,
73 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com