SW~4T STATE r85
An~arzai c~uutry, was founded by Mir Saiyid Ahnrad_ Shâh of Bareilly.
$uI the austerities enjoined by the 1Vhr were his undoing. A con-
spiracy was formed ; his chief followers were murdered in a single
night, and he himself was hunted clown and killed at Bâlâkot in
HdGâra in x83 r. The primacy then passed to Abdul GhafCir, the
famous Akhund, who established himself in x835 at 5aidu in Upper,
Swât, where he lived until his death in x8gq, the most powerful man in
the country.
On the establishment of British rules in the Peshâwar valley (x849),
no attempt was made to penetrate into the hill country. But the raids
of the tribesmen in British territory, and the asylum which they afforded
to outlaws and desperadoes, could not be suffered to pass unnoticed ;
and punitive expeditions were sent in x84q against the LTtmân Khel,
and in r85z against both this tribe and the inhabitants of Sam Rânüai,
the country> between the District border and the Malakand Pass.
Severe punishment was inflicted in thc: second expedition. The year
of the Mutiny (x857) passed off without disturbance, a refuge in Swât
being actually denied to the mutineers of the 55th Native Infantry by
the Akhund, who, however, adopted this course for reasons of local
policy, not from love of the British Government. In r 863 took place the
expedition against the Hindustâni fanatics resulting in what is known
as the AMBEx,n campaign, in which the united forces of Swât, Bâjaur,
Kunar, and Dir were arrayed under the banner of the Akhund against
the invading force. In x866 another small expedition was sent to
punish the Utmân Khel, after which there was peace on the border till,
in x878, force had again to be used. The Guides were; sent against
the people of Rânizai and the Utmân Khel, with complete success in
the restoration of order. Early in x8gq the Akhund died; and his son,
attempting to succeed to his position, was bitterly oplposed by the
Khân of Dir. The whole country as far as Nawagai in Bâjaur was
embroiled ; and in the confused fighting and tortuous düplomacy that
followed Umrâ Khân of Jandol, a scion of the royal house of Bâjaur,
took a prominent part. Allying himself first with the D~Iiân Uul, the
son of the Akhund, by x88z he had conquered and taken from the
Khân of Dïr nearly half his country. In x882 the Miân Gul became
jealous and fell out with Umrâ Khân, making terms with the Khân of
Dir. Umrâ Khân's position was rendered more difficult next yéar by
the arrival in the ITtmân Khel country of a religious leader, said to
have been sent from Kâbul to thwart him, and known a~, the Makrâni
Mullâ. His denunciations effected in x88q a combination of the whole
country-side, including Dïr, Nawagai, Swât, Utmân Khel, Salarzai, and
1VIâmund, against Umrâ Khân. But the allies were defeatved, quarrelled
one with another, and dispersed ; and by x8go, the Mull.â having fled
the country, Umrâ Khân was master of the whole of Dir territory, the
|
![[Digital South Asia Library]](/graphics/thirdlevel.gif)
