CHITRAL.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 124, 1 May 1895, Page 3

CHITRAL.

The following extract from the Times throws a good deal of light upon the recentquarrcis among themembeis of tiie reigning family of Gb'.tral: ' The death of the Mehtar Ainan v\ Mulk in September, ISD2, ended the state of things that, he had created by a vigorous assertion of authority during a period of 10 years. Ho united Upper and Lower (Jhitrai into a single State, he disposed cf a", his rivals in open strife, or by silent intrigue, and with a statesman's eye, he saw whence ho could derive his surest revenue by coming to terms in IiSoG with the Maharajah of Kashmir, and inc l ; rectly with our own Government. Amau ul Mulk ruled until ho was considerably over 70, but neither age nor reputation could avert the face of his ancestors. In the autumn of 1802 ho suddenly expin i. It appears certain that he was poisoned, but by whom is still doubtful. His doath gave riso to internal troubles that might well have disturbed the whole frontier. Out of his 70 children three sens occupied prominent positions. His eldest, Nizam ul Mulk, the Mehtar just murdered, was Governor of Mastuj, but when ho found that his succession would be disputed he iled to Gdgit. His next brother, Afzul ul Mulk, who happened to bo at (Jhitrai, and who was probably the prisoner oi his father, soized tho power aud was proclaimed Mehtar. His triumph was brief, although tho per.' 1 , came from an unexpected quarter. He murderod his younger brother, who alone seemed dangerous at (Jhitrai, when an undo of his, Shero Afzul, a brother of the formidable Amau ul Mtdk, made a descent on the place from Badakshan at the head of a band of Afghan and other adventurers. Afzul ul Mulk was taken by surprise and shot at tho gate of his castle. and it locked as it Shere Afzul was certain to maiutaiu bis authority. This result might, perhaps, have been unfavorable to the policy of the ludian Government,as bo undouutodly looked to Kabul, rather than to Calcutta, for support ; but the energy aud new-found courage of Nizam til Mulk soon solved tho difficulty. He had fled at tho first sight of danger to Gilgit, but it was prudence which guided his flight, After the murder of his brother and the establishment of the usurper Shere Afzul, Nizain ul Mulk raised a small but trustworthy force of Puuuial and Hunza lighting men, and in (Jctober, .lb!)2, pioceeded to (Jhitrai with the object of testing whether he or his uncle should be Mehtar. Where Afzul made only but a nominal resistance, and sought safety in flight. He threw himself on the protection of the Ameer' by whom he is still kept in safe custody. Within a few weeks Nizam ul Mulk was master of the whole of Chitral, just as his father Amau ul Mulk had been, and until his assassination his authority had not been disputed. Nizam ul Mulk, who was born in the year 1800, 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 the friendly understanding arrived at with his father, and the most encouraging views were held as to bis hearty co-operation with us in any scientific or other operations on the Hindu Kush. The sudden termination of his promising career is therefore a most regulable event ; and even if his murderer, Amir ul Mulk, should be disposod to coulinue his policy, it will not be easy for him to establish with us any cordial relations. At the piesent crisis it is impossible to say who would be tho best candidate tor the Mebtarship.'