IOR/L/PS/7/47 ff.1199-1222

Description

Scope and content : Despatch from the Government of India, Foreign Department to the Secretary, Political and Secret Department, India Office, dated Simla 18 August 1886, forwarding for the attention of the Secretary of State for India, Newsletters from Herat, Kabul and Kandahar.Herat newsletters Nos. 62 (17 June 1886), 63 (21 June 1886), 64 (26 June 1886) and 65 (30 June 1886), written by Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, Native Attache, deal, among other routine matters, with the destruction of buildings and fortification works in the city (No. 63: 'The Irak gate was demolished and commenced to be built anew. Its dome is now ready, and the whole of the work will be completed within fifteen days. The building of the new Khakistar tower has been completed, and the upper surface is being made pucca to receive the guns.'). The failing health of the Governor of Herat is also reported.Kabul newsletters Nos. 60 (27 July 1886) and 61 (30 July 1886), written by Lieutenant-Colonel Ata-ulla Khan, British Agent at Kabul, report matters dealt with at the Amir's durbar and the visit of the Amir, on a private tour, to Paghman.Kandahar newsletters Nos 22 (4 July 1886) and 23 (12 July 1886), are written by Mirza Muhammad Takki, British Newswriter at Kandahar.