458 An account of the Early Abdalees. [No. 162. 



Khaja Khidr-khan became chief at thirty-five years of age, and ruled 

 forty-seven years. He had two sons, Khudadad Sultan and Sher-khan. 

 This is the first time the title of Sultan occurs. He is known among 

 the Afghans as Sultan Khudakye, who divided the lands of the Abdalees 

 and Ghiljyes at Pul-i-Sangee with Sultan Malakhe Glriljye.* This 

 title of Sultan, I have reason to suppose, was conferred by Aurangzeb.f 

 Khudadad Sultan, on the death of his father Khaja Khidr-khan, be- 

 came chief without any opposition from his brother. 



He soon afterwards invaded the territory of Jyob, and laid it waste 

 while the inhabitants fled to the hills. On his return, a man of the 

 country and his three children were intercepted in a ravine, unable to 

 flee ; when brought before him he immediately ordered them to be killed, 

 although they appeared innocent and godly people. 



Pitching his camp near the spot, at night he saw a vision. The four 

 murdered persons appeared, and threatened him with the death he had 

 so unjustly inflicted on them. Terror had taken possession of his soul, 

 when the same vision with the green stick and green garment that had 

 appeared to Sado made his appearance, and, after reproaching him with 

 his tyrannical act, promised to save him, provided he would immediately 

 abdicate in favor of his brother Sher-khan, and act as his deputy. Khu- 

 dadad Sultan awoke in great dread, and assembling his attendants and 

 followers, renounced the chiefship in favor of Sher-khan, and informed 

 him he had done so by an express courier or " Chapar." 



During the chiefship of Khudadad Sultan a friendly communication 

 was sustained with the Beglar-begee of Candahar, but soon after Sher 

 Khan's accession it received a sudden check in the following manner. — 

 The Beglar-begee of Candahar had sent a force towards Foshanj 

 (Pishing) to collect the taxes on land and sheep, called Maldaghees 

 and Sargalye. Having finished their collections, they were returning to 

 Candahar. On arriving at the Kojak Pass they were attacked, defeated, 

 and nearly all slain by the Abdalees : some fled, but were pursued) and, 

 being overtaken, lost their horses and clothes. 



* The dispute was regarding the two districts of Omakye and Gwaharye, and is said 

 to have been settled by a shepherd, appealed to by botb parties, on the simple principle 

 that Khudakye and Gwaharye sounded well together as did Malakhe and Omakye. 



f I have seen the original Rukum of Aurangzeb to Sultan Malakhe, giving him 

 charge of the King's road from Kalat to Karatoo, to keep it clear of the Hazarah 

 robbers. 



