Mughal and Durrani empires During the decline of the Mughal empire, from the late 18th to early 19th century, the Karrals and Dhunds began to assert to themselves some independence of the
Gakhars. According to
the Imperial Gazetteer of India (Provincial series) of 1908 "Hazara plain formed part of the Attock governorship, while other parts of the modern District were held by the same Gakhars who played so prominent part in the history of Rawalpindi. When the Mughal dynasty declined and the Afghan peoples from across the Indus grew more aggressive, they found Hazara an easy prey; Gakhar rule had grown weak, and the old families of the Gujars, Kharrals, and Dhunds were losing their vitality. In 1752, Hazara passed definitely under the sway of
Ahmad Shah Durrani, The District formed the most convenient route to Kashmir and also a useful recruiting area. Hence the Durranis were at pains to repress disorder, but troubled themselves little about the internal administration or even the revenue payments of the tract.
M. A. Sherring writing in 1879 described the Gukkurs and their neighbours the Dhunds, the Gukkurs were described as living in the south of Hazara District with their chief at Khanpoor and the "territory to the east of that held by the Gukkurs, as far as the Jhelum, is inhabited by the Dhoonds, a rocky country traversed by torrents, in which a wild and hardy people, led by fanatical priests, could, in former times, successfully defy their enemies".
Sikh Empire During the latter years of the Sikh Empire the Dhunds rebelled against
Gulab Singh, Singh apparently had hunted in vain "for escaped ringleaders" until he came up with the idea of imprisoning the headmen of the neighbourhood – this then allowed him to get his hands on the ringleaders – the British were later to borrow this tactic against the Dhunds in 1857. In 1837, twenty years prior to the rebellion against the British, rebellion against the Sikh Empire broke out – as the Dhunds, Sattis and other mountain tribes had taken the opportunity of the difficulties faced by the Sikhs at the
Battle of Jamrud and the death of
Hari Singh Nalwa, to rise in revolt. Their country had been made over to Gulab Singh, and after defeating the Yusufzai he marched with 20,000 men, regulars and irregulars, to crush revolt in the Murree and Hazara hills. At first the insurgents were successful. Under the leadership of Shamas Khan, a
Sudhan, who had been a confidential follower of
Raja Dhyan Singh, the whole country had risen, and all the hill forts of the Jammu Raja had fallen into their hands . But Gulab Singh bided his time. He made Kahuta his headquarters, and very soon his promises and bribes brought disunion into the hostile camp. When he had so worked upon the chiefs that none knew whom to trust, he marched into the hills, burning the crops and the villages as he advanced, and offering a reward of a rupee for the head of every man, woman or child connected with the insurgents. Despite eventually going to war against them Abbott wrote: Abbott had previously written the following about the tribe on 3 June 1847 in his journal, On 13 June, Abbott, who had halted at
Garhi Habibullah, received Vans Agnew and wrote the following about this: "I remained at this spot to enable Mr. Vans Agnew to rejoin me. During his absence all intercourse was cut off between us, for the Dhoonds, with whom that gentleman was negotiating, are too divided amongst themselves to be able to aid in the transmission of letters. I became rather anxious at Mr. Agnew’s protracted absence and silence, but on the evening of the 13th he joined my camp and gave me the particulars of his negotiation. From this it would seem that the
Dhoonds and
Karlal, two tribes occupying the strongest country of
Hazara and separated by blood and hereditary prejudices from the Pathan, Mogul, and Gukka tribes of that country, live in a state of equality, acknowledging at present no ruler and being amenable to no authority that they settle their political dealings by assemblies called
jirgas, and from their isolated position amongst wild mountains and fastnesses have little idea of any world but their own petty province. Three
Sayyids, Shurff Shah, Syud Shah and Mhaitab Shah by name, exercise some influence over the Dhoonds, but it is limited and uncertain. Amongst the Kurrals, Hussun All is the hereditary chief of one clan and Fatteh Ali Khaun of another The country of the Dhoonds is a small tract lying between the right bank of the Jelum and a huge spur from the predominant summit of Mochpoora, then turning westward by south and occupying the valley of one of the feeders of the
Hurro river. The Kurral country lies at the south-western foot of the Mochpoora summit in the corner formed by the Dhoonds of the Jelum and those of the Hurro The country of both tribes is very difficult, and a large force is requisite to give certainty to any attack upon it Mr, Vans Agnew recommends that roads be made along the ridges leading in two directions into the heart of the country so as to render the passage of an army comparatively certain. This appears to me very sound advice of its feasibility I can better judge when I shall know more of the country". Abbott notes that the "Dhoonds and
Kurrals were brought under subjection by the Sikh Government" and that "Hussun Ali, in addition to his
jaghir of about 3,500 rupees, was allowed half the actual revenue of the Kurral country for keeping up a force to overawe the people and ensure the Kardar from molestation. It would seem that for this consideration, amounting to about 6,000 rupees, he was expected to exercise this influence over the Dhoonds also, and that until the whole country fell into confusion he was tolerably punctual to his engagement. At present the tribes are in a state of rebellion and the difficulty will be to cause Hussun Ali to make the proper submission. Should he do so, I am of opinion that he should be reinstated in his former possessions (the chowth) as the simplest, and indeed only, method, not involving loss of controlling so strong a country. He has not come in to Mr. Vans Agnew, but has sent messages. It appears that he is extremely suspicious. The Syuds of the Dhoonds were conciliated by the Sikh Government with a jaghir and a yearly pension of 500 rupees, but this salary was extended to only two of the houses, and the third, Mhaitab Shah, was not provided for. He has come in to Mr. Agnew and lent him all the aid in his power, and I think it will be wise to follow Mr. Agnew’s suggestion and give him a salary of 250 rupees a year from the revenue of the Dhoond country on their return to allegiance." On 20 September 1847 while undertaking Revenue Settlement, Abbott noted that the "Dhoond
zumeendars of Dunna came in to-day, and I purpose sending a party immediately to rebuild that mountain fort, retaining here as hostages half the zumeendars. 'I he disposition of the remainder of the Dhoonds remains to be seen. They have not yet made their submission. Their country is a mass of lofty mountains covered with jungle and cannot be safely entered by small detachments, but the possession of Dunna is very important and will simplify operations should such prove necessary. On 4 November 1847 at Sherpoor, Abbott wrote: "Several Dhoond zumeendars ot the
purgunnah Charrian came in this day. But the Dhoonds of Daiwul show no disposition to submit. I have therefore desired Sirdar Jhundur Singh to march toward Dunna, there to join or to support me as may be." 6 and 7 November Abbott notes that Singh was unable to advance by the Dunna route: "I wrote the Sirdar begging him to hasten to Dunna with his detachment of about 1,000 bayonets and two guns either by the Sutora or the Khaunpoor road" By 15 November, Abbott's threats along with the men and arms he had at this command seemed to have made the Dhunds submit to him, however he was still cautious for he noted in his journal that day: "I wrote yesterday evening to
Lieutenant Nicholson in charge of Sind Sagui, accepting his offer of the Infantry corps remaining in Chuch, which I have begged him to provide with hill carriage and to station at Khaunpoor as a reserve in case of hostilities, for although the Dhoonds have made their submission, they are reputed a slippery race, and when the snow falls they may yet be tempted to mischief, in which case without a reserve I should scarcely be able to maintain my communications and make sure of my supplies in so deep a tract of rugged mountains I ordered Colonel Baboo Pandah to march his corps to Charnan to re-build the fort there, and as its destruction was accidental, the magazine having exploded, I have ordered that the zumeendars be paid regularly for the work, whereas at Dunna, Mari and Nara I obliged them to renew what they had destroyed, giving them only rations." Things then seem to settle and the tribe did not rise against the
East India Company during the winter months, however the
Second Anglo-Sikh War breaks out in April 1848 following the murder of Vans Agnew in Multan. On 11 May 1848, Abbott receives information from the "Dunna Thannadar" that "the first symptoms of disaffection in those mountains" had begun. "The Kurrals had sent to the Dhoonds, telling them not to pay their rents as the Sikh Empire was over in Mooltan. The country is very strong and the weakened field force of Huzara could not spare a column sufficient for its subjection." By the end of August 1857, many of the British troops who had been stationed in hill stations like Murree had left to join the attack on
Delhi and bring the city under British control; the decision to send troops to Delhi reduced Murree to a still more defenceless state. However, Delhi still held out against the British and encouraged by this
Dhund tribesmen tried to seize Murree by simultaneously rising on every side and crowding up the nearer hill-sides threatening destruction of the station. Several of the Mussulman table-servants were in league with the hill-men, and for some hours the danger to Murree became imminent. Alerted to the danger the British organised defences, and quickly rallied volunteers commanded by Major Luard of the 55th NI and Captain HC Johnstone of the 5th N.I. A cordon of sentries surrounded the station and the three weakest points were held in some force; so the Dhoonds (the distinctive name of these disaffected hillmen), stealing up the hill-sides in the dead of night found the whole station waiting for them.
Sardar Sherbaz Khan Abbasi, also known as Baz Khan, was a leader of the Dhund Abbasi tribe of Northern
Punjab during the time of the
British Raj. He was the son of Fateh Noor Khan - reportedly an influential member of the tribe. Sherbaz Khan planned to attack the British settlement of
Murree in July 1857 during the
uprising against British colonial rule - with a force of 300 men, but his plans were leaked to the British and his plans were thwarted, and he was captured by the British. He was subsequently tried, sentenced and hanged him placed in front of cannons and
shot to bits. According the Punjab Mutiny report however, the reinforcement themselves were almost ambushed. They had to cross difficult country full or morasses and defiles. The Khurrals laid an ambush to cut them off, but providence saved them. The road on which the trap was laid became impassable from the rains. The force turned off, and not till it had passed the spot, did it learn the greatness of the peril from which it had been delivered. Nawab Khan, the great-grandson of Tanoli chief
Suba Khan, assisted Major Abbott after the annexation. At the time styling himself as Chief of eastern Tanawal. Prior to the Dhund rebellion he had been in Multan at the head of a body of horsemen serving Edwardes throughout the Siege. Massy writes of how he "was again forward in assisting at the suppression of the Dhund rising in the neighbourhood of Murree in 1857, losing his eyesight from the effects of exposure. He was rewarded with a perpetual jagir of Rs. 1,780." Massy writes this inheritances was then passed to his son who held "revenue assignments valued at Rs. 2,779 in Shingri, Paswal, Serai Niamat Khan and some neighbouring villages." The Punjab Mutiny Report goes on to say, plots were hatched "which culminated on the night of the 2d September, when the station of Murree was attached by 300 men. The fidelity of one of Lady Lawrence's personal attendants, himself an influential man of one of the tribes which had risen". This skirmish constituted the whole of the fighting; but two bodies of the enemy, of 100 men each, held two neighbouring heights during the whole of the 2d of September, and as there was no knowing how far the confederacy had spread. The station of Murree could not be weakened by sending men to drive them away. On the evening of the 3d the Commissioner arrived with a reinforcements from below. Supplies of food, which had been providently ordered to be bought in Rawul Pindee and sent up, began to arrive; the country was scoured, rebellious villages were burnt, their cattle harried and their men seized; 27 men were punk-lied, of whom 15 suffered death. The smoke of the 11 villages which were destroyed was seen far by a party of Khurrals which were coming out to renwew the attack, while the bright and unscathed houses of Murree showed plainly that no burning had occurred there. The rebel force, slunk off disheartened, and their tribe professed deep loyalty, but it was known to be second in ill-feeling only to the Dhoonds who made the attack." In Sir George Fletcher MacMunn's 'Armies of India', published in 1911 - a Dhund Subadar is included in the list of illustrations - his name and rank (written in Urdu text in the illustration) was
Subedar Jehandad Khan, he was painted by Major Alfred Crowdy Lovett of the
Gloucestershire Regiment. Other Dhunds such as Mansabdar Khan and his son Raja Sikander held the role of
Tahsildar during British rule - essentially becoming part of the administration of their areas. British war records also reveal soldiery from the area having taken part in World War I, names listed on the
Basra Memorial include: Note: Sepoy Mansabdar Khan is a different individual to the Mansabdar Khan of Phulgran. All names are listed on Panel 47 of the Basra Memorial, these men all died on 22 November 1915 which is the date the
Battle of Ctesiphon was launched by the British against Ottoman forces. Although British-Indian forces initially caused the Ottoman forces to retreat,
Lieutenant General Nureddin of the Ottoman Empire reinforced his lines, and the British-Indian forces were stopped. ==Notable people==