"سيستان" [ظ‎‎٩‎١] (٧٨٢/١٨٢)

t^ore than express a hope that the Hashmat-ul-Mulk would be leniently deilt
with. I am glad that he took no stronger action under the altered attitude of
the Mestophi towards me. Colonel Temple said that there were no grounds in
Mushed for thinking the Russians had in any w’ay encouraged these demands,
which I am glad to hear.
I received by the same post a letter from Ghulam Jilani, the Hospital Assis
tant, together with one frem the Sartip Mir Mansum Khan. The Sartip writes to
say he hopes I will do for him what he has explained to Ghulam Jilani and
which Ghulam Jilani has written in his letter. »
The Sartip makes a formal request that I will use my influence with the
Hashmat-ul-Mulk to bring about a complete reconciliation between him and the
Sardars Said Khan and Jehan Khan with his father, the Hashmat-ul-Mulk.
This I think shows that the Sartip has great confidence in my influence
over the Hashmat-ul-Mulk and is significant as showing the inclination of the
Sartip and the two sardars who being in the pay and under the influence of the
Shaukat-ul-Mulk might be supposed to have leanings towards Russia. Ghulam
Jilani further reports that the sartip has received a letter from the Mustophi
telling him he will support his (the Sartip’s) claim to Seistan against his father,
the Hashmat-ul-Mulk, I conclude in the event of the latter refusing to come to
terms.
As Ghulam Jilani is attending the Sartip for his eyes and is, he says, on
very friendly terms, his report may be true.
I shall send an answer to the Sartip assuring him of friendly feelings, but I
shall not hold out a hope of any direct interference in what is after all the
private affair of the Amir.
There is every chance of the Sartip returning to Seistan, and I am confident
that I shall make friends with him as 1 have been able to do with his father and
his brorher.
23rd June .—Paid a visit to Haji Ismail Mujtahid. Although the Russian
Vice-Consul had paid a formal visit on arrival here to the mullah, 1 have not paid
any great deference to the mullahs of Seistan since I came, preferring rather
that they should know more about me from the people before meeting me.
My visit to the head Mujtahid was a great pleasure to me. I found him to be a
very fine old man. He spoke clearly and with much power and intelligence. He
asked whether w r e were going to have a railway here. I said the railway certainly
had a knack of following in the wake of the sahib. He extolled the fertility of
Seistan and said he know of a village now deserted and dry where several maunds
of rose leaves were collected for otto of rose. He then proceeded to give me a
lecture on his faith and expressed astonishment that the English people so fair in
their dealings should not be followers of Prophet. He asked how many times I
said my prayers every day and how it was that I could speak Persian so easily ;
to what part of Persia I had been, etc.
The visit was a success and I hope I have secured another important friend
in Seistan.
General Remarks.
Spread of British influence in Seistan.
The progress of British influence continues to be satisfactory. The conduct of
the escort consisting of Pathans from the Bannudistrict has been good. They
appear to get on well with the Persians who freely wander in their lines sellina
them eggs, melons, etc. tS
The rationing of the men and horses which at first was attended with a
little difficulty now gives no troub e. The Seistani lands his bhusa and grain
in camp and sells it at moderate rateu. I have never had a complaint since I
have been here for non-payment of supplies. The price of everything has
come down considerably since we came here, showing greater confidence in us
,4