"سيستان" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٧] (٧٨٢/٢٩٤)

2
Ins son Abdulla Jan. He failed to find it, but found and brought m the body
of the’ mher lost Ghilzai camel-man, Khudadad, Miam. I he body was
untouched by birds or animals, and, curious to relate, had been dned into a
marvellous state of preservation by the fierce dry heat of the de *® rt . P T y .
returned yesterday. They found all the bodies except that of Abdulla Jan,
and brought them to the Ziarat of Amiran, where they were properly interred.
13« t December, Camp Milok.-I'ae Yamin-i-Nizam has received a tele-
o-ram from Tehran in reply to references made by him and the Karguzar,
informing him that he is now sole Persian Commissioner. This is a great
triumph for him over the Karguzar, who will now doubtless endeavour to pick
all the holes he can in his whilom colleague’s management of affairs and
general character.
Owing to the dense tamarisk jungle all round our camp, we have had
repeated attempts made night after night by thieves on our camp, bo rar they
have failed to score, while we have managed to capture two of them.
14//i December, Camp Milok. —We marched to-day to Deh Dost Muham
mad. The whole country of Miankangi is dense jungle, and a road had to be
cut for our march. I did the march nearly into Deh Dost Muhammad by boat,
in order to inspect the Nad Ali branch of the Helmand and various canals.
The Nad Ali channel up to above Burj-i-As, where it divides into several large
canals, is even at this time of year a largish river. It is about the size and
volume of the Thames at Richmond.
Bv taking the river route I find I missed a curious incident which
occurred on the land route at Pukak. A large triumphal arch was found
erected at that village over the road, and the road gaily decorated with flags and
coloured cloths. This was the work of one Abdul Latif, a Peshawari trader
settled in Pukak. With the aid of Mr. Dobbs he recently won a case against
the Customs Department and feels elated thereat. When we first came to
Pukak last March, he hardly dared to recognise us. The Yamin, who passed
through the Arch to-day, must have thought times had changed. Sir Pred.
Goldsmid in 1872 w^as not allowed to enter this or other neighbouring villages.
\Uh December, Camp Deh Dost Muhammad. —The incoming dak sowar
was attacked by thieves last night between Milok and Pukak. His dak bag
luckily w T as not taken, but he lost his horse and boots. Miankangi is full of
thieves. The Hashmat-ubMulk and the Akhundzada have suppressed all their
own gangs, but there are still a large number of private and independent
freebooters at large. The dense jungle on the border of the two countries is
a safe refuge for outlaws from both sides. I have warned the Yamin-i-Nizam
that, if we have any more trouble from thieves, we may have to take unpleasant
steps. I have asked Captain Ramsay to warn the Hashmat-ul-Mulk in a
similar sense. I have asked the Yamin to send two sowars with our dak
men.
16/& December, Camp Deh Dost Muhammad. —I received a letter
from Mr. Moore, dated Gurg, 8th December. He reports that he has been
successful in finding an ample supply of water at various places in the 35 miles
betw een Nasratabad-lspe and Gurg, and at Gurg itself. This is very satisfac
tory. Some men I sent to Parrah returned to-day, and report that two regi
ments and six guns are on their w ? ay to Herat from Kandahar, but no reinforce
ments have come to Parrah (vide diary entry of 25th November 1903). They
say there are rumours in Parrah of recent fighting between General Ghaus-ud-din
Khan and Russians, in winch many have been killed on both sides. These
rumours are so persistent that the Parrah people are inclined to believe them.
The Yamin-i-Nizam came and paid me a long friendly visit this afternoon.
He has followed with great interest the accounts given in the “Pioneer” (which
I send him every day to read) of His Excellency the Viceroy’s tour in the
Persian Gulf, and especially the speeches made at various places. He seems
very gratified by the references made therein to Persia. He understands the
Persian Gulf question w r ell, as he has served in many parts of the Gulf, and at
one time w as appointed Governor of the Gulf Ports, but did not take up the
appointment. He expressed great indignation and regret at the hitch which
prevented His Exc3llency the Viceroy landing at Bushire, and severely criticised