'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎21v] (47/131)

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No day or night was too long for Jhanda Khan and his men to perform®
the Sirkar’s work; I found Jhanda Khan’s influence and service amongst the
several Baluch tribes we came across both within and beyond British territory
of the greatest service.
Purchase of camels for Indian Transport .—Having heard that the
Secretary of State for India had sanctioned the present Indian Camel Transport
being raised to 3,250 animals, of which there were 800 with the Punjab Army
and 100 left over from those purchased for the Chitral Campaign, leaving
2,350 to be purchased, I sent in a proposal to the head of the Department
concerned requesting permission to be allowed to purchase some camels.*
I cannot help stating it seems to me a great pity, not to say loss to Gov
ernment, that this recommendation did not receive attention, for as pointed out,
a double purpose and considerable saving would have resulted.
An unavoidable and by no means a small expenditure had to be made for
payment of camel hire for laying down all the grain purchased for
Bobat Thana, as well as the supply for the return of the Mission.
Had permission been granted for the purchase of a couple of hundred
camels, all this would have been saved; these camels would have conveyed the
grain during the month of August to Robat, and thence onwards to Quetta
with the Mission : no additional outlay would have resulted beyond the initial -
purchase, as I had sufficient spare men to drive and graze them, they could
then have joined the Indian Camel Transport.
This plan seemed to me a more practical and feasible one in comparison
with the proposal that was on foot of having a trial shipment of the light
framed smaller Somali camel from Somaliland, where considerable risk of ship
ment and carriage by sea has to be taken into account.
The expenditure of a few thousand rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. in the purchase of these camels
amongst the nomad tribes on our newly-acquired frontier would also have a
beneficial effect.
I purchased several superior barbardari camels, also fast trotting camels
to replace those that had died on the journey, at very reasonable prices.
The following Appendices are attached to this report:—
A. Copies of diary and letters from the Officer in charge of the Mission from 23rd Mav
to October 1897. y
B. Translation and copies of important letters affecting the Mission which passed between
myself and the Deputy Sartip, etc., etc.
C. Genealogical Tables of the Seistan, Kayani, Sarbandi, and Naroi tribes.
D. List of Taoki tribe in Seistan.
E. Average temperature of each camp and aneroid readings for each month.
F. Aneroid readings showing the approximate elevation of each camp, spring, pass anrl
other place of special interest during the journey. P ^ 1 ' d
G. List of wells and springs to the South of the Seistan-Hamoon and along* the rano-e of
hills on the west between Palang Koh and Malik Siah Koh. & &
H. Index list of all villages in each Nawar of Seistan.
I. Meteorological observations in Baluchistan on the outward and return journey.
J. Meteorological observations in Seistan.
K. Meteorological observations of Neb and Birjand districts.
L. Maps and sketches.
G. W. BRAZIER-CREAGH, Surgeon-Major,
Officer in charge, Seistan Mission.
* Vide Appendix B, letter No. 6, dated 3rd August 1897, paragraph U.-B.C.