'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad'

Content

The volume is Report on Sistan and the Country Between it and Mashad [Mashhad], by Lieutenant H D Napier, Staff Lieutenant, Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Department in India. It was printed at the Government Central Printing Office, Simla, 1894. It consists of two parts, political and military.

The report is largely based on a journey from Mashad to Sistan and back undertaken between 1 November 1892 and 18 March 1893 by the author; his munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. and a native of Mashad, Haji Jawad [Haji Javād]; a sub-surveyor of the Queen's Own Corps of Guides, Sher Ali Khan [Shīr ʿAlī Khan]; a 'gholam' [young servant] from the Governor of Khorasan (unnamed); and a Turkoman [Turkmen] 'postal sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. ' [mounted orderly or guard] (unnamed). It provides information and statistics (often tabulated) on the history, geography, economy, population, resources, roads, and meteorology of the region. The information in the military section reflects concerns with supplies, transport, and development possibilities.

Throughout the volume there are numerous photographs, plans, and sketches. These are of fortifications, landscape features, sites of historical or cultural interest, and notable people. In a pocket at the rear of the volume is a map that illustrates the report.

Near the beginning of the report there is a preface (folio 4) written by Lieutenant-Colonel George Hand More-Molyneux, Assistant Quarter Master General, Intelligence Branch, on 7 May 1894, and guidance for the 'Custody and Disposal of Secret Books, Reports, &c., Issued by the Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Department in India' (folio 3).

Extent and format

1 volume (55 folios)

It is grouped into

'The Kuh-i-Khwaja'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 9 1

'Country South-west of Birjand in February'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 9 2

'Fort of Nasirabad Sistan, The "Ark."'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 11

'Ali Akbar Khan, Governor of Sistan.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 13 1

'Pass between Kain and Afriz.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 13 2

'Main Canal and Burj-i-Sar-i-Band Sistan'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 15

'Sistan Band, River Helmand.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 18

'Nasirabad.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 20

'Sihkuha (Sistan), Looking West'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 22

'The Zahidan Pillar.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 23 1

'Specimen of a House in the Ruins of Zahidan.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 23 2

'Kimak (Sistan).'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 29

'Mosque at Kain'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 35

'Village of Istind in the Ahingeran Range'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 36 1

'Western Gateway of Kain'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 36 2

'Bamrud (Birjand). Looking North.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 38

'Sharakhs (Birjand). Looking South.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 39

'Tabas, Sunikhana (Birjand).'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 41

'Rakat, A Village Near Birjand.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 42 1

'Ruins of Zahidan, Low Lying Parts of Country Flooded by Rain.'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 42 2

'Castle of Furg (Birjand).'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 44

'Gazik (Birjand).'

1 image

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 45

'Sketch Map to Illustrate the Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad'

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F111/298, f 55

Arrangement

The volume is divided into two parts (Political and Military) and each part then further divided into several chapters on different subjects. At the beginning of the volume (folio 5) is a contents page, with reference to the original pagination.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 57; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: An additional printed pagination sequence is also present in parallel between ff 6-53.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival item

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Mss Eur F111/298

History of this record

Date(s)

1894 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Military intelligenceReports

Places

KhorasanSistan

People & organisations

Government of India, Quartermaster-General's Department

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'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/298, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0002f4> [accessed 19 June 2026]

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