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'Report on the North-Eastern Frontier of Persia and the Tekeh Turkomans' [‎110r] (11/50)

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The record is made up of 25 folios. It was created in 4 Jul 1881. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .

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11
no
wanted to see that place. Sir John Malcolm has thrown a sort of halo round Tabhas
by his account of the Khan and place, hut I found it rather an ordinary Persian town
in appearance. Sir John Malcolm never visited the place himself. The Governor,
who is of an Arab family from the shores of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , is noted for his
stupidity and bigotry all over Khorasan, and many amusing stories are told of his
mistakes, and of the bulls that he makes. The Government is always called in Persia
Tun and Tabhas, from the two largest towns in it. Tabbas is, however, much the
most important place, and the residence of the Governor. The Governor is named
Mirza Mahomed Bakhir Khan, and he has the title of Imad-ul-Mulk or Pillar of the
State, from the Shah; he is himself at present away at Mashad, and the place is
ruled by his son during his absence. The government of Tabbas is hereditary in the
same family, and has been so for many generations. The Governor, though appointed
by the Shah, is always chosen from this particular family. There is no Persian
garrison in Tabbas or in all the territories of the Khan of Tabbas. The Khan or
Governor pays a fixed sum to the Shah, and as long as that is paid he is left very
much to do as he pleases. The Khan has no army or guns, and the population is
excused all military service as being very unwarlike. No conscripts are furnished
by the Tabbas district to the regular Persian army.
Tabbas reminds me certainly more of Arabia than Persia. I suppose it is the
sandy soil and date palms which cause the resemblance. The only Englishman who
has visited Tabbas besides myself is Colonel Macgregor, who was here in 1875, and a
portion of whose road here corresponded with mine. Erom Tabbas he went towards
Birjand and Herat. The tobacco grown in Tabbas is very celebrated in Persia, and
3,000 camel loads are exported each year, chiefly to Teheran and Mash-had. It is
considered inferior to the tobacco of Shiraz, but superior to all other Persian tobacco.
I myself prefer the Tabbas tobacco to the Shiraz. It is of the same flavour, but milder.
A little silk and opium are also imported, but, after tobacco, the chief export is
assafoetida and dates. Assafcetida is produced in very large quantities on the borders
of the desert, and sent to India. The Persians cannot imagine of what use the stinking
gum known as assafoetida can be, and asked what w r as done with it in India. I told
them it was used in medicine, and also that a very small quantity was put into certain
sorts of food as flavouring. I was asked if I had ever tasted food so prepared, and on
my replying that I had, and that I thought it rather good, I was looked upon with
horror. Assafoetida is the produce of a plant which growls in the most arid tracts.
The plant is cut down, and a sticky very evil-smelling gum exudes, which forms small
lumps on the cut stems. This is carefully collected, and the stems cut again and
again, so as to cause more gum to exude. A fine plant will bear cutting fourteen
times in the season, which lasts about eight months from spring until autumn.
Tabbas has a fortified portion, which is surrounded by a wall of sun-burnt brick with
many towers. There is a narrow r but very deep ditch, and twm gates, stronger and
altogether better constructed than is usual in Persia. Inside this fortified portion is
situated the ark or citadel, the walls of which are in very bad repair. In this resides
the eldest son of the Khan. A large portion of the town is situated without the walls.
The people are a very peaceable set, and, when not troubled by Biluchi raids, the
government entails no trouble, and nothing is done beyond the collection of the
revenue. That portion of the duties of Government is carefully attended to at all
times in Persia. First, the sum necessary to be paid to the Central Government, then
a good sum for the Khan himself. There is rather a fine covered bazaar in the city,
but most of the shops are unoccupied. There is a large mosque, with one of the tallest
and largest minarets I have ever seen, but this fine minaret is fast going to ruin. The
fortified portion of the town contains 1,000 houses, which would give a population of
between 5,000 and 6,000 inhabitants. Outside the fortifications the town extends for
about a mile. There is an open street, with trees extending for about a mile from the
town gate, which has a fine appearance. The Khan’s hall of audience was described
to me as a splendid building, but I did not visit it, knowing well what such places are,
and considering that what was wonderful in the eyes of the inhabitants of this desert
land would probably appear nothing extraordinary to me. The people were a boorish
uncivilized set. Many of them were fairer than I should have expected them to be.
Very few wore the Persian lambskin hat; most people wore turbans, the peculiar
Yazd pattern of turban being the commonest. They were just such a people as one
would expect to find in such a place, shut in as they are from all civilizing influences
in their desert-girt home. Even the following of Teheran men which a Persian
Governor usually brings with him is here wanting, as the Governor never goes to
Teheran, and the same stupid family succeeds one another in the government. Even
‘the small amount of polish brought by having a garrison of officers and soldiers wh*>

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Content

The memorandum is a report authored by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Edward Stewart, Bengal Staff Corps, dated 4 July 1881. Its purpose being to convey the results of his intelligence gathering mission to the North-Eastern Frontier of Persia.

The report largely consists of a narrative detailing Stewart's journey from Tehran to the frontier, which he undertook under the guise of an Armenian horse dealer from Calcutta. The narrative details events that unfolded during the course of his journey, but also includes detailed observations on the landscape and settlements he passes through. This includes general observations on the local economy, fauna, geology, history, and politics. Military matters are also a consideration, and it therefore includes details on Persian armaments, fortifications, garrisons, and how easy an army could be transported through the region.

Much discussion is given to raids undertaken against Persia — primarily by the Biluchis and the Turkoman — and efforts by Persian authorities to defend against them. Some attention is therefore given to slave trading in the region, and how recent Russian activities have curbed the opportunities to profit from the practice. It also concerns itself with Russian expansion in the region and the extent that the Persians are willing to assist them.

On folio 106 is an extract from the Times (August 1880) concerning the Indian Prince Ram Chunder; Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart claims to have met him during the course of his mission.

Extent and format
25 folios
Arrangement

The memorandum has been arranged into twelve chapters.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at f 105, and terminates at f 129, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, 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: the memorandum also contains an original pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'Report on the North-Eastern Frontier of Persia and the Tekeh Turkomans' [‎110r] (11/50), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C32, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025609614.0x00000c> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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