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'Reconaissance through Baluchistan and Seistan, 1897' [20r] (44/120)
The record is made up of 1 volume (58 folios). It was created in 1897. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
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Remarks.
and the courtyards, tanks, and deep well were substantially paved with
well preserved brickwork. <
A few Kyani descendents of Malik Jalal-ud-din still cling with com
mendable tenacity to their ancient home a few habitable houses cm high
ground to the south of the ruins. On the lands now called Parian, i.e.,
those watered by the Rud-i-Parian and an offshoot of it called Rud-i-Dashak
(vide Map No. 11) are extensive ruins, these are called the ruins of Dashak,
conspicuous amongst them are old Jalalabad, Rindau, Burj-i-Nasir Khan,
Kohak, &c., these are stated to have been the capital of the country during
the reign of Yakob the Potter’s time somewhere about 258 Hijrah.
Ruined.
Ruined.
70
3
28
*60
75
22
250
200
207
400
Sardar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Gul-Mohammed Khan of this village was a man of considerable
influence along the frontier. Since his death in 1896 his young widow
(Bibi Qumar) administers the hereditary property for her son Mohammed
Sharif. YVe were well received here and hospitably treated by the widow
Qumar. Colonel Yate also stayed in camp here for some time.
45
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no
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This village is on the Afghan-Persian boundary, in 7th Nawar. Its
original name was, in ancient time, Garshahsap, after an ancient Persian king
of that name. Garshahsap is said to have been the capital of Zarblistan
during the reign of King Garshahsap.
15
125
Elevation, 2,088 feet. Village consists of a collection of wattle and
dab houses, situated on an elevated clay ridge at the south end of
7th Nawar. Although a small village on frontier, it is important as a trade
route along which the kafilas from Bokar, via Herat Sabzwar 1 an ah
pass, as also those going to Afghanistan via Chakansar. A kaiila arrived
here, m route to Seh Kuha, during my visit, who gave me some usual
information. The surrounding country to the north and west is under
water some 4 to 8 feet deep, and a thick guz jungle fringes the old bed of
Helmand. Area of tillage is on the east and south. Two years ago the
Helmand changed its course, the greater bulk of water now flows through
the Rud-i-Parian {vide map), and there is but little water in the old Helmand
bed, in some parts it only contains pools. There is a ferry crossing at the
mouth of Rud-i-Parian where it leaves the Helmand ; the breadth of river is
some 300 yards, with a deep, violent, and dangerous current (lost a horse
crossing, and was carried some ^ mile down current myself, very near going
the way of the horse). Parian means abrupt, sudden, and is derived from
paredan—to fly, hence the name of river which so suddenly changed its
course.
Sardar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Shamas Uddin resides here, he is a nephew of
Sardar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Khan
Jehan, of Saidak. We received a hospitable welcome here, the inhabitants
along the frontier here were all anxious to know when the British Sirkar
About this item
- Content
This volume is a confidential report, printed at the War Office, by Harrison and Sons, printers in ordinary to Her Majesty, in 1899, and authored by Major George Washington Brazier-Creagh, Intelligence Division, War Office, concerning the resources, administration and general affairs in Baluchistan and Seistan [Sīstān] following his political mission in 1897. The report contains an introduction by the author, (folio 4), dated 5 December 1898, in which he mentions that details from the report are being incorporated into the Baluchistan Gazetteer and Route books. He also pays tribute to Colonel Bell and Captain Henry Dundas Napier who preceded him, as well as Captain Arthur Henry McMahon and George Passman Tate. The text of the report is accompanied by footnotes and section headings appear in the left and right hand margins.
The report includes a table of contents on folio 5 with the following five chapters:
- 'Chapter I. General Account of Journey across the Baluchistan Desert' (folios6-8), including details of incidents en route, future trade prospects, danger threatening commerical prospects, and a list of leading merchants in Seistan;
- Chapter II. Russian Designs and Political Consideration' (folios 8v-10), includsing details of future policy, approaches to Seistan, alternative routes, influential Sardars of Seistan, treatment of refugees by the British Government, and the feeling of the people;
- 'Chapter III. Resources and Population of Seistan' (folios 11-24), including details of administration, fertile places, a list of villages, climate, seasons and winds, sanitation, population, transport (camels, donkeys and horses), windmills, agriculture, industries and trade, Camel Corps, sport and shooting, locusts, and fish;
- 'Chapter IV. Exploration of the District in the West and South' (folio 25), including details of crossing the Dasht-i-Shelag, pollution of wells, character of country, routes, and pilgrimage;
- 'Chapter V. Land System - Revenue and Productions &c' (folios 26-29), including details of ijaras [ ijārah ], tenant rights and responsibilities, hardship of tenants, collection of revenue, culturable area, annual yield, surplus grain, irregularity and delayed water supply, and ancient ruins.
There is a list of nine appendices (folio 5v) as follows:
- 'A.- Geneaological tables of Sarbandi, Kayani, and Naroi tribes' (folios 30-31);
- 'B.- List of Taoki tribes in Seistan' (folio 31v);
- 'C.- Average temperature of each camp', April to November 1897 (folios 32-35);
- 'D.- Aneroid readings', April to November 1897 (folios 36-39);
- 'E.- List of wells and springs', with serial numbers corresponding to 'Map No. II' (folio 39v);
- 'F.- List of villages', with serial numbers corresponding to 'Map No. II' (folios 40-41);
- 'G.- Table of meteorological observations, Baluchistan' (folios 41v-43);
- 'H.- Table of meteorological observations, Seistan' (folios 44-50);
- 'I.- Table of meteorological observations, Neh and Birjand Districts' (folios 50v-51).
The file also includes five maps and sketches, store in a pocket (folio 58). They are listed on folio 5v as follows:
- 'No. 1. Baluchistan and Seistan' (folio 53);
- 'No. 2. Seistan' (folio 54);
- 'No. 3. Route plan of Robat Nala' (folio 55);
- 'No. 4. Waterways of the Helmund [Helmand] Delta' (folio 56);
- ’No. 5. Nasratabad [Naṣratābād] Fort' (folio 57).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (58 folios)
- Arrangement
This volumes contains a page of contents (folio 5) referencing page numbers.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; 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: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Reconaissance through Baluchistan and Seistan, 1897' [20r] (44/120), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/300, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025688316.0x00002d> [accessed 4 August 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/300
- Title
- 'Reconaissance through Baluchistan and Seistan, 1897'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:57v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence