File 52/1912 Pt 3 'Persia Diaries' [‎195v] (401/1128)

14 The Karasuran on the Imbrani-Gunabad road are still complaining that
they have not been paid, and will not work, the road is unsafe in consequence.
(The money for these men was appropriated by the late Governor-General, vide
paragraph 3 of Diary No. 36.) £
15. British affairs.— British and Indian goods to the value of Rs. 90,000 have
arrived in Meshed during the past few days. Included in this consignment are
sugar, spices, indigo, cloth goods, and a small quantity of leather by special per
mission.
16. Russian affairs.—The robbery from a Russian subject residing near
Turbat-i-Shaikh Jam of 50 kharvars of wheat is reported. This crime was com
mitted by Saiyid Haidar, one of the Barbari Chiefs, at the instigation of Haji Husain
A g ha ; the latter being a Russian protege an interesting question is thereby raised.
17 Persian and German intrigues.—The local democrats, who are bitterly
opposed to the return of Naiyir-ud-Daulah to Khorassan (paragraph 1 above),
have warned 13 notables of the city, who are known to be working on his behalf,
that they must leave the town before he arrives, otherwise they will be shot.
18 A report has been received by the Mushawir-ul-Mumalik from Turshiz
that a body of eight Turkomans with‘three Persian servants have been arrested
by the Governor. ° Our Agent at Turbat-i-Haidari, however, telegraphs Jhat there
are some Europeans among the party, and that a force of Russian Cossacks have
left Turbat for Turshiz. Later news through the Russian Commandant here an-
noirices the fact that the eight Europeans are Germans : they must therefore be
Wfgnrr and his companions {vide paragraph 28 last week).
I visited my colleague this morning (the 10th) and asked what he had done,
having received no reply to a note written immediately on receipt of the news
yesterdav. He replied that as there was some doubt as to the nationality of the
eight he had agreed to the proposal of the Mushawir that the whole party should
be retained by the Governor of Turshiz until it was proved that they were Germans.
1 replied that the reverse should be done ; that the party should be made over to the
Russian troops on the understanding that they be returned to the Persians in the
event of their turning out to be Turkomans. A joint representation to the Mushnwir
has now resulted in a telegram being despatched to the Governor of Turshiz,
(who. by the bye, is a son of Kamaran Mirza, vide paragraph 3 of Diary No. 40)
directing him to forward the party to Turbat-i-Haidari, there to be put in charge
of the Karguzar, pending the settlement of the question of their nationahty. This
will do. as they will of course be accompanied by the Cossacks who had come from
Turbat to Turshiz.
19. Ahmad, the German adherent (paragraph 29 last week), was not sent in
by our Karaiz Agent, but was cleverly detected by one of our dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. sowars on the
Karaiz-Meshed road near Fariman, and brought in to the city by him. He states
that he had not accompanied the German expedition from Herat as reported by
our Herat Agent, but That he had quitted the town five days^ later. This is borne
out by the fact that some of the letters he carried for people in Meshed were dated
the 29th ultimo, whereas the party left Herat on the 26th. Ahmad is uncertain
as to whether Wagner and his friends intended to return to Herat or not, and informs
us that the other supposed guide accompanied them as far as Ghurian near the
Persian frontier.* This man, one Faiz-Ullah (not Baid-Ullah) also came to Meshed,
apparently, after dismissal by Wagner, but has returned to Herat.
Ahmad has been allowed to go, having promised to serve us in future. He
carried no papers of importance on this occasion. ^
20. News from Turbat-i-Haidari. —The district is still in a disturbed condition,
and Adal-ud-Daulah has given fresh proofs of his incompetence in the position of.
Governor. Large numbers of Baluch threaten to emigrate on account of the loss
they have suffered through recent thefts if their property is not recovered.
2 i News from Turbat-i-Shaikh Jam. —It is suspected that Shaukat-ud-Daulah
intends to resist his brother Shaji (paragraph 6 above) on the latter’s arrival.
Mas rat-id- Mulk has come in, and there are rumours that Haji Husain Agha is
tryiim to stir up a section of the Barbari tribe to take part in the disorders.
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