'Boundary between Persia and North-West Baluchistan' [‎30v] (16/18)

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(wliicli gave Koliuk to Kalat) ought cortai nly to
help and not to hinder us now. While on the subject
of Kohuk, and in order to explain why “ the Kohuk
question ” will become more difficult as time goes
on, I may here note that in May 1892 Persia ad
vanced an impudent claim to the revenues of
Parsoli in the Panjgur valley, on the ground that
Parsoli belonged to Kohuk. I replied that it was
was impossible for me to recognize such a claim,
hut that I was quite willing to examine any proofs
which the governor of the district might think fit
to produce, if he would visit me at Panjgur. Ihe
circumstance and the action taken by me were duly
reported to the Agent of the Governor General in
Paluchistan, but I received no reply from Persia.
This little instance will show the greed of Persia
which pressed on me a claim to land belonging
(according to Persian statements) to a district which
she has no right to claim.
With regard to the exact line of boundary
between Jalk and the Koh-i-Malik-i-Siah we must
remember that Mashkel is Peki country and
within the territory of the Khan of Kalat, that it
is very fertile, that to it one* good road leads from
Panjgur and from it two*}* good roads lead to
Sistan; that its chief, while hating the Persian, is
thoroughly friendly to us, that he is widely and
intimately connected with the chiefs and tribes of
Sarhad and Sistan (who also cordially detest the
Persians and look to us for help, and who would
he very useful to us). If we remember this and
are careful to protect his interests, I do not know
that it matters much exactly where the boundary
line is drawn, but we should, of course, take care to
prevent Persia from making good a baseless claim
to the whole of Mashkel.
Pefore I close, I would make a few remarks on
the Persian question, “Whether there would be
“ any objection to the Panjgur chief putting
“ himself under Persian protection ?” There is not
the least chance of any chief in Mekran doing
this voluntarily, and I have not the slightest doubt
that this question is asked to cover some aggression
on the boundary. In all probability, Persia will
encroach on Parsoli in the Panjgur valley (the
district referred to by me above), or will invade
Mashkel, perhaps do both. Persia is hated in
Mekran, she is hated and feared throughout
Perso-Paluchistan, and I have received several
letters from the chiefs of Sarhad inviting me to
march into their country and administer it. I
have also received letters from that excellent and
highly respected chief, Mir Kadir Pakhsh, and
from * other influential headmen of Dizzuk (a
district once admittedly belonging to Kalat, see
old Gazetteers, hut now administered by Persia),
begging me to go and deliver them from the
Persians. The only man in Kalati Paluchistan
who in any way intrigues or is friendly with Persia
is Sir Nauroz Khan, and his object is the possession
of Mashkel.
* There are several, one is good
f There are others too.