‘REPORT ON THE MISSION TO SEISTAN, 1897’ [‎8v] (21/134)

« and 0tberS Wer6 mCt 0n tbG 0Ut " ard aDd retu ™ proceeding on pilgrimage to
8
Return visit and reception-Sext morning I paid my return visit, and
long before the hour appointed there was quite a stir within the fort and
emissaries informed us preparations were being made for our reception. ’
On our approach the garrison manned the front wall of the fort, lined the
roadway and gates, and accompanied by an escort of irregular cavalry which
had been sent to meet us preceded by a band (playing a national hymn) we
approached the citadel. On dismounting at the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). Hall, midst much bowin"
and scraping, I was ushered into the presence of the Deputy Sartip who w- s
surrounded by the Pillars of State, officers, soldiers, and attendants^ a pompous
and remarkable collection of very ill-clad and uncleanly people as unmistak-
ably demonstrated in such weather.
We conversed for some considerable time on various subiects but it
was very evident mine host was ill at ease, and though apparently desirous
to frankly reply to my questions, the restraining signs and influence of those
around prevented his doing so; conversation inconsequence was at times
Sartip and eVaS1Ve answers S-n for and put into the mouth of the Deputy
At this as well as all subsequent public interviews I avoided all reference
to probe C m™feeflno-s ^ GCtm ^ ^ alt h° u Dh repeated attempts were made
i 0a e * quirin / reas ? a of an <* affecting surprise at British merchants (with
letters and pass to Her Britannic Majesty’s Consulate-General, Meshed) bein°>
prevented from entering the country and proceeding further on their iournev 5
and other restrictions imposed on kafilas from Nushki and Chagai without anv
evidence of plague or illness which did not affect kafilas from Jalk, Sarhad or
Bam-jNarmashir, who were free to come and go unmolested, I was informed
that a11 o^ers on the subject directly emanated from His Highness the
Shah, and that they (officials) had simply to comply with the royal mandate
imposed on them, that as far as they were personally concerned everyone in the
country much regretted the closure of the routes, as it stopped all their trade
and the surplus gram would rot.” ’
I was even naively asked why the Sirkar Angrez permitted it, a si^nifi*
cant question, as everyone knew it was the Russians who had caused the routes
to be closed on account of commercial jealousy, and the recent boundary lines
by which the Butish Snkar was able to have her frontier post at Robat so near
Jr ersia.
Before taking my leave I fully explained all the measures that the Indian
Government had successfully taken to protect her Muhammadan and other
subjects, and to prevent epidemic disease of all sorts spreading, not onlv with
in her own gates and portals, but on the channels and high-roads leadin- to
and from other neighbouring countries, at the same time expatiating on the lam-
amount (crores of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ) annually spent by the British Government to protect
and assist the millions of pilgrims who proceed to Mecca, Karbalai, Meshed
Hardwnr and other notable places of pilgrimage, clearly pointing out the’
infinitesimal possibility of plague reaching either Persian Baluchistan!Seistan
or Afghanistan, and at the same time making a strong point of the "reat hard
ships and loss such a step (closure of routes) caused their Indian co-religionists
who were now m trying heat crossing the deserts to complete a piWima-'p, to
“Meshed the Sacred,”* and others for trade purposes. Plumage to
•x, A11 . , thl ! 14 p ! a!al , y “Ot'ceable was a great surprise, but was received
with evident satisfaction by all present.
At the outset all my endeavours to persuade the Deputy Governor to
impose quarantine and let all traders, pilgrims, etc., proceed onwards or enter
the country alter a reasonable detention on the frontier, were treated with
opposition ; each appeal met with the same reply “ he had no power to do so.
His Highness the Shah having issued orders to close the routes.” When all
efforts failed, I made a vigorous religious appeal to theMujtahid (High Priest),