‘REPORT ON THE MISSION TO SEISTAN, 1897’ [‎20r] (44/134)

APPENDIX A.
No. 2 (Secret), dated Nasratabad, Seistan, the 23rd May 1897.
From— Surgeon-Majoe G. W. Brazieb-Creagh ; A.M.S.,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
I arrived here at the capital on 14th instant, and was duly received in the usual Persian
manner, everything being arranged for our supplies, comfort, etc.
Having, as stated in former letter, visited several larger towns and obtained information
of importance which guided my line of conduct on arrival at the capital, I timed my entry
here, so as to have all interchange of visits with Persian officials over before the entry of
Russian Medical Officer.
The Sartip here is but a boy and puppet in the hands of others. He is the only son of
Ali Akbar Khan of Tabas, who is Governor of Tabas and Seistan. The son and mother act
here in the father's interest.
The mother is a sister of “ Sayed Khan," Chief of Naori Baluch (a large clan), and Sayed
Khan is really the head official, a man of considerable influence and property along the Persian-
Afghan border.
The day after Lieutenant Webb-Ware’s departure from here, Abdul Rahim Khan—a
medical official of His Highness the Shah, and trained in Paris Medical Schools—arrived at
Nasirabad from Tehran, stayed a few days and returned. At first it was arranged at Tehran,
that this doctor should accompany the Russian Medical Officer from Meshed, but the latter not
reaching Meshed in time, the former came on alone.
He is reported to have been very pompous here and to have bullied the authorities, and the
purport of one of his interviews with the Sartip was—“ Why the Sartip permitted English
officers to cross the frontier." On one occasion he got angry with a servant of the Sartip,
and is reported to have thrashed him severely.
For the past two years since Napier's visit, the Russians have been very busy here, and
their activity through local agents is very surprising as will be seen from the following.
This activity too is not limited, as far as I am able to ascertain, to Seistan, but extends
all along the line of communication to Meshed, as news-writers are established at Neh, Birjaud,
Tabas, etc., etc., besides which, several traders are in their secret service and push their trade
at each place.
The closing of all routes, the Sartip and his officials state, directly emanated from the
Shah, and they have simply to obey the orders imposed on them. As far as they are con
cerned, they appear to regret that all routes are closed as it stops their traffic, and surplus grain
will rot, if not exported into Baluchistan, where a considerable amount goes.
Only a few officials know or care anything of plague, but it is a general topic of conver
sation amongst all lower classes both here and further east and west that it is the Russians
who have stopped the trade routes, and we are askedWhy the English Sarkar permits it."
W'e undoubtedly hold a high place in the esteem of all. both Persian and Baluch, and this
is only too patent now even with the presence of the northern party and the expenditure of a
good deal of their money.
Muhammad Akram Khan, a Parsiban merchant here now, is in Russian secret service and
has a shop in the bazar; he pushes trade in Russian goods of all sorts.
For the past six years he was employed in Russian secret service at Kandahar, but being
suspected he escaped, visited Meshed and has since teen established here in a similar capacity.
This man accompanied Lieutenant Webb-W'are from here to Robat, assisting him in the
purchase of supplies and procuring camels ; stayed seven days at Robat awaiting my arrival to
serve me !!! also, and help me in the country. Finding 1 had not come, and being due else
where, he returned and proceeded with Muhammad Rahim Khan to meet the Russian officer
and arrange all for his journey across the desert from Neh.
Mirza Muhammad Rahim Khan, otherwise known as “ Khan Meshedi," a resident of
Nasirabad, has for the past 1^ years been openly and without any secrecy a news- writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. here,
and being supplied with Russian money unstintedly, has built a fine large and pretentious house
which has undoubtedly been constructed with some ulterior purpose than that which it is sup
posed to be. The architecture and surroundings have been designed with a view to other than
a Persian occupation, and the Russian Medical Officer now is cosily established there, much to
the envy of his confrere and party who shelter under canvas.
These two men above noted are now the right hand parties of the Russian officer, and they
manage all household and transport arrangements.
The Russian officer with escort of eight Cossacks arrived on the morning of 18th May,
and he appears to have come to stay for an indefinite period.