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‘REPORT ON THE MISSION TO SEISTAN, 1897’ [‎21r] (46/134)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (63 folios). It was created in 1898. 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. .

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There is strong; grounds for supposition that should anything occur, or plague appear
anywhere near, that cordons of troops will filter in here and elsewhere.
The idea hitherto very erroneously believed that British troops could not occupy the
country during the summer is quite a mistake.
It is not at all so hot here now, and we are not by any means suffering, though under
canvas.
Punkas quite unnecessary up to date. Nights very cool, days warm and very dry j later
on it gets warmer, but only for two months I fancy.
The pestilential horsefly is also a myth up to date; all our horses are fit and doing well
with proper food, which was very scant en route, even though they are picketted out.
No. 3 (Secret), dated Camp Nasratabad, Seistan, the 7th June 1897.
From—S ttbgeon-Majoe G. W. Bbazieb-Cbbagh, A.M.S., on Special Duty, Seistan,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
I have the honour to submit herewith a summary of events, in continuation of my letter
No. 2, dated 23rd May 1897.
Dated the 7th June 1897.
I Q n 26th May, it was reported that 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. Muhammad Sharif Khan, of Farrah, had
been murdered by His Highness the Amir. A week ago his corpse reached Farrah for burial.
About a month ago the corpse 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. Maula Dad Khan, Governor of Farrah, had also arrived
from Kabul.
2. Rumour states both men have been poisoned under the Amir’s orders for mistakes in
accounts. These two murders have caused great sensation on the frontier, as the Sardars were
influential and much respected, and people say now His Highness the Amir is not a friend even
to his own sect—Sunni—to which these men also belonged.
3. On 27th May, the Russian Medical Officer left here for a tour round south-east vii
Sehkuha.
The same morning on hearing this I went on tour due east to the Helmaud, and worked
south along the line he bad come. His visit was a hurried one, and he turned up at the same
snot on the bank of the Helmand where I was in camp, early on the morning of 30th. He
affected much surprise at our meeting. The Medical Officer would not halt, but proceeded on
to Banjar by which I had come.
4. I crossed the Helmaud and visited all the frontier towns—Milak being important as
centre of trade route from Bokhara via Herat, Sabzwar, Farrah, and Seistan. A kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. had just
passed through to Sehkuha before my arrival a few days.
5 The bed of the Helmand has for the last two years altogether changed. Formerly
the river took a bend 2 miles south of Milak and flowed north by east. It now flows straight
on west of Milak, cutting off several villages, and the old bed contains but little water.
6, Lost a horse crossing the river which is now in high flood. Visiting other towns of
importance, seat of merchants and trade. I returned to Nasratabad on 4th June 1897.
7 Durino- this visit all the merchants and officials came to salaam to me, and some con
trary to order°came secretly at night. I pointed out to all parties concerned the steps taken
bv the British Government now to ojren up routes, which gave general satisfaction to all, and 1
have reason to anticipate that a lot of the trade that has hitherto passed along from Northern
Afghanistan via previously noted routes through Seistan on to Bandar Abbas vid ^asratabad
and Bam will next cold weather find its way to Quetta.
8 At Killa Nao, I found a Balucii kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. from Jalk, which had been with Farrah traders
as far as the Helinand ford, and were now carrying grain back. Also found here some of a
oartv of 25 Hazaras who had arrived eight days back from Quetta, two being time-expired
men of 26th Baluch Regiment. Inspected them and placed them under quarantine restrictions.
They were all found to be fit and hardy after 4U days’ tramp and no sign either of disease or
debility.
9 These are the parties anent whom the Russian Medical Officer threatened local officials
and people. A large assembly of all parties concerned headed by Kad K.uda and some 18 mer
chants visited me, to whom I pointed out that our interests were purely commercial as far as
Seistan was concerned, and that the Indian Government would see that those interests were
not interfered with. The routes had been closed, but I had every reason for stating that
they would again be opened in a short time, etc., etc. : this put a different aspect on affairs,
and thev were much pleased and satisfied on all heads.
10. On return I communicated with the Sartip and head Mulla, who were unanimous in
expressing satisfaction at what 1 had done, even in face of opposition from Naib-ul-Hukmat,
who is in all things a'staunch ally of Russia.
II On 4th June immediately on our return, we found considerable excitement prevailing
amongst the people of Nasratabad, and the following report corroborated by Mulla Muham
mad Rahim was made to me.
1068 F. P.

About this item

Content

The volume consists of a report by Surgeon-Major George Washington Brazier-Creagh on his mission to Seistan [Sīstān] on ‘plague duty’ to investigate the closure of the Perso-Afghan-Baluch trade routes under the ‘mantle of plague’ from April to October 1897. The report is divided into five sections:

  • The Outward Journey: A general account of the journey across the Baluchistan Desert – folios 5-7.
  • A general history of the Mission and condition of affairs in Seistan – folios 8-13r.
  • An account of influential chiefs and material connected with the administration of Seistan – folios 13v-15r.
  • The Return Journey: A review of road infrastructure and trade prospects – folios 16-17.
  • A review of the strategic and political outlook – folios 17-18.

The remainder of the volume (folios 20-58) consists of appendices. A pocket on the inside back cover contains five folded maps (folios 60-64).

On the front cover, it bears two stamps reading ‘War Office. Library. 14 Dec 1889’ and ‘Intelligence Division. 14 Dec 1889’ respectively.

Published in Calcutta by the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India (1898).

Extent and format
1 volume (63 folios)
Arrangement

The report is divided into five sections with appendices at the back of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 65; 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 file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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‘REPORT ON THE MISSION TO SEISTAN, 1897’ [‎21r] (46/134), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/33, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044160194.0x00002f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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