‘Seistan’ [‎10r] (19/98)

Camp Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Temple, Agent to the Governor-
General of India and Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General for
Khorassan and Seistan, dated the 1st to 6th November 1900.
1st November ^0(9.—Suleimani—or Salayuni—to Kain; about 20 miles.
The route continues along the plain,'until the village of Asadabad is reached
with about 40 families. A short distance further on Taizabad, with 30 families,
lies on the route. Immediately on reaching the end of the plain a low range of
hills is crossed by the Gudar-i-Gharkab, and the descent to Kain commences.
A stream containing at this season of the year a little brackish water is crossed
three or four times. On leaving the hills, the plain of Kain is reached. The
town stands close to a range of hills. At a short distance from the town I was
met by the Deputy Governor with a following of sowars. He said that Kain
now contained about 5,000 souls. The chief building is a large mosque which
is now partially ruined. The town is surrounded by a wall in fair repair. The
chief articles produced are opium, cotton, wool and saffron, which are exported
to Bunder Abbas and Meshed. The Deputy Governor was most friendly.
2nd November 1900. —Paid a visit to the Naib of the Shankat-ul-Mulk.
When not engaged in Government business he employs his time in trading.
He has been in Kain for forty years. He said he intended to send forty or
fifty camels laden with goods to Seistan for export to India. Pormerly he
used to send his camels to]Bunder Abbas. The camels would carry wool, sadron,
cummin seed and silk, etc. Tea, indigo, long cloth and spices, he said, came
from Bunder Abbas; while sugar, Turkeyreds and kerosine oil came from
Bussia via Sabzawar. Kain grows about 100,000 miskals (6j miskals = 1
ounce) of saffron yearly. He also said that a large number of camels would
leave Birjand for Quetta shortly on the responsibility of Seth Suleiman.
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. Khan, Jahan Khan, and 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. Said Khan had been turned out of
Seistan by the Hashmat-ul-Mulk, and would be, he said, probably supported by
the Shankat-ul-Mulk.
* The town of Kain has improved in the last few years and is still improving.
It had been laid waste for many years in succession by the Turkomans, who
carried off both property and people. Kain had once bpen a very large place
but has dwindled. Kain contains about five hundred Saiyids and a college for
religious students.
3rd November 1900. —Kain is dominated by an old fort. The local tra
dition is that it was occupied by a Jamshid, an ancient Chief of Kain. It is a
steep hill, the top of which was rendered more difficult of access by fortifi
cations. The walls are now complete ruins, but it once comprised seven forts.
Prom the top there is an extensive view of the surrounding country. Near it
there is another fort called Kala-i-Dukhtar, on the summit of another hill.
The revenue of this valley is about 3,500 tumans a year. The Shankat-ul-Mulk
pays, it is said, 2,000 tumans to the Bukn-ud-Dowleh as a yearly present for
the retention of the Governorship. It is said here that most of the leading
followers of the late Amir are with the Shankat-ul-Mulk, that he always pays
his revenue regularly and that his affairs are in good order. Saffron is more
extensively grown here than anywhere else in Khorasan.
4th November 1900. —Halt at Kain.
5th November 1900. —Left Kain for Bum; 20 miles. The Deputy Governor
rode out with me for some distance. The route crosses the plain and then
enters a mass of hills, amongst which lie the villages of Bedmishk (10 families),
Ghurwaj (20 families) and Khunik (15 families) ; the route then steadily rises
until the summit of the Gudar-i-Khunik is reached. Descending on the other
side the first cultivation is Tan gal Tor, where there are no houses, the route
descends amongst hills until Bum (about 100 houses) is reached. There is good
water and cultivation at this place.