'Report of Khan Bahadur Maula Bakhsh, Attaché to the Agent to the Governor General of India and Her Britannic Majesty's Consul-General for Khurasan and Sistan, on His Journey from Meshed to Quetta via Turbat-i-Haidari, Kain, Sistan, Kuh-i-Malik Siah and Nushki (7th April to 28th July 1898)' [‎24v] (53/156)

26
REPORT OF KHAN BAHADUR MAULA BAKHSH
Supplies generally plentiful, but scarce at present.
(a) There are three roads from Shir to Birjand. One goes by Afzalabad ;
„ , , . . , n . . j another by Kelata-MIaii Yusuf Beg, and
Roads between Shir and Binand. j i • i i J mi <• a,
a tlurd by Kezan. ilie two former cross
totals which are difficult for camels. The last one is the best for camels
which we took.
We crossed a total with a steep ascent and descent at the 20 th mile.
(d) At about the 22nd mile there is a caravansarai and a spring of
Bezan water called Kezan, where a halt can be
made.
My arrival at Birjnnd on the afternoon of the (o) Having started from Slllir yester-
2 nd May 1898. evening we reached Birjand after
midday to-day.
The festival of the Id-uz-Zuha or Id-i-Kurban was being celebrated
when we arrived.
The Chief having heard of my arrival immediately sent his headman to
enquire after my health and to ask me to be his guest during my stay at
Birjand. I sent back a civil message and excused myself from accepting
his invitation. He then sent me a lew sheep and some provisions which I
returned with thanks, but he sent them again with a message that it being
the Id-i-Kurban it was incumbent upon him as a Muhammadan Chief to o«ive
a feast to me and my party who had just arrived at the head-quarters of his
(xovernment, and that if I did not allow him to do so he would look upon it
as a most unfriendly act on my part. Considering it inexpedient to hurt the
feelings of the Chief, I accepted the sheep and provisions that he had sent me
and Keeping what I required for my own consumption, I distributed the
remainder among all the members of my party.
In return for his hospitality I sent the Chief some Meshed-made sweet
meats and a private telescope as a small present from myself, and gave his
servants a suitable cash present as well. J °
(d) According to the Darogha (City Magistrate) the town of Birjand
Town of Birj>iod. contains one college, seven mosoues,
an*dthat tT' ^ ^d 8 a^
Si “soSotS "" 1 *■”“ ! ' 000 - •““ft •» put
3rd to 10th May 1898.
Birjand — Salt.
(e) I intended to stay at Birjand for two or three days in order to give a
‘“ a ? est t0 the camels “‘at are already show-
the camelmen to purchase a W ?lsns , of b re aklD g down and to enable
necessary to lighten the loads ”,•!* 8eemed to be absolutely
However! the proceedings o/tte Chief of KatA in^ r^ T joume/
thrw!f n e 8 o7l)!ffadar r Sh!rAH i Khdn d o\ h th e c OU3 U1 “ eas “d^venLVd^th of
ing ree-deloyed me tin the 10th May. T!dsS.; ™t S a^;i a . CCOmi ’ aDy -
(/) The Shaukat-ul-Mulk, Chief of the Kdin, had arranged to pay me a
My interviews with the Chief 0 f K4in. v . lsit day after my arrival, but indisposi-
fore he sent his younger brother Sai+i^PT 6 i ' rom doin g so. There
on his behalf. The Sartip (a vouth nf P e,>M Muhamma d Ibrdhim Khan
from the Chief and said toa/the lattJ o htee “) brought a very civil message
of the time of my arrival from the ne! ^- 1 did not Iet hi ™ know
out a reception party headed bv his hr ft?’ 0 “‘ erw ,‘ se be would have sent
visitor) to meet me. 7 hls brotller ( Sa ‘-“P Ibrahim Khan my
in(ervietv which^hldwith^the Chief th 87 ’!^' 1 ‘i"!',’' 1 " this and another long
and his affairs. Ckef the latt « talked freely about himself