Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎112v] (224/252)

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i he Nawab’s party consists of about 200 men, women and children. They
assert that they have no embalmed corpses with them. As their heavy baggage
is behind, 1 have been unable to verify this statement.
14. On 6th June Captain Bode left Seistan en route for Charbar. He had
been with me for nine weeks.
15. News has reached here of the reception accorded to Colonel Trench
on his arrival in Meshed. The remarks I hear about his “ Istikbal ” are most
flattering. It has also become known that Colonel Trench holds private inter
views with the Nayar-ud-Daulah. This has had a very good effect here.
16. Mons. Zaroudny and his party arrived here on 7th June after touring
via the Perso-Baluch border to the coast. I have already submitted a separate
report on this, giving details of Mons. Zaroudny’s tour. I have received the
following secret information about his doings :—“ The party visited Kaj-Mekran,
piercing a range of mountains, where they stayed 12 days. Mons. Zaroudny
made sketches and maps of the country and made notes on the tribes, flora
and fauna, etc., Another informant tells me that Mons. Zaroudny has made “
four books of maps ” during his tour, Mons. Zaroudny has now gone on a visit to
the “ Naizar ” or reed swamp, <0 miles from here.
17. Herr Lomer, the German artist, was prevented by the Amir’s soldiers
from sketching in the city. He had apparently been unwi.ling to grease the palm
of the Amir’s officials. Herr Lomer left Seistan on the i^th after staying with
me for a fortnight.
18. Mr. Foley, of the Indian Tea Association, left here on 16th for
Birjand.
19. Mons. Spinella, the Customs Officer, is returning to Meshed at once. He
will be succeeded by Mons. Molitor, a Belgian, who has already started for
Seistan. Mons. Spinella will travel along the Perso-Afghan border as far as
Karez. From there he told me he would try to reach Herat disguised as a Per
sian. He seemed to be talking seriously.
A question has arisen here regarding the importation of arms, and ammu
nition into Persia. By the new Customs rules the importation is strictly
prohibited. Mons. Spinella has seized a rifle sent as a present by Captain
Webb-Ware to the Amir’s son. Sarhang Mahornad Raza Khan. The Sarhang
applied to me to release it for him. I saw M. Spinella and pointed out that
the rifle was no merchandise, but that it should be regarded as a present from
one Government to another and that as such 1 thought it should be exempt from
seizure. M. Spinella would not admit this and has detained the rifle pending a
reference of the case to Meshed. I have also referred the matter to Colonel
Trench. As the Sartip is bringing Government presents of arms, etc., with him from
India, I trust that orders will reach me before his arrival here. In the course
of conversation on this subject I referred to M. Zaroudny’s having brought Rus
sian rifles down from Meshed. M. Spinella said that all M. Zaroudny’s rifles were
seized in Meshed, but were released on it being explained that he was proceed
ing on a scientific mission. M. Zaroudny had to sign a certificate that he would
give back all his rifles on return from tour to the Customs Department. I asked
how he could explain the fact that M. Zaroudny had rifles to spare to give away
as presents along the Perso-Baluch border. M.'Spinella said that M. Zaroudny
must have defrauded the Customs and smuggled the rifles by some other road.
R. A. E. BENN, Major %
His Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul
for Seistan and Kain.
NASRATABAD ; \
The 17th June /901. \
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G, C, Press, Simla.—No, 509 F, d,- 13 7 19CI,—31