Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎124r] (247/252)

intuition to perceive Mr. Miller’s aim. The Russian Vice-Consul foresees that the
Hashmat-ul-Mulk will apply to us for pecuniary assistance, and he equally foresees
that it will be refused him. It is obviously quite impossible for us to advance
the Hashmat-ul-Mulk money to meet every demand the Wali may see fit to make
on him. Refused help by us, Mr. Miller anticipates, and no doubt rightly, that
the Hashmat-ul Mulk will eventually be driven to seek his assistance. To reduce
the Hashmat-ul-Mulk to a complete state of subjection and then win his eternal
gratitude by arranging the recall of the Mamur are steps neither of which offer
any great difficulty to such an astute man as Mr. Miller. The Hashmat-ul-Mulk
is a Persian and like all Persians is weak to a degree. From what I have said 1
think it is clear that the time has come when we must either give the Hashmat-
ul-Mulk the support he requires or suffer him and with him Sistan and Southern
Khorassan to fall under an influence which is directly hostile to the trade route.
While I neither know what our future policy towards Sistan is to be, nor presume
to lay it down, yet I would venture to point out that if the Government of India is
determined, as 1 understand is the case, to keep our influence in Sistan predomi
nant, it will be necessary to take early steps to assure the Hashmat-ul-Mulk of
our sympathy and support. If I might be permitted to suggest how this can be
done, I would propose that some Indian decoration be conferred on the Hashmat-
ul-Mulk, and that tactics, similar to those pursued by the Russians to prevent
their friend and ally the ilkani of Kuchan being periodically squeezed by the Wali,
be adopted through the medium of our Legation at Tehran. What I have stated
are facts and not conjectures. Mr. Miller is so confident of winning that he has
had the assurance to boast that he will have the Hashmat-ul-Mulk on his knees
before very long. The Hashmat-ul-Mulk is certainly in a very tight corner.
3. I have received news from Mashkel that Sartip Mir Hashim Khan,
Deputy Governor of Bampur, was attacked by the Bamani, while on his way to
Jalk to collect some revenues, which was outstanding and compelled to take
refuge in a fort. It is reported that Mir Hashim Khan has sent messengers to
Kirman urging the Governor to despatch a relief force to his rescue. From the
intelligence which reaches me from time to time it would appear that the Persian
Government have very little real control over the outlying portions of Persian
Baluchistan. Emeutes, such as I describe, occur with persistent regularity every
year.
4. It is said that Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nauroz Khan proposes dismantling Nauroz Khan
Kalat and building another fort, twenty miles away, at a place named Kamarani
Joi. I am also told that this much-married Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. goes to Mekran very shortly
to espouse the daughter of Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Shahbaz Khan of Jeberi.
5. I have received a letter from Sartip Mir Masum Khan announcing his
safe arrival in Quetta on the 7th March 1901 and thanking me for the arrange
ments made for his journey through the district. The only difficulty Mir Masum
Khan would appear to have experienced, on the road, was the w r ant of bhoosa at
some stages. As several travellers have expressed surprise that bhoosa is not
forthcoming at every stage, I would again point out that to do this would involve
sending bhoosa on camels, at a cost in carriage quite prohibitive, from either
Sistan or Nushki. Between Quetta and Dalbandin and again between Sistan
and Saindak bhoosa is to be had at nearly every stage, while at Merui, Taratoh
and Mashki Chah sufficient grass is always kept stored. It will thus be seen
that travellers can always obtain fodder for their horses if they are prepared to
carry it for a day or so at a time. In Garmsel evey year thousands of maunds of
bhoosa are left to rot on the ground. His Highness the Amir has not, so far as
I am aware, forbidden the export of fodder, but the Baluch of Garmsel are afraid
that they will get into trouble if they send it out of the country, and naturally the
price bhoosa commands offers them no inducement to smuggle.
6. In previous diaries I have alluded to the embargo placed on the export of
wheat from Garmsel by order of His Highness the Amir. The following infor
mation derived from a Garmsel Kat Khuda, named Mirak, whom I met at Killa
Robat, may prove of interest.
It appears that whereas the Amir has always been strongly opposed to
wheat leaving Afghanistan, in the case of Garmsel no actual orders were ever
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