'Seistan' [‎113v] (226/782)

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and the roof of the one on the other side in which we were received and enter
tained by him was badly cracked and threatened at any moment to fall down
also. The Governor received us hospitably, and we sat with him for some time.
The Karguzar and the Yamin-i-Nizam had, it appears, tried to be present at our
visit, but were met by the objection that the Governor had not enough chairs
to accommodate them.
Very heavy rain all the afternoon.
A deputation of all the British subjects of Seistan visited me in the
evening, and read an address followed by a lengthy poem by a local poet. In
their address the traders asked for assistance in getting camel transport from
Quetta to Seistan : a telegraph line and, if possible, a railway line to Seistan
and abolition of the new Customs tariff. In number, the British subjects in
Seistan make a goodly show. They seem well-to-do and afford, in appearance,
a striking contrast to the Seistani residents.
Mr. Miller, Dr. Miller, and Mons. Maurice came to dinner at the British
Consulate, where we made their acquaintance for the first time. They all
evinced great friendliness. Mr. Miller speaks English fluently, and is an enter
taining man to talk to. He is well up in Indian affairs and closely studies the
“ Pioneer”. Dr. Miller can only speak a smattering of English and Erench.
Mons. Maurice only knows Erench. The evening was a very pleasant one.
Nasratabad, 26th April .—In the evening I visited all the shops belonging
to the British Indian traders, and which are situated in Nasratabad, Hussain-
abad, and Trenchabad. These shops afford a pleasing contrast to the mean
buildings around them, and are well built structures of the local dome-
roofed pattern. It is very melancholy to think that the plucky efforts made to
start Indian trade and the successful results attending those efforts are all now
to be wiped out by the new Customs tariff. I visited the British Consulate
Hospital, and had my first opportunity of going over the Consulate domain.
The Consulate itself is a handsome and imposing building on a high plinth
with a roof of many domes. It stands in a large enclosure surrounded by
a high wall with an imposing entrance gate with domed guard house and
treasury at either side. The old Consulate buildings, small mud huts without
windows, are now used as out-houses. Major Benn is much to be con
gratulated on the great improvements effected here by him, under most
difficult circumstances.
A handsome set of presents in return for his were sent by me to-day to
the Hashmat-ul-Mulk and his sons. I understand he was much pleased with
them.
Nasmtabad, 27th April .—My visit to the Seistan capital has given rise
to considerable difficulties on the delicate subject of formalities in the shape of
visits. The principal and important visit, i.e., by the Governor, has been duly
made and returned.
The general custom with regard to Europeans is for the new comer to call
first on the residents. Under ordinary circumstances, I would have paid a
formal call on Mr. Miller, but my doing so, after his attempted interference in
the Governor’s first calling on me, would be used by him against the Governor.
My position here, moreover, is not quite an ordinary one, which complicates the
question still more. With the best intentions to do the right thino > , I was
unable to determine what the right thing was. Mr. Miller has so far made no
sign of coming to call on me. A visit in Seistan implies first writing to inform
the person to be called on of one’s wish to come, and then, after°a time has
been mutually decided on, the call is made. After much deliberation I have
decided not to make the first visit on Mr. Miller, but have deputed my Per
sonal Assistant, Captain Bamsay, to call on him on his and my own behalf.
Captain Bamsay accordingly paid visits to-day to Mr. and Dr. Miller, and also*
called on Mons. Maurice and the Karguzar and Yamin-i-Nizam. The matter
is a trivial one, but in a place like Seistan, where trivialities take precedence of
important matters, one has to move circumspectly. I hardly expect to please
every one, but the course adopted seems a fairly safe one between the Scylla
of arrogant pretension and the Charybdis of gratuitous surrender.