'Seistan' [‎339v] (680/782)

L 2 ]
the ruler of Kain (to whom she sent, a few weehs ago, a special mission con-
veying presents valued at £1,400); and the ruler of Kam endeavouring to
oust his brother and to establish a hold upon Seis an nmsc
4. Since the appointment of a British Consul-General at Meshed (m
consequence of a similar Russian appointment) in l8S9, Seistan ndnch is
included in the Consul’s jurisdiction, has been ^° d
upon by British officers either from India or from Meshec. . n 4 ? r
visited it in 1892-93. Colonel Yate made a tour thither m 1 c 9 f, and strongly
urged the appointment of a British Indian representative m Seistan, to balance
the Russian native agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , whom he found exercising considerab e influence.
He enlarged upon the wheat-producing capabilities of Seistan, the cheapness
of grain there as compared with the dearness outside, the advantage oi export
ing the surplus supply to Quetta, the utility of a postal service from C mman
via Seistan to Meshed, in place of the Kandahar-Herat line; and he recom
mended the construction of a line of wells and the planting oi lev y posts horn
Nushki to the Seistan border, so as to open a new carav an route tor indo-
Persian trade. His report was shown to the Shah, who agreed Colonel
Yate’s description of the political situation in Seistan, and, m so iai. as they
concerned Persia, with bis recommendations. The Government of India were,
however, at that time under the impression, which has since been abandoned,
that anv evidence of British interest in Seistan or in Eastern. Persia would
merely bring down the Russians (who have come down without it), and would
tempt them to extend their railway southwards (which they hav e since done
independently of any British move). Accordingly Colonel Yate s proposals were
rejected.
5. Two years later Captain McMahon, who had been employed upon the
demarcation of the Baluch-Afghan boundary (in pursuance of the Durand Agree
ment of 1893), submitted a memorandum to the Government of India (dated
June 21st, 1896), in which he strongly recommended the opening of the route
which had been negatived in 1894, and the adoption of proper measures for its
protection, and for the exercise o£ political authority up to the Persian border.
The Government of India accepted these proposals, and submitted them to the
Secretary of State in a despatch, dated September 16th, 1896. The latter replied
on October 23rd, giving his sanction, and observing that—“ In the interest of the
trade between India and Persia, it seems to me very desirable to further its
development by this route”. In the ensuing month Lieutenant Webb Ware
was appointed Political Officer at Chageh, and was instructed to establish levy
posts, and to take other steps for the prompt execution of the new scheme.
6. This officer started upon his first visit to Seistan in January and
returned in June 1897. He found Russian influence much in evidence in Seistan,
wdiere he pleaded for the early installation of a British Agent. With regard
to the commercial possibilities of Seistan, he reported that “ Seistan’s staple
products are grain, ghi (clarified butter) and wool. If facilities for carriage
were to be improved, it is by no means impossible that the future may see an
extensive Perso-Baluch grain-trade called into existence”. Upon his outward,
and again upon his return, journey, he took steps, by the opening of wells, by
the building of guard-houses and godowns, and by the institution of levy posts,
for the energetic promotion of the new trade route; and he submitted a number
of further proposals, with that object in view, to the Government of India.
. 7. Lieutenant Webb Ware’s visit to Seistan overlapped that of Surgeon-
Major Brazier-Creagh, who in April of the same year was hurriedly despatched
by the Government of India to Seistan, to carry out any plague precautions
that might be required in that neighbourhood in anticipation of the preventive
proceedings that Russia had announced her intention of putting into effect.
His report testified to the great activity of Russia in Seistan, and contained a
glowing and highly coloured picture of the capabilities of the country, which,
with a somewhat proleptic fancy, he designated the Pearl of Persia. “Being
a rich grain-growing, large pasturage, camel and flock-rearing district, wdiose
resources under proper control could be hugely increased, it might be turned