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Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎182r] (363/678)

The record is made up of 1 file (337 folios). It was created in 4 Aug 1895-21 Nov 1903. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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24
Geo.—Sykes—Second Revise.
a band of Baluchis on the road, and, rising towards the range, we entered
a valley that gradually narrowed until we reached what is known as
the Darwaza-i-Nadir, or the “ Gate of Nadir.” A ridge runs right
across the valley, on which towers of masonry were built, while an
apparently artificial cutting, lined with masonry, bore traces of having
heen fitted with a door. I will quote a passage from the printed manu
script of a history of the Seljuks of Kerman, which throws some light
on this. Referring to Malik Kaward, who was put to death in a.h. 466
(1073), it runs as follows :—■
“ On the Sistan road, in the valley of Kaward, at four farsakhs from
Isfe, a darland, i.e. a door closing the road, was erected. The door
was of iron, and a guard was posted there.” It is thus clear that Nadir
Shah has usurped the credit of the great Seljuk prince.
The pass known as the Gudar-i-Surkhwak is crossed a mile above,
the track being only wide enough for single file, so that Krateros’
elephants must have experienced difficulties, although there is just room
for them. The descent was rather steep, but we enjoyed the view across
the yellow Lut, while in the far distance we could see the well-known
Kuh-i-Bazman. We camped during the heat of the day at Robat, a
ruined caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). situated at the exit from the hills, where there is
no water, and reached Gurg the following morning at sunrise, after a
march of 35 miles from Nasratabad.
Gurg, or Wolf, is considered to be one of the most appalling stages
in the Lut, the water being almost undrinkable even for animals, and
the heat in summer so great that even the Baluchis frequently die from
it. When it is recollected that there is no water in any direction fox
30 miles, while a strong wind will obliterate the track in a few minutes,
I think that the disadvantages of Gurg will be realized. In the after
noon we continued the march, the track crossing the bitter Gurg river
which has, quite erroneously, been regarded as the lower reach of the
Rud-i-Mahi, and, crossing the level deserti hour after hour, at 21 miles
we passed what is known as the Mil-i-Nadiri. G y some 15 feet of
the burnt-brick column are standing, but 20 miles before reaching
Fahraj wm passed a second column in an almost perfect state of pre
servation, although the loss of many bricks round the base will
soon bring it down. Its dimensions are—height, 55 feet; circum
ference, 43 feet, and slightly tapering ; thickness of wall, 3 feet; and
there is a staircase to the summit.* As the subject is of interest, I
will again quote from the Seljuk history. ‘ Every three hundred
paces a pillar twice the height of a man was built by Malik Kaward,
so that by night from each pillar a second could be seen, in order that
no one should lose his way. At the top of the valley, where the pi lars
began, a caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). , a tank, and a bath were constructed; and two
minars were built between Gurg and Fahraj, one forty gaz t in height
and the other twenty-five gaz, and under each minar a caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). and
a tank.” None of the pillars are now standing, but many of their bases
are still visible, while the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). is that of Robat, where we halted
between Nasratabad and Gurg.
After marches exceeding 30 miles, we were delighted to see the
village of Fahraj, which was, it is stated, held by the Afghans
well into this century, and is mentioned by Edrisi. It has a popula
tion of a thousand inhabitants, and supplies the cultivators for Nasra
tabad ; it also boasts of one of the few date-groves of Narmashir.
Lying on the right bank of a sluggish river, and possessing excellent
camel-grazing and sweet water, it would have afforded us an enjoyable
rest, but as information reached me that Captain Napier, of the Oxford
shire Light Infantry, had passed through Bam, and would, in conse
quence, be awaiting me at Kerman, we marched on, joining a twice-
trodden route at the bridge of Azizabad, and, after a fast journey, entered
Kerman on December 2.
My first care after settling down was to organize and despatch a
trial caravan to Quetta, Captain Webb Ware having kindly agreed to
assist me in the matter. The exquisite carpets, the finest in the world,
had never before been exported to India, and I felt that they should
form the bulk of the venture; so for some weeks the merchant who
* These measurements are taken from Sir F, Goldsmid’s ‘ Eastern Persia.’
f A gaz is approximately equivalent to a metre.

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Content

The file contains papers relating to Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , including a document entitled ‘Notes on current topics prepared for reference during his Excellency the Viceroy’s tour in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , November 1903.’ It also includes printed extracts of letters relating to the tour from Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Arnold Kemball, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and Major Percy Zachariah Cox, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Maskat [Muscat], dated August to October 1903.

In addition, the file includes the following papers:

  • Handwritten notes by George Nathaniel Curzon, Viceroy of India, including notes on Muscat, Koweit [Kuwait], and the Mekran [Makran] Coast
  • Memoranda concerning Koweit
  • A copy of a letter from Colonel Charles Edward Yate, Agent to the Governor-General and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan, to the Secretary to the Government of India Foreign Department, forwarding the camp diary kept during his tour in Makran and Las Bela, from 1 December 1901 to 25 January 1902
  • A copy of a 'Report on a Journey from India to the Mediterranean via the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Baghdad and the Euphrates Valley, including a Visit to the Turkish Dependency of El Hasa' by Captain J A Douglas, Staff Captain, Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General’s Department in India, 1897 (which includes three sketch maps: Mss Eur F111/358, f 138; Mss Eur F111/358, f 158; and Mss Eur F111/358, f 141).

Folios 232 to 338 largely consist of printed copies of correspondence between Sir (Henry) Mortimer Durand, HM Minister at Teheran [Tehran], and the Marquess of Salisbury (Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil), Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, dated 1895-1896, relating to Persia.

The file includes a copy of a Collective Letter addressed by the Turkish, British and French Consuls to the Valiahd regarding the Tabriz Riots, 5 August 1895, which is in French (folios 332).

Extent and format
1 file (337 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in roughly chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 339; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎182r] (363/678), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/358, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100069731505.0x0000a4> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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