Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎264r] (527/678)

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[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government,]
NO. 7 . PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY.
ASIA. [July 13.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1.
2488
No. 1,
Consul Sykes to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received July 13.)
(No. 2.)
My Lord, Panjshur, April 2, 1896.
DURING- the course of an extended journey in 1893-94 on deputation from the
Indian Foreign Department, I enjoyed exceptional facilities in the way of collecting
information about Persian Beluchistau, and, as my present connection with the Perso-
Kalat Frontier Commission lias included a second journey across the entire country,
I propose to summarize the result of my observations.
The decade immediately following the Boundary Commission of 1870-72 was
spent in consolidating the newly gained territory. General Goldsmid’s Award having
confirmed the Persian Government in its possession of Jalk, Kalagan, and other
frontier districts, while Kolmk was quietly added to the Shah’s possessions during the
process.
In spite of isolated outbreaks, Sarhad was the sole district not under control by
1884, which date marks an epoch in Beluchistan history, as the Agent to the
Governor-General, for the first time, at the commencement of that year, marched
through British Beluchistan to Panjgur in great state, thus demonstrating that the
period of more or less shadowy suzerainty on our part was about to end.
In the following year, Captain Jennings, who had been deputed to explore
Sarhad, reported that rumours of an invasion were everywhere rife, although no actual
expedition had ever been made by the Persian authorities.
The late Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). indeed visited Pahra, the capital of Beluchistan, on
more than one occasion, but never ventured upon a Sarhad campaign, attempting to
quiet the country without having recourse to extreme measures. Finding, however,
that matters were steadily drifting from bad to worse, in 1887 he appointed Abul Path
Khan, his Cossack cavalry officer, to the post of Governor of Beluchistan, letting him
clearly understand that the tribesmen of Sarhad must be crushed at all costs.
For a time matters ran smoothly, as the internal feuds of the Sarhaddis were used
to excellent purpose.
Abul Fath Khan marched through Sa.rhad, and by means of his artillery easily
defeated the confederacy of Damanis, who "were not even united among themselves.
Pic then began to display a most savage disposition, not only butchering his prisoners,
but also destroying all the irrigation channels and gardens wherever he passed, none
of which have ever been repaired, from fear of extortion should villages again be
built.
Upon Ms return to Pahra, Abul Fath Khan was visited by the Kurds of Sarhad,
who offered to exterminate the scattered remnant of the Damani tribe.
He, however, in return, seized all their Chiefs, seven in number, and ruthlessly
put them to death. Not content with this, ho handed over their wives to the tender
mercies of his soldiery, an outrage without parallel in Beluchi warfare. When news
of this leaked out, universal horror was felt by the now united Beluchis, who sprang
to arms under the leadership of the Dizak Chief, and besieged Abul Fath Khan in
Pahra,
Meanwhile, the Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Kerman hastened to the rescue with a large
force, upon the approach of which the Beluchis raised the siege and fled. fJpon the
arrival of the relieving force Abul Fath Khan was thrown into chains, and an
amnesty was proclaimed.
After considerable hesitation the Beluchi Chiefs trusted to an oath sworn on the
Koran, only to find themselves loaded with chains, and sent to Kerman, where they
languished until 1894.
Since 1889, the Zain-el-Abidin, now known as the Assad-i-Dowleh, has been
Governor of Persian Beluchistan, which he has kept in very fair order, no Chiefs of
any influence being left to oppose him.
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