'Report on the Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani Districts for the year 1897-98 and on the Development of The Quetta-Seistan [Sistan] Trade Route' [‎15v] (30/148)

28. The trade route is attracting lively interest and discussion in trading
Circles, both in India and Central Asia, and every caravan that reaches either
Persia or Quetta is subjected to close cross-examination as to its experiences.
As an instance of the attention being directed to the route, I may say that
Khan Bahadur Barjorji D. Patel, of Quetta, is erecting wool cleaning and
pressing machinery to de:il with Seistan and Persian wool imports.
29. The future of the route appears, at least with regard to that portion
lying within Baluchistan, to be assured—I say Baluchistan advisedly, as all
tends to show that the future development of the route depends on questions
that lie without Baluchistan. The questions of the payment and place of
payment of the 5 per cent, ad valorem duty to which British trade is
subjected by the Persian Government, the protection of caravans from
blackmail and raiding immediately they cross the frontier, and finally the
adoption of efficient measures to further trade interests in south-eastern Persia
are all questions on which the further development of the trade route directly
rests, and which call for careful attention.
Advices recently received from SeLstan inform me that Mirza Hussain,
Persian Customs contractor for Ghain and Seistan, is levying dues for exceeding
the 5 per cent, ad valorem duty permitted by treaty, and in addition to this
the contractor’s agent stationed at Girdi Chah is taking a toll—blackmail
would, perhaps, be a more fitting term—of 100 karans from every caravan
that enters Persia. Judging from the grasping character of the average
Persian oflBcial, there is good reason for supposing that, if this matter is not
looked to, these imposts will form only a small proportion of those which
caravans will he subjected to when advancing further towards Meshed.
30. A point that should not be lost sight of is that Russia, by employing
in 1897 the measures she did to protect the Perso-Afghan frontier from a
disease which existed neither in Afghanistan nor Baluchistan, has publicly
declared war on the new trade route. The only efficient measure that can, in
my opinion,^ be adopted to triumph over Russian opposition,* checkmate
Russian intrigues, and preserve British trade from Persian extortion is to
appoint agents in south-eastern Persia and Seistan ; but I propose dealing with
this question briefly under a special appendix, as it is a matter which is
somewhat weighty and involves many side issues.
31 - W0U Jd iU become me to conclude this appendix without a reference
rendereddurin^th^ tU ? I 1111111 " 5 a “ d 8 ° wars who man th e desert posts have
senarated d frnmn!, he year - - Statlonod f P r the most P ;irt in desolate spots,
s * aHnn nT the . lr homes—m some cases, by hundreds of miles of desert,—with
and discharged thfdrTt. t , hreat ™ iD ?. ‘hem, they have clung to their posts
bey 0 n“an nrais fi h w? t r, W a detemunauon and disregard of self which is
lot ofmy w ** PS f 1 sta . bhshed and accommodation provided, the
so boff slfnnlf? ! - “^"ally improved, and will, I trust, continue to do
for the sale of Russian go^da!* 4 i* Mso^fope^’se^ that ^ RuSsians P r<y P ose opening a store at Karez
Consul in Semtan any day. op€n 8ecret that we ma y expect the appointment of a Russian