'Military Report on Persian Seistan' [‎24r] (52/188)

CHAPTER VII.—HISTORY.
Seistan was once an important portion of the dominions of Cyrus and
I'arius. In 1333 A. D. Timur invaded the country. In
History. 1502 it was an independent principality, under a local Chief,
like the other provinces of Pert-ia. At the beginning of the sixteenth
century, and for some time afterwards, it remained under Kayani chiefs as a
portion of the Persian empire. Early in the eighteenth century, the ruling
Kayani chief made a struggle for the Persian throne, but was bought off by
the Afghan chief of the Ghilzai tribe, then dominant in Persia. About
1730 Malik Husain, a Kayani chief, successfully mthstood a seven years*
siege on the Kuh-i-Khwaja against Nadir Kuli, a General of the Persian
Shah Tamasp; but was subsequently conquered by Nadir, who destroyed all
the fortresses in the country. In 1747 the kingdom of Afghanistan was
founded under Shah Ahmed, and the Kayani chief of Seistan tendered him
his submission and allied himself by marriage to the Afghan ruler. Then
Shah Ahmed conquered Khurasan, and extended the limits of Afghanistan
to include Turbat i-Haidari, Tun, Tabas, Kain, and Nih. From that time
Seistan under its Kayani chiefs came under the Governor of Herat. In 1773
the Kayanis were deposed, and Mir Beg, a Shahreki chief, was made Gov
ernor. He, however, quarrelled with the Sarbandi clan, and was killed at
Rudbar. The Kayanis were then restored under Malik Bahram, who called
in the Nahrui Baluch to assist him against the growing power of the
Shahrikis and Sarbandis. About 1793 anarchy prevailed in Afghanistan,
and the various tribes of Seistan allied themselves, some with the Kandahar
and others with the Herat ruler, so that the country was devastated by
inter-tribal feuds. In 1800 Mahmud invaded Afghanistan from Persia, and
with the assistance of the Arab chief of Kain and the Kayani, Shahriki,
and Sarbandi chiefs of Seistan, seized Kandahar and Kabul. In 1833 the
Seistanis took part in the defence of Herat against the Persians. From that
time up to 1845 Seistan remained subject to Kuhandil Khan, the chief of
Kandahar, and the Sarbandi under Muhammad Kaza were the dominant
clan. In 1848 Muhammad Raza died and was succeeded by his son, who
changed his allegiance to Herat. Kuhandil sent an army into the country,
captured Herat assisted by the Nahrui Baluch, and made Ali Khan, a
brother of Muhammad Raza, Governor of Seist: n. Soon after Kuhandil
Khan and Ali Khan began to intrigue with Persia, each on his own account.
In 1855 Kuhandil died, and Ali Khan hoisted the Persian flag. About this
time the Persians, who were again besieging Herat, took the opportunity to
occupy the Lash-Juwain country by the help of Ali Khan and of Mir Alam
Khan of Kam, and even tried to capture Farah. At the conclusion of the
war they continued to hold the Lash Juwain country, but subsequently
abandoned it in consequence of the demands of the Amir of Kabul, backed by
the British Government, and retired west of the Helmand. Then the
Seistanis, finding themselves brought under Persian rule contrary to their
wishes, rebelled against Ali Khan, and set up his nephew, Taj Muhammad
Khan, who attacked Sehkuha, the capital, and slew his uncle. Taj Muham
mad ruled independently till 1862, when he tendered his submission to
Persia. In 1866, in consequence of his intrigues with Afghanistan, he was
attacked by a Persian army and by Mir Alam Khan of Kain, and was
taken prisoner to Tehran. Sharif Khan, Nahru, was made Governor, and