File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia' [‎160v] (332/345)

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Officer Commanding has in hand only two months’ supplies of barley for
horses alone. He cannot issue to his camels and although he has been author
ised to hire four hundred mules locally to make his supply arrangements (?) for
force more mobile he finds the barley problem insuperable and therefore cannot
avail himself of sanction given.
It is well known that four or five Persian landholders have in hand large
stocks whieh they are concealing to some extent with a view to sell later on at
very high rates. Our two Indian (?) contractors are giving just as much trouble
to us.
The Quetta agent of Seth Suleiman informed Divisional Supply Officer
that his firm possessed in Sistan 40,000 maunds barley. Seth Suleiman
himself says that he has 2,000 maunds only.
After the arrival of 40 Hazara sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. in Neh prices were raised excessively
and grain was concealed with the intention evidently of boycotting our men.
Bhusa was then selling at two krans per 100 pounds. Seth Jawala Singh
bought up the whole stock and is now offering it eight krans per 100 pounds
to Makeig-Jones. Barley, wheat and bhusa are absolutely unobtainable in the
Sistan bazar. Even rural population complain that kadkhudas will not sell
to them.
Humours indicate that riots are likely to occur as a result.
The Deputy Governor and the Bevenue Director are quarrelling with
each other as to who should deal with situation and in what manner. It seems
hopeless to get any affective orders from Tehran especially as they would have
to come through the Birjand officials^).
As the stocks in Kainat are always inadequate our troops in Birjand have
been supplied from Sistan for several weeks past. Can any special measures
be taken against the Indian contractors who copy the Persians in
concealing supplies and if riots become imminent can latter be threatened
commandeering ?
The peculiarity of the situation is not that prices compared w T ith Indian
rates are excessively high but that holders deny the existence of their stocks
which are buried in pits and can be found only under search backed up by
force.
It is unfortunate that one Indian contractor has no barley while the
other has not much bhusa or wheat. There is therefore no competition
between the two men.
To see if situation will be affected by such operations I have advised
the Officer Commanding to indent on Qretta for 1,00) maunds of barley.
The reserve grain for animals in Kacha Kch is also very low. Grazing for
camels is everywhere scarce. To supplement grazing camels consequently
must have bhusa.
P. 0, r. 043 F. & P. D,-22-12-15-