‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [63v] (125/949)
The record is made up of 1 file (475 folios). It was created in 7 Nov 1901-23 Aug 1905. It was written in English. 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. .
Transcription
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7. A fundamental feature of the constitution was the recognition of three
hereditary offices the holders of which were to advise and assist the Khan in the
administration of the State. The offires were those of the Sarawan and
Jhalawan
Sirdars
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
and of the Khan’s
Wazir
Minister.
. The two former represented the
independent Brahui tribes in the Khan’s council, while the VVazir represented
the Khan’s personal authority and his revenue paying subjects. The Sarawan
Sirdari was hereditary in the Raisani family and the Jhalawan in the Zarakzai
family.
8. In 1857 Mir Khudadad succeeded to the Khanship and thenceforward
to the signing of the Mastung Treaty in 1876 a state of almost continuous
rebellion and disorder prevailed in the country. Our intervention at that juncture
came apparently just in time to save Mir Khudadad from being driven from his
throne by the Brahui tribesmen.
9. The practical effect of our arbitration was the recognition of the independ
ence of the Brahuis. They had waged a long and successful war against the
Khan and in the settlement that followed they were treated (and rightly so)
not as rebellious subjects but as a separate and independent party contending
against another party of their own confederacy.
10. From the above summary it will be seen that the Kalat State is com
posed of two very distinct parties, viz. (/) the Khan, his
Wazir
Minister.
(when he has
one) and his niabats and (2) the Brahui tribes, each tribe governed by its
own chief and the whole under the Sarawan and Jhalawan
Sirdars
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
above
referred to.
11. I will deal with the Brahuis first. There is little or nothing to choose
between the Sarawan and Jhalawan Brahuis in their relation to the Khan. What
difference there is due to the fact that the tribes that are classed as real
Brahuis, viz., the Iltazais, Kambaranis, Kalandaranis, Gurgnanis, Samalaris, &c.,
and who recognise the Ahmadzais (the Khans are Ahmadzais) as the
head of their family as well as the head of the State, are all to be found in
Jhalawan. Though these tribes are not to be compared in importance to the
great independent tribes of Jhalawan as the Zehris, the Mengals, the Bizanjos
and the Muhammad Hasanis, and though they have equally with the latter
always opposed the Khan when Brahui rights were in question, yet the existence
of the tie must no doubt have given the Khan more influence and authority in
Jhalawan than he was able to secure in Sarawan.
12. On the top of this we have the fact that the Sarawan tribes being
closer at hand have come more in contact with and more under the guidance
and control of British officers than their Jhalawan brothers. Thus it is that
such measures as w r e have taken to bring the Kalat tribes under control bv
the granting of-allowances, the’establishment of Thanas, &c., have been taken
only in Sarawan and Kachi while in Jhalawan we have until comparatively lately
only interfered when absolutely necessary, and the Khan’s hold over the country
therefore feeble and fast dying though it is, is, nevertheless, not so absolutely
extinct in Jhalawan as it certainly is in Sarawan.
13. From the first our connection with Sarawan has been a close one ; it
was the Sarawan chiefs that brought Sir R. Sandeman up the Bolan Pass'to
Quetta and Mastung, it is they who have kept the pass open for us and who
for their assistance and loyalty during the Afghan War were given liberal
allowances *by Government which are still
continued to them or their successors.
Also the proximity of their country to
Quetta and other parts of British Baluchi-
into daily contact with British officers and British
* Note—The Raisani or Sarawan
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
receives Rs. 500 and the other leading
Sirdars
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Rs.
30 O each a month.
stan has brought them
administration.
14. The effect of the hold thus gained over the tribes has been to secure
a considerable degree of peace, good order, and security to the country
such as never existed before and which is still not to be found in Jhalawan. For
one thing disputes between the Khan and the
Sirdars
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
have, as arranged by the
2
About this item
- Content
This part contains papers mostly relating to British interests in Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
It includes a copy of the Board of Trade Commercial Intelligence Committee ‘Report received from Mr. H. W. Maclean, the Special Commissioner appointed by the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, on the conditions and prospects of British trade in Persia.’
A handwritten note at the front of the file, on folio 5, states ‘Spare copy of notes & correspondence of the “Helmand Control” file (with maps)’. Folio 110 consists of handwritten notes, including one dated 27 April 1904, which states ‘The secret Helmand papers have been printed up, and a set, with necessary maps, is submitted for H.E. the Viceroy to take to England.’ Much of the file concerns the question of controlling the water of the Helmand river and irrigating its whole delta, and the work of the Seistan Arbitration Commission to arbitrate between Persia and Afghanistan on the question of rights to the water of the Helmand in Seistan.
The file also includes reports by W A Johns on reconnaissances of potential railway routes made while he was attached to the Seistan Arbitration Commission, and other papers relating to railways and roads in Persia.
In addition, the file includes copies of the following Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, which reproduce received Foreign Department correspondence on the following subjects: ‘Selection of a British naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .’, November 1901, Nos. 74-83; ‘Visit of His Excellency the Viceroy to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during November-December 1903.’, February 1904, Nos. 33-127; ‘Establishment of telegraphic communication with Henjam. Question of the selection of a naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Aggressive action of the Persians at Tamb and Abu Musa; their claim to the Islands.’, June 1904, Nos. 300-388; ‘Reports of the Commercial Mission to Persia.’, June 1905, Nos. 45-111; ‘Question of retaining flagstaffs erected in the neighbourhood of the Musandim Promontory’, August 1905, Nos. 288-307.’
The file also includes: brief handwritten notes written by Curzon on headed paper belonging to the Viceregal Lodge, Simla, relating to Seistan and to Lord Kitchener’s planned reforms for the reorganisation and redistribution of the Indian Army; and a printed copy of the report ‘A Note by Major H.L. [Herbert Lionel] Showers, C.I.E., on the present state of affairs in Kelat and a review of the system of Administration now being pursued.’
The file includes four maps: ‘Map of the Tail waters of Helmand River’ (13 July 1903), f 122; ‘Plan Shewing Proposed Routes for a Railway from Nushki to Afghan Frontier near Robat’ (10 April 1903), f 139; ‘Extract from Admiralty Chart No. 753. (Entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ).’ (October 1901), f 219; and ‘Sketch of route Ram Hormuz to Fellahieh.’ (April 1904), f 230.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (475 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in no apparent order, apart from the Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, folios 231 to 474, which are arranged in chronological order.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [63v] (125/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x00007e> [accessed 30 June 2026]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- front, 2r:194v, 195v:196r, 197v:199v, 200v, 201v, 203r:272r, 273v:275v, 277r:405v, 408r:408v, 409v, 411r:413v, 414v:419v, 420v:424v, 425v:432v, 433v:435v, 436v, 437v:443v, 444v:471v, 473r:475v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
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- Open Government Licence
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