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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [71v] (141/949)
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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
13. A fine Juniper forest extending to some 44,000 acres and which was fast
being ruined has been reserved in the Harboi hills with the consent of the tribes
concerned and chowkidars appointed for its protection. This is the first forest
reserved in the Kalat State.
13. The first school in the Kalat State will shortly be opened at Mastung—
the chiefs in the neighbourhood having subscribed handsomely towards the
building and His Highness the Khan having promised a sum for the maintenance
of the institution.
14. On behalf of the Khan and as a Coronation Memorial a race-course
has been constructed at Kalat. This is much appreciated by the people.
15. In the spring of 1904 an experiment in sericulture was carried out at
Mastung from seed obtained from the Kashmir
Darbar
A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
. The result was eminent
ly satisfactory, the silk produced having been pronounced by London and Lyons
experts as quite equal to, if not better than the best Kashmir silk. At the same
time Sir Thomas VVardle, a well known authority on Indian silk questions, thinks
the future of the silk industry in the Kalat State most promising and deserving
of every encouragement.
16. Arboriculture has been encouraged and many thousands of trees have
been planted.
17. Since 1901 the Quetta Nushki railway has been under construction
through the district entailing considerable work in the taking up of land the
settlement of claims for compensation, the police, levy and magisterial arrange
ments, the formation and control of bazaars with their octroi, and other
funds, etc.
18. In 1901 the charge of the Bolan Pass was transferred from the Kurd
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.
to the Kurd Chief. The Chief had fled to Kandahar and on his return
two years later he asked to resume charge of the pass which had in the mean
while been given to his brothers. The restoration was effected but owing to the
bitter feud existing in the family the transfer was not an easy one to carry out.
19. The long standing family dispute above referred to between the Kurd
Chief and his brother and which had caused much inconvenience in the adminis
tration of the tribe was adjusted in 1901 after long and difficult discussion.
20. In 1903 a redistribution of the Bolan Levies was carried out. The old
distribution was out of date and the services of the men were not being utilized
to the best advantage.
21. In March 1903 the Saruna boundary case was settled. The case had
bteen outstanding for years and has been the cause of constant dispute and dis
turbance between the Mengals of Kalat and the Chuttas of Las Bela.
22. A scheme for the better administration of the Khan’s niabats, the key
note of which had been sounded by the Honourable Mr. Barnes in 1900 was
carried into effect in 1902. In spite of many difficulties and the strenuous oppo
sition of the whole body of the corrupt and unscrupulous Kalat officials the
scheme has been entirely successful and has already resulted in enormous in
creases of the Khan’s revenue. It is not too much to say that the Khan’s very
existence is involved in this scheme, for the present Khan* has little or no ability
for administration and between the capacity of his officials and the encroach
ments of the Brahuis he would soon have stripped bare of possessions. There
is now an organized and efficient staff of officials in each of the six niabats con
cerned, suitable offices and quarters have been built for them and revenue and
judicial work is systematically carried on.
23. The arrangements for the important cession of the Khan’s lands to Gov
ernment and the actual handing over of the tract were carried out through the
Kalat
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
.
24. In 1904 the ex-Khan was removed from Loralai to Pishin when the
Pishin fort was taken over and many alterations and additions were carried out
by the Kalat
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
for the accommodation of the household.
18
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’ [71v] (141/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x00008e> [accessed 4 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- 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
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence