![‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎76v] (151/949)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0154.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎76v] (151/949)")
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [76v] (151/949)
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.
Note regarding floods.— See Appendix regarding rri,_ rnaximum rise of the river did not
flood of 18 S 5 . Mr. Ward does not state the approxi- j i oc foof Tfa
mate rise of the river in feet, but it evidently was appear to be aS much as 10 1061 Its
quite twice the height of normal high floods ihe , , fairly stable, so training works
spring of 1885 , more particularly early Apr.l, was DanKS \Vt 5 ie a a , 0
extraordinarily wet ali over Afghanistan and Balu- WO uld be light.
chistan.
Tor a temporary crossing it would be better to choose a site lower down,
where piles could be driven.
Curvature. —Easy, except in the section near Galui.
Grades.—I —to Kani.
Prom Kani through the hills, 1—50.
The descent to the Helmand, 1—80.
Stations.—m remarks. Their sites will largely be governed by the localities
of the wells along the alignment.
Materials .—The country is destitute of building materials, except sand
and ballast.
The Chageh mountains are of volcanic formation, and the stone v ould be
difficult to work.
Good bricks could be burnt in the Helmand with imported coal dust, or,
in small quantities, with brushwood, in the old-fashioned flame kilns used by
the inhabitants some centuries ago.
Water-supply. —It should be understood that there was more or less water
at everv camp on the march except for the last 50 miles across the desert.
At some places it was obtained from ordinary wells of moderate depth, or from
snrings at the base of the hills; but the most abundant supply was generally
got from shallow excavations, either in nulla-beds, or in depressions among the
sandhills.
The water was always more or less charged with salts, and unsuited for
locomotives. It was scanty at Lalla and Gale Chah, but at Zahro, Kani,
Galur,
Nawab
An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India.
Chah, Salihan, and Mamu it was fairly abundant.
Little difficulty, therefore, need be apprehended about obtaining a
sufficient water-supply between Nushki and the Helmand. It will be quality,
rather than the quantity, which will give trouble, though sometimes these
saline waters neutralise each other. The Helmand water was sweet.
I take the opportunity to mention that these wells and water holes are
seldom in the open plain or “put”, but nearly always among sandhills; some
times below a foot or two of coarse surface sandstone. I can give no explana
tion of this curious phenomenon. It may be due to capillary attraction, or to
the continuation of the clay “put” below the sandhills; but my observation
is at variance with this latter reason, as, where sandhills occur, the substratum
generally is sand. Attention to this may save a lot of unsuccessful attempts
to obtain water during construction.
Helmand—
Rs.
Rs.
15 miles
... @ 70,000
10,50,000
44 „
• ••
... @ 55,000
24,20,000
41 „
...
... @ 1,30,000
53,30,000
63 „
• ••
... @ 80,000
50,40,000
32 „
... @ 1,30,000
41,60,000
140 „
...
... @ 55,000
77,00,000
Total ... 335 „
Add 6
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
for bridge over Helmand, or additional cost
2,57,00,000
of line on left bank
• ••
Grand total
=Rs.
6 ,00,000
2,63,00,000
78,500 per mile.
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [76v] (151/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000098> [accessed 29 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000098
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000098">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎76v] (151/949)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000098"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0154.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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