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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [94r] (186/949)
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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23
This will explain the unwarrantably gloomy view I took of the possibility of
getting a continuous workable grade/or a single line over this short length!
The descent from the summit, R. L. 2,600, to Shenzi, R. L. 1,900, is not
.iV.i?.—The Molhar nulla is shown incorrectly on Very difficult OU a ruling grade of 1 50.
the map, but roughly corrected in red ink. The section follows the Molhar nulla for
a couple of miles in fairly easy country where development is possible on both
sides. Then, as the valley grew narrower and development no longer appeared
possible, I turned to the east along the path to Nag Kalat for three miles,
over a narrow glacis between hisffi, parallel ridges. As the path did not fall
in the required direction, I turned south-west along another path leading
diagonally to the plain on a tolerably easy gradient through a succession of
narrow ridges.
It will be seen from the section that four miles of this alignment are
practically wasted as they are on the level. The correct alignment, instead of
leaving the Molhar nulla, and making this four-mile detour, should follow
its general direction to its debouchement on the Shenzi plain. The levels
where I recrossed the Rod Khan path and the Molhar nulla {vide section)
prove that the ruling grade would be obtainable by a much shorter route than
that I followed.
The alignment from the Shenzi (Kolwa) plain to Turbat. a distance of
70 miles, requires very little description. It should follow the southern bank
of the Kil Kaur now called the Kech River, rising and falling over the glacis
between the mountains and the river.
The grades would be easy. The fall of the river is not more than 1—200,
so 1—125 should easily be obtained by a surface line.
Tor about eight miles near Rahgiwaran the valley is narrow, and the
hullas from the hills have formed rather deep channels, so a good deal of
minor bridging will be required. Elsewhere the works will be very light;
surface or nearly so.
A peculiarity of this glacis is that it is conglomerate rather than shingle, so
foundations will give no trouble. At Herokh a low chain of mounds lines the
river as far as Sami. The alignment should be immediately in rear of it.
Sami and Sharak, two fair-sized date groves on the opposite bank, mile
337, are the first villages of Kech. Thence to Turbat the valley is wider and
uninhabited, and the line is, if anything, rather easier.
Kathag Pass alternative, —The alternative route over the Kathag Pass is,
as has already been stated, the correct route to adopt for a railway to Pasni;
for even, should the cost of the works equal those on the Tang-i-Pusht-Nag
Kalat route, the difference in length between the two lines, a matter of 19
miles, should decide in favour of the shorter alignment. The section, it will be
observed, is taken from Tang-i-Pusht to Sami-ud-din, but the railway would
naturally follow the dotted line on the sketch straight from the mouth of the
gorge already mentioned, at mile 10 from Gumbak.
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’ [94r] (186/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x0000bb> [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
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence