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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [123r] (244/949)
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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V
/
&
No. 909 , dated Camp Kuhak, the 13 th July 1903 .
From- —Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., British Commissioner, Seistan
Arbitration Commission.
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
* This is a tracing’ of the existing 8-mile=L inch
map. Although incorrect in various details as
pro'edhyour recent surveys, it is sufficiently ac
curate to illustrate this report.
A. H. McMahon.
2. This report should he
preliminary report, for I consider
vestisations and the conclusions
I have the honour to submit the following report on the question of
controlling the water of the Helmand and
irrigating the whole delta of that river.
To explain this report and its enclosures,
a map* is attached, Appendix A.
considered in some respects in the light of a
it advisable to record the result of our in-
based thereon without waiting for the com
pletion of the accurate survey of the country now in hand, or for the more
detailed information which our continued investigations are daily accumulat
ing. Our surveys and investigations subsequent to those on which this report
is based, only corroborate the conclusions herein arrived at. I propose to
submit a further report at some later date, embodying more detailed inform
ation on the various points connected with this subject.
3. To irrigate the vast area in Seistan of rich lands now waterless, and to
protect from present periodical destruction through floods the lands now culti
vated, it is necessary to be able to control the Helmand River at some point
above Seistan. The problem to be solved is whether such control is possible,
and where.
4. This Mission has carefully examined the Helmandf from Bagat above
.. + c Khan-i-Nishin downwards. It was at
first supposed that in ancient times the
Helmand entered the Gaud-i-Zirreh from the east or north. A series of lines
of levels run from the mountain ranges south of the Helmand to the river
and again between the Helmand and the Gaud-i-Zirreh, has established the fact
that no such connection between the Helmand as far down as Band-i-Kamal
Khan and the Gaud-i-Zirreh has existed. A reference to the able note by
Mr. W. A. Johns, Appendix B, and the explanatory map, Appendix C, will
show how this conclusion has been arrived at.
5. Near Band-i-Kamal Khan, however, our search was successful, for an
ancient river bed was there found running into the Gaud-i-Zirreh, down which
the whole or part of the Helmand must have flowed. Here also was found a
system of old canals that once irrigated the huge tract of country between
Band-i-Kamal Khan, the Gaud-i-Zirreh, and the southern portion of the
Helmand Hamun. Mr. Johns’s note, Appendix D, shows the results of his
investigations in this region, and demonstrates how simple an undertaking it
would he to construct a canal to bring this tract again under cultivation, and
also to turn the whole or part of the Helmand River again into the Gaud-i-
Zirreh.
6. The fact has been established that, at or not far above Band-i-Kamal
Khan, a hand existed in old days which diverted all the water required for
this canal system, and which doubtless also in heavy flood diverted the surplus
water of the Helmand down the escape channel to the Gaud-i-Zirreh.
7. Another important fact hitherto unsuspected was then established, &.<?.,
that, from probably this same point, another large canal system was taken
off on the right bank of the Helmand, which, from near Kilia-i-Fath, spread
out and irrigated a vast tract of country east of the Helmand. This country,
never before visited by Europeans and now a waterless desert, proves to
he full of large, extensive ruins, such as Sar-o-Tar and others, which clearly
demonstrate the past existence of rich cultivation and great prosperity.
8. At or near Band-i-Kamal Khan therefore, or, to speak more ac
curately, at some point between the neighbourhood of Chahar Burjak and Band-
i-Kamal Khan, the Helmand in old days was effectively controlled, and is again
capable of being similarly controlled. The able note by Mr. T. R. Ward,
Appendix E, deals fully with this question, and also with the results obtainable
from such control.
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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- 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