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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [131r] (260/949)
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.
17
15. This note is accompanied by the following plans:—
Tracing showing Helmand Delta, scale 8 miles to an inch (marked
Appendix A in Colonel McMahon’s letter No. 909, dated 13th July 1903).
Map of head of old Tarakun Diver, scale 4 inches to a mile ... Plan I.
Longitudinal section of Tarakun Paver ... ... Plan II.
Cross section
The shape revealed by cutting vertically through a land surface at right angles to the feature of interest.
of ditto ... ... ... Plan III.
Ditto ditto ... ... ... Plan IY.
Plan of Tarakun Canal head by Lala Thakur Dass, Supervisor... Plan Y.
Sections of high plain near head Tarakun Diver by Lala Thakur
Dass, Supervisor ... ... ... ... Plan YI.
Statement A.
Showing area of land in the deltaic fans of the Helmand River.
At present
watered by the
river.
Uncommand-
able.
Commandable
but not watered.
Total.
Afghanistan.
Square miles.
Square miles.
Square miles.
Square miles.
Right bank of Helmand.
Land watered by the river below Band-i-
Seistan
546
• • •
• • •
• • •
Uncommanded gravel plains right bank
of river north of Band-i-Seistan
• • •
73
...
• • •
Commanded, but not watered lands, north
of Killa-i-Fath
• • •
• • •
840
• • •
Total right bank
...
• • •
1,459
Left bank.
Uncommanded gravel plains north of old
Tarakun channel
• • •
488
* * *
• « •
Uncommanded gravel plains south of old
Tarakun channel
• • •
188
• » •
• « •
Area, coloured blue, in the Gaud-i-Zirreh
Hamun
• • •
• • •
548
• • •
Commanded lands from old Tarakun River
...
• • •
1,4126
• • •
Total left bank
...
• • •
...
2,650
Total Afghanistan
546
749
2,814
4,109
Persia.
Area watered by canals taking out at or
below Band-i-Seistan
772
• • •
• • •
• • •
Hamun area coloured blue on map
...
• • •
986
• ••
Uncommanded gravel plain north of bound
ary Kohak (Band-i-Seistan) to Koh-i-
Malik Siah
• • •
387
• • •
Commandable from the Tarakun River
...
...
775
• • •
Total Persia
772
387
1,761
2,920
Grand total
1,318
1,136
4,575
7,029
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’ [131r] (260/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x00003d> [accessed 12 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