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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [163v] (325/949)
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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21
i
RESUME OF PROPOSED ROADS.
Mohammerah lo Tehran via Shushter through the Jaidar Pass, Khorremabad, Burujird,
Sultanabad, and Kum (Maunsell, 1888) —
“ This, Colonel Bell thinks, is the only practicable pass leading from Shushter to Molmm-
merah,through the Luristan Hills. The commercial and mihtarv importance is very great,
a nd it may be considered one of the natural commercial arteries of Persia .
Shushter to Kermanshah (Maunsell, 1888) —
“A shorter route from Shushter to Kermanshah and the surrounding district lies up the
Kerkha valley by Zaugwan ”.
Shushter to Tehran via Dizful, Burujird, Sultanabad, and Kum with a branch to Isfahan
(Napier, 1900) —
“ The Imperial Bank of Persia obtained a concession to make this road many years ago,
but nothing was done beyond making a so-called carriage road from Te ran to Kum at a cost
of £80,000
“Colonel Bell in 1885 stated of the Dizful to Khorremabad portion, with reference to
converting it into a cart road, that 57 miles were good, 60 miles fair, 40 miles bad With
reference to converting the Khorremabad-Burujird portion into a cart road, he stated 35 miles
might be classed as good, 20 miles as fair, 3 miles as bad ’.
Ahwaz to Isfahan, known as the Bakhtiari road (Napier, 1900) via Mai Amir, Godar-i-
Balutak, Pul-i-Amarat, Ardal, Khavarukh—
“In 1897, a concession was granted by the Persian Government to the Bakhtiari Chiefs
for the construction and maintenance of a road from Ahwaz to Isfahan and Shushter to Isfahan.
The work of construction was entrusted to Messrs. Lynch Brothers, and a good mule road was
open lor traffic in 19U0”.
Bunder Dilcm to Isfahan, through the Kughelu Hills (Maunsell, 1888)
Colonel Bell in 1884 said of this route—“ Of the 313 miles between Bunder Dilam and
Ardal the road may be classed as 146'miles good, 97 fair, and 70 bad, and the cost to couveit
^t into a cart road, Rs. 82,620.
“Of the 102 miles between Ardal and Isfahan, 46 are good, 41 fair, and 15 bad. Total
cost of converting this section, Rs. 21,500” .
Bunder Dilam to Kumishah on the Shiraz-Isfahan post road (Mr. Preece’s Memo
randum)—
“ This road is 330 miles to Isfahan as against 480 via Shiraz from Bushire. A fairly
easy road”.
Bushire to Shiraz via Firuzabad and Farashband.
Bushire to Shiraz via Kazrun.
Mr. Preece in his memorandum on Persian roads says of these “ By either of these,
the Masbilah has first to be encountered. Across ibis, for at least 8 miles, a causeway would
have to be built. This Mashilah is under water at all seasons of the year”.
Of the second he says—“ From Bushire to Daliki is level ; from there onward the road is
verv difficult”. I am, however, of belief that the worst portion of the road can be turned,
and that a fairly easy cart road could be made from Bushire to Shiraz at no very great
expense.
Irom Shiraz to Tehran a road or railway would be a work of ease.
Bushire to Isfahan via Firuzabad and Shiraz (Maunsell, 1888)—
“ Eighty miles of which require making into a cart road. This is a very rough and
difficult road”.
Bushire to Tehran via Kazrun, Shiraz, and Isfahan (Maunsell, 1888)—
Captain Wells estimates that 44 miles require to be constructed to make it passable for
carts. This is a very rough and difficult track. Sir O. St. John estimates the cost of making
this route into a good cart road would be £ 1,000 a mile, or near £ 200,000 for the distance,
and, “ when made,” he says, “ where are the carts, drivers, bullocks to come from, as none
exist in the surrounding country?”
Bunder Abbas to Tehran via Kerman, Yezd, and Kashan (Maunsell, 1888)—
“ Nine-hundred and twenty miles. To make it intr a cart road Mr. Shindler estimates
120 miles would have to be made at a cost of Rs. 60,000. It is a fairly level route and now
(1888^ seems to be the best frequented trade route from Isfahan to the sea. The route
being a less difficult one than that to Bushire, accounts for this. According to Mr. Preece,
there are two routes from Bunder Abbas to Kerman—
(1) via Ahmadi and Saidabad,
( 2 ) via Deh Bakri,
but he states heavy passes have to be crossed by both, and he does not consider expense on
them would be justified.”
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’ [163v] (325/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x00007e> [accessed 14 July 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