'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎10v] (25/131)

8
k V*,
Return visit and re °¥^ tlm? w5°quit? a sSr^thi^the Jortj’ and
l0 T sa b ^ madef0r ° Ur reCepti ° n -.
Cmi On our approach the garrison manned the front wall of the fort, lined the
On our appiodo ° ccomP anied by an escort of irregular cavalry which
roadway and S a f te > us eC e de d by a hand (playing a national hymn) we
had been sent to ] i o untingat the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). Hall, midst much bowing
approached the mtadel. On^dismouru. ^ geiice ^ ie Deputy Sar tip 5 who w.s
and scrapin^ I n a A a officers, soldiers, and attendants, a pompous
and"^rnarkahle^coUecthm °of ver^ ill-clad and uncleanly people as unmistak
ably demonstrated in such weather. _ , ' .
We conversed for some considerable time on various subjects, but it
was vl v evident mine host was ill at ease, and though apparently desirous
hi frankly reply to my questions, the restraining signs and influence of those
around prevented his doing so; conversation inconsequence was at times
strained, P and evasive answers given for and put into the mouth of the Deputy
At this as well as all subsequent public interviews I avoided all reference
to political matters affecting the country, although repeated attempts were made
to probe my feelings.
On enauiring the reason of and affecting surprise at British merchants (with
letters and pass to Her Britannic Majesty’s Consulate-General, Meshed) being
prevented from entering the country and proceeding further on their journey,
and other restrictions imposed on kafilas from Nushki and Chagai without any
evidence of plague or illness which did not affect kafilas from Jalk, Sarhad or
Bam-Narmashir, who were free to come and go unmolested, I was informed
that all orders on the subject directly emanated fiom His Highness t e
Shah and that they (officials) had simply to comply with the royal mandate
imposed on them, that as far as they were personally concerned everyone in the
country much regretted the closure of the routes, as it stopped all their trade,
and the surplus grain would rot.”
I was even naively asked why the Sirkar Angrez permitted it, a signifl*
cant question, as everyone knew it was the Russians who had caused the routes
to be closed on account of commercial jealousy, and the recent boundary lines
by which the British Sirkar was able to have her frontier post at Robat so near
Persia.
Before taking my leave I fully explained all the measures that the Indian
Government had°successfully taken to protect her Muhammadan and other
subjects, and to prevent epidemic disease of all sorts spreading, not only with
in her own gates and portals, but on the channels and high-roads leading to
and from other neighbouring countries, at the same time expatiating on the large
amount (crores of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ) annually spent by the British Government^ to protect
and assist the millions of pilgrims who proceed to Mecca, Karbalai, Meshed,
Hardwar and other notable places of pilgrimage, clearly pointing out the
infinitesimal possibility of plague reaching either Persian Baluchistan, Seistan,
or Afghanistan, and at the same time making a strong point of the great hard
ships and loss such a step (closure of routes) caused their Indian co-religionists
who were now in trying heat crossing the deserts to complete a pilgrimage to
45 Meshed the Sacred,” * and others for trade purposes.
All this it was plainly noticeable was a great surprise, but was received
with evident satisfaction by all present.
At the outset all my endeavours to persuade the Deputy Governor to
impose quarantine and let all traders, pilgrims, etc., proceed onwards, or enter
the country after a reasonable detention on the frontier, were treated with
opposition; each appeal met with the same reply “ he had no power to do so.
His Highness the Shah having issued orders to close the routes.” When all
efforts failed, I made a vigorous religious appeal to theMujtahid (High Priest),
•)
* Several parties of Hazaras and others were met on the outward and return iournev, proceedine on pilgrimage tQ
45 Meshed the Sacred.”—B, C. * '