'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎11r] (26/131)

^ostensibly on behalf of the poor Shiah pilgrims, and the hardships a Ions deten*
tion or return would cause them; this had the desired effect, the High Priest
supported my representations, and all objections on the part of officials w”ere over
ridden.
I would here point out that orders anent the re-opening of the Seistan-
Baluchistan routes were only received by me on the 22nd July 1897 (per
Colonel Yate’s letter, Meshed, dated 4th June 1897), over a month after the
departure of the Russian Medical Officer and over two months after my arrival
in the country.. It will therefore be seen I was working all this time completely
in the dark, which required considerable tact and finesse. At an interview with
the Deputy Sartip on the 18th July 1897, he denied having received any orders
about the routes up to date. Now I knew for a fact Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Purdil Khan had
given them to him some days previously, as also a despatch for me from Colonel
Yate with a copy of the same orders. The latter were sent me on the 22nd
July, and doubtless would have been detained longer had I not received secret
intelligence from the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. of their delivery at Nasratabad.
Here we have an illustration that the usual Persian system of diplomacy
was being pursued.
The reins of Local Government. —“ Mir Mahsum Khan,” Deputy Sartip.
the only legitimate son of Sartip Ali Akbar Khan, Governor of Tabas and
Seistan, with his mother, rule Seistan in the father’s interest.
He is but a boy and puppet in the hands of staid and crafty officials who
lean more towards the Birjand than Tabas rule, and are one and ail
recipients of Russian pay and favours. The Lady Ali Akbar, mother and co
ruler with the Deputy Sartip, is a sister of Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. “Syed Khan,” Chief of Naroi
Baluch (a large clan), a man of enlightened views and having considerable
influence and property.
The “ most beautiful ” mother of the Sartip, as she is styled, is considered
to be a clever, intelligent and well-educated woman, and judging by the letter
in Appendix A,* we might truly style her sexu fcemina vivo ingenio. She is
reported to have been present (behind the purda) at all interviews and visits
that I paid to her son, as well as to have dictated the diplomatic letters which
passed between us when attempts were made to drive us out of the country by
the crafty Pillars of State, at the instigation of Russian Agents.
Relationship of Birjand with Tabas and Seistan rule. —Mir Alum
Khan, the father of the Governors of Birjand and Tabas and Seistan, had three
wives by whom he had three sons, viz .:—
(1) Ali Akbar Khan (the eldest son), Hashmat-ul-Mulk.
(2) Ismail Khan (second son), Showkat-ul-Mulk.
(3) Ibrahim Khan (third son), Amir Punj, Ghain Troops.
During Mir Alum Khan’s life he deputed the eldest son as Deputy
Governor of Seistan when he was himself at Birjand.
The second son was appointed Amir Punj in command of the Ghain
forces with the rank of Sartip under his father.
As Mir Alum breathed his last (in 1891), he decided that “he who had
Seistan must keep it,” and “he who had always been at Birjand must have
Ghain”; the younger (Ismail Khan) who was a minor,+ he deputed to the
charge of Showkat-ul-Mulk, the elder brother.
A report of the dying man’s wishes was accordingly submitted to His
Highness the Shah, and soon after his death sanction in accordance with the
above arrangement was duly granted by letters patent.
Ali Akbar Khan had reason for believing undue influence had been
brought to bear on his father during his (Ali Akbar’s) absence as Governor of
Seistan, and not being satisfied with the hereditary distribution by which all
Ghain province was left to his younger brother, with whom in earlier days he
had not been on good terms, immediately (on the death of his father) proceeded
to Tehran to set forth his claim to the Governorship of Ghain.
* Vide Appendix A, Diary No. 5, paragraph 48, dated 14th July 1897.“B. C.
■f About the same age as the Deputy Sartip, Seistan. B, G«