'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎13v] (31/131)

14
officer from the country, for on his first arrival he came to stay for an
indefinite period, he informed me.
Loss of the Russian Posts.—In the early part of June the Russian dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company.
from Birjand mysteriously disappeared, which caused great anxiety in the
Russian party.
The courier, a Baluch, could not be found and was never traced or the
dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. recovered.
Mission Postal arrangements ,—In the face of such mishaps it is satis
factory An East India Company trading post. to report that not a single hitch occurred in the transmission of all com
munications during the absence of the mission, which goes to show the postal
arrangements were very thoroughly carried out by the dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. runners employed
by the Political Officer, Chagai, and myself. This too, I might point out, over
a lengthy and desolate tract of country where, in addition to no inconsiderable
danger, extreme heat and a paucity of water had to be contended against.
My northern communication with Colonel Sate, Her Britannic Majesty’s
Consulate, Meshed, was for several months dangerous. I dared not trust any
communication of importance to the local dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. runners, nor could I, for several
reasons which it is unnecessary here to state, establish communication with
my own sowars over so long and barren a stretch of intervening country.
Not till September * was I able to establish with any safety communi
cations with Meshed. Even then, owing to the immense difficulties to be over
come, I deemed it not only prudent but safer to send all communications to
Quetta for transmission by the usual dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. bag via Kandahar and Herat.
The grant of Rs. 600 per month allotted by the Government of India for
maintaining communications with me enabled Lieutenant Webb-Ware to
safeguard the line with extra sowars and to establish a few extra posts.
Recommendations for maintenance of postal and other communications .—I
would here suggest that it would be well to consider a permanent allotment of
this sum to enable Lieutenant Webb-Ware to keep up these very necessary
posts and communications for the benefit of our traders and the advancement
of this route, which, if neglected and not safeguarded, will do incalculable
damage to British prestige and future trade prospects.
Establishment of Post Office in Seistan ,—Another project of vast and far-
reaching importance worthy of prominent and early attention, I take the
liberty of here pointing out, is the necessity of establishing a Persian Post
Office in Seistan and so gradually improving our means of communication with
Khorasan. I know for a fact that Colonel Yate, Her Britannic Majesty’s
Consul-General, Meshed, is “ at one with me in this matter and thoroughly
recognises the importance of this step.
Our Tehran Legation might quietly work this subject up and cause a
Post Office to be opened at Nasratabad similar to that now established in
Birjand.
The existence of a Post Office would be a great boon to traders, as well as
of material benefit to us in any future policy which we may be forced to adopt
towards the country.
Second Tour ,—On the departure of the Russian medical officer from
Seistan I split up my party, making a base camp under the charge of my
escort at Killah-i-Nao (so as not to hamper my movements or cause any suspi
cion), and accompanied by a few followers I made a tour from north-west
round by east to south rejoining my main camp after an absence of 17 days.f
This tour enabled me to mix freely with the large nomad encampments
from Ghain district who come into Seistan at this season of the year to graze
along the Hamoon banks, to treat their families, cement friendly relations
with and learn much useful information from them. It also afforded me an
opportunity of accurately defining the limits of the immense Hamoon, which
for the greater part of the year practically turns the country into an island.
* See further at page 16.—B. C.
i" Vide Appendix A, letter Iso. 4, dated 30th June 1897j paragraphs 12*22,—B, C.