'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎20r] (44/131)

an island, what might it be, if this the great natural necessity of any country
were but controlled by head canals and the country in other hands ?
Being a rich grain-growing, large pasturage, camel and flock-rearing dis
trict, whose resources under proper control could be hugely increased, it might
be turned into a regular garden, and is certainly “ the Pearl of Persia ” on this
side, the golden key to the situation whichever power secures it.
I hope that power will be England : she will then hold a “ Royal Plush,”
and need not be intimidated by any amount of bluff further north.
Climate of Seistan. —On the principle of giving the devil his due, the
climate is not at all so bad as we have been led to believe by other travellers ;
the erroneous idea hitherto prevalent, purely surmise, that the country is un
suited to European occupation all the year round, is quite misleading. There is
nothing to depress the bodily powers and produce the lassitude from which
we suffer during a hot weather in the plains of India. Throughout the hot
season the heat is tempered by northern winds and the nights are fairly cool.
There are no hardships which a moderate degree of foresight in preparations
will not overcome.
The outlook. —Khorasan and Meshed are practically at the mercy of the
Czar; if he wishes to occupy Northern Persia, he can do so, forfneither Persian nor
our troops would be able to prevent him. Such a measure is almost sure to pre
cede Russia’s operations against Afghanistan and Herat in particular, and it
seems that unless we are well prepared and warned, Seistan and Persian-
Baluchistan might fall into her hands before our troops could arrive on the
scene.*
Birjand strategically and commercially is an important point, though much
less so than Seistan, or indeed auy point north of it as far as England is con
cerned.
Khorasan is a non-grain-growing district beyond local requirements, and is
largely dependent on Seistan for grain and grazing.!
The intervening distance (225 miles) between Birjand and Seistan is prac
tically a desert and waterless stretch, the routes north to Meshed are far more
difficult than are those from Quetta.
The difficulties of a force attacking from Khorasan are infinitely greater
than for a force approaching from Baluchistan; an army of any numbers could
uot well march through Khorasan with the Seistan granary in our hands, and
would be placed in a most embarrassing position were they to attempt it.
With a railway running to Seistan we should undoubtedly be in a strong
position to thwart all designs and to check Russian advance through Persia
by threatening the flank of a force marching eastward, or meeting a direct
attack in a very suitable position, and on decidedly advantageous terms to us.
The line of communication with our base at Quetta would be some 6074
miles in length! whereas the Russian line of communication taking Askabad as
her base would be some 680 miles§ from Seistan ; such is the present position
of the rival powers. It is not plague but Herat and Indian trade, etc., that is
under observation in Khorasan; the spirit of commercial jealousy and especially
Afghan politics are the sole cause of Russian activity.
Threatening clouds. —It would be interesting to know why the Russian
Legation at Tehran demanded in July “ the cancelling of the Persian Govern
ment orders” reopening the Seistan-Nushki route when Her Britannic
Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires caused them to be reopened on receipt of represent
ations from the Indian Government, acting on the suggestions contained in my
telegraphic despatch || from Kirtaka previously referred to. * * * §
* Colonel Bell, V. C., mentions in his report having seen the secret report of the Governor-General of the Caucasus
on Russian eastern policy. He says : “ On page 8 will be found a menace against Baluchistan, which as already stated,,
considers itself British.’’—-B.C.
f Vide Appendix A, letter No. 9, dated 27th August 1897, paragraph 7.—B.C.
The amount of grain exported from Seistan to Khorasan, Narmashir, Sarhad, Jalk, and Baluchistan can hardly be
•magined considering the slovenly farming and requirements of a thickly populated country like Seistan.—B.C.
t I make it 527£ miles from Quetta to our Robat post, and from Robat to Sehkuha 80 miles, i.e., total 607$ miles.
It would be considerably shorter by the intermediate route suggested on page 23.—B.C.
§ Mileage as given by Lieutenant the Hon’ble H. D. Napier.—B.C.
Ii Vide Appendix A, letter No. 8, dated 22nd August 1897, paragraph 4.—B.C.
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