'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎28v] (61/131)

(?) There are no Kafilas at all now coming or going, nor haye there been any urgent
^“hti di 1 "*. ”™ «d oP November or middle of Dee.,*,.
Jalk and Nushld Kafilas arrive here, I suppose, about the same tune, thong many iom
Jalk come earlier with dates and return with grain. . , , t , ,,
(8) It has been intensely hot
eamels have "» The horses have stood it well, but the flies now are a great
“1',“'^" ft.V.oim.r.od simply d.,.», them if eo.ered preteo.ri.
(9) As for the human element of the Mission, they have stood the severe heat well and
“amito'e .11 my letter, t™ reoehed ..My .»« -merely tmt that from the eool md
pleasant surroundings of your p. ovem
iTbSiffll limit- of ft. surroundings, from whieh . write.
.'ll) I «end in this a proposal* which I think it would be desirable for the Depaitment
isenamDi t f & su ]y 0 f came ls both now and m the future be
secured, \ut^expenditure of a few thousand rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. amongst these scattered nomads will
have a most beneficial effect.
No. 7, dated Seistan, the 10th August 1897.
From—S urgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S., Officer on Special Duty in Seistan,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
Some trouble on the frontier over distribution of water, of which there is a great scarcity
at this season of the year always, but this year in particular as far as hcistan has fared.
This is due to the waste consequent on the bursting of the bund which was not properly
renaired The country is now as arid and parched as the Baluchistan deserts, the supply of
water limited and only got from wells dug in each village or dry beds of irrigation canals.
On the 2nd instant the Governor of Killa-i-Kang in Afghan territory appeared with a
force of 200 men on the frontier and took by force the water from Karko Shah channel on to
the Afghan lands. ^ .
Officials in Nasratabad were disturbed in consequence and appealed to the Sardars in turn
to go there and arrange matters. The Sardars in turn, whose interests were not concerned in
that side made excuses, and eventually Saraar Khan Jahan of Saidak on rhe frontier, was
appealed to, to come to some arrangements with the said Afghan Governor.
iTKp matter is vet unsettled and the Governor is reported to have come to Nasratabad on
the 7 th about the matter.
Reported purchase of ground by Russian authorities between Gulwarda and Ghain for
purpose of erection of military post,, and that the military officers, presumably Captain Ben-
dereff, are purchasing and storing grain for this purpose#
This purchase is commonly spoken of in the bazars here, as also that the Russians are so
jealous of the British post so near at Robat that they seek to establish their post just as near.
Also that they and the officials surrounding Sartip have been appealed to, to get the British
officer and his party out of the country, as his influence with people and Sardars is having a
bad effect.
The Sardars themselves who are rather pleased at this are my informants, and two of
them have just returned from a long stay at Tabas and are well in the know on all matters.
They assure me there is no doubt as to the purchase of lands as mentioned and for the purpose
stated.
A proposal worthy of consideration is to select one or two of the sons of influential Sar
dars in here and put them to school at Quetta. The suggestion has met with approval both
by the boys themselves and fathers concerned who are prepared to send their sons each with a
servant and horse, or alone as Governor thinks fit.
No. 8 , dated Seistan, the 22nd August 1897.
From— Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S., Officer on Special Duty in Seistan,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department, Simla.
In continuation of former despatches, I have the honour to forward herewith the latest
intelligence.
(1) On my first arrival in the country and while at Daulatabad on 13th May I heard of
the murder of Darwesh (beggar) near Neb, at the same time I also heard particulars of the
* The purchase of camels for the India Camel Transport.—B. C.