'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎31r] (66/131)

, TllS t S °-^ Commission which had met on the frontier to arrange water
distribution has settled the matter amicably. 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 Singarani, one of the
principal Sexstan Sardars is now at Kohak with some 500 men repairing the broken band in
order to bung watei into the country which has been completely dry for past two months.
r ih ba “ d Y aS n ?^ted last autumn, causing but a paucity of the water to flow east
per the Rud-i-Seistan, m consequence of which the crops on south and south-east suffered
considerably.
5. A meeting of the officials and head mullas of the country assembled lately at Nasrahad
to settle some frontier disputes, amongst whom were 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. Syed Muhammad Khan, Naib
Governor of Khang, Khan Muhammad Khan of Chakansur, and the head Mulla of Farrah
with others representing Afghan interests.
The cases in dispute, which were not of special interest, were all settled amicably, with
exception of one, the case of a widow lady, which is still pending.
6. The head Mulla invited himself to my camp, a distance of 15 miles, with attendants,
and spent the day with my party, having been entertained at dinner, etc. He gave much
useful infoimation on fiontier matters. He did not appear to be aware of the disturbance on
the Peshawar frontier and apparently no news of the fight has yet reached this side.
7. Two large Kafilas with wool, hides, etc., left Seistan for Quetta, one on 5th September
consisting of 19 camels, and the other on 24th September consisting of 40 camels.
8. There is now no restriction whatever; all routes are open. Kafilas have arrived from
Gbani for purchase of grain, as also from Sarhad and Narmisher, etc., with dates and to carry
back grain.
9. There is a tremendous export of grain from Seistan, but much of the surplus grain
from Bandar in Afghan territory finds its way in here, being bought by Seistan merchants.
10. Two more large Kafilas are fitting out for Bandar Abbas, but I have succeeded in
persuading the merchants of one party to go to Quetta instead, to which they have agreed.
11. With the advent of the cold weather and the fact of Kafilas marching and fiocks
changing grazing grounds, two gangs of Baluch marauders are on the war path and have
committed several murders and looted many ramas.
One of the parties crossed our path on the night, 18th September, but I was so weak and
prostrated I was unable to follow them; they cleared out rapidly when they heard British
troops were near there, we were afterwards informed. These were the very party too who
looted my Girdi post; however I have marked them down and know where they came from
and hope to recover the loss and indemnity also for assault and injury to my sowars.
12. These parties who hang round the desert intervening between Robat hills and Seistan
to attack Kafilas and other helpless flock owners give our Girdi post a wide berth, uow that
they have heard that British troops are posted there.
The officials in here are much pleased at the example the presence of the detachment
there are creating and its effect. The flock owners also are greatly pleased. I had a visit
from several of them when visiting the post on the 23rd.
13. I might note the maintenance of this post is rather expensive, being three marches
from here and in bare desert. I have to send them all supplies, forage, etc., from here, yet
without their presence I could not maintain the dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. with any safety.
14. The Farrah garrison in Afghanistan has recently been increased; there are reported
to be 1,000 cavalry and the same number of infantry with six guns there.
At Gurishak, east of Farrah, there are also one thousand men and six guns.
It is reported there are strict orders from the Amir to daily parade and drill the men in
the open fields.
Last month, August, a General Order came from Kabul to the effect that 50 per cent,
of the inhabitants of Farrah must come every Friday and be paraded with the State troops,
to learn drill.
The people sent a petition to the Amir, stating they were prepared to go to war at any
time they were required, but prayed to be exempted from these parades as they interfered
with their general occupation.
It is a common rumour in Farrah bazar that the Afghan troops will some day soon have
contact with Russian troops.
15. The Seistan officials, Sardars, merchants, and people having experienced the dis
advantage and loss to themselves arising from restrictions and closing of Indian and other
routes, are now very much alive to the misrepresentations made by Russian officers and then-
agents.
16 The Russian and English policy has been thoroughly explained to them, and the
fact that all the chief Sardars of the country have openly come to salaam and visit me on
more than one occasion in several cases, have treated my entire party handsomely with cooked
rations on each tour and place of halt, clearly proves the true sympathy and feelings of the
country.
1068 F. E>.