'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [32v] (69/131)
The record is made up of 1 volume (62 folios). It was created in 1897-1898. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
I then proceeded here to the southern frontier to examme all Kafilas and parties comm-
from Vlk larhad or along the Chagai-Nnshki routes. I am thus you w.ll see, carrying
out the orders laid do,vn by His Highness the Shah-.n-Shah and ray Government as also
the desire of all eul„hteued Governments to prevent the spread ot disease, but your order
stopping my supplies is obstructing 1 me in the disch.uge o my
You are aware I require supply daily for my party, and I hope you will now issue
orders to all the Kad Kudas to supply me immediately.
Excepting this, there is nothing but friendship and good-will between us, all else ,s
well, and I wish you health and happiness.
No. 4.
Backing out of the difficulty letter.
Translation of a letter in reply to the foregoing, dated the 6 th Mnharrar^l^l5^=^th June 1897, from the Deputy
Governor, Seistan, to the Bntish Commissioner.
After compliments .—After perusal of your murasala I have come to know its contents.
As regards the stopping of supplies for your party, 1 have not issued any orders that
nobody must give you supplies * Had I issued such orders you and your companions might
have suffered.!
4s you had no passport from me (I was refused one on application the day before l
started on tour), some of the Kad Kudas might not of course have given you supplies. 1
have no objection to give you supplies, as since your arrival supplies have been given you,
and now this very order is for the Kad Kudas that they must give you supplies. All is
well and 1 hope you will keep me informed of your welfare.
No. h.
Translation of a letter in reply to the foregoing, dated the 9th Safar 1315 = 10th July 1897, from Subg-EON-Major
Brazier-Crkagh, A.M.S., to the Deputy Governor, Seistan.
Jfter compliments.—Your friend has received your letter notifying the withdrawal of
previous orders stopping supplies for which he begs to express his thanks.
Such orders caused your friend and his party great trouble as he was forced to wander
about to graze his horses aud camels when the Kad Kudas refused to sell any grain or
supplies, stating your Naib Karbali Mazar had come round the villages with the order issued
by your authority.
Wishing you great ease and peace and hoping you are quite well as this leaves your
friend also.
No. 6.
Translation of a letter, dated the 22nd Safar 1315= 23rd July 1897, from Surgeon-Major Brazier-Creagh,
A.M S , to the Deputy Governor, Seistau.
After compliments. —I am in receipt of the packet forwarded to me by His Excellency
your father from Meshed. It would seem that there has been great delay in the delivery
of this letter to me which requires some explanation from you.
I am given to understand you have received'a copy of the orders of His Highness the
Shah-in-Shah with full particulars of these routes which are guarded and duly supervised by
me directing that “ they should be open for merchants and travellers/’
“ Merchants and travellers proceeding from Baluchistan towards Persia shall be allowed
to proceed to their destination at once on being passed by me and shall not be detained or
subject to any further examination or restrictions whatever in the interior of Persia.
Caravans and travellers proceeding from Persia to Baluchistan via Seistaft and Nushki shall
n<>t he detained on the frontier nor shall they be placed in quarantine, they shall be allowed
to pass at once.”
I request you will be good enough to promulgate His Highness's orders to the officials
directing them to act accordingly as expressed by His Highness's order, so that all the Sardars
and merchants may know that the routes have all been duly opened by His Highness's orders,
so that they may continue to trade and have no further trouble or losses.
Hoping you are well as this leaves your friend.
No. 7.
Translation of a letter, dated the IGth Mnharram 1315 = 18th June 1897, from Asad-ulia-Khan, Sartip of
Kliwash, Sarhad, to Surgeon-Major Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S. ' ^
After compliments .—Your letter of 2nd Zi-hajj 13l4 = 5th May 189^ reached me to
day, and it gives me great pleasure to hear of your welfare again. I thank Almighty God
that the time passes so well with you.
* V 1 / S°- I T ^ Karba11 Mazar went around with the order and cams to our camp at Iskil and told my
f Lie No. II. ) Muza.—B. C. J
About this item
- Content
The volume is Report on The Mission to Seistan by Surgeon-Major George Washington Brazier-Creagh, 1897. The report is based on a return journey to, and tours of, the Seistan [Sistan] region of eastern Persia [Iran] between April and October 1897. The report, marked confidential, was printed at the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, in 1898.
The objective of the mission was ostensibly to investigate the risk of the plague spreading into Seistan from Baluchistan, but this was largely a cover for intelligence gathering, particularly with regard to Russian activity in the region.
The first part of the report consists of five chapters that cover the following matters:
- Their journey from Quetta to Nasratabad [Zabol], Seistan
- Their arrival in Nasratabad and reception by the Deputy Governor, Mir Mahsum Khan [Mīr Ma‘ṣūm? Khān]
- Local politics and administration
- The closing of the trade routes between Seistan and British India (now Pakistan) by the Persian Government under the suspected influence of Russia
- Russian influence and propaganda in the region more generally
- Criticism of elements of the Perso-Baluch Boundary Commission
- Raids on merchants along the Quetta-Seistan trade route
- The postal system along the Quetta-Seistan route
- British treatment of refugees of regional conflicts
- British strategical policy in the region, particularly in light of Russian activities and with reference to railway construction.
The second part of the volume consists of eleven appendices containing the following information (often tabulated):
- Genealogical charts of the region’s tribes and powerful families
- Meteorological data
- Topographical data
- Details of water sources
- Lists of villages.
The appendices section also contains copies of some of Brazier-Creagh’s diary entries and correspondence written during the mission, as well as letters from local officials and leaders.
At the back of the volume are the following plans:
- ‘Plan Showing the Waterways & Distribution of Helmund Delta’ (folio 62)
- ‘Nasratabad Fort’ (folio 63).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (62 folios)
- Arrangement
The report is arranged in chapters, each dealing with a different theme or subject, followed by a section of appendices.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 202; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: An additional printed pagination sequence is also present in parallel between ff 6-64.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [32v] (69/131), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/299, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/universal-viewer/81055/vdc_100109273608.0x000045> [accessed 20 August 2026]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/299
- Title
- 'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.'
- Pages
- 32r, 32v
- Author
- Mir Mahsum Khan
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/299
- Title
- 'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.'
- Pages
- 32v:33r
- Author
- Asad-Ulla-Khan
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.
!['Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎32v] (69/131) 'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎32v] (69/131)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0002fd/Mss Eur F111_299_0069.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg)