The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume X, No. 6 [‎102r] (56/186)

RECENT JOURNEYS IN PERSIA—DISCUSSION.
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having tvavelkd thither by a strictly “overland” route from the Caspian. Later
again I reached Gwadar direct, coming from the same starting-point in Northern
Persia. When the late Sir Henry Yule kindly measured my journeys, and put
them down at 7000 miles in Persia and Baluchistan only, I confess to a feeling of
gratification; but I could not then foresee the work that was to be accomplished by
other travellers in Asia during the second half of this memorable period of sixty
years which we are now celebrating.
The paper we have heard read is an admirable one in many respects. It is
simple, truthful, we all understand it, and, more than that, it shows what we have
to do. The points which the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. has touched upon are points of very great
interest indeed, and I only hope that, by further study of these particular regions,
we may soon have a more complete map than heretofore. I do not like taking up
your time further, but, as relevant to the occasion, will ask your permission to
quote a few words from a lecture which I delivered at the Royal United Service
Institution in 1877,when Sir Rutherford Alcock was in the chair:
“We require consuls both on the east and west of Persia: good, well-trained men
who are likely to promote, by their personal character, the honour and credit of our
country. Kerman or Yezd in the east, and Kermanshah and Shuster in the west,
Meshed in the north, and Bunder-Abbas on the seaboard, would all be points
worthy of consideration in any scheme for the extension of the Asiatic consular
service. . . . Holders of these posts, like the late worthy consul, Keith Abbott of
Tabriz, might, by judicious local exploration and inquiry, be scientifically, as
politically, useful.” In referring to Consul Keith Abbott of Tabriz, I would inter
polate the name of Colonel Stewart, also of that city, whose presence here to-night
at once recalls his travels and services.
Let me add that in three of the places named, consuls or vice-consuls have
in late years been appointed. 1 think I am right in saying that General Maclean
was appointed to Meshed, one or two officers were appointed at various times to
Yezd, and Captain Sykes is, we know, at Kerman. One word more, if I may be
allowed to say it—and it would be ungrateful and ungracious if I did not do so—
that is, that I agree in every word that Captain Sykes has said in regard to Persian
hospitality. I can, from my own experience, testify most heartily and honestly to
this estimate of the native character.
Sir Mortimer Durand : There are many here so much better fitted than I
am to continue the discussion of Captain Sykes s lecture from a geographical
point of view, that it is inadvisable for me to take up your time very long. I
would only like to say that I entirely concur with everything Sir Frederic Goldsmid
says about the credit due to Captain Sykes for his remarkable journey, and I wish
a great many more would follow his example. I have often been struck by the
..small number of English travellers who visit Persia. I am sure my distinguished
Iriend, the Nasir-ul-Mulk—whom I take this opportunity of congratulating upon
the high honour conferred on him by Her Majesty—will bear me out in saying
.that the Persians, as a nation, very thoroughly appreciate, in more ways than one,
any sympathetic interest which Europeans show towards them. I think it is in
every sense desirable that more Englishmen should travel through Persia to learn
something of the country and people. It is a most interesting country and people.
There is one aspect of the question which has not been touched on to-night, and
about which I should like to say a few words—I mean the interest of the country
from an artistic point of view. I think it would well repay any one of artistic
tastes to spend some months or a year in Persia. He would see that it is a very
beautiful country. We have heard a great deal of the arid nature of the moun
tains. There is a very great deal of banen and bare country about the capital, but