"ملخص لمراسلات، إلخ، تتعلق بشؤون آسيا الوسطى، بلوشستان، بلاد فارس، إلخ، ١٨٧٥-١٨٧٧. مع ملاحق." [ظ‎‎٧‎٧] (٥٦٢/١٥٩)

( 70 )
Je me suis empresse de communiquer la pie,ce sus-mentioimee au Minist^e de la Guerre.
«Ses renseis;nements qu’il m’a fait parvenir sent de nahrre a rass.irer entierement l e
Cabinet de Londres L'unique but de uotre expedition sur Kysil Arvat est celm de chltier
L penplls tureomanes qui infestent depuis quelque temps la route de Krasnovodsk a Khi,,
et menafient nos caravanes.
<( Ces peuplades appartiennent a une branche de Turcomans entierement distincte de celle
des Tecces de Merv, point distant de 1,000 verstes de Krasnovodsk.
Le mouvement sur Kysil Arvat n'est d^ailleurs qu’une simple expedition militaire comme
nos troupes du Causase en entreprennent tous les ans pour ]e maintien de la tranquillite sur
nos frontieres. Lcs ordres les plus formels out ete donnes au commandant de la eolonne de
ne pas depasser ses instructions dans ce sens.
■ “ Les inquietudes relatives a Merv tombent dalles memes en presence de ces franebes ex-
plications.
“ Veuillez bien, Monsieur PAmbassadeur, les porter a la connaissance de Lord Derby en
reponse a la note de Lord A Loftus.
[From Secretary of State No. 73, dated Ihth November 1877.]
49. Mr. Churchill’s tour on the Caspian. — la February 1876
Mr. Thomson suggested that Mr. Churchill, Consul at Resht, should make a
tour on the coast to examine the condition of Ashurada which it was said
would probably soon be submerged. He said—
“ There is great difficulty in obtaining from native sources trustworthy information of the
proceedings of the Russians at Krasnovodsk, and if Mr. Churchill in making his tour of
inspection of Persian ports in the Caspian could extend it as k far as Krasnovodsk, much valu
able information would doubtless be obtained by him. But as he would necessarily be obliged
to go there in one of the Russian steamers either from Bakoo direct, or from Ashurada along
the coast, the sanction of the Russian Government from St. Petersburg to his doing so would
appear to be requisite.^
The proposal was approved, and the following instructions were issued.
Mr. Churchill was told that the Russian Government had no objection to his
visiting, in a private capacity, their ports, Krasnovodsk included, and that his
study of their commercial condition would be facilitated by the Russian
authorities, but that he should be careful not to excite their suspicion or to
give umbrage to the civil or military authorities.
His attention was also particularly drawn to the following points. It
had been reported on statements emanating from the Russian authorities
that on more than one occasion the Island of Ashurada had been so much
damaged by inundations as to render it a question whether it would not he
necessary for the Russian Government to abandon that island before long as
a naval station, and to transfer its depots to some other locality either on the
peninsula of Allan Kali, or on the mainland near the embouchure of the River
Gurgan. Information on this subject, accompanied with a sketch showing the
ravages already caused by the sea on the island, and of any works which might
have been constructed with a view to its future preservation, would be of much
interest. It was also desirable that he should obtain as much information as
possible regarding the proceedings of the Russians, and such overtures as
might have been made by them to the Turkoman tribes professing allegiance
to Persia, and likewise that he should acquire as much information as could he
unostentatiously procured with respect to the coast lying north of the Gurgan
ciiid. all tiic adjacent Turkoman country.
L. J
{Secret, August 1876, No. 82.]
rJ r * Churcllill,s tour continued. —In accordance with these
the'southera mist of p eSht - ^ l he 21st 0ctober 18 76> and proceeded along
reaching Astlrahl^nl 1 h Wards Masha d-i-Sar, Ashurada, and G«,
November x dem ’ aud ret urning to Resht on the 16th
November. Owing to the advanced state of the season, and the mouth of the