Abstract: This volume is a confidential report, printed at the War Office, by Harrison and Sons, printers in ordinary to Her Majesty, in 1899, and authored by Major George Washington Brazier-Creagh, Intelligence Division, War Office, concerning the resources, administration and general affairs in Baluchistan and Seistan [Sīstān] following his political mission in 1897. The report contains an introduction by the author, (folio 4), dated 5 December 1898, in which he mentions that details from the report are being incorporated into the Baluchistan Gazetteer and Route books. He also pays tribute to Colonel Bell and Captain Henry Dundas Napier who preceded him, as well as Captain Arthur Henry McMahon and George Passman Tate. The text of the report is accompanied by footnotes and section headings appear in the left and right hand margins.The report includes a table of contents on folio 5 with the following five chapters:'Chapter I. General Account of Journey across the Baluchistan Desert' (folios6-8), including details of incidents en route, future trade prospects, danger threatening commerical prospects, and a list of leading merchants in Seistan;Chapter II. Russian Designs and Political Consideration' (folios 8v-10), includsing details of future policy, approaches to Seistan, alternative routes, influential Sardars of Seistan, treatment of refugees by the British Government, and the feeling of the people;'Chapter III. Resources and Population of Seistan' (folios 11-24), including details of administration, fertile places, a list of villages, climate, seasons and winds, sanitation, population, transport (camels, donkeys and horses), windmills, agriculture, industries and trade, Camel Corps, sport and shooting, locusts, and fish;'Chapter IV. Exploration of the District in the West and South' (folio 25), including details of crossing the Dasht-i-Shelag, pollution of wells, character of country, routes, and pilgrimage;'Chapter V. Land System - Revenue and Productions &c' (folios 26-29), including details of ijaras [
ijārah], tenant rights and responsibilities, hardship of tenants, collection of revenue, culturable area, annual yield, surplus grain, irregularity and delayed water supply, and ancient ruins.There is a list of nine appendices (folio 5v) as follows:'A.- Geneaological tables of Sarbandi, Kayani, and Naroi tribes' (folios 30-31);'B.- List of Taoki tribes in Seistan' (folio 31v);'C.- Average temperature of each camp', April to November 1897 (folios 32-35);'D.- Aneroid readings', April to November 1897 (folios 36-39);'E.- List of wells and springs', with serial numbers corresponding to 'Map No. II' (folio 39v);'F.- List of villages', with serial numbers corresponding to 'Map No. II' (folios 40-41);'G.- Table of meteorological observations, Baluchistan' (folios 41v-43);'H.- Table of meteorological observations, Seistan' (folios 44-50);'I.- Table of meteorological observations, Neh and Birjand Districts' (folios 50v-51).The file also includes five maps and sketches, store in a pocket (folio 58). They are listed on folio 5v as follows:'No. 1. Baluchistan and Seistan' (folio 53);'No. 2. Seistan' (folio 54);'No. 3. Route plan of Robat Nala' (folio 55);'No. 4. Waterways of the Helmund [Helmand] Delta' (folio 56);’No. 5. Nasratabad [Naṣratābād] Fort' (folio 57).Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: The volume is
Report on The Mission to Seistanby 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], SeistanTheir arrival in Nasratabad and reception by the Deputy Governor, Mir Mahsum Khan [Mīr Ma‘ṣūm? Khān]Local politics and administrationThe closing of the trade routes between Seistan and British India (now Pakistan) by the Persian Government under the suspected influence of RussiaRussian influence and propaganda in the region more generallyCriticism of elements of the Perso-Baluch Boundary CommissionRaids on merchants along the Quetta-Seistan trade routeThe postal system along the Quetta-Seistan routeBritish treatment of refugees of regional conflictsBritish 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 familiesMeteorological dataTopographical dataDetails of water sourcesLists 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).Physical description: 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 side of each folio.Pagination: An additional printed pagination sequence is also present in parallel between ff 6-64.
Abstract: The volume consists of a report by Surgeon-Major George Washington Brazier-Creagh on his mission to Seistan [Sīstān] on ‘plague duty’ to investigate the closure of the Perso-Afghan-Baluch trade routes under the ‘mantle of plague’ from April to October 1897. The report is divided into five sections:The Outward Journey: A general account of the journey across the Baluchistan Desert – folios 5-7.A general history of the Mission and condition of affairs in Seistan – folios 8-13r.An account of influential chiefs and material connected with the administration of Seistan – folios 13v-15r.The Return Journey: A review of road infrastructure and trade prospects – folios 16-17.A review of the strategic and political outlook – folios 17-18.The remainder of the volume (folios 20-58) consists of appendices. A pocket on the inside back cover contains five folded maps (folios 60-64).On the front cover, it bears two stamps reading ‘War Office. Library. 14 Dec 1889’ and ‘Intelligence Division. 14 Dec 1889’ respectively.Published in Calcutta by the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India (1898).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 65; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.