Coll 28/8 ‘Persia; Diaries; Sistan & Kain, April 1927 – 1933’ [‎65v] (141/434)

2
after the preliminary reports of the experts
have been made.
Dr. Bahrami was educated in Germany.
He stated that he intended to start an
experimental farm before leaving Sistan.
Muharram is everywhere passing quiet
ly. The usual mourning processions have
taken place, but there have been no un
toward incidents.
The Manager of the National Bank of
Persia at Zabul is raising some thousands
of silk worms, which are being distributed
among the Sardars and instruction is being-
given as to their care, by a representative
of the Frontier Commissary, Sarhang
Murteza Khan.
The usual visits of congratulation on the
occasion of the Eid-i-Qurban, were paid on
Persian Officials at Birjand, Zahidan and
Zabul.
51. Persian Military Affairs .—The Gen
eral Officer Commanding in the Sarhad
is building a summer residence at Irawan,
4 miles from Kwash. He already has a
house at Kosha, on the slopes of Kuh-i-
Taftan.
Only a garrison of 80 men has been left
at Iranshehr and Bampur, the remaining
troops having been concentrated at Kwash.
The health of the troops returned from
the operations towards Bemishk is stated
to be bad. Over 150 are in hospital at
Kwash.
Sultan Hamid Nizam, accountant of the
Baluchistan Brigade, is accused of embez
zling 60,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. and is being sent to
Meshed for enquiry into his accounts. He
accuses the General Officer Commanding and
Iskander Khan of receiving the money.
Sartip Nasir Ud Dowleh arrived from
Kerman, at Zahidan and later proceeded
to Zabul. He is collecting evidence of
sums due to traders for Military purchases,
in connection with the above mentioned
Embezzlement case.
The General Officer Commanding has
announced that no motor lorries should in
future be hired for transport of Military
stores. Only camel transport to be used.
The reason is said to be that the lorries
are owned by foreigners, where as the
employment of camelmen will benefit Per
sian subjects. As lorries have generally
been commandeered and inadequately paid
for, the foreigners concerned are likely to
welcome, rather than disparage, the Ge
neral Officer Commanding’s patriotism.
It is rumoured in Zabul, that the greater
part of the troops in the Sarhad will short
ly return to that pace, which was their
original Headquarters before the operations
in Baluchistan took place.
52. Persian Officials. —Samsam Ud Do^.
leh, Governor of Sistan, returned to Za J
on May 20th.
The Reis-i-Sulhieh (Peace Court Judge)
transferred his Court from Zahidan to
Zabul on May 1st. He contemplates stay
ing 6 months in Zabul. Meanwhile there
is no court at Zahidan.
Agha Mehdi Khan, late Persian Vice-
Consulate, Quetta, left Zahidan for Meshed
on May 1st.
Agha Mirza Hussain Khan who has been,
appointed Consul at Karachi proceeded to
India via Zahidan on April 30th. It is
believed that his political leanings are to
wards the Russians.
Agha Mirza Abdul Qasim Khan also
proceeded to India on April 30th en route to
Kabul where he holds the appointment of
1st Assistant in the Persian Legation.
53. Soviet Activities. —It is still rumour
ed at Zabul that the Russians intend to
appoint a £ Trade Agent ’there. A quan
tity of Russian loaf sugar has recently
been smuggled into Zabul through Af-
ghanistan and is being secretly disposed of
in the Bazaars at 10 seers for 8 krans.
54. Afghan Affairs. —Syed Abdullah
Shah, son of Syed Ahmad Shah Mudir-i-
Wizarat-i-Kharijah at Mazar-i-Sharif, ar
rived at Zahidan from Meshed on 5th May
and proceeded to India for Kabul.
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. Abdul Baqi Khan with his son
Ahmed Zia arrived at Zahidan from India
on 19th and proceeded to Meshed for \
Herat. His wife is a sister of Mahmud I
Tarzi, Father-in-Law of ex-King Aman- f
ullah. His eldest son named Ahmed Ratib
is at Abbottabad and has. been wired to
travel to Herat at once.
In 1923 Abdul Baqi was Afghan Consul
at Meshed and in 1924 Governor of Herat.
On relief by Muhammad Ibrahim Khan in
1926 he remained in Herat supervising
his estates there. During the disturbances
in Afghanistan he resided at Meshed,
Sazwar and Tehran. In 1929 he fell sick
and went to Lahore for treatment. He
says all his expenses were paid by the pre
sent King. He stated at Zahidan that he
intended to dispose of his property ^
Herat valued at 1,50,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. and to
return to India and engage in Trade.
He spoke highly of Nadir Shah and com
plained of Soviet intrigues in Afghanistan.
He announced that the British had lent
Nadir Shah 32,00,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. without in
terest. After he left Zahidan, a rumour