'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎201] (236/714)

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POLITICS AKD COMMERCE OF KHORASAN 201
Amir, residing at Nasratabad. In 1889 it contributed to the
^nnnT, 611116 of / Kllorasan 26,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (7,4891) in cash, and
, (''■ ■ 1 o*" tons) of grain. Seistan, however, involves
Seistan 80 man y '"dependent proble ms, political, commercial, and
strategical, that I propose to postpone its consideration to
a separate chapter, where I shall better be able to render justice
both to its history and to its future. With the south-east corner
of Seistan Khorasan terminates. The melancholy Dasht-i-Lut
succeeds; and we then come to the province of Persian Beluchistan,
which will more properly fall within the scope of my second volume.'
. is alon g the belt of border territory which I have been de
scribing from the Zulfikar Pass to Seistan—a region, as I have
Russian shown, inhabited by tribes mainly of non-Persian origin,
ganda ^on-I ersian religion, and anti-Persian inclinations—that
Russia has conceived the idea of propagating her political
influence. Claiming to be the champion of Sunni Mohammedanism,
as against the Shiah heresy of the Persians, she appeals to their
fanatical instincts. 1 In their irregular levies she sees a possible
auxiliary of great military value. In their situation, commanding
the flank approach to Herat, and lower down to the Helmund, she
sees an opportunity of threatening Afghanistan and of approaching
nearer to the Indian Beluch frontier. Upon Seistan, lying mid
way between Meshed and the sea, she directs a particularly envious
gaze, knowing that its possession by a rival Power would be the
one step that might checkmate her complete ascendency in
Khorasan. Russian native news-writers are maintained at Turbat-
i-Sheikh-Jam, Khaf and Kain. Russian emissaries have been
heard of prosecuting their explorations in these regions, and a
feverish interest is displayed by the Russian authorities in any in-
foimation relating to the little-known districts that extend in .the
direction of the British border.
In other words, along the entire circumference of Khorasan,
from north-west to south-east, occur a succession of points at which
Russian interference, influence, or intrigue is being actively pushed
forward; and so the Muscovite toils are steadily and surely being
wound round the body of the intended victim. Astrabad, Bujnurd,
1 In 1882 the Governor of the newly-constituted Transcaspian province
actually issued a proclamation at Ashkabad to the effect that all the Sunni
villages m the Atek belonged to Russia, and should no longer pay tribute to
ersia an exemption from their financial burdens which was eagerly grasped
y manj. Ihe same policy is now being tentatively pushed southwards.