'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎233] (268/714)

THE SEISTAN QUESTION
233
retained the only really valuable and lucrative portion of the
country—a portion to which they could establish the double
claim of ancient possession and actual occupation. Had the de-
markation taken place ten years earlier, when first they pressed
for it, there can be no doubt that in the absence of the second of
these claims the award would not have been so favourable to them
as it ultimately proved to be. Notwithstanding which facts, they
professed themselves extremely dissatisfied with the result, and
looked upon the partition as an attempt to enrich an English
vassal state, Afghanistan, at their expense. The Afghans, on their
side, were annoyed at losing the revenue-paying part of the pro
vince, and Shir Ali is said never to have forgiven the British
Government in consequence. The award has not been adhered to
with absolute precision on the spot; but, even if we concede to it
a fair amount of success, it still remains somewhat doubtful whether
it is wise policy for the Indian Government to undertake these
chivalrous but thankless Commissions, which are apt to be mis
interpreted by both parties, and usually leave a legacy of odium
behind them.
The chief town of Persian Seistan is Sekuha (the Three Hills),
so called from three clay hills around and in part upon which the
Present town is built. At the time of the Commission in 1872, it
adminis- consisted of about 1,200 mud huts, not more than half of
tration ' '
which were then or are now inhabited. The population is
entirely engaged in agricultural pursuits, the town being situated
in the most productive part of the province. As I have before said,
however, the administrative and military head-quarters are at
Nasratabad (called Nasirabad by Goldsmid), where lives the Deputy
Governor of the Amir of Kain, and where is stationed one of the two
infantry regiments, nominally 1,000, but actually less than 800
strong, which are raised in the entire province; as well as a small
force of cavalry and a few guns. Service is for life, and is hereditary
m the families supplying the soldiers. They are armed with muzzle-
loading rifles of Persian manufacture, and are supposed to get a new
uniform every second year. Their pay is reported to be 20 Tcrans
(12s.) and 71 mans of wheat yearly, and when on service in Seistan
rations also. 1 The capital of Afghan Seistan is Ohakhansur or
1 These figures, which date from 1886, do not correspond with the general pay
of the Persian infantry. Vide a later chapter on the Persian Army. But payment
is no doubt as haphazard as the system.