'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎67v] (139/310)

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settled before the 21st March. Meanwhile,
reports have been set on foot in Seistan that
the British Government is trying to secure the
Governorship for the Yamin-i-Nizam or the
Mustansir-ul-Mulk. These are rather signi
ficant in connection with a rapprochement
recently reported between the Deputy Gover
nor and the Karguzar and 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. Purdil
Khan, both the latter being very friendly with
the Russian Consul. The telegraph Sarhang
at Birjand informed Dr. Abbas Ali that the
Persian Government had demanded from the
Hashmat-ul-Mulk 100,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , represent
ing the difference between the rate fixed for
this year’s revenue grain and the former price :
he added that the Hasnmat would not be
allowed to return to Seistan, but would pro
bably be given the Governorship of Tabbas.
Captain Macpherson on going on tour
through the Miankan^i district, found that
Mons. Molitor has established passport bureaus
all along the frontier, and fees of 13 krans
12 shahis are being taken on the spot from
every one crossing the frontier in this quarter,
instead of in the city, as in the case of persons
crossing elsewhere. The solitary British trader
at Deh Dost Muhammad is afraid that this
heavy charge will ruin his trade, and it is
somewhat significant that a Seistani, named
Ali Akbar, has just been established at Mian-
kangi to sell Russian goods. Mons. Molitor has
recommended to Mons. Naus the alteration of
the rule requiring from Afghans a fee of 13
krans 12 shahis whenever they cross the
border. He has advised that the fee should be
fixed at two krans, and that the period of
validity of the passport should be extended to
a month.
The Customs Department have agreed to
kafilas proceeding direct from Chah Muham
mad Raza to Lutak instead of as at present,
via Warmal. Another bureau has been sanc
tioned at Guzabar, but Captain Macpherson is
trying to get this transferred to Lab-i-Barang,
which he considers a more useful site.
On the 15th February, the Director of
Customs, accompanied by a Russian doctor, left
Nasratabad to establish quarantine at Bandan
against arrivals for Birjand, where there was an
outbreak of cholera. Captain Macpherson at
once reported this to Sir A. Hardinge, who
protested against Russian interference in the
matter. The Persian Government replied
that, pending the despatch of a doctor of their
own, they had authorised the local authorities
to consult the Russian doctor as a specialist,
and added that the sanitary measures had been
cancelled as unnecessary. The Karguzar, how
ever, has informed Captain Macpherson that
a quarantine cordon is to be established in
Seistan against travellers from Birjand.