'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎115r] (234/310)

(see Journals for April and May), but Sir A.
Hardinge has informed the Mushir-ed-Dowleh
that it may lead to an increase in the British
Consular guards. A later report states that
15 Cossacks have since returned to Askabad,
but that 20 more are expected at Meshed
shortly.
Ihe Russian Consul-General is reported
to have informed the Karguzar that, in his
opinion, as soon as peace "with Japan was
concluded, the invasion of India would be
undertaken.
Turbat-i-Haidari —Meshidi Sadik, the
murderer (see last two Journals), has sent,
through his relatives, a present of carpets and
money to the Russian Consul-General, who
accepted it. It is now confidently expected
locally that Meshidi Sadik will be acquitted.
Amir Khan, the notorious robber-chief
(see last Journal), visited Khaf lately and looted
18 camels. A few sowars were sent after him
by the Governor, and they attacked him in a
ruined fort, where he had taken up his quarters
for the night. Two of Amir Khan’s men were
killed, but lie and the rest of his gang escaped
in the darkness. The whole of the looted
property was recovered.
SEISTAN.
The British Consul returned to Nasrat-
abad on the 11th August after a successful
tour to Birjand and Kain; he has left Mr.
Howson, the telegraph signaller at Birjand.
The unpleasantness with the Telegraph
Master at Sarbisha (see last Journal) was
settled by that official offering Mr. Howson
and Captain Macpherson an abject apology
for his rude behaviour, and Mr. Howson had
no further trouble at the other telegraph
offices vhich he visited subsequently during
the tour. At Birjand Captain Macpherson
visited the Shaukat-ul-Mulk, and now considers
that no reliance can be placed on his friend
ship, as, if he is not completely in the
bands of the Russians, he has some sort
of an understanding with them, and is
extremely afraid of offending them—even
refusing on this account Captain Macpherson’s
invitation to dinner. The Shaukat is also
no longer eager to obtain a loan from the
Imperial Bank of Persia (see last Journals,
and Captain Macpherson thinks that the
loan -which he obtained from the Muavin-ut-
Tujjar, in order to purchase the Governorship
of Kain, will probably be transferred from the
account of the Muavin to that of the Russian
Bank. Captain Macpherson found that the
majority of the people would prefer the
Hashmat-ul-Mulk as Governor, and that the
Shaukat has really only a small following.
Early in July, some Seistani Katkhudas,
who had borrowed money from the Imperial