'Report on the Preliminary Survey of The Route for The Central Persia Telegraph Line from Quetta to Bam and Pahra' [‎73r] (150/162)

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easily. Most of the men with me had never seen the sea before, and when bath
ing were at first as timid of breaking waves as camels ; when having a swim, I
sometimes tried to make a couple of these tough animals wade out till their
humps were in the water, as a slight precaution against accident from sharks,
for I could not know whether some of these unpleasant monsters might not
be prowling in the vicinity, and, if any sacrifiee[had to be made to them, I
would rather lose a camel than a leg any day. Our escort with all the camels
left Gwadur on March 26th, and marched back to Quetta by a direct land route.
I, with Sub-Inspector Ainuddin Khan, Hospital Assistant Mahomed Abdul Aziz,
and servants, left by steamer on the evening of the 31st March, and arrived in
Karachi on the early morning of April 2nd, 1901. None of us, I think, were
sorry at once more getting back to civilization again.
I may take this opportunity to place on record the good services rendered
during my tour by all the men with me. Hospital Assistant Mahomed Abdul
Aziz of the Indian Medical Service is a smart, and obliging man. By good
fortune, he had not much medical practice on me, or the men in my camp, but he
was kept extraordinarily busy at most of the villages we passed through. Persia
appears in a lamentable condition for want of medical aid. Many of the people,
in Eastern Persia at all events, are very sickly, and suffer from various com
plaints. Hundreds of patients, including women and children, flocked to my
camp for treatment, but, with only a limited supply of medicines, it was not
easy to afford them all suitable relief. Hospital Assistant Mahomed Abdul Aziz
worked unremittingly when his services were required, and earned for himself a
grand reputation amongst the Persians. His work was most useful from a
philanthropic point of view, as also politically, for it helped, in a small way, to
promote the Indian Government’s good reputation in those parts, and to make
a visit of a British official acceptable to the inhabitants. From the local Gov
ernors down to the poorest, the supply of medicines from my camp dispensary
was greatly appreciated.
' Jemadar Rahim Khan, in charge of my escort, rendered me faithful service.
He was my constant attendant, and always displayed the most solicitious care #
for my safety. Cheerful, hardy, and brave, he, and some of his Baluch levies,
could be relied on in any difficulty.
Sub-Inspector Ainuddin Khan was the chief amongst my attendants, and
a more trustworthy and useful companion, as a native, one could not wish for.
Always cheerful in any circumstances, hardworking, and anxious to please. The
more uncomfortable, and depressing were his surroundings, the more would his
good spirits show up, and inspire the other men with a good example to work.
He is, without doubt, a splendid type of native, both mentally and physically.
In addition to other qualifications, he can read and write five languages, and
speak fluently seven of those in use on the North-West of India. I feel much
indebted to him for the able advice and assistance he gave me in my dealings
with the Persian officials I came in contact with. He has a thorough knowledge
of the Persian language, and etiquette, and his own manners are most polished
and polite. I am also especially indebted to him for his services in getting me
out of the difficulty I was in at Karwandar on March 5th last. In the first place,
his capture of Jhanoo Khan, and the other man who fired on our party, was a
very smart piece of work, and his tact and courage in dealing with the lashkar
who visited us the same night were none the less marked. Throughout the
whole negotiations, which lasted about three hours, and were of course conducted
some little way outside my camp, Ainuddin Khan was a conspicuous figure. He
exposed himself freely, both in attempting to discover what strength our op
ponents possessed, and also in his endeavours to bring about an amicable settle
ment. He is a most competent man in every way, and one whom it would bene
fit the Telegraph Department to promote. I speak from experience, for he has
w orked directly under me for four years. The Director General graciously honoured
him, on his return to Karachi in April last, by presenting him with a handsome
lungi. This was of course a very unusual distinction for a Sub-Inspector to
receive, and coming from such hands will, I am sure, be immensely prized. I
have, on other occasions, brought Ainuddin Khan s good work to notice. 1
venture here to again bring forward his case, in the hope that he may receive some
tangible rew r ard in the shape of promotion for his services with me in Persia.