!['Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎6r] (16/118)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0002f4/Mss Eur F111_298_0016.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎6r] (16/118)")
'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [6r] (16/118)
The record is made up of 1 volume (55 folios). It was created in 1894. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
PAST
CHAPTER I.
HISTORY OF SISTAN.
An account of tlio ancient and modern history of Sistan has been already
given in some detail by Dr. Bellew, but it will be as well, perhaps, before
commencing an account of my journey to Sistan, to make a short precis of this
and of Captain Napier's report of 187:2 while bringing the history up to date.
Sistan was once an important portion of the dominions of Cyrus and
Darius. J
In 1883 a.d. Taimur invaded the country.
In 1502 it was an independent principality, under a local chief, like the
other provinces of Persia.
# At the beginning of the sixteenth century, and for some time afterwards
it remained under Cayani chiefs as a portion of the Persian empire.
Early in the eighteenth century the ruling Cayani chief made a struggle
for the Persian throne, but was bought off by the Afghan chief of the Ghilzai
tribe, then dominant in Persia.
About 1730 Malik Husein, a Cayani chief, successfully withstood a
seven years' siege on the Kuh-i-Khwaja against Nadir Kuli, a general of the
Persian Shah Tamasp; but was sub sequently conquered by Nadir, who des
troyed all the fortresses in the country.
In 1747 the kingdom of Afghanistan was founded under Shah Ahmed,
and the Cayani chief of Sistan tendered him his submission and allied himself
by marriage to the Afghan ruler.
Then Shah. Ahmed conquered Khorasan, and extended the limits of
Afghanistan to include Turbat-i-Haidari, Tun, Tabas, Kain, and Neh.
From that time Sistan under its Cayani chiefs came under the Governor
of Herat.
In 1773 the Cayanis were deposed, and Mir Beg-, a Shahreki chief, was
made Governor. He, however, quarrelled with the Sarbandi clan, and was
killed at Rudbar.
The Cayanis were then restored under Malik Bahrain, who called in the
Nahroe Baluch to assist him against the growing power of the Shahrekis and
Sarbandis.
About 1793 anarchy prevailed in Afghanistan, and the various tribes of
Sistan allied themselves, some with the Kandahar and others with the Herat
ruler, so that the country was devastated by inter-tribal feuds.
About this item
- Content
The volume is Report on Sistan and the Country Between it and Mashad [Mashhad], by Lieutenant H D Napier, Staff Lieutenant, Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Department in India. It was printed at the Government Central Printing Office, Simla, 1894. It consists of two parts, political and military.
The report is largely based on a journey from Mashad to Sistan and back undertaken between 1 November 1892 and 18 March 1893 by the author; his munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. and a native of Mashad, Haji Jawad [Haji Javād]; a sub-surveyor of the Queen's Own Corps of Guides, Sher Ali Khan [Shīr ʿAlī Khan]; a 'gholam' [young servant] from the Governor of Khorasan (unnamed); and a Turkoman [Turkmen] 'postal sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. ' [mounted orderly or guard] (unnamed). It provides information and statistics (often tabulated) on the history, geography, economy, population, resources, roads, and meteorology of the region. The information in the military section reflects concerns with supplies, transport, and development possibilities.
Throughout the volume there are numerous photographs, plans, and sketches. These are of fortifications, landscape features, sites of historical or cultural interest, and notable people. In a pocket at the rear of the volume is a map that illustrates the report.
Near the beginning of the report there is a preface (folio 4) written by Lieutenant-Colonel George Hand More-Molyneux, Assistant Quarter Master General, Intelligence Branch, on 7 May 1894, and guidance for the 'Custody and Disposal of Secret Books, Reports, &c., Issued by the Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Department in India' (folio 3).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (55 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is divided into two parts (Political and Military) and each part then further divided into several chapters on different subjects. At the beginning of the volume (folio 5) is a contents page, with reference to the original pagination.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 57; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: An additional printed pagination sequence is also present in parallel between ff 6-53.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [6r] (16/118), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/298, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100109261469.0x000011> [accessed 20 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100109261469.0x000011
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100109261469.0x000011">'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎6r] (16/118)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100109261469.0x000011"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0002f4/Mss Eur F111_298_0016.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0002f4/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/298
- Title
- 'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:9r, 10r:10v, 11v:12v, 13v:14v, 15v:18r, 19r:20r, 21r:22r, 23r, 24r:29r, 30r:35r, 36r, 37r:37v, 38v:39r, 40r:41r, 42r, 43r:43v, 44v:45r, 46r:54v, 56r:56v, 58r
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence