'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎7v] (19/118)

4
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stated that the Government of India will not be answerable for the conduct
of the Amir of Afghanistan if the award be not maintained m its strict geo
graphical accuracy.
On the death of Mir Alum Khan in 1891, his second son, Ismail
Khan, was appointed Governor of Birjand, the hereditary seat of the chiefs
of Kain; and his eldest son, Ali Akbar Khan, was made Governor ot Sistan.
The cause of this preference for the younger son is said by some to be
a quarrel which Ali Akbar Khan had had with his father; others affirm that
Ali Akbar was given the more difficult task of ruling Sistan because he is
more a man of the sword than his brother; while others again hint that
Ismail Khan was more politic in disbursing the large sums of money so essen
tial to obtaining high office in Persia.
Their difference in age is, however, very trifling.
The only other son of Mir Alum Khan now alive is a boy of ten years of
age called Muhammad Ibrahim Khan.
Ali Akbar Khan has one son of about the same age called Mir Mahsum
Khan. Ismail Khan has no sons.
Such was the condition of affairs at the time of my visit, which I will
now describe.
CHAPTER IT.
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF JOURNEY.
I left Mashad on the 1st November 1893 charged with letters of congra
tulation and presents from the Agent to the Governor-General for Khorasan
to the Governors of Birjand and Sistan on their succession to their respective
posts. 4 .
I was accompanied by a 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. named Haji Jawad, a native of Mashad,
bv Dafadar A Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Cavalry. Sher Ali Khan, Queen’s Own Corps of Guides, sub-surveyor, by
a gholam from the Governor of Khorasan, and a Turkoman postal sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. from
the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .
I reached Birjand on the 19th November, and was received by a servant
of the Amir as the" Governor is called, who offered me accommodation in the
village, which, however, I had no need of.
The next morning the head “Mustoli” came to enquire my business, and
I arranged a time to call on the Amii.
Soon after the usual presents of tea and sugar were brought, as well as
some sheep and a quantity of ghee.
In the afternoon I rode out to the Governors residence, which is situated
a little way outside the town on the south side. A small detachment of
infantry received me at the gate, and, after crossing the courtyard of a not too
pretentious abode, I was ushered into the presence of a fat and very stolid-
looking man of about forty years of age. This was a surprise, as I had been
led to believe Ismail Khan was quite a young man. Moreover, his servant
had informed me he was a great sportsman and could at full gallop send a