'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎8r] (20/118)

bullet through a lemon thrown up in the air, whereas his appearance led me to
doubt whether he could even mount a horse.
However, after the customary greetings, I presented this Nimrod with
a rifle and revolver and also a watch, and handed him the letter of congratu^
lation.
He appeared pleased, and we conversed on various topics, during which
1 told him of my intended visit to Sistan, and mentioned that a letter would
reach him about me from the Amin-es-Sultan. He appeared incredulous.
I then asked him about Captain Strelbitzsky's visit to Sistan, and whether
he had made the acquaintance of that Russian officer.
. ^- e replied, “ Certainly he had done so. Strelbitzsky had stayed in Biriand
twice.■ y ' ,
I noticed that his manner was constrained, and he appeared anxious to
get the interview over as quickly as possible. He informed me that he was
going out into camp very soon to visit his eastern frontier, where I knew the
Afghans of the Farah district had recently made a raid. This was just about
the time of the Shiah persecutions in Herat, and Persians were more than
usually bitter against Afghans. I had also heard that he had locked up some
unoffending traders of Sabzawar in retaliation for this attack, so, without
referring directly to this, I expatiated on the measures that the Indian Gov
ernment had successfully taken to protect the Shiahs.
Though he applauded this, his tone throughout was not sufficiently re"
assuring to induce me to refer to political questions more intimately concern
ing himself. So after mentioning that England was desirous of cultivating
friendly relations with him, I took my leave.
The next day I was informed that Sartip Haji Muhammad Ibrahim Khan,
a brother of Ismail Khan, was coming to see me, and he shortly appeared,
causing me another surprise, for the sartip or colonel turned out to be a nice
and intelligent-looking little boy about ten years old, who shyly apologised
for his brother not returning my visit in person as he was just moving into
camp. This was an evasion I had expected. However, I entertained the boy
as well as I could, and gave him a watch on his departure. I then returned
a visit I had received from the Colonel Commanding the Artillery of Birjand,
which consisted of six or seven 12-pounders and 86 gunners, all told. He
was a pleasant, cheery fellow, who had visited Paris in the suite of the Shah,
and was consequently delighted to meet some one who could corroborate the
stories of u Farangistan^ with which he astonished the natives.
In the evening the letter of recommendation from the Amin-es-Sultan
reached me by the Persian post from Mashad. It was very satisfactory,
stating that I was going to Sistan on business connected with British sub
jects, and commanding the Amir to show me every civility during my stay
in his country. This I sent him immediately, for he was leaving next day.
I mentioned at the same time that I would not require the gholam he
had kindly offered me, as I had one already from the Governor of Khorasan;
for 1 had heard that the man he was sending was really to be a spy on my
actions, and he looked a very sharp and intelligent rascal. His name was
Ghias Beg, and he seemed to be a sort of confidential factotum. He figured
successively as peshkhidmat, tufangdar, and gholam, and was also the kad-
khuda of a village. He had been to Askabad; for Strelbitzsky, when he