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'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [50v] (105/118)
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
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56
Situated as the two rival powers are at present as regards Sistan, we
have a distinct advantage over Russia in point of distancej only when taking
into account Afghan routes.
Russia is at least 650 miles from Sistan, taking Askabad as her starting
point; whereas we are 527 miles measured from Quetta through Baluchistan,
515 miles measured from Chahbar on the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, 452 taken from
Quetta via Nushki and the Helmund, and 439 miles taken from Chaman via
Kandahar and the Helmund.
It would probably take us as long or longer to disembark a force at
Chahbar, and march 515 miles over a difficult, little-explored, and almost
uninhabited country, or to send a force through Baluchistan, 527 miles, with
all the necessary arrangements for water, etc., than the time necessary for
the Russians to reach Sistan over 650 miles, of which 170 miles are along a
broad carriage road between Askabad and Mashad,* and 480 miles are over
moderately difficult country. Supposing the Russians were to seize Northern
Khorasan and establish themselves permanently at Mashad before disturbing
Afghanistan, we might then, without going to war with Russia, find ourselves
obliged to send a force to Sistan by one of the routes outside Afghanistan ; and
in that case we should have no time to lose. Russia, we may suppose, would
take some little time in settling affairs at Mashad before moving on, but any
hesitation on our part would mean the loss of Sistan.
If, however, the Russians violate the Afghan frontier either before or
simultaneously with that of Persia, we shall then certainly be able to make
use of the Helmund valley routes and secure our position in Sistan long before
the Russians can arrive.
* ^ote. —The Askabad road is excellent in dry weather, bat being unmetalled, the part where
it leaves, the mountains and traverses the light clay soil of the Kuchan plain becomes very difficult
for carriages after a, few days’ rain.
H. D. NAPIER,
Lieutenant
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
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'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [50v] (105/118), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/298, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100109261469.0x00006a> [accessed 30 June 2026]
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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