مجموعة ٨/٢٨ "بلاد فارس؛ اليوميات؛ سيستان وكاين، أبريل ١٩٢٧ – ١٩٣٣" [ظ‎‎٣‎٦] (٤٣٤/٨٣)

2
One Syed Mahomed who had imported
prohibited goods from India has been ar
rested and is believed to have confessed
his guilt. Goods so imported by him were
for the Director of Posts and Telegraphs
and the Police Commandant.
The Inspectors called upon all traders to
produce lists of goods imported during the
past year.
While Indian Traders were awaiting
advice as to whether they should comply
with this order one Illahi Baksh left for
India taking with him all his account books,
whereupon the Inspectors arrested four
Indian traders. They were released on
bail on H. M’s Vice-Consul’s intervention,
; and the account books of others were sealed
and they were called upon to give security.
One Haji Ghulam Qasim was detained for
over 24 hours as he could find no security.
H. M’s Vice Consul has lodged a protest
with the Governor.
The clerk of Illahi Buksh, who declares
that his principal has gone to India in the
ordinary course of business, has been told
that none of the latter’s goods lying in the
Customs may be cleared although their
value greatly exceeds the security demanded
from all other traders. The matter is
being investigated by H. M.’s Vice-Consul
and further information is awaited.
Both Indian and Persian traders have
sent telegrams of protest to H. M. the
Shah.
It is well known that gross irregularities
have been occurring in the Customs and it
may be assumed that Indians have followed
the example of Persian traders, officials
and indeed the Customs Officials them
selves. They could not, in fact, compete
in trade otherwise.
From the fact that action has been taken
against two Persians only, while nearly all
the Indians have been called upon to lodge
security, seems to point to a desire to make
the foreigners the scape-goats, whereas the
venal Customs Officials are the prime mov
ers.
Not only at Zahidan, but along the whole
length of the Perso-Afghan frontier smug-
ling is rife, since the withdrawal of the
railway.
In the Miankhangi district of Sistan loaf
sugar which retails at 11 J Krans normally,
is everywhere procurable at Krans 5. Even
imported jars of Cold-cream for toilet pur
poses, which sell usually at Krans 15, can be
obtained for Krans 5.
As an example of the universal corruption
of Persian Officials it may be mentioned
that Sartip A. Razzak Khan (leader of the
Persian Survey party operating on the
frontier) and his subordinates are compen
sating themselves for the lack of amenities
and rigours of life on the frontier, by smug
gling cloth, sugar and foodstuffs, which*
they obtain from Kundi, into Persia. '
One of the Customs Inspectors at Zahi
dan recently crossed the frontier .and pro
ceeded to Juzzak, ostensibly to call upon
the Sartip, among whose party was the
Cantonment Commandant of Zahidan. A
Persian soldier at Zahidan managed to
convey a warning of his approach to the
Cantonment Commandant, who, together
with the Sartip spent a hectic time conceal
ing the stock of goods they had accumu
lated to forward to Persia. They even
requested the Havildar of our Levy post
at Ruzzak to take charge of the goods until
the Inspector should depart.
( 5 ) Frontier Survey. —The British Sur
vey Party had completed their work by the
end of the month. The area mapped cover
ing the disputed length of frontier in the
neighbourhood of Mirjawa. Captain Bom-
ford reports that the Persians have made
little progress and will take several years to
complete the work. As long as the party
find that their stay can be turned to good
account, vide remarks under paragraph
4 above, it may be presumed that they
will be in no hurry to complete the work.
( 6 ) Afghan Affairs. —It is believed that
Persian Consuls in Afghanistan have had in
structions to refuse visas to Afghan traders
to visit Persia till further orders. This
may be an attempt to stop smuggling, if so,
it will be abortive since those engaged in
smuggling ignore such formalities.
( 7 ) Health. —A dangerous disease, the
nature of which is not yet known, although
Cholera is suspected, has broken out at
Bazman near Kwash and many deaths
have occurred. Four Persian doctors have
been sent there. Typhoid continues at
Birjand.
( 8 ) British Travellers. —Captain K.
Hicks (and wife) British Army, arrived at
Zahidan on the 5th and proceeded to Me
shed. He is spending short leave in East
Persia. On his return from Meshed, he
made a short tour in the neighbourhood
of Birjand.
As he went, on the advice of Mr. C. P-
Skrine, late Consul Sistan to a locality sel
dom visited by Europeans, it has given
rise to some speculation among the local
officials as to the object of his visit.
H. M. Consul had no advice of the pro
jected trip. It would be well, particularly
in the case of military officers, whose jour
neys are always viewed with suspicion.