"تقرير خان بهادور مولا بخش، الملحق بوكيل الحاكم العام للهند والقنصل العام البريطاني في خراسان وسيستان، عن رحلته من مشهد إلى كويته عبر تربت حيدريه، كاين، سيستان، كوه ملك سياه ونوشكي (٧ أبريل إلى ٢٨ يوليو ١٨٩٨)" [و‎‎١‎٥] (١٥٦/٣٤)

ON HIS JOURNEY FROM MESHED TO QUETTA, 1898.
7
brought to bear upon him to do so by Mr. Vlassow (the late Russian Consul-
General) through influential Persian officials. He had also been antagonist to
tbe Russian Agent in Sistan and had frequently asked the late Persian Prime
Minister to get the Russian Agency in Sistan abolished which was known to
the Russians and had been the cause of their displeasure. The Russians were
consequently scheming to get him deprived of the government of Sistan by
causing several charges to be brought against him, the chief charge being that
he (the Hashmat-ul-Mulk) was disloyal to the Persian Government.
In connection with this matter he mentioned the following particulars :—
“One Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan, who is now a secret employe of the
Russian Consulate-General at Meshed, was formerly British Agent at Kandahar,
but was afterwards dismissed on the recommendation of the Amir of Afghanis
tan. His dismissal reduced him to straits and he came to JSistan and appealed
to my father, the late Hashmat-ul-Mulk, Chief of Kain and Sistan, for help.
My father gave him a grant of land in Sistan and showed other kindness to
him. In return for these acts of kindness he is now accusing my father, years
after his death, of having been in receipt of a large allowance from the British
Government and of being in the practice of selling grain to them for which he
was not only well paid, hut received valuable presents in addition. My father’s
allowance, Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan now alleges, has been continued to me,
and that I have a secret understanding with the British Government.
When Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan was at Kandahar certain complimentary
correspondence passed between my father, the late Hashmat-ul-Mulk and
Colonel (Sir Oliver) St. John through Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan. Thus being
familiar with the seal and handwriting of my father and that of his Mirzas
(clerks) Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan forged certain papers in 1895 which he
produced before the then Governor-General of Khurasan and Sistan with the
object of trying to prove his false charges against my father and myself.
However, the Governor-General, who had received large cash presents from me,
took no notice of Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan’s statements. Having failed to
carry out his object at Meshed, Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan went to Teheran,
where he still is trying to persuade the Persian Ministers to believe his story.
The proceedings instituted against me by Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan are
the outcome of the desire of the Russian Consulate-General at Meshed to
bring about my downfall. Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan is in receipt of a monthly
allowance from the Russians, and he also receives occasional presents from my
brother, the Shaukat-ul-Mulk, Chief of Kain, which are given to encourage
him to work against me.
The Governor-General, to whom Saiyid Mir Hashim Khdn showed the
forged documents, gave me a copy of them, and I furnished a copy to the
British Consulate-General.”
Forged correspondence between the late Colonel
Sir Oliver St. John and Mir Alam Khan, Chief of
Kaiu and Sistau.
(/) Translations
mcnts :—
of forged docu*
Letter (without date) from Mir Alam Khan, Hashmat-ul-Mulk, Chief of Kain and Sistan,
to Saiyid Mir Hashim Khan alleged to have been sent to Kandahar by Shahnawaz
Khan.
AJter compliments ,—I have received two gold lungis and a rosary of Shah
Maksud stone beads which you sent me. May your kindness be on the
increase!
Now that Shahnawaz Khan is returning, lam sending by him, as a
memento, two carpets which please take from him and believe what he says.
Postscript alleged to be in the Chiefs own handwriting.
Two carpets—one with a large pattern and the other with a small pattern
and blue ground—manufactured in Kain are being sent. Please cause them to
be taken from Shahnawaz Khan. Nothing more to write about. Please let
me know about the state of your own affairs.