eral political missions in various
parts of Asia, including the Pekin Syndicate Survey expedition under
command of J. W. Purvis, Captain R. E., where not only did he look after
the medical necessities of a large party of Europeans, Indians and
Chinese, but helped to manage a large transport of mule carts. Captain
Purvis testifies to Abbas Ali having performed his professional duties
with zeal, and extraneous duties cheerfully, during a journey of some
2,000 miles through China.

It was in April, 1897, that Abbas Ali Khan, at twenty-four hours' notice,
accompanied Major Brazier Creagh's Mission to Sistan, when British
influence in that part of Persia was non-existent. The Mission returned
to India in October of the same year, but Abbas Ali was sent on a second
journey to Sistan in charge of a small party from December, 1897, to
July, 1898, when he was entrusted with political business which required
great discretion and tact.

It is greatly to his credit that he managed--in spite of many
difficulties and obstacles--to win the confidence and friendship of
officials of a district where all British subjects were regarded with
undisguised suspicion and distrust. No better proof of this could be
furnished than by reproducing here a literal translation of a quaint
document, dated May, 1898, given him, unsolicited, by Mir Masum Sar-tip,
Deputy Governor of Sistan, whose official seal it bears:--

"God is acquainted with what is in the minds of men. Beyond doubt
and without hesitation it is rightly and justly stated that
Military Doctor Mirza Abbas Ali Khan has during the period of his
stay in Sistan displayed his personal tact and natural ability.
He has treated with great civility and politeness any person who
has applied to him for medical attendance and treatment of
diseases, and has in no case whatever demanded payment or
anything from anybody. He has never hesitated to give gratuitous
medical aid with medicines or personal attendance, and all the
natives from the highest to the lowest are well satisfied and
under great obligation to him. It is hoped that the trouble taken
and the pecuniary loss suffered by him will be appreciated by his
Government. I have personally greatly benefited by his treatment
of my personal diseases and ailments and I trust that he will
receive great favour from his Government."

Naturally the medicines are supplied to hi