‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎246] (263/578)

240 AFGHANISTAN—NO. VIII—1886.
Colonel Ridgeway replied that in his opinion this question should be considered
by the two Governments. Colonel Kuhlberg thought that in this case the two
Commissioners should not sign the maps any further than Chichli, but Colonel
Ridgeway preferred to leave the maps without any signature, if they could not
be signed up to Dakchi, the two Governments having in his opinion confirmed
the frontier as far as that place.
Colonel Ridgeway then proposed to attach to the protocol copies of the maps
surveyed by Captains Kontratenko and Peacocke in the valleys of the Kushk
and Kaahan, in accordance with the agreement reported in protocol No. 4. Colo
nel Kuhlberg having given his assent, Colonel Ridgeway remarked that since
the month of April, Captains Peacocke and Guedeonoff had not been able to agree
as to the extent of the land which should be ceded by Afghanistan for the con
struction of an embankment at Meruchak (regarding the construction of which
an agreement had been arrived at on certain conditions reported in protocols
Nos. 4 and 5) and the question had not been decided.
It was thereupon agreed that the land to be ceded for the head of an embank
ment on the right bank of the Murghab should not exceed 150 yards in length
by 75 yards in breadth.
Colonel Ridgeway made it known that he had received a report concerning
the destruction of certain boundary marks in the valley of Meruchak owing to
recent inundations.
It was arranged that Colonel Tarkanoff should be asked by Colonel Kuhlberg
to co-operate with Mr. Merk, who would shortly be at Meruchak, for the recon
struction of these marks.
Colonel Ridgeway, in regretting that in conjunction •with his colleague he had
not been able to entirely finish the work they had undertaken, could not allow
the Commission to adjourn without expressing his sincere pleasure at the main
tenance of cordial relations between the two Commissions in spite of the differ
ence of opinion which had arisen upon several claims. He could only think that
this was in a great measure due to the courtesy of Colonel Kuhlberg and his col
leagues. He wished to add that the Russian topographical officers had had beyond
comparison the most difficult part of the survey work, and he hoped that Colonel
Kuhlberg would be good enough to thank them from him in expressing to them
his gratitude for the admirable execution of their difficult work.
Colonel Kuhlberg thanked his colleague and said that the English topogra
phical officers having undertaken the triangulation as well as a considerable por
tion of the survey, had had in his opinion their full share of the work.
The present protocol having been corrected and read was then formally adopt
ed, and the labours of the Commission were declared at an end.
P. Kuhlberg.
J. Ridgeway.
E. L. Durand.