'The views and opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob, CB. Aide-decamp to the Queen; Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of India, &c. &c. &c.; late commanding in chief the British forces in Persia; at present commanding the Sind Irregular Horse, and Political Superintendent of the North-West frontier of Sind.' [‎35] (66/481)

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iron tire, &c., everything in my power has been done to
endeavour to introduce a better construction of vehicle;
but I have for some time past abandoned all attempts of
the kind, being convinced that they are useless.
The introduction of wheel-carriages with iron tire, &c.
might be an advantage in many ways, but would not, I think,
benefit the roads much, if at all; the whole ground of the
country, with the exception of a few patches of salt earth
here and there, being such that the roads become speedily
reduced to an impalpable powder, many inches in depth,
whatever description of wheel-carriage he used.
The roads are excellent for camels, by which the traffic
of the country is almost wholly carried on, the carts being
chiefly used for the transport of agricultural produce; but
the roads in such a soil could not be made well adapted
even for the best wheel-carriages without metal, which
is not readily procurable, but which, I think, from the
excessive dryness of the air, would be found not to
answer.
Bridges always passable, and straight roads from place
to place, form an immense improvement on the former
condition of thino-s ; but it would be unreasonable to hope
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for roads really good for wheel-carriages in this country.
The introduction and general use of an improved
description of wheel-carriage with iron tire, &c. implies
a complete change in the entire native population or
society; it involves the necessity for the existence in
each little village of such artificers as are now not to
be met with in twelve places throughout the province ;
it involves, also, the existence of increased capital, new
wants, and improved habits, among the country-folk
generally : all this may come in due time naturally, as
civilisation advances.