'Report on the Development of the Baluch-Persian Caravan Route and on the Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani Districts, for the year 1899-1900' [‎3r] (5/64)

1
CONFIDENTIAL.
REPORT
ON THE
DEVELOPMENT
OF THE
BALUCH-PERSIAN CARAVAN ROUTE
AND ON THE
NUSHKI, CHAGAI AND WESTERN SINJERANI DISTRICTS,
1899 - 1900 .
- ■ +
No. 822, dated Quetta, the 31st July 1900.
From— Captain F. C. Webb-Ware, I.S.C,, Political Assistant, Chagai,
To—The Honorable the Agent to the Governor-General in Baluchistan.
I have the honour to submit, for your favourable consideration and orders,
my annual report on the administration of the three districts placed in my
charge, as well as on trade, through Nushki, by the Nushki-Seistan trade
route.
2. The trade returns for the year under review total Rs. 12,35,411-15-9j
as compared to a value of Rs. 7,28,082-7-3 for the previous twelve months,
thus showing an improvement on the returns for the jear 1898-99 of no less a
sum than Rs. 5,07,329-8-6. These figures are encouraging, as they testify to
the steady and progressive advance 'which has been made by the Nushki-Seistan
trade route during the course of the year.
3. Plague in Lower Sind and Karachi continued throughout the year
under report to exercise an influence adverse to trade. I regret that I have
again to note that the rates current in the Quetta bazar for the Persian Kran
show no signs of improving.
4. In the course of the year the trade route was realigned for upwards of
198 miles of its length. The alignment which the trade route now follows
possesses several advantages over the alignment it used to follow north of the
Koh-i-Sultan range of mountains. Among the more important advantages
which are claimed for the new diversions are, that the distance from Nushki to
the Persian frontier is reduced by 34 miles, that water is to be obtained at
every stage throughout, and that all sand is avoided.
5. In June 1899 an agreement was entered into between the Government
of India and His Highness the Khan of Kalat, under which His Highness the
Khan ceded all his rights in Nushki to Government in consideration of a quit-
rent of Rs. 9,000 per annum. The transfer of the Nushki district took place
in July 1899. It is premature to say what influence the transfer of Nushki
will have in bettering the condition of the district, but it is significant that the
close of last year saw a distinct decrease in the number of frontier outrages
and that this decrease has been steadily maintained ever since.
6. I am pleased to he able to state that the diminution in crime of a
serious nature, noted in my Administration Report for the year 1898-99, has
been maintained. The state of the three districts which go to form the Chagai
Political Assistancy will now compare favourably with that of any other part
of Baluchistan.