'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎96v] (197/652)

184
DUR-DUR
4
Until the country between the Ruh*i-Atashkhaneh and the terminal
pillar of the SIstan boundary cdmes to be surveyed, it is difficult to say
where a line joining these points would fall as regards Asparan. It seems
clear, however, that so far as our personal knowledge goes, the latter
place must be considered Persian.
A fairly reliable authority has stated that Chah Beg is in Persian limits
and Sherak-i-Shah Beg on the Asparan-SIstan road on the frontier.
As regards grazing rights, the information given by Captain Keyes in
his note of 1st May 1906 has been generally corroborated by other infor*
niants. Where rights are undefined, however, as they are in the present
case, exact agreement in details cannot be expected.
According to informants, even in old days when the Harut was
considered the frontier, Afghan mdlddrs had prescriptive grazing rights
beyond this to the west. At the present time Afghan mdlddrs have until
recently grazed their flocks up to the following points :—
Surtigh, Hangur and Hafted Rud (Lahnu), Chah Sagak ; Chah Surkh
Khafgas ’AH, Chah Shar.
From reports that have beea received, however, it seems that of late Afghan
mdlddrs have been discouraged grazing their flocks on the Persian side
of the recognised frontier and in some cases have been turned back by the
chaurii sowars. This country is also grazed over by the Sistan mdlddrs.
The latter do not seem to enjoy any reciprocal rights as regards grazing
on the Afghan side. Numerous cases, have recently been reported of
Afghans having warned the SIstan mdlddrs back from transgressing the
imaginary frontier, and fined them for doing so.
As already mentioned, there is a highway from Sistan to Duruh that
passes through Afghan territory north of the Hamun. The Afghans levy
a Jcdfileh-bashitee on Persian traders and others using this road. In October
1908 a case occurred in which one Mir Husain Sultan, Arab (a servant of the
Governor of Kain) was proceeding towards Kain by this road when he was
held up by Afghan chaurii sowars at Shorak-i-Shah Beg and certain property
was confiscated in lieu of tazkara fees.
Another caravan was similarly held up at the same time and close to the
same spot. The Persian Foreign Minister brought the matter to the notice
of the British Legation, apparently alleging that the Afghan sowars had
come 40 miles within Persian territory. As a matter of fact the point
Shorak-i-Shah Beg is just about close where the frontier line would run.
The Afghans do not seem to take any grazing tax from mdlddrs passing
through Afghan territory from Sistan to Kain, but a tax only (possibly
unauthorized) of a sheep and krdns 2 to 4 per rama (flock).
An old sArHn, whose report may be considered unbiased, stated that
the Atashkhaneh range was the recognised frontier of Ehiruh. As regards
grazing taxes, he corroborated the Naib’s statement as given above.
North of the Kuh -i-Atashkhaneh, Chah Khargosh is recognised to be in
Duruh limits, while Damdam and the Dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. -i-Tundl are on the frontier line.
The Afghan chaunis on this section of the frontier are :—•
Chashmeh Khash.—Situated, as far as can be gathered, some 8 miles west
to Kala Kah (Sher-i-Kuh). The sowars from this chaurii patrol as far to
the west as Shorak-i-Shah Beg.