'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎221r] (446/652)

Unfortunately no water is procurable at the new post of Padaha, so that
the garrison there is dependent for its supply on a tank on the Persian
side of the river, which is a mile distant, and which is filled from the
perennial flow of the Ladis river.
Meanwhile negotiations had been going on with the Persian Government
for a realignment of the doubtful boundaries from Pillar No. 11, north
wards, and Commissioners had been appointed on both sides to investigate
the matter, and to adjust, if possible, the differences between the Tehran
agreement and the Holdich award.
Later, owing to the improbability of any satisfactory settlement being
arrived at in the re-delimitation of the frontier, the question of the Com
missioners meeting was allowed to drop, a compromise was effected, and an
agreement signed on 13th May 1905 between the British and Persian
Governments on the following terms—
(1) The British claim to the ownership of Mlrjawa, put forward in 1902,
to be withdrawn. The Persians on their side to permit the gar
rison at Padaha to procure (“ using buckets or water-skins for the
purpose 5 ’) the supply of water that may be necessary for it from
the wells or tank situated at or near Mlrjawa.
question of the further examination of the frontier line to be
abandoned, and it shall be regarded as definitely settled in
accordance with the agreement of 1896, and no further claim
made in respect of it.
Persian Government will permit the inhabitants of the frontier
villages of Mirjawa, Ladis and Duzdab to sell supplies (to the
annual amount of 700 Tabriz khanvarsoi grain) to the British
outposts on the Indian side of the frontier, and will also allow
the unrestricted export of 1,500 Tabriz kharwdrs of grain, and
50 Tabriz kharwdrs of ghi annually from Sistan, for the use of
the British frontier station of Kala Robat, and others along the
Nushki route.
(4) The above provision applies only to normal years, when the locality
is not suffering from actual famine due to destruction of its
crops by locusts, blight or other exceptional visitation.
The actual name of Mlrjawa is given to a small area (about 1 mile long
and half a mile wide) of alluvial and arable soil in the delta of the Ladis
river, where it joins the Dar-i-Ghiaban. Formerly a somewhat larger tract
was cultivated, as is shown by the ruins of an old village or fort called
Mirjawa Ka'leh, about 2 miles up the fan from the Dar-i-Ghiaban.
Its strategical importance lies in the fact that it is at the junction of
three routes which turn the Kuh-i-Taftan, on its east side, for any force
advancing from the north (i) from Ladis via Sangun, (n) from Ladis via
Andai and Gazu, {Hi) along the border via Guranl and Maksotag.
A post at Mirjawa would control the trade along these roads, as well as
along those to Jalk and Dizak, and would serve as a considerable
protection to the Nushki route against Damani raiders.
It would also serve as a menace to any possible Russian railway, connect
ing their present Asiatic system with the Gulf.— {Showers, 1902 ; Webb-
Ware, 1902 \ McMahon, 1905.)
I. B.
(2) The
(3) The
2 R