'Letter from Sir M. Durand to Foreign Office' [‎72r] (3/4)

Re-opening
of Quetta-
Seistan
Caravan
route.
To consider the northern route, if the line were to run via Ladis and
Nushki, it would pass through the most desert tract of country that lies
between Persia and India, while there is not even a village of any size for a
distance of at least 500 miles, Pasman, Kwash, Ladis, and Chageh, the
only inhabited places in this appalling waste, being little better than hamlets,
while Nushki can scarcely be termed an important centre.
Again, there is a most meagre supply of water along this route, the climate
is, with the exception of some 60 miles across Sarhad, most trying, and it is
the most disturbed part of east Persia, with its local name of Yaghsitan, or
the “ outlaws* home,’* Jend Khan, the Damani Chief, having been in open j en{ j K han
rebellion for more than a decade. the outlaw.
Pinally, the line would pass for hundreds of miles along the Afghan
frontier, a strong strategical and political disadvantage, so that I cannot but
think that this route will be inadvisable, while a preliminary survey, besides
being dangerous and arduous, would apparently not be of great benefit, the
whole region being inhospitable and sterile to a maximum degree.
It would appear that the re-opening of the Quetta-Nushki-Seistan route
has tended to attract attention to this part of Beluchistan, but, to give a
proof of the general accuracy of my description of the country, I may
mention that when travelling to Seistan on plague duty in April 1897,
Major Brazier Creagh stated (Major Brazier Creagh, R.M.S., on the Quetta-
Seistan route), I am quoting from memory, that he had to carry “ all supplies
for twenty days ” while he marched some 20 miles per diem. Had his
journey been from India to Rigan he must have had transported nearly
double the amount.
We will now return to Rigan, but before discussing the next section,
it will be as well to note that Pahra or Eahraj, the' capital of Persian
Beluchistan, according to Beluchi or Persian pronunciation, a large village
lying some 15 miles to the east of Bampur, is now the seat of Government,
so that all calculations will be made to and from the new not the old capital.
Prom Rigan to Pahra there are three alternative routes, the least desirable
of which was followed by the Seistan mission, the fear of Sarhaddi raids
making them or rather their guides keep to the south via Giranrig and
Kalanzahu.
Captain Jennings and myself both travelled by the middle route via
Gehgan and Har-i-Kishkin, finding a fair quantity of water but no supplies.
Pinally there is, telegraphically speaking, an infinitely more desirable route
via. Basman village, which is only a few miles longer and passes the village
of Maksan a stage to the west of Basman, thus breaking up the desert section
at two points.
The village of Basman lies at the south end of the range which bears the
same name, its altitude is 3,120 feet, while the great peak runs up to
11,217 feet, with camping grounds at 6,000 feet. This is evidently a suitable
place for a telegraph station, while I should recommend that the line be run
direct to Pahra, keeping to the north of Bampur.
If it be desired to construct a line vid Gwadur to Karachi it is from Pahra
that this must be done, but, as it is probably intended to abolish the coast
line in toto we will proceed to examine the Pahra Kohuk section.
The line would now run through a comparatively populous and well-
watered portion of Beluchistan. It is fully described in my Third Journey
No. 4, as far as Magas.
This village lies at an elevation of 4,000 feet above the sea, or more than
2,000 feet above Pahra, so that the climate is comparatively salubrious and
cool.
Beyond Magas lies the village and district of Sib, which is generally a
separate Governorship, but is at times joined on to Dizak.
In 1896 I kept to the south of the route shown on the map, and thereby
avoided the difficult pass that is said to lie to the east of Suran and Sib,
while I passed, perhaps, 15 miles to the south of l)izak.
Kohuk, the frontier village, produces but little in the way of supplies and Kohuk.
lies about a mile or less from the left bank of the Mashkel or Mashkid River,
which forms the boundary at this particular point. Its bed is, perhaps,
600 yards wide, but it only contains isolated pools except when in flood, and
Rigan to
Pahra
vid Giranrig
and Kalan
zahu.
B. vid
Gehgan and
Dar-i-Kish-
kin.
C. vid
Maksan and
Basman.
Basman
village, vide
Third
Journey
Nos. 7 and 8.
Possible
Pahra-
Serbaz-
Gwadur
section.
Pahra to
Kohuk.
Magas.
Sib.