Coll 28/28A ‘Persia: Perso-Baluchistan frontier; demarcation near Mirjawa [mostly copies of papers on 28/28]’ [‎203r] (405/572)

6
collectively, amounts to about 25 acres which includes some ground a few
acres in extent opposite the thana on the right bank of the river a couple o
hundred yards up-stream which has, so far, never apparently been brought into
cultivation. The soil is good and water is plentiful from numerous springs,
the discharges from three of which, although they are partially blockedf,
up with debris, are very large. The actual area of the land placed under
melons last year would be rather less than 2 acres. In climate Kacha is cooler than
Paindak which in turn gives place to Robat. It is said to be healthy but on the lower
lands the mosquitos are a source of some annoyance.
Post/ion.—The position shown on sheet No. 14-N.-W. of Kacha thana, as I will
term it for want of a better name, is correct. This place consists of a small maidan
on the southern side of the eastern extension of the Kacha range in ex ^ ent
yards long by 250 to 300 yards broad. It is bounded on three sides by the Kacha
river and on the fourth, t.e., on the northern side, by the range referred to The
cultivation lies at the southern entrance of the gorge, which pierces the rang .
through which the Kacha river flows, and it is situated about 150 yards east of the
thana. The map accompanying this memorandum shows its position clearly.
The cultivators have been informed that they have permission to cultivate such
- land as they did last summer but that they should not extend its limits, at present,
without sanction. The actual ownership of the Kacha land, itself, has never, so iar,
been called in question and there would appear no likelihood of its being so.
Levies. Two levies were posted here in July 1905 with orders to prevent the
passage of Gulf rifles through the district. On their arrival at Kacha they repaired
one of the rooms in the old thana and have lived in it ever since. They have been
instructed to remain where they are and to request any Persian official who may put
in an appearance to withdraw as his presence there is inadmissible. These orders
were transmitted to the levies early in January and I satisfied myself by personal
enquiry that they were fully acquainted with them.
Recent events.—We have levied a tax for the past ten years on the Kakars who
come from Zhob to collect asafcetida in this district.
This tax has been taken on asafcetida cofiected within the limits of the
* blue boundary line south of Kacha but never beyond or to the south of this; the
water parting has always been regarded as the boundary. In the summer of 1903
certain Persian Bazgirs (tax-collectors), whose names are not forthcoming, levied
grazing tax within this limit on some Dalbandin graziers who are British subjects.
This action has been repeated on two or three occasions since. In March 1906 two
bazgirs, named, respectively, Ibrahim and Kamalan, levied “ Rahdan on a
caravan in the immediate vicinity of Kacha itself. In August last year five
men visited Kacha. The party came from Duzdap and consisted of Juma Khan,
Pasand Khan, Mamasani’s son, two bazgirs named, respectively, Kamalan and
Hussain and they were accompanied by two followers. They informed the
cultivators that they had been deputed to destroy their melon beds and they gave
as their reason that this was because they were British subjects. The Kirtaka
levy Duffadar A Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Cavalry. was present on this occasion and he requested them to withdraw
saying that Persian claims to the Kacha basin were not admissible and adding
that if they resorted to force he would reluctantly be compelled to do likewise.
They then returned whence they came after threatening to pay the Duffadar A Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Cavalry. out.
In October two bazgirs named Ibrahim and Kamalan demanded a tax from
certain Zhob Kakars who had collected asafoetida on Mazawad and between^ that
range and the northern spurs of the Bagh Koh. Payment was declined and
ultimatly both parties, Bazgirs and Kakars alike, visited Saindak. The former
claimed the right to collect taxes on all territory which lay south of the trade
route which they alleged was the boundary between Persian and British
Baluchistan. The Thanedar declined to discuss this surprising claim and the
Kakars paid us the tax which was due from them.
Towards the end of November the Persian Sultan Muhammad Hussain, who it
will be remembered visited Piran in November and ejected the cultivators from
there, sent word to Kacha that he proposed shortly inspecting that place and that
if he found any cultivation he would destroy it. This threat was not carried into
force.