'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎6r] (16/300)

INTRODUCTION.
On the 31st of August last, telegraphic instructions were received from
Teheran to despatch my heavy baggage to Ispahan, and, after handing over
charge of the Shiraz Sub-Division, t:> proceed post and catch up Captain
P. Molesworth Sykes, Her M;ije$?y’s Consul at Kerman, who was at the time
en route from Shiraz to Ispahan, with a view to gaining all the information
possible from him regarding the country through which it was proposed to
construct the Central Persia Telegraph line. Making over charge of my Sub-
Division on the 3rd of Sep ember, and having despatched my caravan on the
6th, 1 started Chappar ” on the iOth, an l, overtaking Captain Sykes on the
14th, entered Ispahan with liirn on the evening of the same day, my caravan
coming in on the 19th. Detailed instructions were awaiting my arrival in
Ispahan, and preparations were instituted to make an early start on the work.
The original orders were, in the first place, to examine the routes which emanate
from Ispahan and debouch on to tiie Yezd-Kashan valley, in the Imp^s of
finding an easier country through which to divert the already constructed line,
which at present surmounts tne high and formidable Kohrud Pass, From
Kashan, I was to p st to Teheran, there to receive my final instructions. It
was therefore decided to make a start with the examination of the Ispaban-
Ardistan route.
Circumstances, however, lead to a modification in my instructions, as, on
the eve of my departure from Ispahan, September 23rd, a telegram was
received ordering me to accompany Captain Sykes as far as our respective
routes lay together, and not to come to Teheran. Leaving that officer at Ispahan
on the 24th of September, with the understanding that we should meet at
Nain,—a town at the junction of the Ispahan with the Kashan-Yezd caravan
route,—I proceeded to Ard stan and thence to Nain, where I found Captain
Sykes on the 3rd of October, and leaving the following day we travelled
together to Kerman, which was reached on the 1st of November.
Eighteen days were spent in Kerman in writing a preliminary report on
the route which had just been traversed. We had also to await the arrival of
a special courier from Teheran with final instructions and with presents, while
we were fully occupied in purchasing stores and in organising our caravan for
the long journey to Siestan.
A start was made from Kerman on the 19th of November, and we travelled
together through Bam and Regan, across the desert to Khash and Ladis,
where we spent Christmas. From Ladis, letters were despatched to Mr. Arm
strong, of the Indian Government i’elegr iphs, who was examining the trade
route^from Quetta to Malik Seth Kuh via Nushki and Amir Chub, giving him
particulars of my movements, an l asking him to try to arrange a meeting at
Malik Seah Kuh on January 5th.
Leaving my travelling companion to proceed along the usual route to
Malik Seah Kuh, 1 took 10 running cimels and 10 days’ supplies, and left
Ladis on December 26tb, going due west to Galugan down the Rood Mthee to
the eastern edge of the Dashtd-Lut, with a view to examining the direct road
from Ladis to Regan. From Rood Malice, a bee-line was taken north to
Dozdab, thence to Malik Seah Kuh, where C iptain Sykes joined me on January
6th, and we proceeded together to Siestan, where we arrived on the 18th. Four
days were spent in Siestan in buying supolies and forage and in organising a
new caravan \ and a short report on the Kerman Bam-Regan Sections was also
submitted to Teheran. I
I parted with Captain Sykes on the 22nd of January, and returned to Malik
Robat, which was reached on. the 26th, Captain Wobb-Ware accompanying
me for part of the journey. Here, I met Mr. Armstrong, and after spending
A day with him, I left on*the 27th, and cut across country due west to Nasrat-
abad, and thence south across the Dasht-i-Lut to Regan, which was reached on
February 10th. From Regan, a new route was traversed to Barnpur via Bazman.
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