'Report of Khan Bahadur Maula Bakhsh, Attaché to the Agent to the Governor General of India and Her Britannic Majesty's Consul-General for Khurasan and Sistan, on His Journey from Meshed to Quetta via Turbat-i-Haidari, Kain, Sistan, Kuh-i-Malik Siah and Nushki (7th April to 28th July 1898)' [‎59v] (123/156)

96
REPORT OF KHAN BAHADUR MAULA BAKESH
Shur Rig.
ManziL
Cnmel recovered from the Deputy Governor of
Sxstdn in return for a Government camel stolen from
Surgeon-Major Hrazier Creagh’s party at Girdi
Chah in June 1897 handed over to the Thauadar of
Amir Chah.
See paragraph 137 (c).
Eventually they said that they would try both routes once more with a
view to comparing them with each other and coming to a conclusion as o
which of the two was better for them.
(e) The camel which I had obtained from the Deputy Governor of Sishin
in return for the Government camel stolen
from Surgeon-Major Brazier Creagh s
party at Girdi Chah in June 1897 safely
arrived at Amir Chah. On arrival there,
however, it became ill [probably from tbe
effects of the trying journey through the
“ Lut ” (desert) between Saindak and Amir Chah from which many other
camels similarly suffered, as mentioned above] and did not eat or diink for a
day. After the administration of certain
See paragraphs 83 (c) and 83 0;). medicines it got better and recovered
in a couple of days, but as it was rather weak, I did not consider it safe to
march it along with my caravan through the waterless tract of 42 miles
between Amir Chah and Manzil. Therefore I handed it over to the Thanadar
of Amir Chah to be looked after until receipt of orders regarding its disposal
from the Agent to the Governor-General in Baluchistan to whom I reported
the matter.
Friday, 1st July 1898.
139. Shur Rig (called by some Gardan Rig and by others Rig-i-Surkh).
Time taken by laden camels, 12J hours.
Distance, 20 miles.
Eire-wood and camel-grazing plentiful.
No water.
No supplies.
(a) The road from Amir Chah to Shur Rig was good for the first four
miles, but sand began at the 4th mile.
Road between Amir Chah and Shur Rig. an d between the 5th and the 9th mile
it was very thick, and therefore heavy going for the camels. Between the 9th
and the 12th mile we came across high sand-hills which the camels had
great difficulty in getting over. Between the 12th and the 20th mile the
road, though covered with thick layers of sand, was traversed by the camels
with little difficulty. It, however, took us 12f hours to do 20 miles.
(b) Lieutenant Webb-Ware is said to have sunk a well at about three miles
from the place where we camped with
Failure of a well at Shur Rig. . i x i i i i. u 4 -
great personal trouble last year, but
unfortunately it yielded no water.
(c) A strong north wind accompanied by sand blew for most part of the
Oppressive heat at Shur Rig alleviated by a day to-day, but it WRS (juite Welcome US it
strong north wind. alleviated the oppressive heat consider
ably.
Saturday, 2nd July 1898.
140. Manzil—(Levy post).
Time taken by laden camels, 11 hours.
Distance, 22 miles.
Road, sandy, but not difficult for camels.
Water obtainable from wells in the bed of a nalla.
Eire-wood and camel-grazing plentiful.
Sheep and milk procurable, but no supplies.
Heat excessive at Manzil. rpj ie north wind having dropped the
heat- again became oppressive.