'Report on the Development of the Baluch-Persian Caravan Route and on the Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani Districts, for the year 1899-1900' [‎7v] (14/64)

RErORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE B ALUCH-PERSIAN CARAVAN ROUTE AND
now that the caravan route passes well away from there, that Sir Kaoroz Khan's claim *
to these wells be allowed, hut only on the clear understanding that the Nomads of the Chagai
district, who pasture their herds in winter at Asad Chah, are neither distuibed nor interfered
with in any way.
33. It is satisfactory to be able to state that the decrease in crime of a serious nature
noted in my two previous administration reports was maintained throughout the year under
review. Not a single case of a Damani raid from the Persian side of the frontier into the
district occurred, When I was in Seistan I heard a great deal regarding the raiding propen
sities of the Damanir, and I was told that a few months before a party of these marauders had
raided into Khorassan, as far north as Birjand, and carried off a number of camels and sheep,
the property of the Persian Government. I attribute the freedom of the Chagai district from
Damani raids to my having met the Damani Chief Jahind Khanf on the Persian Frontier in
February 1899.
34. I regret to report that Malik Zangi Khan, the head of the Narui Baluch of Manzil,
whose name will chiefly be remembered in connection with the services he rendered Sir Charles
McGregor during the latter's explorations in Western Baluchistan, died from dropsy last year.
Malik Zangi's age precluded him from giving me much active assistance, yet in all the deal
ings he has had with me he has shown that he was a staunch friend to Government, and I
therefore much regret his death.
Consequent on the drought which has devastated the central and western portions of the
Chagai District during the years 1895^99 a large number of Malik Zangi's tribesmen emi
grated to Seistan, where they placed themselves under the protection of the head of their tribe,
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Syed Khan Narui. Now that Zangi has died, most of the few Narui who were left
have followed the example of their fellow tribesmen. The number of Narui now in the district
is very small.
35. The Afghan Khassadar preventive posts, which were established, under orders from
Kabul, at intervals along the Nushki-Shorawak Frontier at the close of 1899, are being
slowly pushed west from Shorawak. The Governors of Farah, Grishk, and Kandahar have all
received strict injunctions to discountenance the export of wheat in every way they can and to
listen to no representations which may be made to them on the subject. To deal successfully
with smuggling along nearly 400 miles of such an open frontier as the Baluch-Afghan fron
tier west of Nushki is, presents many difficulties ; it thus remains to be seen whether the Local
Afghan authorities will be able to enforce the orders they have received and prevent the export
of wheat. If the export of wheat from Garmsel is put a stop to, I anticipate that the larger
number of the Nomads of the Cbagai District will move across the frontier^ into Afghanistan.
36. A body of trans-frontier Mengals>aided across the dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. east of the Chagai Hamun in
May 1899, and carried off 60 camels. Ihe authority of the Governor of Farah hangs but loosely
on the Baluch tribes of the Western Registan. A return raid resulted in the capture of 120
camels which quickly brought these Mengals to their senses. The incident closed with the
infliction of an adequate fine on the offenders.
37. On the 22nd September 1899, a band of raiders, about 50 strong, attacked a Seistan
caravan which was passing through Chah Sandan on its return journey to Seistan. The
caravan w as rescued by a party of Merui thana sowars who came to their assistance and put the
raiders to night, making several arrests. *
38. In my report for the year 1898, I submitted what I considered would be the most
suitable scheme for assessing Chagai to revenue. Government was diffident in accepting the
proposals I then made, as famine had reduced the Nomad population of the district to great
straits and it was considered inexpedient to add taxation to their burdens. With the
termination of the drought from which the district has suffered for so many years the
question of assessing the Chagai district to revenue again presents itself. After ca eful
consideration of the matter in all its bearings, 1 am in favour of assessing the country, east of
a hne drawn from Gah Chah through Merui to boundary pillar No. 175, to revenue provided
that the initial collections are made as light as possible. In the event of my suggestion
p co ^ sl( l ere( l, I would recommend that the limits of the Nushki faheil be
extended so as to embrace all Chagai, east of the line I note, and that a Naib Tahsildar and
ll' 0 ° r 1 e fP ectlvel y be adde d to the strength of the Nushki Tahsil
Ihe Naib lahsildar s§ duties would consist in touring the district during the cold weather
collec ing^ whde durmg the summer months he would remain at the head-quarters of the
Tahsil at Nushki until the time came round for him to go on tour once more.
rrag!! JYf aa ^ Bli the country up to and including Hur-
Cliagai-Kliaran boundary runs along ^the Shaikh S ' r Nao f oz Klian informed that the
and thence south of the Reg-i-Wakab to the shores of the HamunSashTer 11 ’ SUraDdaS t0 Gali Chah
even Lked me to sh^LTDama^ng^Traidi^gb 8 BjiisTSrHt^^ 1 ^ ^ di8trict W88 forbidden * and ^
* ricie footnote, paragraph 14, Appendix I of this report.
ov,r f,o„, K.lkt, I opposed to the *”>» b<! ™
Administration [ieport tor that je.r, p.r.gr.pb. b ^VLJ ippendi, r '’" “ b " i “ ei “ 1898 - 99 -
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