'Report on the Quetta-Seistan [Sistan] Trade Route, for the year 1900-1901' [‎7v] (14/32)

REPORT ON THE QUETTA-SEISTAN TRADE ROUTE FOR THE YEAR 1900-1001.
6
29. The Tratoh chowki building has been improved by additions, which
have resulted in doubling its accommodation. Guarded by the four new defen
sive towers, which have been built, the chowki may now be considered proof
against attack by Baluch marauders.
30. In my last year’s report I described, in detail, my reasons for wishing
to realign the caravan road, so as to make it run from Tratoh direct to Mashki
Chak, and I gave it as my opinion that if this was done a saving of from 10
to 12 miles would result. No one who has passed over this section of the
road can fail to be struck by two things—firstly, the distance which Knndi lies
south of the alignment which a direct road should follow, and secondly, how
unsuited Kundi itself is to form a halting-place on the caravan road.* Enter
taining as I do the hope that we will find it practicable to replace Kundi
by a halting-place more favourably situated to the north,! I have purposely
refrained from spending money on any improvements here.
31. The improvements at Mashki Chah, the next stage west, take the form
of a sarai which has been added to the old chowki and a wind-mill| for grind
ing flour. The wells, if such a term can rightly be applied to the broad, hollow
depression which holds water, received attention and were freed from sand.
Traces of three old wells were found some 400 yards north-east of the levy
post. These wells, which were re-opened, thoroughly cleaned out and repaired,
now supply the best water at Mashki Chah.
32. We next conrn to whot is undoubtedly the worst section of the caravan
road between Quetta and Seistan—the section of 49 miles lying between Mashki
Chah and Makak Karez. The first march from Mashki Chah is Sahib Chah, a
distance of 26 miles. To divide this distance into tw r o marches of equal lengths,
a wx>ll was sunk exactly midway between these two stages at a place where the
configuration of the country promised water at a moderate depth. The subsoil
proved to be rocky, and the labour involved in sinking this well was excessive.
Eventually, water w’as reached at a depth of close on 50 feet; but unfortunately
it proved to be saline and unfit for any purpose, Much disappointed that their
labour had been thrown away, the Baluch well-sinkers returned to their homes,
and it w r as only with much difficulty that they were induced to test their
fortune once more nearer Sahib Chah. I regret to say that their labour here
proved equally in vain, Water, in any quantity, was found, but so saturated
was it with saline matter that it was quite undrinkable. The attempts to divide
the distance betw^een Sahib Chah and Makak Karez met with a similar fate.
Wells w r ere sunk at two different places on this section of the road, but the
w r ater obtained, in both cases, proved nauseous and quite useless.
33. On my return from Seistan, an opportunity, which I had long looked
for, offered of examining the country north of the alignment which the caravan
route now follows. Despatching my camp to Mashki Cliah with instruc
tions to wait my arrival there, 1 spent several days going over and examining
this country. If a line be drawn on the map from Mashki Chah to Saindak, it
will be seen that Sahib Chah lies well to the south of this line. The result of
my reconnaissance can best be summarized as follows :—
I found that water existed at tw r o places in a more or less direct line
between Mashki Chah and Saindak, niz., at the foot of the Koh-i-Dalil, 15 miles
west of Mashki Chah, and at Amalaf, six miles east of Saindak. I further
selected a place called Bor Koh Nawar, which is roughly situated midway
between Koh-i-Dalil and Amalaf, and w hen tlie weather becorr es sufficiently cool
to admit of well-sinking operations being started, I intend to onve a shaft at
this place. If water is found at Bor Koh, I then propose to realign the caravan
road so that it may pass through the three places whose names I have given. I
trust that I may be permitted to say here that if good w r ater is found at Bor
Koh Nawar, the last of the many difficulties which we have had to face in
making the caravan road will have been overcome.
34. What I have just said will explain the reason why nothing has been
done to improve the Sahib Chah halting-place beyond cleaning out and deepen
ing the wells. It also supplies the reason w r hy all that has been done at Makak
* The Kundi water is impregnated with salts, which give it an unpleasant taste, and if this water is drunk in laree
quantities it is apt to cause diarrhoea.— F. W. 6
t The Baluchis with whom I have discussed the matter are sceptical on the subject of obtaining water further north
but this is a matter which a properly organized search only can reveal.— F. W.
J I am unable to supply any details regarding this flour-mill as it has been built since my return to Quetta.—J 1 . W.