'Report on the Quetta-Seistan [Sistan] Trade Route, for the year 1900-1901' [‎8r] (15/32)

REPORT ON THE QUETTA-SEISTAN TRADE ROUTE FOR THE YEAR 1900-1901.
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Karez has been to strengthen the chowki by heightening the walls and erecting
defensive towers. Makak is 38 miles from Gazo, the head-quarters of the
Damani tribe, thus it will always be necessary to keep a strong levy guard
stationed here. A freshet which came down the bed of the Makak nallah in
winter partially filled in the karez and did some other damage, all which has
since been made good.
36. The thana, which I noted in my last year’s report as being under con
struction at Saindak, was finished, all except the defensive towers, during the
course of the year. I have elsewhere alluded to the difficulty which was experi
enced in obtaining labour. At Saindak the difficulty was so great that the most
of the work on the thana was carried out by the levies themselves. The levies
stationed at Saindak suffer much from fever during the summer months, which
they say is aggravated by the salts * contained in the Saindak water. While it is
doubtful whether this latter is the case, yet I have supplied the thana, experi
mentally, with a medium-sized distilling apparatus, and should the apparatus prove
a success, I propose providing every chapparkhana, where the water is not abso
lutely pure, with a similar convenience. A chapparkhana, similar in design to
those built to the east, is under construction here.
36. The accommodation which the Kirtaka chowki provides, was much
improved during the year, and a new well was sunk which supplies the best
water yet found at Kirtaka.
37. Beyond cleaning out the wells at Chah Mohammed Baza, the next stage
to the west, and building a small dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. shelter at Lashkar-i-ab, the stretch of road
between Kirtaka and Killa Bobat remains in very much the same condition
it Avas left in last year. Excluding Kirtaka and Chah Mohammed Baza, there
are four places between Saindak and Killa Bobat where water exists and two
other places where water can be obtained without any great difficulty. I have
already noted that caravans prefer moving slowly. To provide them with water
at intervals of 10 or 12 miles along this section of the caravan road is a matter
which presents no difficulty.
38. The chapparkhana, which was under construction at Killa Bobat when
I wrote my last report, has been finished,+ and four defensive towers and a
covered-in gateway have been added to the thana. J
39. At the close of the year 1901 only a few stages between Quetta and
Killa Bobat will remam unprovided with chapparkhana accommodation. To
complete the chapparkhanas which have been built, and are being built, I would
suggest that each be provided with a few necessary articles of furniture, such as
beds, durries, chicks, chairs, tables, shelves, baths, etc. Travellers would regard
this as a great boon, as it would enable them to dispense with camp furniture
and travel light. I would furthermore suggest that a small distilling apparatus
be provided at each of the four or five stages where the water possesses a saline
taste. § ^ ath e merchants appear indiffere nt whether the water they drink is
slightly saline or otherwise ; but this is far from being the case with Europeans,
who consider it a great hardship to drink any water which is not faultless. I
Avould remark that to fit up the cook-houses, which are attached to chapparkhanas,
with distilling apparatus is a matter which offers no difficulty, provided the
necessary funds are forthcoming.
40. In the preceding paragraphs I have briefly described the improve
ments which were introduced, during the year, at every individual stage along the
caravan route. Before proceeding further, I trust that I may be permitted to
offer a few suggestions on the subject of strengthening the levy establishment,
to which falls the responsible duty of guarding the caravan road throughout its
length. The distance which separates Merui from Samdak is 149 miles. The
average distance between the other thanas is 74 miles. A stretch of 149 miles
of road, unguarded by a thana, is in my opinion far too great, and I would
accordingly venture to advocate that this be rectified by transferring the Mashki * * * §
* Potash and soda.— F. W.
t The beams Which support the roof came from the Piran River, and are so weak that I fear they will need to be
replaced by beams sent from Quetta. One of the chief difficulties with which I have had to contend in building these
chapparkhanas has been the difficulty, not to say impossibility, of obtaining any suitable timber. F. W.
+ f ebruary 1901 I received a warning from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kalat, that Mohammed Umar N
contemplated attacking the Robat Killa thana j however, nothing came of this.— F. W.
ausherawani
§ Due to the presence of salts of soda and potash.— W.