'Report on the Quetta-Seistan [Sistan] Trade Route, for the year 1900-1901' [‎9v] (18/32)

REPORT ON THE QUETTA-SEISTAN TRADE ROUTE FOR THE YEAR 1900-1901.
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part south of the old ruined fort tower of Mirjawa. I have said sufficient to show
that the river derives its designation from the land through which it flows, and
that it is known by three names, viz., the Bangan, the Ladis and Mirjawa; this
being so, and it being difficult to apply the term river, even in its widest sense,
to the area liable to inundation north and south of the old fort tower, it appears to
me that point A, the furthest point to which the Mirjawa river can be traced as a
well-defined river bed, should be adjudged to be the place where the river ter
minates.* To this it will doubtlessly be objected that the term “ Mirjawa river ”
is applied to the upper reaches of the Talab river. This is the case, but I have
also heard the term Mirjawa river applied to the middle reaches, and, on one occa
sion I can call to mind, to the lower reaches of the Talab river. The explanation
of this latter will, I think, be found in the fact that in talking of the river tbe
Nomads are indifferent whether they call tbe river by its correct name or call it
by the name of the place from whence it comes.t To determine the point of
junction between the Talah, Mirjawa and Dar-i-Giaban rivers presents tbe same
difficulty. The Dar-i-Giaban river flows into the shallow depression situated
on the map between points C| and D.§ In years of heavy rainfall this depres
sion || overflows, and its water, mingling with the flood water which comes down
from the Mirjawa river, drains into the Talab river. Under these circumstances
I am inclined to suppose that the head waters of the Talab river should be looked
for somewhat between points A, B, C on the map. Had the British and Persian
Commissioners moved north of Talk they would have found that the Mirjawa
and Dar-i-Giaban rivers were two distinct rivers, that the junction between
the Mirjawa and Talab rivers is not, as they assumed to be the case, a clearly
defined point, and, in short, they would have discovered that the map on which
they laid down their boundary was wholly unreliable. It is not too much
to say that the Joint Commissioners, finding this to be the case, would have taken
such precautions, on the ground, as they considered to be necessary to determine
the point where the boundary branched off to the hills. As the Commissioners
failed to do this, the only course which is open would appear to be for us to assert
what we consider to be our rights under the terms of the joint agreement, and, in
the event of the Persians raising any question, to depute an officer to Mirjawa to
settle the matter on the spot.
47. While at Mirjawa I learnt that Sir Nauroz Khan’s action in erecting
a fort at Zawag,^[ in Mashkel, was much resented by the Damani. The Damani
own extensive date groves in Mashkel, and consequently they regard the erection
of the new fort as an attempt, on the part of the Kharan 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. , to coerce them
into paying dues to which he has no legitimate title. On the occasion of the
visit I paid Mashkel, in the winter of 189 ( J, I received several complaints to the
effect that 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. Nauroz Khan was taking dues from Baluch living on either side '
of the Mashkel frontier to which he had no right, and on my return to Quetta I
made a point of questioning the 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. on this subject. 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. Nauroz Khan
admitted to me that he had no right to levy taxes on the Damani, but he explained
that the payments he was enforcing from them were merely intended to cover the
value of certain camels and other property which, he said, had been stolen from
Ids people by raiding parties from Sarhad. The Zawag fort** supplies 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.
Nauroz Khan with a favourable point a'appui from which he can levy, and
does levy with impunity, any dues he likes on the Sarhaddis who visit Mashkel in
summer to collect their date harvest. The feeling on the frontier runs so strong * * * § **
* If this reading be accepted, part of tbe Mirjawa plain falls on our side of tbe frontier. — F. W.
f Tbe Mirjawa Baluch frequently call the upper portion of the Mirjawa river, i e., that part between point A and
the hills, the Ladis river, vide old map, and the lower part, viz , that below the ruined tower of Mirjawa, Padaha, a
name taken from the neighbouring cultivation.—_F. W.
J At point C, the banks of the nallah are only 2 inches high.—F. W.
§ This depression is called Padaha.—F. W.
!l I that Captain Benn, in his diary No. 3 for the week ending 5th February 1901, states that 35 miles south
of Padaha the Mirjawa river is known as the Reg-i-Malik. The translation of Reg i-Malik means the Prince’s Sand Hill
and is the name given to a conspicuous sand hill on the right bank of the Talab river, midway between Mirjawa and
Kindi ; the fact that Major Benn was informed that the river w»s called the Reg-i-Malik world tend to show that
the Mirjawa river takes its name from the land through which it flows.—F. W.
Sometimes spelt Gawag ; Zawag is on the British side of the frontier not far from Ladgasht.- F. W.
** The enquiries I made when on the frontier tend to show that the part Mir Jhind, the Damani 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. , took in
Mohamed Umar’s recent raid into Kej Mekran last winter is directly traceable to the erection of this fort. Again, the
Damani explain away a raid they committed on the trade road, near Sahib Chah, in which a pilgrim was killed, several
others were wounded, and a considerable amount of property was carried off, by saying that the raid was made in
retaliation for injury Sir Nauroz Khan had done their date groves under the pretext of taking taxes from them.—F. JF.