'Report on the Quetta-Seistan [Sistan] Trade Route, for the year 1900-1901' [‎12v] (24/32)

REPORT ON THE QUETTA-SBJSTAN TRADE ROUTE FOR THE YEAR 1900-1901.
16
61. 1 have nothing further to add this year to the views I have expressed
in mv previous reports on the subject of extending the telegraph line to the
Persian frontier. I still entertain the opinion that the commercial influence
of a telegraph line* running along the Nuskhi-Seistan caravan route would be
great, and that if this line be constructed, it will have an important effect, both
in popularizing the route and in attracting traders. I need not refer to the
political and strategical reasons for extending the telegraph wire to the Persian
frontier, for they are too self-evident to need enlarging on by me. Mr. Arm
strong, Assistant Superintendent, Indian Telegraph Department, was deputed,
last year, to Chagai and Persian Baluchistan with instructions to examine the
country and to report on the feasibility of carrying an overland telegraph wire
south of the Koh-i-Sultan to Saindak and thence through Ladis to Kirman.
I have not yet seen Mr. Armstrong’s report, but so far as the natural features
of the country are concerned, there would appear to be no difficulties in the way
of this alignment.
A question has arisen whether it would be better for the telegraph line to
branch off from Saindak to Mirjawa, Ladis, etc., or for it to continue to Killa
Robat, Koh-i-Malik Siah and run from thence to Kirman via Nasrabad,t
Gurg and Bam. Of these two alignments I think that the latter offers more
advantages, for, firstly, it brings the telegraph within 99 miles of the capital
of Seistan and so within a measurable distance of our Vice-Consul there, and
secondly, there is a likelihood that, if the telegraph line follows this alignment,
Seistan traders will make use of the Killa-Rob at-Kirman section of the line to
communicate with Kirman, which they could not very well do if the telegraph
line were to take off at Saindak. There is yet one other point in favour of
the alignment I advocate. A telegraph line passing through Killa Robat,
Nasrabad and Gurg would avoid Sarhad altogether, an important consideration
in view of the fact that it is understood that Ilis Highness the Shah is opposed
to the construction of an overland telegraph line, on the ground that, were it
built, his Government will constantly be called on to pay indemnities for
damages done to the line by tribesmen.
62. I do not think that it is generally realized how useless it is to expect
the Persians to coerce the tribes who inhabit the Sarhad or how open the trade
route itself is to an attack from the west.J M 7 e have protected the north-western
and eastern extremities of the trade route by the payment of tribal allowances
to certain Sardars. 1 would respectfully venture to submit that it now remains
for Government to secure the trade route from attack from Sarhad, the only
quarter from which any danger is now to be apprehended, by giving 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. a small monthly allowance.§ 'The only objections, which can, so
far as I see, be urged against the proposal I make, are, firstly, that the Damani
are Persian subjects, and it is therefore possible that the Persians will resent our
giving them a tribal allowance, and secondly, that it is generally opposed to our
policy to give allowances to tribesmen who live beyond the frontier, io such
objections I would submit that the fact of the Damani owning date groves on the
British side of the Mashkel frontier, || entitles us to hold whatever dealings we like
with them and to employ them in whatever way we may consider most expedi
ent. The payment of a service allowance, such as I advocate, to the Damani
would, prove advantageous to the Persians themselves in the end, as it would
give our Consul in Kirman a hold over this predatory tribe and enable him to
keep the Sarhaddis in more or less restraint.^"
63. One of the most encouraging aspects of the trade route is that which
relates to the horse trade.** The number of horse dealers, who went up to Mashad
last year to buy remounts, was so large that 1 was prepared for a consider
able increase in the remounts brought to Quetta, but the number of horses * * * § **
* The country seems to lend itself to the construction of a telegraph line as Colonel french has \ en truly
pointed out.— F. W.
t Not to be confused with the capital of Seistan.— F. W.
t Makak Karez, stage No. 18 on the caravan routo is only 40 miles from Gazo, the Damani Chief s head quarters.
F.W.
§ I would recommend Rs. 250, viz., Rs. 100 to the Jamani 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. himself, and the balance to be distributed among
his motbirs. — F. W.
|| Vide paragraph 58 of my report for year 1898-9.', Appendix I, and footnote thereto. F. TV.
IT Should this proposal be sanctioned I would call on the Damani Chief to supply a certain number of men for duty
on the trade route. — F.W.
** Lord A. Cecil, writing from the Jacobabad Horse Show on the 25th January, told me that he considered that
many of the 11 as bad remounts he had inspected were quite up to the standard of British ca\alr^. F. W.