'Seistan' [‎122r] (243/782)

a **put” for a few miles till it reaches the low scarp of the Tarakhun Desert;
Pushkiniki, where the bluff changes to a gentle slope, will be found a suitable
place for the ascent. But other places, such as Irkuft, where the main caravan
road is, will likely prove equally easy.
Prom Pushkiniki a line can be taken to Bund-i-Kamal Khan on the
Helmand, involving a minimum of bank and cutting, though not actually a
surface line. My object in investigating this alignment was that, if our system
ever reaches Robat, the Amir of Afghanistan might not object to a branch to
Kamal Khan or Bund-i-Seistan, through this outlying corner of his dominions.
Without a railway in this direction, a force, operating from Robat towards the
Helmand, would be greatly hampered by the waterless tract of the Tarakhun
Desert, for, from the Shelag River, where excavations in its sandy bed give an
ample supply of rather abominable water, the country is waterless to the
Helmand, a distance of more than 40 miles. A short watercourse ending at Killa
Afzal need not be considered, as it would certainly be blocked in time of war.
The only engineering difficulty is a very heavy belt of sand on each side of
the Shelag.
This consists in places of moving sandhills, or “Barkans”, travelling over
fixed sandhills, whose surface has a thin covering of black grit or coarse sand,
hence their name Siah Reg. This species of double sandhill from a mainten
ance point of view is the most objectionable thing of the sort I have ever
met with. It is possible that the Siah Reg may prove fairly firm underneath.
I noticed a few ancient domes and graveyards on them, which one does not
meet as a rule on pure sandhills. A feasible alignment through this belt will
be found along the route suggested on the plan. The trouble will rather be in
maintenance than construction, owing to the westerly gales that prevail all
through the hot weather.
The Shelag is the lowest point on the route to Seistan, being only 1,500 feet
above sea level. Once the sand belt is crossed, there are no further difficulties;
the Pushkiniki ascent is quite easy, and the Tarakhun Desert (a waste of gravel
overlying clay) is just rough enough to require a little bank and cutting here
and there.
Gradient. —Three-fourths of the alignment lie between the 2,800 feet and
the 3,300 feet contour.
At Ekmach it descends to 2,500 feet or 2,600 feet, but only for a few miles;
at Ware Sahib Chah the higher limit is topped for a short distance.
Easy grades are obtainable for more than 300 miles of the 360, though
whether the ruling gradient will be nearer 1—150 than 1—200 is a point that
can only be decided by more detailed survey. A barometric section is scarcely
reliable for flatter gradients than 1—80, more especially when taken, as this one
was, in very unsettled weather.
The steepest gradients will occur (1) in descending the Nushki glacis to
>T , j , ^ v ,,. Baghak, a distance of 9 miles, where I
a year ago I pointed out that, if Xushki is made an nOW liope that 1 100 Will be found
engine-changing station, a banking engiue will be possible; and (2) in the descent from
below Saindak to the Afghan frontier.
wanted at Baghak.
If the main line be taken to Robat, it may be desirable to save length,
and use 1—80, or steeper, on the branch towards Bund-i-Kamal Khan, instead
of descending the glacis gradually as the line shown on the plan does.
Curvature .—Except among the sandhills previously mentioned, where
sharp curves will be necessary, the curvature will be the same as in ordinary
plain country.
Water-supply .—In one respect the trade route alignment compares
unfavourably with the direct line via the Helmand, namely, in the matter of
water-supply. Judging from the existing wells at the Thanas on the road, a
sufficient supply for a light traffic will probably be obtained for the first 150
miles from INushki, say, as far as Ekmach, where there appears to be a good
underground flow; and possibly for some 10 miles further, where I noticed some
likely looking nulla-beds under the Nuhli Koh. But with the exception of
ISushki, Baghak, the sandhill tracts, and Ekmach, even on this portion of the
line water will be none too plenty. Dplbandin depends upon a karez so small