'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎113v] (231/386)

' 83. In view of these binding instructions, difficulties in obtaining any
satisfactory settlement were anticipated in Colonel McMahon’s letter of the 5th
November 190^, enclosing a memorandum regarding the Perso-Baluch boundary
and asking for instructions- He referred to the clauses of the^ Holdich agree
ment {vide paragraph 75) and pointed out that the Persian version of the above
clauses to which the British and Persian Commissioners attached their signa
tures read somewhat differently, i.e., as follows “ from pillar 11 to the north the
£tud-i-Talab has been fixed as the boundary to the junction of the llud-i-
Mirjawa, and from that place, in a straight line to the nearest peak of the
Mirjawa range which is the limit of all the drainage from the north, to the
Bud-i-Mirjawa, and from that place from the top of the peak of the Kacha Koh
being drawn from the direction of the north wull run to the end of height of the
point of Kacha Koh and from that place being drawn in a straight line it will
run to the highest point of the Koh-i-Malik Siah.” The Persian definition of
the boundary by itself was unintelligible, but a signed map was given to the
Persian Commissioner illustrating the boundary. He pointed out that Colonel
Holdich’s boundary followed the main watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. in the western range of the
Kacha Koh as far as a point abreast of the highest peak of the Kacha Koh, but
stated that this highest peak was on the eastern line of hills and 700 feet higher
than any hill on the western range. He also stated that there appeared to be no
Mirjawa river. If there was any such river it was the stream flowing down from
Ladis. Assuming that by the Mirjawa river, the Dar-i-Ghiaban was meant
as shown by the agreement map and that the junction of that river and the
Talab w as the point where the Talab river first began to be called by that name
—assumptions necessary to render the English version of the agreement intelli
gible—then such a line would very likely be detrimental to British interests.
This line from the junction of the Mirjawa and Talab rivers—a point to
be determined by local investigation—runs along the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. from some point
abreast of Mirjawa, as follows :
Through peaks 5998 and 5113, leaving Gurandi and Bug springs on the
right. Thence in a curved course to peak 6977, and onwards in a figure of 8,
leaving peak 7157 and the Mazawad and Bagh springs on the right, and Shorab
Pass on the left, it passes through the Bagaiwad Pass to peak 7033. Thence
turning north-east, it runs to peak 7714, which is the highest peak of Kacha
Koh. Prom here, according to the definition, the line of boundary runs
straight to the highest point of the Koh-i-Malik Siah, i.e. t peak 5392 on which
boundary pillar No. 186 of the Baluch-Afghan boundary is erected.
Erom the highest peak of Kacha Koh to near Mirjawa the boundary line
as thus drawn, called for but little remark, and was unobjectionable in itself.
Near Mirjawa, however, it presented difficulties, for the straight line from the
junction of the Mirjawa and Talab rivers u to the nearest point of the watershed”
was very likely to bring our Padaha post and well within Persian territory.
84. From the highest peak of the Kacha Koh onwards, the boundary line
as above drawn was open to serious objections-*®
(1) It ran too close to our post at Kobat to be convenient. The fort
and spring were only 423 yards within British territory.
(2) It brought within Persian territory a valuable alternative route to
Bobat via Kacba and Bug Thanas and the Piran spring.
(3) It brought the boundary line inconveniently close to the trade route,
and included in Persia several neighbouring springs of water in
the valleys running down to that route, which would afford facili
ties to raiders and robbers.
(4) Moreover, it might some day be of great advantage to us to own these
upper valleys, in order to furnish British officers and officials,
who might have to be stationed at Bobat, with some place near
at hand where they could temporarily escape from the heat and
unhealthiness of Bobat in summer.
85. To continue the boundary line along the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. of all the hills, north
of Kacha Koh, draining eastwards into British territory, would necessitate a
line from peak 7033 (near Bagaiwad Pass) stretching far westwards to the
crest of the Buzaf, Lakshak and Wawaila ranges. This would bring the
Persian routes from Seistan to Bampur, Ladis and Jalk, via Huzdap, within
our territory and would naturally be strongly objected to by the Persians.