'Report on the Preliminary Survey of The Route for The Central Persia Telegraph Line from Quetta to Bam and Pahra' [‎59v] (123/162)

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At about ly-J miles from Galugan the course leaves the Rood Mahee, and
ascends over stony ground for 3 miles, direction, a little west of north west, to a
pass in the Sianacoa range of hills. The ascent for about half a mile to the top
of the pass is very steep, and difficult for laden animals, as also is the descent
for about half a mile at the other side. After crossing this range of hills, a broad
desert plain is seen extending far away to the west up to and beyond Bam. The
course from the Sianacha hills to Hyderabad for 6 or 7 miles continues down a
gentle slope, over sandy gravelly surface, direction a little south west. Hyderabad
is a sort of oasis in 1 he surrounding desert, and contains about } square mile of
cultivated land; its population consists of about 30 men, and some women and
children ; these live in gidans, or little blanket tents. The supply of water from
a small open stream is plentiful and good. Between Galugan and Hyderabad,
about 17 miles from the former, there is a suitable place for camping on one of
the banks of the Rood Mahee. There is a good supply of water near which
springs out of the ground at intervals, and disappears again after flowing a short
Hyderabad to Ma Z a ab-i2 miles. distance. From Hyderabad some sign of
a track appears leading west, and for the
first 3 miles ascends over sandy gravelly ground to the top of a low range of
shaley hills, then descends gradually for another 3 miles the same hills, in a^west
south west direction ; the last 6 miles to Mazarab are almost due west over a
stony plain, surface mixed with sand in some places. The water from * springs
at Mazarab is very brackish, and not good. ‘ ^
is in direction about
The course from Mazarab to Shorguz is in direction about 15 0 south of
west, for the first co miles over flat open
K desert country, surface sandy gravelly, and
for the most part absolutely bare ; the last 5J miles to Shorguz are through
sand hills, varying in height from about 10 to 40 feet. Shorguz is the name of
acamping ground, near the sand hills. The place is difficult to find, as there is
no good land mark near. It possesses one well of brackish water.
From Shorguz to Fahreh, the general direction is about west south west •
q, . t, u T 1 •, first 5 miles over flat sandy ground, on which
a few tamansh trees grow, next 25 miles over
a sandy plain with surface of fine gravel, on which for the most part there is no
sign of growth of any sort. At the 13th mile from Shorguz is the Mil-FNadir
or pillar of Nadir. This has already been described in paragraph 18 of my
report. The track for the last miles to Fahreh is over flat cultivated m-ound.
Fahreh is a small village of about 200 houses, situated on the south west^border
of the Kerman desert; its population is probably about 500 people, and a very poor
looking lot these are. Ordinary supplies can be procured here in small quantities.
There is a fine grcve of about 300 date trees on the north side of the village.
Between Hyderabad and Fahreh, a distance of 69 miles, there is not a sign
of life to be seen anywhere, and no decent drinking water procurable midway.
From Fahreh, the track for the first 4 miles is in a west south west direction
Fahreh to Vakeeiabad-xSf miles. ^ ^ 0 P ei '> country, barren pat soil mixed
with a good deal of sand. At the 4 th mile
is JNymabad, a small village of about 100 houses, and a population of about ^00
people. From Nymabad the track turns ^est, and continues over soft soil^on
which is a plentiful growth of tamarish trees and thick jungle. The country in
this vicinity very much resembles Sind. At the 12th mile from Fahreh
Husseinabad, a smaH village of about 100 houses, is passed. From here the
track turns to west north west, and continues on over flat cultivated country
with a few small villages scattered about at intervals. Vakeelabad contains a
large walled in garden, about 270 yards square, owned by Vakeel-el-Mulk also
a small village of about 40 houses, with a total population of about 200 peonle
Ordinary supplies in fair quantities are procurable here. ^
From Vakeelabad, the track traverses flat open country and, after leavin
Vakeelabad to Bam—i8j miles. the cultivation about 1 mile west of Vakeel
. , , . ' „ abad > continues in a west north west direc
hon over a barren plain, with gravelly surface, for 15 miles, until the Suburbs c
Bam are reached. u