'Report on the Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani Districts for the year 1897-98 and on the Development of The Quetta-Seistan [Sistan] Trade Route' [‎3r] (5/148)

CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 261.
From
Lieut. F. C. WEBB WARE,
Political Assistant, Cbagai,
To
The AGENT to the GOVERNOR-GENERAL in BALUCHISTAN.
Quetta, 18M June 1898.
Sib,
I have the honour to forward for your information my annual report
on the administration of the Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani District*
as well as on the development of the Quetta-Seistan trade route.
, , the condition of the Nushki District has distinctly improved and
lawlessness has materially abated there, still the state of the country continues
o ’e far from satisfactory, and under present conditions there is not much hope
that the improvement will continue. The reasons for this will be found detailed
in Appendix I annexed to this report under the heading "Nushki.”
• ^ 8 * f ^ ^ to able to report that, owing to the encouragement
H to ^ rade b y tb e action of Government in abolishing Nushki transit dues,
le record of the year 1897-98 is in this respect one of steady advancement.
of 7 e ^ ineS sh ° W the total trade for the J ear 1896 amounted to lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
S ^ ° f Rs * 5 ’ 89 ’ 929 - 8 - 0 f or the year under Review,
^ a anCG ° f 1 i S * 4 ^ 9 > 9 29-8-0, while from such of the trade
letums of the current year as have come to hand I am able to say that the
trade along this route still continues to expand. J
which*T trp£ ass f. ssi ?^ the Cha g ai district to revenue is one of
^hich 1 treat tuliy m Appendix I under the heading “ Chagai. ,,
f 1 wou l d ask leave to respectfully urge on Government the importance
of at aching effiem of the Survey, Geological Survey and Intdligence
Departments to my camp next cold weatlier, in order that the more pressine
lequirements of the country, connected with their respective Department^
may be expeditiously and efficiently taken in hand. I would also ask that
instructions may be issued, by as early a date as possible, regarding the points
iveath 1 . t m,V aU 1 eDtl " n should be particularly devoted during the ensuing cold
■ tou ‘> , Ir * this connection, I would suggest that, after completing the
,lection of the five thanas and thirteen block houses along the caravan^road
MK.u d, if time permits, first devote my attention to the erection of boundary
KohiV* a-' S «- t i! at I) ? rt i 0a o£ the Berso-Baluch frontier which lies between
Kohi-Mahk-Siah and the mouth of the Talab river, a duty which the
frn B i a U ° h t ? < ? UU l dary Commission omitted to complete. Should this
p posal meet with the approval of Government, I would further surest that
discretionary powers be given me to enter either Seistan or Sarhad, D as I mav
expedlent ’ for f he purpose of replenisliing supplies and of gaining
influence in a country where Europeans have been but little seen. My visit
to he is tan in the spring of 1897 afforded me an opportunity of makfn.r an
affiy^Xd good Sr* 1 ° ffiCialS aDd SardarS ° f that C0Untry > Which " l,as
is tot foundl^he 111 tT 06 .- 0 the fu, ' ther a r el °P meilt of «>e caravan route
t further the toterli rTn l 6 meas,ires tak en by Russian officers striving
ittiei the interests of that country at the expense of India. The steps
taken to crush Indian trade under the pretext of protecting the Perso-Afo-han
e" ed wtoi^f 6 wil1 b ^ound deta'iled in Appendix fll. Reports Cm
Sek tot’* n,n t corroborated by ad vie is from our temporary Agent in
.tan, point to renewed Russian activity in the direction of Seistan ; and as
b 56—1
' Hospital Assistant Abas Ali.