'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' [‎10r] (19/148)

The above numbers may, however, be taken as repress nting approximately
two-thirds of the total stock the country supports.
40. I am of opinion that, il conditions this year had in other respects proved
favourable to the collection of revenue, many of the nomad Baluch would have
evaded payment by simply crossing the frontier into Afghanistan. When the
district is assessed to revenue, there is no doubt that many will act in this
manner; but I think that the numbers who may do so then will prove but
a small proportion of those who would have done so if the district had been
assessed to revenue thh last year. My reason for supposing so is that, when
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. Muhammad Umar Khan was engaged in demarcating the Baluch-
Afghan boundary in conjunction with Captain McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., he
received instructions from the Amir to inform the nomad Baluch tomai.dars
inhabiting the border districts that they would be exempted from payim-
revenue for the space of two years, and that at the expiration of that period
a nominal sum only would be levied from them. The Amir, no doubt, antici
pated that the demarcation of the frontier would be followed, on our side, by
immediate assessment of Chagai to revenue, and he hoped that, by adopting
the measure* to which I allude, he would encourage emigration into Koh-
i-Pusht and to the other waste lands within his border line. Orders have re
cently reached Farad* from Kabul directing that taxes,f of a far more onerous
nature than the B.duch e\ei anticipated, are to lie levied on all tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. resid
ing within Afghan territory, lire result of these orders is to be perceived
in the steady flow of emigration from Afghanistau which has set in towards
Chagai.
41. Wherever I went, the loc il tomandars greeted me with marked cordia
lity. Acting on my instructions, I made a point of warning all I met that the time
was at hand when Government would assess them to revenue. The announce
ment was received, in some cases, with apparent indifference and with the
remark that Goverr-ment was paramount, and that whatever orders w r ere issued
would he obeyed ; in other cases, with the reply that tire bearer would quit
the district. 1
42. The most satisfactory method of initiating revenue operations in this
district appeared to me to consist in persuading either 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. All Khan, or
some other leading tomandar, to farm the revenue. I suggested this to 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.
Ali Khan, telling him that, while in his case doing so would operate materially
to his pecuniary advantage, it would also tend to re-establish him in the
position he once held in the district. 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. Ali Kh iir, Kaib Dost IMuhammad
and Amir Khan, after several days’ lengthy consultation, eventually submitted,
in writing, the three following proposals, which I uow re-submit for favour of
consideration and ord< rs.
43. The petitioners open their proposals by begging Government to grant
them a respite from all revenue operations till 1898, pointing out that the"" last
two years’ famine killed so many of their cattle and reduced them to such a
plight that imposition of any taxes at present would crush them. In the event
of such a favour being granted, the petitioners declare themselves willing to
pay revenue in future regularly.
The proposals, which are three in number, are as follow
(a) That they should pay Rs. 2,000 cash to Government yearly, the con
tractors being permitted to recoup themselves by levying grazing
fees at the following rates :—Annas twelve per camel, annas six
per cow or bullock, annas two per donkey, and anna one per sheep
or goat.
* Garainsel forms part of the Farah Deputy-Governorship.
t The nature of these taxes appears to vary according to the will of the official entrusted with the duty
0 f levying them. In \\ estern Garamsel, a most unpopular house-tax has been introduced : futher east, the
n ew tax takes the shape of a poll tax.