'Military Report on Persian Seistan' [‎12v] (29/188)

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through which the river flows from the Kanak plateau to the Kardagap
plateau. But it is in the last descent into Nushki where, owing to the steep
ness, the special difficulty comes in.
The water between Quetta and Nushki is impregnated J[with salt, and is
also scarce, but not so scarce as a casual traveller on the road might be led to
imagine. Between Kardagap and Nushki, quite apart from the four welB
known wells at Kishingi and the water in the Kaisar river, which supplies
Nushki, there are at least eleven small springs or wells (not counting dry
wells) all more or less available for troops coming down towards Nushki,
though not all close to the trade route. Fuel is also a very important ques
tion, for the only wood procurable is the tamarisk, which is found in a few
localities several miles apart. General John Jacob, Commandant of the
Sind Cavalry, pointed out, half a century ago, how important was the
strategical position of Nushki. Its geographical position in the break
between the Sarlat and Has Koh hills, at the point where the general lie of
the ranges begins to change from north and south, with a sweep round
to the past and west lie of the Kharan hills ; its position as the natural
junction of all the roads from north, south, east and west, but more espe
cially of all the roads leading from the Helmand by the shortest way into
India; and, finally, its position on the flank of the defensive line of the
Khwaja Amran range; all these mark Nushki as a place of commanding
military and future commercial importance.
From Nushki the trade route is practicable throughout in fine weather; an
ekka has, in fact, been driven along it, but it is better suited for camel
transport : it passes through an ideal camel country, flat and sandy, with
camel-grazing procurable everywhere.
The track is a neatly aligned unmetalled road, 18 feet wide. Water is
plentiful and sufficiently good at all stages, except at the six stages between
Tratoh and Saindak, stages 12 to 17, inclusive. These same six stages have
the additional disadvantage of being very far apart, the distance from
Mushki Chah to Salub Chah being as much as 28.J miles. The realignment of
this part of the road is at present under consideration. The water-supply
on the road between stages is bad.
Supplies are now obtainable in small quantities from the store depdts at
the different stages, but troops would have to carry supplies, although it
might be possible to collect a small amount from the Nushki and Dal-
bandin cultivation, or supplies could be laid in along the route from Nushki
at one end and from Seistan at the other. From Chah Sandan (stage 11) to
Seistan the supply of firewood is very scarce; supplies of firewood might be
laid in at these stages from Mind (stage 10).
West of Nushki the road traverses an open, almost level, and nearly sand
less plain, where water is to be obtained at every stage in quantities suffi-
cient for all purposes, where camel-grazing, except in the depths of winter,
is luxuriant, and where the necessaries of life, and indeed many of the luxuries,
can be obtained, at reasonable prices, from the shops which have been estab
lished for the convenience of travellers at intervals of every three or four
marc hes. Some marches exceed 25 miles, but this defect can be rectified,
when funds are available, by digging wells at intervening stages. The
country between Nushki and Iratoh, so far from being a desert devoid of
life, supports a fairly numerous population of nomad Baluch, and affords
pasturage for many flecks of sheep and herds of camels. Beyond Saindak,