'Military Report of the Nushki-Chagai-Western Sinjarani Country' [‎17v] (39/302)

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this route, and, with the exception of the want of water between
Arbu and the Helmand, it was found to “present no difficulties for
infantry, cavalry, and pack transport.
“ There are, however, a few places where sand-hills are met
with and, though some of these might he avoided, the route would
be difficult in places, though not impracticable for guns and wheeled
transport.^— [Dougins)
As far as difficulties of water-supply are concerned, it is con
sidered that 1,000 men with the necessary transport could easily
cross the desert by this route alone, and, perhaps, in a favourable
year, double this number might be got across. As there are
several other routes by which it is possible to cross the desert, it
may perhaps be allowed that Captain Webb-Ware’s estimate
was sufficiently reliable as a rough calculation.
Rou es Nos. ^ us hki to Chagai .—There are two roads. The direct
23 and 24. road ma Muhabbat and Thai is'86 miles, 5 stages, and the longer
road by the north of the Lora hamun vid Sinduri, Husain Nawar,
and Kani is 94 miles, 6 stages.
Both roads are fit for came 1 s, but owing to sand drifts the
direct road would be distressing to any troops, and almost imprac
ticable for wheeled artillery ; there are more sand drifts on the
shorter road than on the longer road, which is also the Shah Ismail
road as far as stage 5, and is good for marching and fit for wheeled
artillery. The short road across the hamun would be impossible
in wet weather, and it would then be necessary to use the loncrer
route which avoids this hamun. Supplies must be carried. Water,
fuel, and camel grazing are procurable at all stages, but water is
not abundant, and at Ihal it must be dug for. From Thai there
is also the choice of passing round the south of the hamun by
Zarala. Supplies in small quantities are procurable at Chagai.
Routes Nos. 13- Chagai via Barab Chah or Mamu to SuJcaluk .—From
25, 26 and 34 . Chagai there is again a choice of routes. The road to Sukaluk
branches at the 42nd mile from Chagai, 6 miles before reach in o-
Barab Chah. The left branch, lloute No. 25, proceeds by an easy
ascent of about 80 feet into the Barab Chah plain down the centre
of which drains a shallow sandy nala which is good going for all
arms. Thence via Samuli and Robat to Sukaluk, 89 miles, 7
stages. The right branch, Route No. 26, goes via Shorakin,
Kuchen, Mamu, and Itobat and is 94 miles, 7 stages.
There is a direct road from Mamu to Khwaja Ali skirting the
western limits of a great desert, about 1,500 square miles in 'area ;
although shorter than the road via Sukaluk, it is so totally devoid'
of water that it is seldom used. The road vid Robat and Sukaluk,
on the other hand, is frequently used by kafilas.
Both the roads from Chagai to Sukaluk are fit for laden camels,
but are inferior to the road leading from Shah Ismail to Mamu
and Cralla Chah, as neither the going nor the water-supply are so
uniformly good and capable of development. For cavalry, how
ever, and in a lesser degree for infantry, these would serve as use
ful auxiliary roads to the main line by Shah Ismail, or for all arms,
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