'Military Report of the Nushki-Chagai-Western Sinjarani Country' [‎59r] (122/302)

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103
“ It was proposed to try and sink 16 new wells, but I doubt their being
very successful, as we have no entrenching tools. Besides, the rock, which
l the water-bearing stratum, seems hard enough to require dynamite.
However, allowing them to hold 150 gallons a piece, icse we s g
increase the supply by about 2,500 gallons, giving a possible total o
8 ,coo gallons, which should be ample for any echelon of the Mlss {° *
“ Have recommended there should be at least 36 hours interval between
each echelon. . , f
“ The Amir has sent 400 masaks (four on a camel) to carry water
our halting-place in the Lut, which will probably be Garmashki.
Obviously we cannot take water from here for use at that pface, so M r
sends back the whole to the Helmand, where they are to be filled and
brought to Garmashki in time to meet the first echelon They will have
to be emptied as rapidly as possible by the latter, and started off again
to the river, where they will be re-filled and brought back for the secoi
echelon, and so for the others. ..... , . » __
“The distance from Garmashki to Khwaja Ah is supposed to be 2 o or
25 miles. Consequently 12 hours must be allowed for the journey, or
24 there and back. Adding the time of detention at Garmashki and at
the Helmand, it will not be safe to calculate on the camels reaching
Garmashki a second time in less than 48 hours, which will consequently
have to be the interval between the arrival of echelons at that place.
Therefore, there need be no difficulty about their succeeding each other at
Galla Chah at the same interval.
“There are said to be three mines here, 2 or 3 mi es off, near the base
of Ainak, which by the way completely shuts out Dokand from t ic camp
ing place. One is a saltmine, one a sulphur mine, and the third ot
rock crystal or marble. The Amir has been conveying a quan 1 y ° “
latter to Kabul. Many specimens of a semi-transparent line crysta line
stone are lying about near the ziarat, and some of marble with red
Vei “Sukaluk is nearly due west from here, beyond a low black range. It
appears to be about 10 miles distant, and is among hills, lo its north is
a rather conspicuous light-coloured hill, called Masiskap.
“ The direction of Khwaja Ali is pointed out as being about north-west.
There are two tracks from the 2 / 0 ™/, one over low hills, the other more
to the left, towards the water-course. The latter passes a very con
spicuous little red hill a mile or two off. They are said to meet at no
great distance. .
“ On account of the precarious nature of the water-supply in the stages
from Quetta to the Helmand the Boundary Commission, including^ of
course the escort and followers, was divided into three echelons or parties.
“ The total of the party moving across the desert amounted to—
33 Europeans. I 5 r 4 Horses.
I >549 Natives, with | 3^9 Mules and ponies.
1,601 Camels.
“ One hundred and five pairs of ca.me\ pakha/s were made foi the
Mission in Karachi. There are also some thirty pairs of mule pakhals.
Every sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. of the cavalry detachment has also a small tnasak to be cai-
ried under the horse’s belly, like the frontier cavalry. They contain about