The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume X, No. 6 [‎96v] (45/186)

584
RECENT JOURNEYS IN PERSIA.
Grant’s journey, some ninety years ago, no European had travelled to
Bampur by Geh.
Before entering Persian Baluchistan, however, a few words as to its
character would perhaps not be out of place. The whole of the coast
line from Bashikird nearly to Karachi is spoken of as Makran, the dis
trict extending inland as far as the first important range of hills, thus
including a strip of land from 60 to 70 miles wide. For some 20 to 40
miles from the coast there is a sand desert, with small hamlets, which
draw their supply of water from shallow wells. Behind this is another
belt of about the same size, consisting of low hills composed of mud or
slate. Proceeding further inland, it will be noticed that there are con
tinuous ranges of mountains running from east to west parallel to the
sea, and so regular is this formation, that all attempts at opening up
communications in these parts must be done either to the east or west,
as any road direct to the coast will lead across range after range of
rugged hills.
Thanks to the kindness of Mr. Possman, the director-general
of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. telegraphs, we found camels awaiting us (at
Chahbar), and, owing to the exertions of Mr. Lovell, in charge of the
telegraph office, we were able to get twenty-seven of these uncouth
beasts of burden loaded up the day after landing. The quarrels as
to the partition of loads, and the interest taken by so many people
in the camels, revealed to us the fact that several of these animals
were divided into legs, each of which had a separate owner. The
usual plan, we were informed, was for the driver to have one leg’s
interest in each camel, which was allowed in lieu of wages and
rations.
Oi;r first march brought us to Tez, the famous Arab port in mediaeval
times, but now no signs of departed greatness exist, except the innumer
able tombs of deceased worthies, and we had to drink filthy water out of
a shallow hole, and be thankful that there was enough for all our party.
Although marching by day was terribly trying for man and beast
alike, the Baluchis spent so long in wrangling over the loads, and in
tying them on, that it was 10 a.m. before the last of our camels started
off for the second march, and, as the heat was terrible, our horses very
soon began to give in. We therefore halted for several hours in the
shade, near some water-holes, riding on to camp in the evening.
We there found only about half of our caravan, the other portion
having halted 2 or 3 miles back, in a rage at being compelled to march
some 12 miles, as they said that 7 miles is the limit of a march in
Baluchistan. Travellers in this country should be provided with an
inexhaustible fund of patience, as the only part that the Baluchi camel-
driver plays is to try and prevent any load whatever being put on his
camel, while, if at all discontented, he will decamp without giving any