The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume IX, No. 4 [‎207r] (84/172)

THE SOUTHERN BORDERLANDS OF AFGHANISTAN. 40J
passing from the country of the Ghilzais and Kakars into that of the
Atchakzai and other Durani tribes, we got into the Kadanai valley It
was now late in December, the cold was very severe, and our thermo-
meteifc registered as low as 8° below zero. It became a serious question
whether we would be able to get over the high Toba mountains which
lay between us and the Chaman plain before the heavy winter snow
set in, and snowed us up for the winter. As it was, we ran it rather
fine, or we only succeeded in getting our camp over the high Kaniasu
pass the evening before heavy snow set in and entirely closed the
passes we had just used. The following night, although we were
encamped m a deep, narrow sheltered valley, the cold was intense,
and no less than eight of our baggage camels were frozen to death.
This hastened our movements, and we lost no time in getting down
into the plain north of Chaman.
We reached the little frontier cantonment of Chaman on Christmas
Eve, 1894, where we saw the first new white faces we had seen for
exactly nine months. Needless to say, our Christmas was made a very
pleasant one by the kind hospitality of the Chaman garrison.
Those who visit Chaman generally think they have reached the end
ol the world, and can hardly realize the feelings with which we viewed
that dreary little station. To us it seemed, after our wanderings in the
wilds, a veritable metropolis of civilization.
The Afghan commissioner, 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. Gul Mahommad Khan, was now
succeeded by 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. Mahommad Umar Khan, the chief of the great
Nurzai Durani tribe.
Proceeding southwards from Chaman, we completed boundary demar
cation by June, 1895, as far as Ghwazha. From Domandi to Ghw^azha
a boundary-line of some 360 miles had now been demarcated.
The summer heat put a stop to any attempt to do farther boundary
work in the deserts beyond. Work was suspended, and the mission
temporarily dispersed. We met again in the following January, 1896.
Many changes had taken place in the composition of the British mission,
and our party now consisted of Captain H. F. Walters (24th Baluches)
and Lieut. F. C. Webb W r are (7th Bombay Lancers), who were in
command of the infantry and cavalry portions respectively of our
escort. Surgeon-Captain F. F. Maynard came as our medical officer,
zoologist, geologist, botanist, and meteorologist. Mr. G. P. Tate, a
fellow of this Society, took Captain Mackenzie’s place as survey officer.
With survey establishment’s escort, tribal headmen, and followers, we
numbered altogether some 650 men, with 750 camels and 100 horses.
The Afghan commissioner and his camp were the same in numbers and
composition as before.
By the end of February, notwithstanding a heavy snowfall on the
mountains, we had finished boundary work along the Khwaja Amran
and Sarlat ranges to the south of Shorawak, and entered near Nushki
No. IV.— April, 1897.] 2 e