'Report of Khan Bahadur Maula Bakhsh, Attaché to the Agent to the Governor General of India and Her Britannic Majesty's Consul-General for Khurasan and Sistan, on His Journey from Meshed to Quetta via Turbat-i-Haidari, Kain, Sistan, Kuh-i-Malik Siah and Nushki (7th April to 28th July 1898)' [‎58v] (121/156)

91
REPORT OF KHAN BAHADUR MAULA BAKHSH
138. A Sistan caravan of about 50 camels which started from Quetta
„ £ ™ i about a month ago passed through Amir
Route from Amir ChSh to Sistan along: the . ° i. r xi ^
southern shore of Gand-i-Zireh through Afghan Chah during OUl* Stay ttiere On its Way
territory taken by Sist4n caravans. ^ Sistan. This Caravan is going
from Amir Chah to Sistan by the Gaud-i-Zireh route, not by Kuh-i-Malik Siab.
As already mentioned above, the Gaud-i-Zireh route is taken by all Sistan
caravans. They go from Amir Chah to
See paragraph 109 (J). ^ through the ^ Lut ” (desert) to
the south of Gaud-i-Zireh.
They halt at Amir Chah for two or three days to refresh their camels*
Then they make two marches through the waterlessLut ” (desert) south of
Gaud-i-Zireh to a group of wells situated on the southern shore of Gaud-i-
Zireh and called Chah-i-Zireh, where they can obtain water.
From Chah-i-Zireh they make two marches across the Shela to Chah-i-
Kachauli, i. e., after starting from Chah-i-Zireh they make the first march to
a waterless place at the south-western corner of Gaud-i-Zireh, whence they go
to Chah-i-Kachauli crossing the Shela at the Cardan Kig ford, and then taking
a line about two miles to the east of Gumbad-i-Shela towards the north till
they reach Chah-i-Kachauli, a shallow well containing water all the year round
situated at about 4 miles north of Gardan Big.
From Chah-i-Kachauli they make a march of 18 miles to Chah-i-Burri
(a group of six wells containing) good water), whence they go (23 miles) to
Khanduk (a group of four or five wells, situated at about a mile to the north
of the ruins of Shahr-i-Sukhta).
From Khanduk they either go to Sihkuha (14 miles) or direct to their
village which they reach in one march.
Thus they perform the journey from Amir Chah to Sihkuha in seven
marches as follows :—
Amir Chah—
Distance in
miles about.
1. u Lut ” desert south of the Gaud-i-Zireh (uo water) • ,
2. Chah-i-Zireh (wells)
3. “ Lut ” (desert) south-western corner of Gaud-i-Zireh (no water)
4. Kachauli (well)
5. Burri (wells)
6. Khanduk (wells) •••.•••.
7. Sihkuha (village)
Total distance about miles.
. 20
. 20
. 20
. 20
. 18
. 23
. 14
. 135
(a) If these caravans go from Amir Chah to Sistan by Bubat-i-Kiih-i-
Ronte between Amir Chah and Sistan rid Rubdt- IVIallk Sidll, they Cannot Teach Sihkuha
i-Kuh-i-Maiik slab iu comparison to the Gaud-i- under thirteen days or about the double
zireb route. the time as follows :—
dr Chah—
1. Zeh (no water) . •
• •
Distance in
miles.
. 21
2. Darana Kuh (no drinking
water)
. 18
3. Saindak (wells) . .
• «
. 26
4. Kirtaka (springs) . ,
• •
. 22
5. Kacha (springs) . .
• •
. 14
6. Bug (karez)
• •
. 17
7. Darra-i-Piran (springs) .
• •
. 16
8. Kubat-i-Kuh-i-Malik Siah (springs).
. . 19
9. Hurmuk (springs)
• •
. 18
10. Gumbad-i-Shela (well) .
• •
. . 23
11. Ramrud (wells) , .
• •
. 13
12. Khanduk (wells) . .
• •
. 22
13. Sihkuha (village) .
• •
. H
Total distance miles. . 242