'Report on the Preliminary Survey of The Route for The Central Persia Telegraph Line from Quetta to Bam and Pahra' [‎62r] (128/162)

I much regret the necessity for having to refer to this unpleasant incident.
It was my desire to suppress the matter, and with that object I refrained from any
mention of the country south of the Koh-i-Sultan in my previous report dated 7th
May 1899.
Letter A. FromH. A. ARMSTRONG, Esq., Assistant Superintendent, IndoPersian Telegraph
Survey, to Captain F. C. Webb Ware, Political Assistant, Chagai,—(No. 13, dated
Koh-i-Malik Seah, the 2nd February 1899).
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I will require to inspect the country
from Ladis in an easterly direction towards Amir Chah, so as to report on the
possibility, and estimate the cost, of constructing a telegraph line from there, or
some other suitable place on the Quetta Koh-i-Malik Seah trade route, to Ladis ;
also, with the same object, I require to survey the country south of the Koh-i-
Sultan range of mountains, so as to select, if possible, some alignment which will
avoid the sandhills on the northern side, and to fix on some suitable place on
the trade route, such as Chah Sundan, or Butag, for a telegraph line to branch
off from the trade route to Ladis.
2. To enable me to do this, I shall be obliged if you will please arrange
for the necessary escort, and for three reliable guides, and let me know when
they can start with me from Ladis.
3. If I can traverse a route south of the Koh-i-Sultan from Ladis to some
place, such as Butag, or Chah Sundan, mentioned in my paragraph 1 above, my
field work will, on arrival at the latter, probably have finished, and I will there
fore be free to return to Quetta, and I shall be obliged if you will kindly make
arrangements in the way of escorts for my doing so. If, however it is necessary
for me to rejoin your party, please let me know your movements, and when you
propose to leave the vicinity of Ladis, so that I can time my work accordingly.
Letter B. From CAPTAIN F. C. Webb Ware, Political Assistant, Chagai, to H. A.
' ARMSTRONG, Esq., Assistant Superintendent, Indo-Persian Telegraph Survey,—(No.
33, dated Camp Killa Robat, the 3rd February 1899).
In reply to your letter No. 13, dated the 2nd instant, requesting me to make
certain arrangements in order that you may bring your field work to a completion
at an early date, I have the honour to inform you that your requirements have
been noted.
2. I propose leaving Koh-i-Malik Seah at an early date, probably on
the 4th or 5th, and expect to reach the vicinity of Mirjawa on, or about, the 10th
or nth. The escort and guides you request will probably be ready to accompany
you to Ladis and Chah Sundan a couple of days subsequent to the latter date.
3. Your proposal to return to Quetta, direct from Chah Sundan, quite meets
my views, and I will facilitate it in every way. I anticipate no difficulty in arrang*
ing escorts from Chah Sundan onwards.
Letter C. From H. A. ARMSTRONG, Esq., Assistant Superintendent, Indq-Persian Telegraph
Survey, to Captain F. C. Webb Ware, Political Assistant, Chagai,—(No. 20, dated
Amir Chah, the 25th February 1899).
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have this day dismissed four of the
men, by name Thagazi, Birphi, Gungol, and Malikshah, deputed by you to
accompany me from Mirjawa to Mirui, as I find they are more of an encumbrance
than use to my party ; they are not guides, neither can they well be considered
an escort, as they are unarmed.
2. In my letter No. 13, dated the 2nd instant, I asked you to please arrange
for three reliable guides for me to travel over the country south of the Koh-i-
Sultan Five of the men appointed by you have never seen any of the route.
Tha-azi has been once to Mirui, but vid Amir Chah, and Manzil. 1 have now
had to come to Amir Chah to search for a few more trustworthy men.
3 On the march to Duzghi on the 23rd instant, both the loading camels
and the riding camels with me strayed from the way, and it was more by chance
than due to the guides’ direction that we eventually found the place. I may
point out to you that there is no marked out track from Mirjawa east to Duzghi,
so that the selection of guides for a traveller on this journey is a matter of more
importance than you have apparently considered it in my case.