'Military Report of the Nushki-Chagai-Western Sinjarani Country' [‎11v] (27/302)

armed with cow-skin buckets and raw-hide ropes, 150 feet in length,
to enable them to draw water from the wells which are often
very deep. For a lightly equipped, handy force, the difficulties
of the Kegistan, always supposing the tribes inhabiting it to
be friendly, may be overcome by energy, readiness to appreciate
local customs, and by the use of modern appliances. No doubt
care, forethought, preparation and previous local enquiry would
be needed, and an efficient guide well acquainted with the country
is an absolute necessity. Roads and tracks are soon obliterated
by the sand; moreover, because there is water in a certain spot
in one year, it does not follow that any will be found there in the
next year. Incautious travellers have before this lost their way,
and perished in the desert.
In June 1903 Lieutenant Rose-Price reported as follows:
u It appears impossible to give a lasting report upon the water-
supply, or the grazing. At the various stages along the trade-
route the permanent garrisons of levies, etc., are so small that a
few wells suffice for their needs as regards water-supply. The
remaining wells, which are unused, are liable to become stagnant
and foul, or to be filled up with sand. For this reason, although
there may be reported to be, at a certain stage, so many wells ,*80
much water, etc., on a certain date, it by no means follows that
this amount of water will be there at future times. At stages
where the water-supply is obtained by sinking pits in nala beds,
the same remarks apply, as regards the uncertainty of the supply’
though from a different cause. A fall of rain causes freshets m
these nalas, which come down with great force and wash away
dams, or fill up pits, thus necessitating further work to produce
water. It would, therefore, appear that no certain report on the
water-supply can be made and that, should a force intend to march
along this route, it would be necessary for a reconnaissance to be
sent ahead to find out the actual conditions of the water-supply
at the time. The grazing, as regards value and quality, vanes
according to the years and seasons. On the outward march of the
Signalling parties, in January and February 1903, the grazing
was poor and innutritious, doubtless because the country had been
suffering from two years’ drought. In June 1908 the grazing
was very good, owing to several heavy falls in the spring.”
It may be added that the above remarks are applicable not
only to the trade route, but to the whole of the Siniarani country,
in whatever direction it may be desired to move troops it would
be advisable to send out a party, not only to reconnoitre the road
and to report on the water-supply, but to clean out old wells, dio*
tresh wells and pits, and thus renovate the supply. &
The rain is the main factor in deciding whether troops can
be moved through this country or not, as on the rainfall depends,
not only the water-supply, but the grazing for the camels!
December and early spring are the seasons when rain may be
normally expected. After good spring rains, the whole face of the
country is changed, and roads, formerly impracticable for want