'Military Report of the Nushki-Chagai-Western Sinjarani Country' [‎16r] (36/302)

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The Commission experienced bitterly cold weather and lost a
number of camels on the road, and a few followers. Three different
routes were used by the Mission to cross the Registan to the
Helmand, and the following is the account of the three routes
traversed, given by Colonel A. H. McMahon :—
“ (1) From Galur via Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Khan Chah to Landi Wali
Muhammad. [ Route No. 19 (a).]
(2) From Salihan via Arbu to same place. [ Route No.
22 (a).]
(3) From Mamu to Khwaja Ali via Galla Chah. [Route
No. 21 (a).]
f< Th^se routes have proved very easy and satisfactory ones.
The distances without water work out as follows, i.e.. in the case
of—
(1) 54£ miles.
(2) 56 „
(3) 49 „
“ No party had any trouble in getting ample water at the
watering places for 1 heir requirements. Until two old wells now
filled up at Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Khan Chah are cleaned out, it would perhaps
be unwise to send a large number of men by that route, but our
whole force* could easily have gone in one party by route (2), and
a very much larger force than our combined one could have come
by route (3).
“ Apart from this several alternative routes can be used from
Nushki to the points whence the start across the desert has to be
made, i.e., Galur, Salihan, and Mamu, with as much or more water
at their different stages as on the route we traversed. Another good
route across the desert leads off from Sukaluk to Khwaja Ali, a^dis-
tance of about 48 miles. Ihere is ample water at Sukaluk, which
can be reached by either the route we now took to Mamu or via
Robat and the route taken by the Baluch-Afghan Boundary Com
mission in 1896.
“ I mention this to show that, as far as water difficulties are
concerned, there is nothing in the country between Nushki and the
Helmand to impede the advance of large bodies of both men and
ammals.' , ■ ,
Although Khwaja Ali is less than 2,000 feet above sea level,
the nights were cold, and the Mission experienced about 10 decrees
of frost.
This route offers a line for a railway from Nushki to the
Helmand valley and thence to Seistan.
* Strength —
British officers
...
... 12
Warrant officers
... 2
Native Attaches
#•«%
... 3
Men
... 1,464
Horses
• ••
... 156
Riding camels
%%%
... 49
Baggage camels
...
... 2,200