"تقرير عسكري عن بلاد فارس - المجلد I ١٩٣٠" [و‎‎٤‎١] (١٥٤/٨٦)

Prices of petrol, which vary in the above named towns
and villages, are dependent on the distance of the latter
from the main bases of supply; thus in January 1930 the
price of 1 Pood ( = 36 lbs.) of Petrol at Duzdap was Krans
26at Birjand Krans 29, at Qain Krans 32 and in
Meshed Krans 35.
(ii) Horse transport .—North of Birjand, and between
the main towns, such as Meshed, Sabzavar, Kuchan
Bujnurd and Askhabad, the two or four horsed fourgon is
the normal horsed vehicle.
These vehicles are usually in the hands of Caucasian or
Tabriz! Turks, as are the numerous phaetons of Meshed
city.
The four horsed fourgon will carry 2,000 lbs., will
average 4^—5 miles an hour and use any track that is
passable for a field gun. They are like farm wagons about
10'x2' 6", the sides splaying out to about 6'. Covering is •
afforded by wooden bands which are arched over and
usually covered by tarpaulins.
In the North the two-wheeled “ araba ” of Turkistan is
to be found with one pony in the shafts. These carry
about 500 lbs.
A force should be able to impress some 100 fourgons
and 300 arabas in the Meshed-Bujnurd area.
(iii) Camels, can be divided into two categories: —
(a) The Kurdish (including Bactrian Turkoman).
(b) The Baluchi (including Herat!, etc.).
The former will carry a load of 430 lbs., march 3 miles
an hour and will traverse tracks which are barely passable
for Indian mules.
Their saddlery, which includes strong wide girths and
breast plates is, as a rule, good.
The latter will carry a load of some 500 lbs., march a
little over 2 miles an hour and are of little use in hilly
country.
Their saddlery is, as a rule, of poor quality and
defective.
(iv) Mules.—The mule carries a load of about 350 lbs.,
will march 4J miles an hour, cover 20 to 25 miles a day,
and can keep up with infantry over anything but the
roughest going. He is hardy and willing and needs no
grooming..