""تقرير عن تطوير طريق القوافل البلوشية الفارسية ومقاطعات نوشكي وجاغي وسنجراني الغربية، لسنة ١٨٩٩-١٩٠٠" [ظ‎‎١‎٣] (٦٤/٢٦)

REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE BALUCH-PERSIAN CARAVAN ROUTE AND
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I have overcome this difficulty, at Dalbandin, by building a Hour mill near the thana. This
mill will shortly be in working order.
60. It was found that the most suitable alignment for the caravan road west of^ Dalban
din passed half a mile from the small serai which was built at Chakul in 1899. lo divide
the distance between Dalbandin and Sotasr into two marches of equal, or nearly equal, length,
a good water-supply somewhere between these stages was the first desideratum. A tew miles
west of Dalbandin, and a few miles east of Sotag, excellent water is to be found, but unfor
tunately neither of these places divide the distance. Test wells have been sunk at several
suitable places and water—but not of a quality to satisfy me—has been found. I trust that
further search will prove successful, but until it does travellers will be compelled to make use
of the old Chakul serai.*
61. The Sotag serai was found to meet the requirements of travellers, so all that has
been done to this halting-place has been to fit one of the existing wells with a watering
trough and windlass for drawing water.
62. The thana built at Merui in 1897, with the additions to the building made in 1898-99,
suffices to meet the needs of the thanadar and levy establishment. The Merui thana
was improved during the year by heightening and strengthening the outer walls and by
erecting four double-storyed defensive towers. The block-housef which crowns the summit of
a hill overlooking the thana was rebuilt, and the water-supply was further improved by the
addition of a new well, nine feet in diameter and 28 feet deep. A flour mill is also being built
here.
63. The march to Chah Sandan has been divided by a well sunk at Gut. This well
offered no difficulty as water was found close to the surface of the ground.
64-. The comfort and security of the local levies manning the Chah Sandan chowki has
been increased by converting the old chowki into a strong post and by building additional
levy accomodation on to it. The wants of travellers have also received attention and a new
well yielding an abundant supply of good water has been sunk. Three more rooms have also
been added to the travellers’ serai.
65. The new road, on leaving Chah Sandan, strikes almost due west to Tratoh. The 24
miles which separate Tratoh from Chah Sandan make the march too long for heavily laden
camels to negociate with comfort in one day, so I am dividing the distance by sinking wells 12
miles west of Chah Sandan. The work on these wells is in progress.
66. The accommodation provided for travellers at Tratoh X consists of a serai of four
rooms with a small court-yard in front, the whole being encircled by an eight-foot wall. Two
wells at this halting-place have been provided with watering troughs and windlasses for
drawing water.
67. The next stage west of Tratoh is Kundi, a very well known halting-place on the
direct Kharau-Garmsel caravan-road. 1 have built a two-roomed travellers’ serai at Kundi,
but as this stage lies south of the alignment which a direct road from Merui to Mashki Chah
should follow, and as there are several other weighty reasons § which militate against Kuudi
being made a permanent stage on the Nushki-Seistan caravan-road, I have intentionally
refrained from doing very much here. I would venture to call attention to the recom
mendations I have made in paragraph 51 of this Appendix on the subject of realigning the
road between Merui and Mashki Chah and of providing water for caravans at stages of every
10 miles throughout.
68. The new post at Masbki Chab consists of a strong rectangular building flanked by
four towers. 'Ihe post is planned to contain quarters for the levies which man it, a small
travellers’ serai and accomodation for a shop.
69. The next stage west is Sahib Chab, 26 miles from Masbki Chah, Here a small lew
shelter has been built and two wells have been dug. The distance, I note, between Mashki
Cha^h and Sahib Chah and the 23 miles which separate Sahib Chah from Makak Karez, the
next stage west, make both these marches too long for heavily laden caravans to negociate in
a day ; 1 am therefore arranging to divide both these marches by further wells.|| Two wells
at Sahib Chah have been fitted with windlasses and iron watering troughs.
70. The water-supply at Makak is drawn from an open karez. To make a regulation
stage here all that is necessary is to build quarters for the local levies and to provide a travel
ler s serai. Ihe former has been done and the latter will be taken in hand shortly. I continue
to experience much difficulty in obtaining labour. The Nomad Baluch of the country are
unsatisfactory, not to say nearly useless, as they only work until they have made a little
money and then wander off.
progress! nCC Wntlng this 1 bave received information tbat good water has been struck and that work on a serai is in
f This building was, it will be remembered, much shaken by an earth-quake shock in the spring of 1899.
rectll dated too a far e f Xe ?i, t0 thi ® re P® rt ; 0n the SurT ey of India map Tratoh is not shown at all, and Kundi is incor-
i-Sultan range arevery faulty 00 ^' ^ 18 ^ t0 reB,elnber that a11 the exi8 ting maps of the country south of the Koh-
°f, tbe oi'iof reasons is that the water yielded by these wells is
an objectionable taste. I am having this water analysed. il
il The wells between Mashki Cbab and Sahib Cbah are nearly ready.
impregnated with salt which impart to it