"تقرير حول طريق القوافل البلوشية الفارسية ومقاطعات نوشكي وجاغي وسنجراني الغربية" [ظ‎‎١‎٢] (٧٢/٢٤)

IS
can as a rule be avoided ; of fuel, there is an abundance; while not a bridge of
more than one span, or engineering work of any magnitude, is requisite. Added
to this, the mineral wealth of the Koh-i-Sultan and the hills to the west, at
present lying untouched, is so considerable as m itself to offer very great
inducements to railway enterprise. Such a railway would plaoe the tra.de of
eastern Persia and Seistan at our feet, unlock such Central Asian maikets as
are now closed, give us a preponderating inffuence in eastern Persia, and open
to India the rich grain fields of Seistan ; while it would he impossible to
estimate the strategical value.
IMPROVEMENTS.
2 As to the stops that might with advantage be taken to develop and
safeguard the road, after the establishment of a British Agent in the capital
of Seistan —in my opinion, a matter that in importance takes precedence of
all,—I would suggest—
(а) That the various thanas he armed so efficiently as to enable them to
vigorously assume the offensive when occasion demands.
( б ) That depots should be constructed at convenient centres (such as at
Eobat, Amirchah, Merli, and Dalbandin) for the supply to
caravans of the necessaries of life. This is a scheme that is worthy
of careful consideration. Its adoption would involve the erection
of expensive godowns at each centre, the appointment of Agents
at Nasirabad and Ncshki to replenish stocks as they ran low,
and the appointment of a small staff, whose pay might well be met
from the profits on sales. Some such scheme as is here suggested
would be ’ quite feasible, would confer great benefit on traders, and
go further than anything else to popularize the route.
(c) That the Amirchah thana should be strengthened. Amirchaii,
as I have shown, dominates the entire western Sinjatani district.
I consider that the strengtli of the thana should never be allowed
to fall below 20 sowars.
(d) That a thana should he established at Saindak, with a branch chauki
midway between that place and Robat.
(e) That a chauki should be erected at Manzil,
(/) That a sufficient sura of money should be placed at my disposal to
meet the wages of a small gang of Pathan labourers for employ
ment, next cold weather, in well-sinking and on such other works
connected with the development of the route as I may consider
most pressing.
(^r) That the caravan route from Nushki to Robat should be marked
throughout by means of piles of stones, posts, lines cut through
“ Tagaz ” jungle, or otherwise.
( h ) That existing facilities for drawing water and watering animals,
especially horses, should be increased. As grass is to he found
throughout, the possibility of a considerable trade in remounts is
to be anticipated.
(i) That a substantial chauki should he built at Kishingi, and two
additional Levy sowars entertained for the Quetta-Nushki dak
service with head-quarters at Kardagap.
(j) That an official should be appointed in Quetta to afford every
assistance to kajilat and traders, to place them in touch with the
best markets for the sale and purchase of goods, and to supervise
their interests generally.