448 report — 1879. 



Valley and Dera Ghazi. Starting from Kushdil Khan, at the eastern end of the 

 Pishin Valley, this expedition reached Bolozai, in the Surkhab valley, by crossing 

 the Suranari Pass, and here were discovered two great rivers, the Zhob and Bhori, 

 radiating eastwards through open valleys, and affording the finest openings for a route 

 to India. The Zhob, which trended too much northwards, was not followed, but 

 apparently would strike the frontier ranges at the Gulere (or Gomul) Pass.. The 

 Bhori Valley was reached from Bolozai by following the bed of the Surkhab river by 

 Yusuf Kutch to the Ushtara Pass (a wide and convenient one), the sandstone hills 

 culminating at Mashkwar in grand and vividly coloured scenery, contrasting 

 strongly with the usually tame aspect of the Candahar region. Thence, from 

 Ohimjan through the Bhori Valley to Anumbar, the road recalled the Lombardy 

 plains. Part of the expedition turned southwards at Katz, via Smalan and Baghao, 

 with the intent of exploring the Thall and Chotiali route ; but the main party kept 

 the straight road, following the river to Anumbar, and reached the Chimalang 

 Valley by the Treek Kuram Pass, whence they struck south among winding 

 precipitous ranges to Baladaka, eventually arriving by the Han Pass and Hasni 

 Kot to the valley of Lugari Barkan. 



This valley is open to the Kaho Pass by Vitakari, and reaches the Derajat plain 

 about forty miles south of Dera Ghazi. All this road is capable of easily carrying 

 a railway, and as it now is will exist for ever ; it could be shortened by not 

 striking south at the Treek Kuram Pass, but keeping eastward and south-eastward 

 on the Karwaddi route via Rakni to the Port Monro or Sakki Sarwar Passes, 

 opening opposite Dera Ghazi. The party that followed the Thall and Chotiali 

 route also reached the Lugari Barkan Valley, but no good direct route could be 

 found between Thall and Vitakari, which is a desirable position at the head of the 

 Chachar Pass. 



The chief addition to our knowledge from this expedition is that the hitherto 

 unknown region between the Pishin Valley and the Sulimani Range is found to be 

 open, rich, and fertile, with nothing in its physical characters preventing travel 

 across it in almost any direction. 



7. Afghan War. — Surveys round Kandahar. By Major Rogers, B.JE. 



Captain Malcolm Rogers, R.E. (writing from Kandahar), gave an account of 

 the recent survey operations in Baluchistan and Southern Afghanistan. During 

 the march to Kandahar the work was restricted to a route survey of the immediate 

 line of march ; and the careful survey made during the former Afghan war by 

 Lieutenant Durand, R.E., was found to be very correct. Captain Rogers, however, 

 connected his work near Quetta with points on the Khwaja-Amran range of moun- 

 tains, and thence fixed points on the great plain stretching from the mountains to 

 Kandahar. He climbed the highest hill of the range, whence its name is derived, 

 which is 8,960 feet above the sea. 



Between the Khwaja-Amran mountains and Kandahar there is a vast plain, 

 with numerous detached hills and ranges, mostly of limestone. There is little 

 water, and the general appearance is treeless and barren. To the westward this 

 plain is bounded by a vast desert of rolling sand-hills. The river Dori is the only 

 perennial stream in this plain. 



Captain Rogers accompanied General Stewart when he advanced from Kandahar 

 to Kalat-i-Ghilzai, and carried on a route survey ; but the division followed on the 

 track of the army of 1839, and there was not much to add to former work. The 

 troops advanced up the valley of the Tanak, the river being rapid and muddy in 

 January, and having cut for itself a deep winding channel. There were many 

 villages on both banks. During the stay of the army at the fort of Kalat-i-Ghilzai, 

 the surrounding country was mapped. "When the troops returned to Kandahar, 

 arrangements were made for small columns to march back by the valleys of the 

 Arghastan and Arghandab. Thus 50 miles of the courses of these two rivers above 

 Kandahar were surveyed. A trigonometrical survey of the country for 12 miles 

 round Kandahar was also executed ; and an expedition was sent into the Khakrez 



