ECONOMIC ASPECT OF SALT REGION. 225 



The rate charged by Government at Kurruk being- 1 anna, and 

 at Bahadur Khel 2 annas, less than at the eastern quarries, salt from 

 the west is forbidden to be carried in the direction of the eastern sources, 

 a prohibition which ought not to be difficult to maintain, as the distance 

 from Bahadur Khel to the nearest open quarry eastwards, that of 

 Nurree (Nam), is sufficient to counterbalance the difference in the rate 

 by the increased cost of transport. 



The two western sources supplying the countries to the west, south- 

 west, and north-west, the three eastern localities are reserved for the 

 countries to the north, north-east, and north-west. The Jatta salt is 

 taken northwards along the Bannu and Kohat road. The salt from 

 Nurri takes the same road. Camelmen, as a rule, are supposed to go4o 

 Nurri for their salt, the road being better, while bullock-and donkey-men 

 go to Jatta on account of the three miles of bad road between the quar- 

 ries and the depot being more accessible to their beasts of burden. 



The salt having reached Kohat and supplied its wants, is taken on 

 by the Affridi pass to Peshawur, a road for the use of which Government 

 pays a ( black mail' of Rs. 12,000 annually to the Affridi tribe, whose 

 country stretches like a peninsula of hills into the British territory. Of 

 the surplus remain ing after supplying Peshawur, a part is taken west by 

 the Khyber pass, as far as Ningrahar, not generally reaching Kabul, but 

 being consumed in the provinces lying on the way thither. Another part 

 of this salt from Peshawur is carried northwards to Bajour, Swat, &c. 



Malgheen (Malgin) possesses a salt road of its own, called the 

 old " Drung-ka-rasta," which, avoiding the Affridi pass and country, 

 leads up the right side of the Indus, crossing the Mirkalan pass into the 

 lower part of the Peshawur valley. 



From the north of the last named pass, some of the salt goes to 

 Peshawur, but the larger quantity to the north-east, Yusufzai, Boner, 

 &c, also across the Indus near Torbeyla, beyond the preventive line, to 

 places whence no competition with the high taxed salt of the Salt Range 

 could take place. 



e 2 ( 329 ) 



