TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS. 91 



who had returned to India should be employed in making a standard 

 topographical survey of the Kohat district, to supersede the prelimi- 

 nary reconnaissance survey which had been made in 1849-51 imme- 

 diately after tbe annexation of the Punjab, and to complete the gaps 

 remaining to be filled in on the frontier line up to the recent surveys 

 in the Kurani valley and other contiguous portions of Afghanistan. 

 The time was limited, but some useful work was done. Mr. McNair 

 was deputed early in the season 1880-81 to effect a more satisfactory 

 junction than had been possible during the progress of the military 

 operations between Major Woodthorpe's triangulation in the Kurani 

 valley and the old Kohat secondary triangles, fixed thirty years ago. 

 He also undertook the topography of the Miranzai valley, through 

 which the highway from Kohat to Kabul, by way of the Kuram 

 valley, passes, and of which a good map was much required by the 

 local officials. Major Holdich joined the party about the middle 

 of February, but soon after his services were needed with the force 

 under Brigadier-General Gordon, C.B., which proceeded from Bannu 

 to operate against the Mahsud "Waziris. An area of 2,000 square 

 miles was covered by the Kohat triangulation, and 398 square miles 

 were topographically surveyed on the 1-inch scale in the Miranzai 

 valley, besides rough reconnaissances in the Urakzai, Tirah, and 

 Bam valleys. A native explorer made a reconnaissance of the 

 Zhob valley, and afterwards did good service with the Waziri 

 expedition. 



During the recess the party were engaged in making a standard 

 topographical survey of the Kohat district on the 1-inch scale, and 

 also on the final mapping of the surveys in Northern Afghanistan. 

 The Kohat field work was continued by Major Holdich and 

 Mr. McNair in 1881-82. The latter officer also succeeded in making 

 friends with one of the Waziri chiefs, and was taken under tribal 

 protection to make a reconnaissance of the tract of independent 

 territory lying east of the Kuram river and immediately north of 

 Bannu, which is inhabited by the Daresh Khel Waziris, and embraces 

 the well-known range of hills culminating in the Kafir Kot, which 

 Mr. McXair is the first European to have visited. The general 

 aspect of the country is wild, and there is very little cultivation. In 

 winter and spring as many as 6,000 fighting men are estimated to 

 occupy the hills, but during the hot months scarcely 500 remain 

 behind. The reputation of these gentry as highwaymen is great, 

 and they are a source of considerable anxiety to the Deputy 



