94 TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS. 



mixed up in magnificent confusion, lending an appearance of truth 

 to the old legend that after the creation of the world the spare 

 rubbish was shot clown here. Major Beavan says it is impossible 

 to give on the map an adequate idea of such a country. 



During the winter of 1881-82 the survey of the country lying 

 between Quetta and Khelat was continued, the season's work com- 

 prising more especially that part adjacent to the Bolan and Rodbar 

 passes. Major Beavan himself accompanied a military expedition 

 under Brigadier-General H. C. Wilkinson to open out the routes 

 between Tal-Chotiali and Dera Grhazi Khan. In addition to 

 making a plane-table reconnaissance of the previously unsurveyed 

 portions of the route which lay via Mandai, Tal, and Cbamalang, 

 Major Beavan took observations for the purpose of completing 

 the Sewestan triangulation, and subsequently, accompanied by 

 Mr. Corkery, and under the protection of an escort of Marris, 

 made some useful additions to the survey of that counfay. 



In the following season the work mainly consisted of triangula- 

 tion, originating from stations of the Great Indus Series and carried 

 over the Suliman range, the Khetran country, and a portion of the 

 Ivlarri hills, and closing on to the triangulation previously executed. 

 A series of triangles was also commenced over the hill country 

 between Khelat and the Kach Gandava plain. Tbe season's topo- 

 g raphy was carried on in tbe hilly country east of Khelat during the 

 autumn and again in the spring months, and during the cold months 

 in tbe low country at the foot of the hills and also in the lower hills 

 north of Sibi. In all an area of 1,844 square miles was finally 

 mapped. A rapid reconnaissance was carried out by Mr. Coxen 

 from Kbelai to Xusbki with a view to selecting stations for an 

 extension of tbe triangulation in that direction, and also fixing the 

 position of Xusbki, which bad been till then doubtful. In 1883-84 

 Lbe party was divided into three sections, the one under Major 

 [foldich, U.K.. was employed on the Takht-i-Suliman expedition 

 I - page 147). tbe second under Lieutenant Talbot, R.E., accom- 

 \ anied Sir Robert Sandeman's mission in South-west Baluchistan, 

 w bilst tbe third, under Mr. Claudius, took up the regular detail 

 s ivey, and was further strengthened, after the Takht-i-Suliman 

 expedition, by tbe arrival of Mr. Coxen and Sub-Surveyor Hira 

 3 sj. There was a large out-turn of triangulation, as well as a 

 verv creditable amount of topography on the ij-inch. scale in tbe 

 Tal-Chotiali territory and the Kachi desert. 



