522 
BOLAN PASS EXPEDITION. 
Report of the March from Kirta to Bet of the Jacobabad Mountain Train, 
on Escort with Major Sandeman, on Special Duty. 
Date. 
Name of 
halting place. 
j Time of mar. 
Time of arrivl. 
Distance. 
Remarks on road:— 
Made or unmade, cart 
or cattle, good or 
bad, &c. 
Remarks on camping 
ground:— 
High or low, open or 
confined, clean or 
dirty. Supplies, 
water, forage, &c. 
Remarks as to 
time and place 
of appearance 
of cholera, fe¬ 
ver, or any 
oth'er disease. 
Apr. 
18th. 
Apr. 
19th. 
Apr. 
20th. 
Apr. 
21st. 
to 
Apr. 
24th. 
^ Halted at Kirta. 
Bet. 
"1 
y Halted at Bet. 
1 
J 
P.M. 
12.0 
A.M. 
9.0 
mis. 
22 
From Kirta N.N.W. 
over bare and stony 
plain. At 6 miles pass 
through Jalogin ridge 
by gaps 20 yds. long 
and 16 to 17 ft. wide. 
This can be avoided, as 
the range terminates 
half a mile to N. Next 
2| miles rough and 
stony, then a descent 
to river bed. Bibi- 
nani (9 miles) is a gap 
between two ridges. 
There is running water, 
and it is a usual halting 
place. Camping ground 
due north on raised 
ground, to left of water 
channel. Passing the 
gap, the route turns 
due N., up broad bed 
of Bolan river. At 
about 13 miles the route 
becomes quite open, 
but the track is very 
rough and stony. At 
18 miles a small defile, 
a few hundred yards 
long and 20 broad. The 
sides are accessible. 
Hence the pass aver¬ 
ages about 500 or 
600 yds. in width for 
about 3 miles. There 
is then a space over 
f mile broad. The river 
runs to right, under a 
cliff 80 ft. high. Oppo¬ 
site to this a consider¬ 
able extent of open but 
very stony ground, 
where ti’oops might 
encamp. The place is 
called Bet. This march 
being over loose shingle 
and rough stones, was 
very fatiguing, both to 
the men and mules. 
The guns were carried 
on the mules’ backs. 
On the present oc¬ 
casion the troops 
camped on the top 
of the cliff, and found 
plenty of flat, open, 
but stony ground. 
This place’ is the end 
of the Kirta valley, 
and can be reached 
directly from thence. 
There is running wa¬ 
ter in the river bed 
below, but it disap¬ 
pears a short distance 
lower down. The 
quantity and place of 
disappearance vary 
very much. On the 
present occasion it 
was so shallow that 
trenches had to be 
scraped in the shingle 
to water the mules. 
Several good paths 
give access to the 
plateau from below. 
One of these is quite 
practicable for field 
guns. The situation 
is high and exposed. 
A violent gale of wind 
blew during all the 
time we remained 
there. 
The water is reputed 
never to be less than 
on the present occa¬ 
sion. By clearing 
trenches, therefore, 
enough can be ob¬ 
tained for all pur¬ 
poses, as it flows very 
rapidly. 
Camel forage abund¬ 
ant. Grass found in 
moderate quantities 
on the hills. Fire¬ 
wood scarce. No 
supplies. 
On the 18th Apr. 
very few cases 
and deaths from 
cholera. 
On the 19th Apr. 
admissions from 
cholera ceased. 
On the 20th Apr., 
on arrival at 
Bet, rather se¬ 
vere types of 
fever and diar¬ 
rhoea appeared, 
probably caused 
by sudden chills 
from cold and 
violent winds, 
and the great 
difference in 
temperature 
between this 
place and Kirta. 
On the 21st, 
22nd, and 23rd 
Apr. fever and 
diarrhoea still 
prevailed; but 
the cases were 
fewer in num¬ 
ber, and the 
general health 
ofthetroopsim- 
proved greatly. 
On the 24th Apr. 
the fever and 
diarrhoea a- 
bated, as the 
wind dropped. 
1 
i 
