BOLAN PASS EXPEDITION (PART II.) 
69 
to the Khan, and the only ones in Beluchistan. Fowls are the only 
poultry procurable. Outside the gardens are some tombs of former 
Khans, where the present Khan goes to worship every Friday. The 
escort force went into standing camp, awaiting orders; for though the 
object of the expedition (the opening of the Bolan Pass to free and safe 
traffic) has been successfully accomplished, the heat in the plains will not 
yet admit of the return march of the troops; and owing to the overflow of 
the river Indus, the station of Jacobabad is surrounded by water. In 
proof of the present safety of the Bolan Pass, a single troop of the 
Sind Horse escorted £10,100 of treasure for the payment of the troops 
from Jacobabad to our camp. Khelat is about 7,100 ft. above the sea 
level. Climate dry and cool; the nights very cold. On the 22nd 
August a change occurred in the weather; violent thunderstorms, 
accompanied with rain, burst over the camp, and the temperature fell 
considerably. This weather continued till the 1st September, when the 
rain ceased, followed by white frost, the thermometer falling to 31° at 
night; but a few days after it got quite warm again, the thermometer 
at night rising to 47°—a very trying climate. During this march, 
with a view to getting something like an idea of the correct time, I 
started a rough sun-dial, consisting of a straight stick, 3 ft,, long, placed 
on a level with the ground. (The perpendicular was obtained with a 
plumb-line.) Of course the shortest shade from this stick gave noon, 
and the direction of the shade from the magnetic N. and S. line gave, 
as a rule, the variation. Some of the readings or observations of this 
sun-dial (3-ft. stick) may be interesting. They are all taken at noon, 
except when otherwise notified. 
ins. 
21st May .. 5£ 
3rd June . 4 1 1 g - 
10th „ 3 t 9 q 
21st „ . .. 3^ 
(longest day). 
ins. 
30tli June .. 4^ 
6th July ... 4J- 
10 th „ . 4J 
1st Sept. 14 t 3 f 
A curious coincidence occurred in the observation taken at noon on 
the 6th September; the shade exactly covered the magnetic N. and S. 
line, and on taking another observation at 8 a.m. on the 7th September 
(the next day), the shade (length 6 ft. 4 ins.) coincided with the mag¬ 
netic E. and W. line. On the 21st September (equinox) took two 
observations—one at 8 a.m., when the shade measured 7 ft. 11 ins., and 
a second at noon, when it measured 20 t 2 q ins. 
Nothing of importance occurred till the 14th October, on which 
date Colonel Colley, C.B. (Military Secretary), and Major Upperton 
(interpreter), arrived from Simla, bearing despatches from the Viceroy 
to Major Sandeman and the Khan. On their arrival, the Khan fired a 
salute of eleven guns from the palace. I may here mention that the 
above-named officers brought a three-dozen case of champagne—a 
present from the Viceroy to our mess. The wine was excellent, and 
the compliment fully appreciated. On the morning of the 18th October 
Colonel Colley reviewed the Khan^s troops present at Khelat. They 
consisted, apparently, of about 700 infantry, 200 cavalry, two mountain 
guns on camels, and a splendid corps of baggage camels. (The Khan 
