heads. It was explained
afterwards that the intention was not to cause the riders any harm but
merely to drive away the "spirits of infection" which hung over the
Consul, who had been with the pilgrims.

There seems to be a belief that the intense cold of the winter, the
terrific heat of the summer, and the torrential rains of the autumn, make
the Nushki route impracticable during the greater part of the year, but
nothing could be further from the truth. One can travel on this route
comfortably at almost any time of the year, except during the heavy
rains, when the desert becomes a swamp and makes it impossible for camels
to go on. In summer, of course, one has to travel at night, and in winter
it is pleasanter travelling during the day.

CHAPTER XXXVI

The Beluch-Afghan boundary--Substantial advantages obtained--The
Afghans driven from Chagai--Who owns Beluchistan?--How
Beluchistan is subdivided--Treaties and engagements with the Kahn
of Kelat--The _Brahui_ and _Nhauri_--When British political
connection with Kelat began--Intrigue--The treaty of 1839--The
treaty stolen--Kelat stormed by the British--A
revolution--Protection of caravans--Treaty of 1841--At the death
of Nasir Khan--Boundary matters settled in 1887--A Brahui
rebellion--British mediation--A state of chaos--The Marris and
Bugtis--Reconciliation of the Sardars with the Khan of
Kelat--Treaty of 1876--British agents at the Khan's
court--Railways and telegraphs--Subsidies--British troops
stationed in the country--Major Sandeman, agent to the
Governor-General--The agreement of 1883--Transfer of dues and
tolls--The chiefship of Kharan--The chief of Las
Bela--Troublesome Marris--British Beluchistan--The occupants of
Zhob.

A few details of how the British Government came to make the Nushki-Robat
road may interest the reader.

After the Afghan war was over, it was supposed that our boundary extended
as far north as the river Halmund, but we let things slide for many years
and took no steps to extend our influence so far, and the result was that
the Amir of Afghanistan--who very rightly regarded Chagai as a most
important strategical position, in fact, almost the key to the
Halmund--took possession of the place. In 1896 a commission was sent out
to define the Perso-Beluch frontier properly, and Major MacMahon, a most
thorough and conscientious officer, was placed in c