Page 609 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

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FOE THE YEAB 1918.

the cholera epidemic in June. After the cholera, in deference to the lepre-
ntations of tno Persian Government, the South Persia Bifles detachment
not sont back to Anar. Obviously the presence of the detachment ana
jig monopoly of the escorting of caravans interfered with the profits of the
Rood-Guards who during the remainder of the year levied rahdari at the rale
of krans G 50 per camel, krans 4 per mule and krans 2*60 per donkey on
this road. These exactions made possible the arrangement described. above
under “ Road Guards.” The robber tribes recommenced laiding'in late
September and early October, but the influenza put a stop to their activities
and the road was quiet till the end of January 1919. At the date of writing
(llth February 1919) the Kermanshahan Pass has been blocked for some days
by ChaLarrahis, who have looted several caravans, and the question of sending
a detachment to Anar hasoncemore been raised.
The unmetalled road via Saidabad to Hajiabad (200 miles) has been in
regular use by military motor-cars. In
Road Conutroction.
June and July, Major Lowis, K.E , greatly
rmproved 18 miles of it between Bid Khah and Saidabad on the Kerman-
Saidabad section.
The South Persia Rifles Field Engineers under Captain Wharton com­
menced work on an un metalled road from Kerman to Bam (liO miles) at the
beginning of April, and finished it in four months. Motors can now reach
Bata within a day without diScoil-ty, six days foeicig usually taken, by
caravans.
At the end of February, His Majesty’s Consul accompanied Colonel Farran,
Officer Commanding, Kerman Brigade, by motor to Dehaiseh Baghi on the
Sistan border (300 miles) via Bam and the Fnhreh-Sipi desert route. Although
the only point at which any roadmaking had then been done was at the top
of the pass between Gurg and Sipi, no great difficulty was experienced, and
the double journey only occupied 12 days including a day's halt each
way at Bam. The chief obstacle is the sandy belt at Shurgaz m the middle
of the desert, where cars are liable to stick seriously unless helped through
by labourers brought from Fabreh.
A detachment of 180 infantry under Captain Coffey was sent to Nar-
mashir early in October, and took up its quarters at Burj-i-Muhammad 8
miles south of Fahreh with a view to the policing1 of Narmashir and to the
construction and protection of the Narmashir section of the Khwash-Bam
road. This road was constructed by the detachment in continuation of the
Korman-Bam road to Rigan (60 miles) before the end of the year. Captain
Ward, Commandant Sarhad Levies, had meanwhile carried the Khwash section
cid Samsiir (Bazman district) to within two or three marches of Rigan.
Until the end of February the Bandar Abbas post waa ’ irregular owing
Tba Posted, Service: to the heavy snow: on the Kafanu and
Zarchu posses between Kerman and
Baft. After that the service was both reasonably rapid (9-12 davsY and
.
regular unUl November, when the deaths from influenza of the Sub-Postmaster
_ j aulatabad and of most of the on the road caused great confusion
With If7' if ew °f Decef be,r the passes once more became blocked
^ra month ^h^ “ WCekS lettere taking from twenty
A 2*? fKdUri°f the cholera epidemic, when the service broke down at
Anar and the mails were held up for a month, letters took on an
to ApU f° °°mj fro^ Tehran- Parcels however took very much longer Jlirmw
delay caused by the presence of robbers on the road. ° W*n®
Hecruiting lor the Brigade went on briakly durihg the early nart
Th.8o.tl, p.ni.Ei«.v Of the year, and in April and May the