1 §.26 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
2 ig HS
3 undertaken by the British, strictly as measures of precaution and defence
4 against any possible aggression from outside, and although they caused some
5 anxiety at first to the Amir’s Governor at Candahar, His Highness has been
6 fully convinced that the measures adopted by the British Government were
7 of impérative necessity for the safety of his own kingdom, as well as the
8 better security of the British frontier in that part of the country,
9 Frontier Railway The Quetta-Candahar defences, which have been completed at enor-
10 surveys and projects. ~— mous outlay to Government, may be regarded as the inauguration of what is
11 called the scientific frontier system. The impregnability of Quetta is un-
12 questionably a source of great military strength to India in that outlying
13 position, while the occupation of the Zhob Valley, the extension of the railway
14 to new Chaman, the storing of immense railway materials for a line onwards
15 in the direction of Candahar, the securing of both ends of the Gomal Pass,
16 and the reconciliation of many independent tribes hitherto hostile, and
17 establishment of British supremacy in their countries, display a policy on the
18 part of the Government at once vigorous and opportune. The works of the
19 Gomal Railway and the Zhob Valley Railway are being actively pushed on.
20 The survey from the Quetta end is complete, and all that remains is to select
21 the line to be finally adopted from among the two or three trial lines which
22 have been surveyed.* Much has also been done towards the renewing and im-
23 proving of the Harnai line, and an enormous sum spent on the Boldn Railway,
24 to maintain its strategical position as an alternative route to the Peshin
25 plateau. The survey of the Kébul River Railway route, was sanctioned, and
26 Gigantic schemesof placed under Mr. Upcott. The survey of the line between Peshdwar and
27 role dalences Jamrtd was finished in 1889-90, and an improvement of the alignment on
28 the Sindh-Peshin Railway was effected. In March, 1890, Sir James Browne
29 reconnoitred the eutire route from the Gomal, through the Kajuri Kach and
30 Aparzai, to Quetta, The completion of these and certain other surveys in
31 connection with the proposed extensions of the North-Western Railway,
32 marks an era of enterprise, activity and forethought, having for its object
33 the safety of the empire, and to provide it with adequate means of defence
34 against any possible foreign aggression.
35 The Imperial Service We have observed before how spontaneously the Feudatory Chiefs of
36 ae India, acting under the impulse of duty, came forward to assist the Imperial
37 Government in its beneficent measures connected with the frontier defences,
38 by offering to contribute, each in his degree, to the defence of the Empire.
39 The conquerors of the east, whose soldiers have fought successfully in the
40 remotest parts of the known world, hardly stand in need of help from the
41 ruling chiefs of India; but the far-sighted policy of the Government, in
42 accepting the loyal offers of its feudatory chiefs, is to enlist the martial
43 spirit of the country on the side of loyalty to the Crown, and generously to
44 allow the chiefs a share of the glories and honours which its own gallant
45 soldiers are capable of winning single-handed.
46 plspestion of the Lord Lansdowne, during his recent visit to Patidld, took the opportunity
47 Service troops. . Of inspecting the Imperial Service Corps on the 24th of October, 1890, ac-
48 companied by Sir James Lyall, Lieutenant-Governor of the Panj&b. The
49 whole of the contingent, consisting of 2,416 men (1,600 cavalry and the
50 * A correspondent writing to the Civil and Military Gazette, Lahore, on the state of the
51 country says: ‘‘ The country is very poor, and there is comparatively very little cultivation.
52 Water is obtained in rather @ curious way, quite peculiar to this part of the world. Shafts are
53 sunk where water is likely to, be found—how they choose the particular spot,.. cannot tell—
54 sometimes over a hundred feet in ae are these are connected below by a channel along which
55 the water fiows, and which gradually brings it out to the surface and conveys it to their fields.
56 These ‘ Karais,’ as they are called, are made by regular professionals at this sort of thing who
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