1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1897-98.
2 about five miles of the Waziristan border, and the trade is prin«s REVIEW BY SECTIONS,
3 cipally with localities across the border, in Afghanistan, Wa- KOHAT MINES.
4 ziristan, and the Afridi Tirah.
5 Salt issues from all the quarries in rough irregular frag-
6 ments, but at Bahadur Khel and Kharrak rectangular blocks’
7 are alsoin demand. These latter are from five to six, inches in
8 thickness and from a foot upwards in length and breadth, and
9 they weigh from 15 seers to one maund. This shape facilitates
10 packing on animals for transport over rough mountain roads.
11 The bookings of the trade of the past year were as fol-
12 lows :—
13 Mds.
14 To Peshawar me aes ave wo ove 1,12,644
15 To Afghanistan and Waziristan ... see ve we 79,619
16 To Swat and Buner ees ta wie ave 76,967
17 To Kohat district ies an see ove eee 10,622
18 To Bannu istrict vos ove eve coe ove 18,442
19 To the Derajat yo vee ona sos ‘sac 25,824
20 Local sales te oe ase or) ase 3,286
21 : Total oa 3,22,404
22 Of the salt booked to marts in British territory, a large
23 proportion was probably exported across the border eventually,
24 particularly in the case of the mart of Peshawar.
25 Pack animals are exclusively used for the removal of salt
26 from the Kohat mines. The following are comparative statis-
27 tics of the animals employed during the past two years :—
28 1896-97 1897-98.
29 Camele... es hee sae 37,693 85,287
30 Bullocks one ose oon 65,157 80,512
31 Donkeys non we “ 67,329 29,706
32 Total — 1,760,179 95,505
33 As I have already remarked, there was scarcity of car-
34 riage during the past year owing to thé operations on the frontier.
35 25. The Kohat mines are situate not far from the border, fide afte eb vi
36 and owing to the disturbances on the frontier, the officers and ““Sines. atte g
37 men passed through a most trying time during the year under —_Bfficiency of ‘establish-
38 report. One guard post was rushed at night by the tribesmen, ™°”
39 anda havildar and a sepoy were killed. Efforts were made
40 by the Mullahs to seduce the men from their duty, but without
41 effect. The extensive outcrops of rock salt, scattered over a
42 hilly and difficult country, were efficiently guarded, and all of
43 the work at the mines was carried on uninterruptedly. The
44 Deputy Cammissioner of Kohat has informed me that the suc-
45 cessful administration of the mines during a difficult year, was
46 owing to the capacity shown by Mr. McGowan, Assistant
47 Commissioner, and Mr, Carter, Superintendent, and the devo-
48 tion to duty evinced by their subordinates.
49 26. The following statement shows the transactions of MANDI MINES.
50 the past four years at the salt mines in the Mandi State :— Receipts, charges, and net
51 revenue,
52 + 2 i. Charges incurred by the 2
53 = E 2 3 British Government. 3
54 Qr3 apa Bas
55 = ose $ 4 of a
56 g¢ | S23 | & | Zé Be
57 aan ena a 32
58 as Be | 3eg] 2 | €2/ 3 3a
59 oo Big a 3 3° ¢ RO}
60 Ea er? =] ak 5 5 2
61 oO ee 2 as a oC
62 wig 82a 8 Be | 2 a 23
63 #2 | sea) 2 | 3/2] € | 38
64 et a A a 3 a wi
65 Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs, Rs, Rs. Rs.
66 1894-95 eee | 1,44,887 40,246 } 1,04,641 8,551 | 825 9,376 | 380,870
67 1895-96 ww. | 154,498 | 42,916 | 111,682 | 8,882] 800] 9,682 |. 33,234
68 1896-97 nee 1,41,031 89,175 1,01,856 6,389 | 1,065 7,454 | 31,721
69 1897-98 ose 1,40,212 38,948 | 1,01,264 6,640 | 1,037 7,677 | 31,271
70 ( 2 )