1 KOHAT MINES
2 Accidents at the mines.
3 Distribution of sgit over
4 areas of consumption.
5 (3)
6 MANDI MINES:
7 Receipts and charges.
8 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
9 Two accidents occurred during the year, one at Jatta and
10 the other at Malgin. In each case a trader was crushed to
11 death under landslips at the quarries, which occurred after
12 eavy rain. These accidents were unusual;but under the
13 system on which the mines are now worked, it is impossible to ©
14 prevent traders from entering the open quarries, and some risk °
15 of accidents happening to them is therefore unavoidable.
16 34. The following figures show the Departmental book-
17 ings of Kohat salt to areas of consumption : —
18 British Territory— 1897-98, 1898-99. Difference.
19 ‘ Mds, Mds. Mads.
20 Peshawar District ... 1,12,644 1,81,183 +68,539
21 Kohat ditto 13,907 23,519 +9,612
22 Bannu ditto 18,502 66,378 +52,876
23 Derajat 25,765 40,167 +14,402 *
24 Total 1,65,818 3,11,247 +1,45,429
25 Independent Territ ory—
26 Kabul... ons 42,928 40,421 —2,507
27 Swit 4. ae 76,967 98,148 +21,181
28 Waziristan (Manzallai) 36,691 12,559 — 24,132
29 Total 1,56,586 1,51,128 —5,458
30 Granp ToraL 8,22,404 4,62,375
31 * $1,839,971
32 Cree eee
33 These destinations were given at the mines by traders,
34 who were at liberty afterwards to change their routes at plea-
35 sure, and much of the salt booked to British districts crossed
36 the border into independent territory. This was notably the
37 case with bookings to Peshawar. The figures are therefore of
38 not much value, but they afford a general indication of the
39 course of the trade, and the local officers have not been able to
40 compile a more accurate record.
41 The figures of export compiled by the Statistical Bureau
42 are as follows :—
43 1897-98, 1898-99. Difference,
44 Mds. Méds. ds
45 Kébul ... eve 19,484 31,216 +11,732
46 Yirah .. ee es 6,338 12,843 +6,505
47 Bajour (Swat) wes ose 97,620 1,78,583 +-80,963
48 Total eis 1,238,442 2,22,642 +99,200
49 —
50 Here also the statistics afford only a general indication of
51 the course and extent of the trade, as salt crossing the frontier
52 at points other than recognised trade posts escapes registration.
53 The Departmental bookings show a falling off in the trade
54 in Kohat salt with Kabul during the year of 2,507 maunds as
55 compared with 1897-98; but the trade statistics show an
56 increase of 11,732 maunds. In November 1898 the Amir,
57 wishing to encourage the trade in salt from Afghan Turkistan,
58 revived the prohibition which was imposed in February 1895
59 against the importation of salt from British India, After atime,
60 however, it was found that the salt from Afghdn Turkist4n
61 could not be imported, as the routes through the Hindu Kush
62 were closed with snow. The prohibition was accordingly
63 withdrawn, and in the three months from January to March
64 1899 the export trade from India revived. The future of this
65 trade is necessarily very uncertain.
66 35. The rock salt obtained from the mines or quarries in
67 the Mandi State is sold at the rate of Re. 1-2-0 a maund, and
68 the revenue collected is divided between the British Govern-
69 macnt and the Raja of Mandi,’ in the proportion of five annas
70 in every rupee to the former and 13 annas to the latter.
71 Revenue is collected by officials of the Mandi State, but the
72 British Government also maintains a supervising establish-
73 ment at-the mines,
74 ( 24 )