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INDIA

across Baluchistan eastward to the Indus from the high
plains surrounding Quetta. The catchment area of these
rivers is comparatively small, but the shape of them, and
especially the absence of surface soil in the rocky regions
of their upper sources, leads to a sudden gathering of flood
waters in their channels when the heavy storms of spring
break over the Quetta Mountains such as is rare even in
this flood-riddled country. The Bolan line of railway was
washed out of existence by one such terrific flood before
the Mashkaf alternative was adopted.
Of the popular station of modern Quetta occupying
the central highland of Baluchistan little need be said.
From its geographical position it must always have been
a point of strategical importance as well as a considerable
commercial centre. It is surrounded by gigantic mountain
peaks, running to 11,400 feet of elevation, the highest that
Baluchistan can boast, and only eclipsed by the weird
and isolated snow-capped volcano, the Koh-i-Taftan of
the Persian border. The double-peaked Takatu on the
north, balanced by Chiltan (Chahiltan) on the south-west,
and the square-headed giant Murdar on the south-east
(to all of which Quetta looks up from an altitude of about
5800 feet above sea), form an entourage of mountains
such as few cities in the world can boast. Beyond them
again, to the east, the ramparts of Kalifat close up the
landscape, blazing scarlet when winter sunset lights up
the world of hills and snows with level shafts ; nor is it
necessary to move far to gain a view of the silver cone
of Kand, which parts the head waters of Peshin from
those of Zhob. Looking towards Kandahar the level
barrier of the Khojak is always visible whenever the yellow
dusty haze of summer gives place to the clear definitions
of winter atmosphere. Irrigation has developed the plain
of Quetta and the valley of Peshin into a green oasis
amongst these mountains in spring and summer.
Nothing but a wide vista of crops—green fields broken by
the dark outlines of orchard trees and hamlets—is then to
be seen from the top of the Miri, that most ancient
débris of mud volcano which dominates Quetta as its