With The Exception Of A Strike Among Our
Camel-Drivers, Which Fortunately Lasted Only A Few Hours, And A
Dust-
Storm encountered a few miles from Sohrab, nothing worthy of
mention occurred to break the monotony of the voyage till,
On the
morning of the _9th of_ April, we sighted the flat-roofed houses, mud
ramparts, and towering citadel of the capital of Baluchistan.
[Footnote A: Cossack whips.]
CHAPTER XI.
KELAT - QUETTA - BOMBAY.
We encamped in the suburbs of the city, about a couple of miles from
the northern or Mastung Gate, and near the telegraph office, a small
brick bungalow in charge of an English-speaking native. There is a
single wire laid to Quetta, a distance, roughly speaking, of ninety
miles. A terrific hurricane, accompanied by thunder, vivid lightning,
and dense clouds of black dust, sprang up about sunset the day of our
arrival. Both tents were instantly blown down, and in a few moments
reduced to shapeless rags of torn canvas. So great was the force of
the wind that it snapped the tent-poles short off, and, tearing them
from the ropes, sent the tents flying over the plain as if they had
been shreds of tissue paper. We managed, however, to find quarters in
the telegraph office, and remained there till our departure, two days
later, for Quetta. During the storm the thermometer sank to 50 deg. Fahr.,
although a few moments before it had marked 78 deg..
Kelat contains - with its suburbs, which are of considerable
extent - about 15,000 inhabitants, and is picturesquely situated on the
edge of a fertile plain thickly cultivated with wheat, barley, and
tobacco.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 197 of 226
Words from 52149 to 52423
of 60127
