MILITARY REPORT ON DIR, SWAT AND BAJOUR , FIRST EDITION, 1906 (PART 3)

Military Report on Dir , Swat and Bajour (First Edition) was compiled by the Intelligence Branch , Division of the Chief of Staff, India, Shimla, in the year 1906. This report was compiled by Major A.C.M, Waterfield, M.V.O., D.A.Q.M.G. Further it covered the geography, communications, climates, resources, ethnography, history, administration, military and political aspects of Dir, Swat and Bajour areas. Those parts which are related to Swat are produced here for the interest of readers. Part 3 of this series is given below relating to the various communications/routes of Swat.

“Upper Swat to Buner. (a) From Barikot via the Karakar pass, 4,380 feet, to Jowar in the Salarzai valley, distance 11 miles, passable for mule transport and could with little labour be made easy. The actual ascent from the foot, where there is ample water, to the summit of the pass is a rise of only 750 feet. The summit of the pass is 7 miles, or three and half hours from Barikot…(b) From Mingaora (Mingora) via the Jowarai pass to Pacha (Pacha Kaley) in the Gadaizai valley, distance about 17 miles, the path is rough and difficult and impassable for laden animals… (c) From Mingaora via the Jambil pass, 6,550 feet, difficult for laden mules, the path ascends the Jambil valley, the ascent to the pass is rough and steep… (d) From Charbagh via the Kotkai pass to Thakot, distance 43 miles, passable for mules transport. For the first six miles after leaving Charbagh the path is quite passable for camels. Shortly before reaching the summit of the pass, 9 miles from Charbagh, the main path is joined by two other paths from Manglaor and Khwaja Kilai both of which are passable for mules. After crossing the Kotlai pass the path descends the Ghurband valley to the Indus following the right bank to opposite Thakot where there is a ferry. The route is said to be but little used by traders with mules, but it would appear to present no difficult to mule transport except when descending the gorge of the Ghurband valley to the Indus… From Swat Kohistan to Kandia. (e) From the village of Kalam (Route No. 4) in Swat Kohistan a path ascends the Ushu valley in a north-easterly direction and then branches east up a lateral valley and crosses the Swat-Indus watershed by the Paloga or Kandia pass. The pass is said to be very high and to be closed from October to April and to be negotiable by small parties of traders with country mules. The descent is made to the Kandia valley and thence to the Indus… Up the right bank of the Swat river: This route is shorter than route No. 4 but not so easy being passable only for mules. On leaving Chakdara. the route ascends the right bank of the Swat river for five miles when it turns north and after crossing the Shamozai hills descends again to the right bank of thc Swat river near Chindakor (Now Kabal) at the mouth of the Deolai valley opposite Mingaora. The path then follows the right bank of the river to Barannial(Bahrain) where it joins Route No. 4… From Hazara in Upper Swat to Tormung on the Panjkora river via Manja pass, 7,750 feet, 30 miles, passable, yet difficult in its present state for mule transport. This route leaves No. 5 at the mouth of the wide Deolai valley… From Hazara in Upper Swat to Panjkora river, 6 miles about Robat, via the Tangai pass… up the Deolai valley for some miles and crossing the range by the Tangai pass, 3 miles north of the Manja pass… From Sherfalam on the Swat river to Warai on the Panjkora river via the Harnawai valley, Swatai pass… From Sherpalam on the Swat river to Darora on the Panjkora river via the Harnawai valley… From Utrot (Utror), 7300 feet in Swat Kohistan, via the Badgueh (or Badwai) pass, 11,300 feet, the Lamutai nala and Sheringal or Upper Panjkora valley to Chutiatan…

Military Report on Dir , Swat and Bajour (First Edition), Intelligence Branch , Division of the Chief of Staff, India, Shimla (1906), Pages 7-9.

TO BE CONTINUED…