"ملاحظات حول سيستان الفارسية" [و‎‎٥] (١٤٢/١٤)

B
NOTES ON PERSIAN SEISTAN.
♦
CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHY.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The cultivated are& of Persian Seistan, which is bounded on the north by
Takht-i-Shah, on the east by the old bed of the Helmuud, running northwards
from the Band-i-Seistan, on the west by the Hamun-i-Helmund (usually
called the Naizar by the Seistanis), and of which the village of Yarmal is
the southernmost limit, is divided into five districts, namely
(a) Miankangi, or “ low ground between/ 7 i t e., between the two branches
of the Helmund;
(5) Pusht-i-Ab, or Northern water 77 ;
(c) Sheb-i-Ab, signifying “ Southern water 77 ;
(d) the Mahal-i-Sharaki; and
(e) Mahal-i-Nahrui, or districts named after the tribes exercising the
greatest influence in the locality. The two latter, which are
contiguous, are often treated as one district, making the total
number four only.
Although these divisions are not at the present time administrative units
in any way, the names are always made use of by the inhabitants in speaking
of the country, and they still present spheres of influence of various tribes
and their headmen.
For instance, the Miankangi district is peopled chiefly by Baluchis
of the Sinjarani, Jemalzai, Saruni, and other Taoki tribes, while it is said that
the Nahrui district has in great part been restored to Sardar Said Khan, the
present Chief of the Nahruis, who has just been allowed to return to Seistan.
Moreover, Sardar Purdil Khan, the Sarbandi Chief, exercises great influence in
Sheb-i-Ab, where many of his tribesmen live, and rumour states that be has
paid a lump sum to the u Hashmat-ul-Mulk 77 for the produce this year for
the whole of this district. It is advisable, therefore, that these five main divi
sions of Seistan should not be lost sight of.
Commencing from the north, they are situated as follows
Mianlcangi —Which comprises all the land north of the Band-i-Parian,
contained between the two branches of the
Miankangi. Helmund river which there separate, namely,
the old Helmund and the Rud-i-Parian. This district was until recent years
subject to severe floods, to which the dense tamarisk jungle which here abounds
bears witness, and the greater part of the cultivation, found in clearings
among the tamarisk, is of comparatively recent growth. The latest information