'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎166] (221/905)

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valley of the helmand.
[chap , vm.
Margiana and part of Bactriana to the north ; Parthia, with
a small portion of the desert of Carmania, on the west; and,
finally, Drangiana and part of Arachosia on the south. 1
Herai supposed According to Arrian, the capital was called Artacaona, 2
caona. near which place, during the advance of the Macedonian
conqueror, was constructed the city of Alexandria in Ariis. 3
The vicinity of this place to Bactria, as well as its distance
from the Caspian Sea, seems to indicate that the Persian city
of roses coincides with the ancient capital; especially as it
stands upon the great commercial route above alluded to. If
this opinion be correct, the river of Herat will be the same
as the Arius, which passes near the city founded during the
advance of the conqueror, 4 and which is known to be lost in
the soil of Turkistan, as described by Arrian. 5
Helmand river. To the south-east of the territory of Herat is the valley of
the H^lmand, and in the same direction onward is the exten
sive province of Kandahar. From its source in 34° 40' N.
latitude, and 49° E. longitude (a little way west of Kabul),
the Helmand flows S.W., and in 32° N. latitude it receives,
on the eastern side, a stream formed by the united waters of
the Urghand-ab, the Turnuk, and the Urghesaun rivers,
which descend from the mountain-chains lying to the N.E.,
and water the principal portion of the province. The site of
Kandahar is supposed to represent the Greek Alexandropolis. 6
Kandahar T1:ie P reseilt town was the capital till Timour Shah re
moved the seat of government to Kabul. At this time it was
distinguished by the appellation of Ahmed Shah', or Ashriful
Bolaud (the noblest of cities), but the older name of Kanda
har still prevails among the people. 7
It stands upon an elevated plain, in a fertile and cultivated
country ; it is watered by a canal from the Urghand-ab river,
and is defended by a substantial, loop-holed mud wall, with
towers, and a narrow ditch. There are six gates, one of
1 Ogilby's Asia, p. 39; and Ptol., lib. VI., c. xvii.
2 Book VI., p. 237. Venice, 1562.
3 Ptol, lib. VI., c. xviii. ^ p linyj lib y L) c xxiii
5 Lib. IV., c. vi.; and Strabo, XL, p. 517.
6 Letter from Major Rawlinson to the Secretary of the Geographical Society,
May 1, 1841. 7 Elphinstone's Kabul, p. 423.