'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.' [‎167] (222/905)

CHAP. VIII.] VALLEY OF THE HELMAND. 167
which leads to the citadel, a triangular structure towards the
north side of the town. Kandahar is a parallelogram, lying
north and south; it has a circumference of 4 miles, and con
tains about 13,000 brick houses, and nearly 60,000 inhabitants.
In addition to several line mosques and karvanserais, there
is an arched rotunda, called Chahar-su, which contains shops ;
and serves likewise for a place of public resort. This remark
able building occupies the centre of the town, and from it the
four great divisions of the bazaars diverge; three of these
lead to different gates, and the fourth to the king's palace. 1
The direction of the valley of the Helmand continues to valleys joining
the south-west, after the river of that name has received the
Turnuk, and the streams already mentioned; and, farther on,
there are other valleys, which approach it from the southern,
or come into it from the northern side. The principal of the
former are those of Pishin, which lie along the left bank of
the Lorah river, and Shorawuk, which last forms a continua
tion of the rich province of Shal, and extends to a point at
some distance short of the Helmand, where the river Lorah
is lost. A little westward of the termination of the Lorah
the river Kash enters the Helmand from the north. Some
of the valleys along the tributaries of the last river are rich
and flourishing, and resemble those which penetrate the
Khwajeh' Amran range from the west. The hills through
out these tracts are occupied by a numerous race of shepherds,
-and inclose many villages, besides plains of moderate size,
some of which are well cultivated; the rest are appropriated
to pastoral camps. 8
The country near the banks of the Helmand is also well character of
cultivated and fruitful, and has a fine rich soil, which is y
irrigated by the river; but the utmost breadth of this fertile
land does not exceed two miles. 3 The great valley of the
H61mand, therefore, presents that remarkable contrast which,
in the east, is the result of the presence or absence of water;
for a single step carries the traveller from the uninhabited
1 MS. notes of Mr. Masson's First Journey into Afghdnistdn.
3 Elphinstone's Kabul, p. 452.
3 Captain Christie, in Pottinger's Travels, p. 407-