'Notes on Persian Seistan' [‎30v] (65/142)

50
&OTES ON PERSIAN SEISTAN.
During recent years, owing to the northerly gales, large drifts of soft sand
have collected here, and put a considerable area out of cultivation, which was
formerly extremely fertile. The Rud-i-Sheh-i-Ab flows through the centre,
and overflowing its banks among the sand-drifts, makes movement for man and
beasts very diilicult. Speaking generally, the ground will be found more easily
traversed as a greater distance is reached from either the Helmund, or the
heads of the various main canals, the quantity of water to be crossed having
decreased owing to the water of the canalshaving been drawn off for purposes
of irrigation. Camel grazing is found throughout, though more plentiful in
certain places, which have been noted in the accompanying sketch. South of
the cultivated area there appears to be nothing to prevent free movement of
wheeled vehicles, and in the cultivated area itself, with the exception of the
tracts of country above referred to, the canals alone impede progress. The
ground is everywhere open and level, and by bridging the larger canals and
fording the smaller watercuts, troops and transport could move in any required
direction.
Points from which a view of the surrounding country can he obtained.
(These points are ennmerated, roughly speaking, from north to south.)
As-i-Haji-Karim.
Tappa-i-Kharaak.
Karkob or Karkohshah.
Jelalabad.
Burj -i-Afghan.
Maliki (old ruin).
Jebanabad-i-Kohna (old ruins).
Nad Ali (in Afghan territory).
Mil-i-Milak.
Zahidan (ruin near present village).
Darwaza-i-Bakhtiari.
Tappa-i-Gori (J mile north of Gori).
Kok-i-Khwajab.
Kundarak (ruins of old town).
Bagbak.
Malik Haideri.
Sherifabad.
Ziarat-i-Mobammed Ali.
Shabristan Hill.
Kimak.
Chilling.
Ziarat-i-Sabz Pir.
Khwajab Ahmad-i-Kobna (ruin on small
bill).
Kohak.
Kala-i-Nau.
Ziarat-i-Derweish Kbimmar.
Sehkoha.
These points would serve as signalling stations, and any intermediate sta
tions required could be found on the roofs of houses in the larger villages.
Bridges .—Only narrow bridges exist, strong enough to bear the weight
of a single loaded camel. Except in Mian-
kangi, and there only in sufficient quantity
for local requirements, no timber is available for bridging purposes. Conse
quently an adequate supply of spars and planks should be brought with any
troops operating in Seistan.
The depth of the majority of canals does not exceed 6 feet, a few only being
as much as 8 feet deep in flood time, the greatest depth I noted being 10 feet
in the Itud-i-Seistan near Khwaja Ahmed ; while the average breadth of the
larger canals is from 20 feet to 25 feet, and of the smaller ones 12 feet to 15 feet.
Pontoons.—Vo? bridging the main bran-
Pontoons. c h es 0 f the Helmund, it would be advisable to
bring pontoons.
The current is strong at flood time and the bed of the river soft mud and
sand, which scours rapidly. After three days* work at making an attempt to
cross the Bud-hParian with the Seistan Boundary Commission, in March
1903, by filling in the deep channel with loose fascines of tamarisk, a depth of
6 feet was found to have scoured to a depth of 12 feet, and work had to be
suspended.