'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎14v] (33/118)

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any chance of friction still remains, the Persians naturally infringinging
border line that consists of valuable grazing.
Within these limits lies the fertile basin of Sistan. The overflow of the
hamun, however, renders a great portion of this useless. There are no per
manent habitations west of the Kuh-i-Khwaja, which in time of flood becomes
an island separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. Eeyond it is a
vast swamp stretching west and south-west for many miles. Further still to
the south, below the latitude of Sihkuha, is a flat clay plain, sometimes
inundated, but at other times covered with a species of grass called “ bunnu/''
which affords excellent pasture for large flocks of sheep and camels. This
flat gradually narrows southwards into the channel known as the river
khela, which conducts the overflow of the hamun into the God-i-Zirreh.
During this winter there was no stream in the Shela, though a large volume
of water from the Helmund was pouring into the hamun with a current of
nearly two miles an hour.
The country north and east of Nasirabad is covered with a low scrub, a
species of tamarisk. The ground is lumpy and requires some labour to
irrigate; consequently this portion is very thinly populated and boasts of
hardly any cultivation.
South-west of Nasirabad the large village of Chiling forms the centre
of the best cultivated and most densely populated portion of Sistan. This is
watered by the main branch of the Sistan canal, v/hich, starting from the
bund in a deep and rapid stream, flows first along the edge of the desert
plateau north-west to Shahristan. From there it branches off, one arm
bending to the north and the other westwards. The northern arm waters the
country east of Nasirabad; the western arm a few miles further again bifur
cates, sending a channel towards Nasirabad; while the main stream contin
ues westwards to water the districts of Chiling and Sihkuha. These main
canals vary from 120 to 20 feet in breadth, and are usually fordable at many
places, the depth varying from 2 to 4 feet. Where there is no ford, the water
is about 6 feet deep. They are not bridged, but from them emanate innumer
able watercuts from 15 feet to 3 feet wide, bridged here and there by a
rickety construction of tamarisk boughs, and only one loot wide.
They are enclosed by steep banks containing 3 to 4 feet of water, and
form very serious obstacles to baggage animals.
The bead of the main canal is defended by a small mud fort called the
Burj-i-Sar-i-Band, which is garrisoned by a force of six or eight men. These
men do not, however, live in the fort, but in some huts nearer the edge of the
canal. One of them told me with evident pride that though they did not
live in the fort themselves, they kept their muskets there.
Roads there are none, nor is there sufficient traffic from village to village
to make anything like a decided track, except between Nasirabad and the
principal villages, such as Chiling, Sihkuha,Dashtak, Burj Alum Khan, and
Kimak; and along these a stranger would lose his way without a guide.
Even with guides, ore's baggage animals were half the time stumbling across
country, coming upon pathways here and there, and then losing them again.
Dr. Bellew has given an account of the various tribes in Sistan at the
ti me Arbitration Commission.