'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎28r] (60/118)

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29
It
Transport.
will be noticed that the country contains no mules and very few
horses. Camels are also scarce, and those that do exist
are seldom to be found among the villages of Sistan.
They are either employed in carrying goods from Bandar Abbas and
other places, or are grazing in the outlying districts.
Besides these, the nomads own a considerable number of cattle, sheep,
and camels, and contribute largely to the Amir's revenue thereby. Large
flocks are usually to be found under the Palang Kuh, where they obtain very
good pasture from the “ bunnu/' a peculiar species of grass that flourishes
on the flat part of the basin where liable to inundation. The Naizar feeds
large herds of cattle, and there are a considerable number of camels owned by
Baluchis in the Shela district, where the tamarisk, etc., abounds.
If one is to believe the amount said to be collected in taxes by the Amir,
there should be altogether 225,000 sheep, 13,000 camels, and over 40,000
cattle; but I must confess I am sceptical about these high figures.
As regards the grain supply, I estimated in my former report that the
country yielded about 75,000 kharwars as far as I was able to judge. I then
deducted 40,000 kharwars for the needs of the population, leaving a surplus
of 35,000 kharwars (10,156, tons). A subsequent reference to the Report
of the (1880) Indian Famine Commission, however, showed that including
seed, cattle food, and wastage, the average ordinary consumption throughout
India is 580 lbs. per head. Taking that therefore as a basis, and including
nomads, there would be a surplus of 29,180 kharwars or 8,467 tons.
This would suffice to maintain a division of all arms permanently in the
country.
The capabilities of development are great. The land is extraordinarily
fertile, and only 1-llth of the total arable land is cultiva-
Capabihties of dove- ^ e( p There is more than enough water in the Helmund,
and with a good system of canals there should never
be a had harvest. Besides this, the old Tarakun canal could be reopened,
thereby not only fertilising part of the desert to the south of Sistan as far as
the God-i-zirrah, but also tending to convert the Naizar and the clay fiat
between it and the Shela into arable land by diminishing the amount of
waste water. Ruins in the part now subject to inundations to the west of
Sihkuha appear to show that the ancients must have had a better command
over the Helmund waters than the people of to-day.
The inhabitants in spite of their heroic ancestor, Rustam, are not now
a warlike race. The Shahrekis, Sarbandis, Cayanis,
etc., whatever they may have been, do not now repre
sent a military force. Very few of the inhabitants
carry arms. They are completely overawed by the Kain people, and would be
worthless as soldiers.
Any highly irrigated country is difficult for troops to operate in. Sistan
is particularly so. There is not a road or anything
Difficult nature of approaching a road anywhere. The whole country is
J intersected with canals and watercuts, at best bridged
here and there by a few boughs of tamarisk, barely broad enough or stable
enough for one loaded mule to cross at a time.
Between Sihkuha and Nasirabad, a distance of 20 miles, one has to cross
more than 20 canals and watercuts, of which two canals are 30 feet wide and
2 feet deep in their normal condition,.and the remainder are watercuts with
lopment.
Inhabitants of Sistan
as soldiers.