"كتيب الجيش الفارسي" [ظ‎‎١‎٧] (١٥٠/٣٩)

24
Jaz Murian .—As shown on the map, the size of the
hamun is misleading. The entire ground between
halanzan on the east and Zah Kalat on the west is
liable to inundation during the rains. Between these
two spots is the actual limit of the swamps, i.e., some
50 miles by 20. Jaz Murian is a sweet water lake.
Water remains permanently only between Kalanzan
and Gumbaz.' In the hot weather the swamp is mostly
dried up.
Hamun-i-Helmand .—The area liable to inundation
at high flood is 2,742 square miles, the actual hamun
being 1,4/4 square miles. The area liable to inunda
tion divides itself naturally into four main basins: —
(а) The eastern basin, or Hamun-i-Puzak.
(б) The northern basin, or Hamun-i-Sabari.
(c) The southern basin, or Hamun-i-Kuh-i-
Khwaj a.
{d) The south-eastern basin, or Gaud-i-Zireh
* which includes the Sar-i-Shila.
The area liable to inundation consists of two
characteristic classes—the naizar, or reed marsh, and
the hamun. The former is low lying ground ’ over
which the waters spread themselves on their way to
the hamun to a depth of several feet. These reed
beds connect the various hamuns and in flood time
iorm one large sheet of water for miles round. There
are well known paths across the naizar.
The rise of water each year commences in the
amun-i-Puzak about April: thence the overflow
enters the northern and southern basins in succession,
the water begins to fall about July, and in September
t ne low level is again reached.
5. Desert.
Dasht-i-Kamr occupies the centre of Khorasan.
J commences east of Qum and stretches east to the
boundary of Turshiz, fully 200 miles. Its width varies
from 80 to 150 miles. It is composed of dark soil and