"تقرير عسكري عن بلاد فارس - المجلد I ١٩٣٠" [و‎‎٣‎٧] (١٥٤/٧٨)

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CHAPTER IV.
RESOURCES.
1. KHUKASAN—GENERAL.
The greater portion of Khurasan consists of <c Kavir ”
and desert, and is barren and desolate.
There are, however, considerable cultivated areas in the
districts of Kuchan and Chinaran, Meshed, Darreh Jaz,
Nishapur, and Bujnurd.
Patches of cultivation of varying extent will be found
in the vicinity of all towns and villages.
The total produce in any year depends on the local
political situation, the degree of pressure brought to bear
on the cultivators by the Government, and the extent of
rainfall. The crops are also liable to suffer from locusts.
It will be seen therefore that the estimates given in this
report are very rough, and can but represent a probable
average.
Wheat is the principal cereal, and lucerne the principal
fodder of this area, wood is the normal fuel, but charcoal
is also produced. A coal mine situated some 12 miles S. W.
of Meshed is now (January 1930) being worked by" the
Meshed Shrine authorities. The coal produced from this
mine is considered to be of a satisfactory quality, and it is
hoped that eventually it will be possible to develop this
mine, and thus gradually to substitute coal for wood as
the normal fuel in the vicinity of Meshed.
The Hauj (hide) of land is the most reliable unit for
estimating the output of a district. It represents the
amount that can be ploughed by a yoke of oxen. In this
province in average soil this is 20 Kharwars. (1 Kharwar
= about 500 lbs.) Inhabitants will not usually disclose the
amount of their annual crop, or the revenue they pay;
hence enquiries should be directed towards the number of
ploughs they use. Requisitioning officers should remem
ber that the country has been plundered from time
immemorial.
2. SEISTAN—GENERAL.
Persian Seistan is an oasis averaging about 35 miles
from north to south and 25 miles from east to west. Hav
ing a rainfall of only 2 or 3 inches a year (during the
c 2