"سيستان" [و‎‎٢‎٠‎٢] (٧٨٢/٤٠٣)

NOTES ON PERSIAN SEISTAN.
V3
19-
Along the main tracks in Seistan, there are fords through all the
canals which are too wide to be bridged by
I, ° rd8 ‘ local methods. The absence however of
stone and gravel, and the soft nature of the soil, which becomes very slippery
when wet, would make it preferable to bridge all but the smaller water-cuts,
if any considerable amount of traffic was required to pass.
Except to the east of a line drawn from Shahristan Hill to
Jelalabad, no fuel is to be found. The fuel
Puoi • for other districts is carried from Miankangi
on donkeys, and in the western districts is an expensive commodity in winter.
Consisting as it does of roots and small branches of tamarisk, a large amount
would be necessary for military purposes
Tamarisk wood is heavy and does not float, so that some arrangement would
have to be made with skins or otherwise to float it down the river or canals.
Fater.—The water of the Halmand resembles that of the Nile, in that it
contains fertilising properties, though in a
Water for drmkmg purposes. ml , c h lesser degree. It consequently would
not be so injurious to the health of British troops, except during the time of the
first flood. Then, especially after a low Halmand, the river brings down a
large amount of filth of all sorts, besides alluvial deposit, and would probably
cause dysentery and kindred complaints.
The water of the canals in Seistan is seldom really clear owing to the
constant minor irrigation operations, and to the traffic passing through the
numerous fords.
Filters. —It would probably prove advantageous to make arrangements
for filtering water for British troops, as was
]Pilte^B • done in the Soudan in 1 S 98 .
Wells.—Water can be found practically throughout Seistan at a depth of
from 5 ' to 15 ' below the surface of the
ground, and wells can be quickly dug owing
to the softness of the soil. The well-water however is nearly always muddy.
V
CLIMATE.
A description of the climate of Seistan resolves itself into an account o ^
the local winds, which are almost incessant, of extraordinary violence and
uniformity as regards direction.
Both the summer and winter gales blow practically from the north alwayg^^/
and their regularity may be gauged from the fact that all the trees slant U
a considerable angle towards the south, while no opening is ever made on th^ -
north side of a house in Seistan.
In the summer time one usually sees everyone walking, heeling over
against the wind, as on board ship in a storm, while the shrill and piercing
voices of the inhabitants, who invariably shout to each other from quite
close even on a still day, are undoubtedly due to the difficulty experienced ia
making themselves heard while the “ Bad-i-sad-o-bist-roz” blows.
This name, which is applied to the summer gales, is calculated to give
anyone, who has not been in Seistan for any
gides! i ’ 8adH> ’ bist ’ ^oz, or Bummer length of time, the impression that the gales
only last for 120 days. The summer wind^j
however, which usually continues from early in June to mid-October, is
succeeded after about six weeks by the not much less formidable “ Bad-i-
zamistan ” or “ winter wind”.
As the summer gales temper the heat and make a temperature of 105 °
quite bearable indoors without a punkah or other artificial means of cooling the