'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎30r] (64/118)

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the Helmund valley, 452 miles from Quetta, another via Kandahar and Oha-
kansur, about 360 miles from Chaman, but over waste country with but little
water, and a third via Kandahar and Kala Bist down the Helmund valley
nearly all the way, 439 miles from Chaman.
Thus though the Helmund valley is undoubtedly far the best line
of approach, there are no absolutely insuperable difficulties in the way of
reaching* Sistan without entering Afghan territory. Its difficulty of access
from the west and its distance from the Russian frontier, some 640 miles,
« added to the natural obstacles that an army advancing from that direction
would encounter, are advantages. Great objections to an occupation are the
unhealthy climate and the fact that the hamuns are liable to floods which
almost convert Sistan into an island and render it impossible for an army
to debouch from it to the north. As regards the former, no English
man has as yet passed a summer in the country, so that absolute proof is still
wanting. Certainly, judging by the accounts and the appearance of the
people, it must be very unhealthy, but their physique improves the further
they are removed from the swamps in the northern part of the basin; and if
barracks were built on the high ground south of Kimak or Sihkuha, it might
be found possible to keep troops healthy.
The latter objection is only applicable supposing Afghanistan again to
be without the sphere of operations; otherwise the Helmund could be bridged
by the Band-i-Sistan, where the river has high banks and does not overflow
the country. The distance to be bridged would not exceed 300 yards. In this
case, were the hamuns in flood, they would form an additional protection
against a force coming from the north.
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CHAPTER II.
THE COUNTRY BETWEEN MASHAD AND SISTAN, NORTHERN SECTION.
This may be divided into two main sections, the northern comprising the
Geography. districts of Turbat-i-Haidari, Turbat-i-Sheikh Jam,
. Bakharz, Hashtadan, Khaf, and Gunabad, and the south
ern consisting of Birjand.
The general features of the whole country are a succession of bare and
rocky mountain ranges running north-east and south-west, enclosing long nar
row valleys, for the most part destitute of rivers, and dependent for their cul
tivation on karezes and insignificant mountain streams.
_ Both mountains and valleys are absolutely bare of trees, except where
cultivated ; in places there is a low scrub jungle fit for firewood, and everv-
where camel grazing is to be found. In the spring a scanty and short-lived
grass appears, and fattens large flocks of sheep, some of which exist during
the remainder of the year on the low heather-like plants that cover the ground,
while the majority wander elsewhere in search of. better pastures.
Horses, mules, and cattle are fed on chopped straw and dried lucern and
other vetches twisted into ropes and stored.
Commencing with the northern section-—
South of the Mashad valley, down which flows the Kashaf Rud, and near
the town of Mashad, beyond Turukh, the offshoots from the lofty Nishapur