'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎163] (218/905)

CHAP. VIII.]
RIVERS OF AFGHANISTAN.
163
to the southward and westward; and from these again there
are other offsets, one of which, passing by Gaih and Kedge,
traverses the whole of Mekran to its eastern extremity, in a
direction nearly parallel to the sea.
The eastern branch, or the Brahuik mountains, 1 which The Bmhuik
likewise form an arm of the Hindu Kush, enters Balu- mounta,ns "
chistan above the Bolan pass, and there sends out many
collateral piles to the N. N. W. and W. N. W.: some of
these proceed westward, through the whole length of Balu
chistan and the mountains of Persia, whilst others stretch
southerly till they approach, or touch the sea. 2
The third, or central range, which, geographically, may be Sarawan! range,
considered as a continuation of the westerly branch of the
Khwajeh Amran, takes the name of the Sarawani mountains,
and runs nearly S.S.W. from the valley of Shal, as far as 28°
north latitude. Here it divides, and sends one fork to the
S.E., to join the Brahuik mountains near the sea ; whilst the
other, called Wushutu mountains, runs W.S.W. towards the
opposite side of Baluchistan. From each of these, as well
as from the preceding ranges, numerous offsets intersect
ancient Gedrosia in every direction, imparting to it that
desert-like and desolate appearance for which it is so re
markable.
With the exception of the navigable Indus and the Hari- Character of
rud, 3 the largest streams in Afghanistan partake of the cha- e rivei '
racter of torrents, which are fordable throughout most of the
year, and are, moreover, diminished in their onward course by
the supplies drawn from them for cultivation in passing
through the valleys which they fertilize. 4
The ancient kingdom, now the district of Herat, and Extent of
formerly eastern Khorasan, extends from the borders of
Siwistan, in 32° 30', to those of Turcomania, in 36° north
latitude ; and eastward from Western Khorasan, in 65° 5', to
1 Pottinger's Travels, p. 251.
2 Ibid., p. 252.
3 The Orchus, which rises at Oha, on the Paropamisan mountains.—Elphin-
stone 's Kabul, p. 117.
4 Ibid., p. 108.
Y 2