'Reconaissance through Baluchistan and Seistan, 1897' [‎22r] (48/120)

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it is called the Bad-i-Lawar (poisonous hot wind), this continues to blow with some violence,
on occasions, into September, reaching its maximum intensity of heat between 16th and
30th July A howling warm wind blows throughout the day; during this period the
landscape is enveloped in dust and haze, obscuring all but near objects. J udgmg by
this experience, and the accounts of the Bad-i-Zamistan, it seems as i a e wm
Northern Persia, Herat and Turkistan had arranged a meeting, and, arrowdike, direct
their united forces on Seistan, determining to have a real good time over this flat,feature
less and ruin-scattered country. . .
These inland hurricanes, starting without any warning, lasting so long, and in the
hot season, are to me unaccountable, more so as they are stronger during the daytime
up to 3 o’clock p.m. than during the night. This year Lawar has set in earlier y a)s
than usual, having begun (on the 19th of the moon) in June.
During Zamistan, there are strong gales of cold wind, and during 25 days of th s
period, in different months, the winds become very severe. In each of these periodic
wind visitations their advent is fixed by a bunch of stars, called P^lam, coming from t e
west and meeting the full moon at any time during the night. The resistance caused
by the meeting of these stars with the moon is stated to cause the winds to become colder,
and these are styled Bad-i-Zamistan. -d u • t* o
The autumn, which is marked by the commencement of the Bad-i-lirmah, *s a
pleasant, mild season ; all the kafilas start from the country at this period. . „
The gales, commencing with the Bad-i-Zamistan, is styled Bad-i-sacl i-bistroz
(wind of 120 days); it is stated never to last more than 80 days. During this
season, raw biting north winds blow, frosts are prevalent, thermometer registering
35 decrees of frost. Amongst a community of ill-fed, sparsely-clad, poverty-stricken
and much oppressed people, such weather is indeed trying, bringing its attendant
train of disease, such as rheumatism, chest affections, abdominal complaints, ium Jago,
optha^mia^c-R ^ ^ considered an ordinary type of Seistan season, but somewhat
hotter in comparison with the last 3 years. , , , • j i
Taking the climate as a whole, and judging by the physique energy and labour
performed, even in the hot season, I am forced to the conclusion that, the climate, in
comparison with some other parts of Persia, is certainly much better.
Bampur, Jaruft, Makran, Rudbar, of which I have had personal experience, aie much
worse, and the Sardars and Sawars told me that Tabas was far worse and hotter; also
Nasratabad and Bam-Narmishir on the south-west. , x
The water-logging of the soil by Helmand floods (want of proper head canals) and Pecuhar-
the meteorological conditions, which result from it in warm weather, are factors in ^
production of malaria ; yet a water-logged condition of soil, although aiding in the irmnunity
causation of malaria, will not of itself produce it unless the ground be rank with vegetable f r0 m
decayin 0 ' matter and there be extremes of temperature. ^ i • i
The immunity of the inhabitants outside the area of this inundation, from marianal
taint, is singularly noticeable, and amongst the nomads, who camp along its bank and
even follow aquatic pursuits yi.e., ferrying, fishing, shooting, reed-gathering, &c.), 1 saw
little if any fever, and never met a case of enlarged spleen or liver, such as we find daily
in India Those who live in the north-east do suffer from fever and have an aenemic
appearance, but I am inclined to the belief that bad diet, insufficient clothing exposure,
a total disregard for sanitary laws, and opium habit has much more to do in the pioc ac
tion of Ccehectia, bilious, remittent and other diseases met with.
It is scarcely necessary to point out that, there is a general exodus of nomads trom
the Hamun vicinity towards the end of September, when it begins to dry up, and the
malarial effluvia begins to arise by the action of a hot sun on this water-logged mud
baMm ^ are all fired aTmua lly 5 as the young spring shoots make good coarse
orazino- for cattle. For days together the horizon is obscured and the atmosphere sur
charged with smoke, this, and the fresh north-winds, has a purifying and beneficial
effect
Sanitation throughout the village is of the good old sort, which invites disease from Sanitation,
afar, and promises it every hospitality ; filth of every description, decomposing carcases,
the friends and boon companions of disease, lie at the door of every village; these are
the hotbeds and culture grounds of disease.
The nomad Balueh and Ghainies, who wander and graze along the Hainan trmge
the greater part of the year, who live fairly well, are warmly clad and work hard, are
9 days iu January, 10 days in February, 6 days in March ..
.. 25 days.