'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎22v] (49/652)

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BAL—BAL
on the west, joins the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , in the vicinity of the mouth of
the Karvan river. (The eastern border has at times been the subject
of considerable dispute between the British and Persian Governments, for
some particulars of which vide Kuhak and Mirjawa.)
The principal harbours along the coast-line are Gwatar, Chahbar, and
Tiz, which are described under their own headings. Besides these there
are several small bays and indentations, which are only used by the
fishermen and smugglers.
Generally speaking, Persian Baluchistan is a very mountainous region
with ranges rising up to close on 13,000 feet in height.
Starting northwards from the coast, for the first 20 or 30 miles, the
country is comparatively flat and interspersed with minor hills, until the
Lashar range is reached, with its eastern continuation of the Bampusht
mountains, the average height of their watersheds being about 5,500 feet.
South of this range all the water drains to the sea, through the Nihing,
Sarbaz, Kaju, Geh, and Rapch rivers ; while north of it, it is either
absorbed in'the Jaz Murian Hamun through the Bampur river, or in the
Mashkid Hamun through the Mashkid and Talab rivers, none of it *
reaching the sea.
North of the Bampfir valley lie the highlands of Sarhad, where the ranges
have a general northerly and southerly trend, culminating in the Kuh-i-
Taftan (12,681 feet) about the centre. To the west is the low-lying
Kirman desert, and to the east British Baluchistan.
With the exception of the rivers mentioned above, there are none of any
importance ; no navigation is possible on them, and only after heavy rain
do they possess any considerable volume of water. Usually they are ford
able almost everywhere, and in the hot weather they nearly dry up, so
that the main kdfileh routes run along their course.
Properly speaking, there are no lakes in Persian Balfichistan. The
northern drainage of the Lashar hills and that of the Bampur river,
with its tributaries, runs into the Jaz Murian Hamun, which also
receives the Halil Rud and other minor streams. This Jidmun, though
of considerable extent during the rainy season, almost dries up during the
summer months, all its water being lost by evaporation. To the west of
Vasht is another small hdmun of no importance, the Chah-i-Gabi Hamun,
which is similarly generally dry. The Mashkid Hamfin in British
territory absorbs the Mashkid, Talab, Kalaghan and Jalk rivers. The
other numerous watercourses and ndlds with which the country is cover
ed seldom have any running water in them, though it can, in most places,
be found by digging in their beds, the water level being about 4 feet below
the surface.
Administration.
Persian Baluchistan is divided into four
administrative districts—
(1) Makran reaching from the sea up to the watershed of the Lashar
range, with Bashakard on the west, and Saravan on the
east.
(2) Bampfir, north of the Lashar range, with Sarhad on its north,
^aravan on its east, and K'rman on its westt