'MILITARY REPORT ON PERSIA. VOLUME IV, PART I.' [‎13v] (31/168)

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grazing. The chief feature of the district is the Kuh-i-
Taftan, situated in the very centre. Otherwise the country
gives the appearance of a waterless waste, with plains or
valleys devoid of all trees and with nothing to rest the
eye from the glare and the endless brown burnt-up soil.
Dust devils are continuously forming and adding to the
discomfort.
The drainage from the Ivuh-i-Taftan, however, renders
some parts less desolate. On the north the drainage on
its w r ay to join the Mirjawa river has to pass through the
Ladis valley, and this is well-teupplied with water and
capable of much development. It lies at a height of
3,500—4,000 feet and has a good climate, but the population
is, sparse. At present its water is made but little use of,
except for the requirements of the railway. To the south
the fall is by no means as rapid as in the case of the
Ladie valley, and the highlands in this direction average
about 4,500 feet, sloping due south. The main valley, that
of Khwash, is over 30 miles in length and runs in a south
south-easterly direction. Though it is stony at its northern
end, it gradually becomes soft and sandy as it approaches
Khwash fort. Prom this point a region of karezes and
exceptionally fertile sandy loam is reached which continues
to improve as one goes south. There is little doubt that
this valley was once very fertile, but Daman! control has
turned it into a desert with only a few patches of cultiva
tion.
The population of the Sarhad is in reality entirely
nomadic, living in tents, and moving about according to
the suitability of the pasturage for their flocks. All their
grain is imported either from Sistan or from Narmashir.
There are however some places which o^ing to their water-
supply have always a number of tents pitched in them. J
Da
The most important places in the Sarhad are :— Oei
kwStih.
(a) Khwdsh, elevation about 4,500 feet, is one of the
places which have most possibilities for develop
ment owing to its well-watered and fertile soil.
It possesses an imposing looking fort of no great