'Seistan' [‎21v] (42/782)

they had fallen, in wild disorder. No p-irt of the town walls is standing, but the
site could easily be trace;l. The old town had two gates—the Meshed gate and
the Shirwan gate. The doors of both I saw still lying on the ground. Since this
crowning disaster some houses have sprung up, so built that they could not fall
down. Barked trees from the neighbouring hills are placed so as to lean against
one another and form a pent house, the bases being buried in the ground so that
there are no walls to fall. The roof thus made is covered over with mud in
order to give protection from the weather. The inhabitants live in these ex
tremely confined tenements as best they can, but probably secure from the
effects of earthquakes. An occasional shopkeeper here and there has built a shop
with walls and the usual flat roof, in which to display his w'ares. By degrees old
Kuchan has been deserted until at present about 200 families only now remain
there. These persons mostly own lands and gardens and cannot atford to abandon
them foi new Kuchan, where they would have no means of livelihood 5 occasional
earthquake shocks are still felt in old Kuchan.
There is a possibility that petroleum might be found if borings were made
in the Kuchan valley. T/arthquakes both mild and severe have been frequent
in the district, and there is plainly some cause of constant disturbance
underground. In the course of conversation about earthquakes and petroleum,
I was told that similar phenomena had been noticed in the neighbourhood of
Baku, where so much oil has been lately discovered.
Old Kuchan is surrounded with vineyards. The vines are cut down to the
ground in the autumn, and the stumps covered over with earth to pre
serve them from the cold of winter. When I saw them (April 23rd) they
were being uncovered. Wine is made in the Kuchan district. The water
supply is from the stream which flows down from the hills, past new Kuchan
and eventually reaches the Caspian Sea ; also from kanats and from springs
m the surrounding hills. Thanks to a plentiful water-supply in sprint the
face of the whole valley is green with crops. I also noticed much cultivation
which was dependent on rain. A little snow was visible on the neighbouring
mountains. ' 0 ®
April 24th, 1899 .—Usuabad or Tusafabad to Farij, about 10 miles. The
morning was cloudy and warm. The highest mountain of the valley
Shabjahan—was in view to the south. It had snow on it. I was told snow
never entirely leaves it. This part of the valley is well cultivated and several
villages were passed during the march. I was informed that the Shuia-ul-
Dowlali had sold his rights in the villages to obtain money enough to enable
him to defray the demands maae on him by the Government. Amongst the
chief products are grain, and raisins. Armenian traders make advances to
cultivators for the produce of the country to be exported to Asbkabad Trom
tins village a track runs to Ashkabad, and another track runs to Saflabad in
the opposite direction. Earij has about 100 bouses, a large karez of excellent
water inns tinough it. there are vineyards in all directions. The "rapes are
grown in shallow trenches. The people, both cultivators and graziers, are
Zafaranlu Kurds. The valley is about 12 miles broad. The couStrv is safe
now and it has no fort, nor did X see any of the towers of refuse in the fie 1 ds
so conspicuous in some parts of the country. There is plenty Sf lucerne £r, aK ,
and grazing for sheep. b c oa
April Soth, 1899, To Davie, about 10 miles. The day was cloudy and
cool. I did not pass contmuous cultivation and the road was in parts
hilly and stony. The nephew of the chief of Kuchan, Mustafa Kuli
Agha, sen a party out to welcome me headed by his son Zain-ul-A-ha
Kaib of Ujmn There aw 6 Villases here on a stream of water from
the lulls. The chief village has a large abandoned fort iu the centre Thirl
is a large expanse of wheat cultivation, while the gardens contain quantities of
vines grown chiefly for raisins. There is a large demand for them for the
Russian market. '1 here are plenty of poplar trees, but not many apricot trees
Almonds, gram, wool and cotton are exported to Russia. There is a mule
2