'Military Report on Persian Seistan' [‎7r] (18/188)

cuts, bridged only occasionally by a few boughs of tamarisk, barely broad
and firm enough to afford safe footing for one laden mule to cross at a
time. The above general description applies to the whole ol Persian and
Afghan Seistan, between which, until 1872, there was no well-defined
boundary. In that year the Indian Government undertook to define the
boundaries between the two countries, and sent Sir F. Goldsmid’s Commis
sion to Persia for this purpose.
As it is with Persian Seistan, or Seistan proper as it was called by
Sir F. Goldsmid, that this report is chiefly concerned, it will be as well
to give the boundary as defined by him.
The boundary as defined by Sir F. Goldsmid was a line drawn from
the Kuh Siah Hill, 171 miles north-east of Bandan, to the southern limits
of the Naizar, along what was formerly the main arm of the Helmand to
the Band-i-Seistan, and thence in a straight line to the Kuh-i-Malik Siah,
which is the meeting-point of British Baluchistan, Persia, and Afghan
istan; the territory then assigned to Persia as Seistan proper, was some
950 square miles.
The boundaries of Persian Seistan may be thus generally described : —
On the north, the Naizar, or reed swamp.
On the east, the most easterly arm of the Helmand.
On the south, a line drawn from the Band-i-Seistan to the Malik-Siah-
Koh.
On the west, the Palang Kuh Range.
The north-west frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. , where there are no habitations, is more or
less undefined; the frontier village on the main road is Zainulabad.
It should, however, be noted that the Helmand has changed its course
since 1872, and that the present main channel does not now mark the bound
ary, which is marked by the present most easterly channel which was then
the main one. It would appear that, in consequence, some considerable
uncertainty still exists as to the proper boundary between Persian and
Afghan Seistan, leading to constant disputes between the Persians and
Afghans. These disputes, as we claim the right to supervise Afghan
foreign relations, have constantly engaged the serious attention of our
frontier and political officers in these parts, and it would appear that, to
finally settle the question, a new demarcation is necessary. Major Trench,
as lately as March 1901, was engaged assisting both parties to arrive at a
mutual agreement. One thing, however, appears certain, that were it
not for the restraining influence of England and Russia, the Afghans
would quickly settle the matter to their own satisfaction, as they have
the supremest contempt for the military strength of the Persians.
Mountain Systems .—The natural western boundary of Seistan is the
Palang Kuh Range, of which little was known until 1897, when it was
partially explored by Surgeon-Major Brazier-Creagh, R.A.M.O., who de
scribes the general character of the range as consisting of “ innumerable
parallel ranges rising to altitudes varying from 3,000 to 9,920 feet ap
proximately.” The general trend of the ranges is north-west and south
east, and they are chiefly composed of barren limestone with an outcrop
of black-trap and schists.
Narrow torrent beds wind their way through the hills, the ranges
being separated by narrow valleys, and sometimes by broad saucer-shaped
plateaux liable to inundation during the rainy season. The water, subsid
ing, leaves saline deposit after evaporation and dessication, mapping out
well-defined miniature hamuns. Scattered throughout the valleys and