'Military Report on Persian Seistan' [‎21r] (46/188)

31
• 9 day* in January, 10 days in Felrnary, 6 days in March
. 25 days.
During Zamistan there are strong gahs of cold wind, and during 15 *
days of this period, in different months, the winds become very stevere. In
each of these periodic wind visitations their advent is fixed by a bunch of
stars, called palam, coming from the 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.
The autumn, which is marked by the commencement of the Bad-i-Tirmah,
is 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-sad-
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 85 degrees 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, lumbago ophthalmia,
etc.
The season of 1897 was considered an ordinary type of Seistan season,
but somewhat hotter in comparison with the last 3 years.
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 ex-
are much worse, and the Sardars and Sowars told me that Tabas
and hotter; also Nasratabad and Bam-Narmishir on the
Peculiarities of climale
immunity from malaria.
and
penence,
was far worse
south-west.
T he water-logging of the soil by Helmand floods (want of proper head
canals) and the meteorological conditions, which
result from it in warm weather, are factors in
the production of malaria ; yet a water-logged
aiding in the causation of malaria, will not of
ground be rank wdth vegetable decaying matter
and there be extremes of temperature.
The immunity of the inhabitants outside the area of this inundj.ti m, from
malarial taint, is singularly noticeable, and amongst the nomads, who
camp along its bank, and even follow aquatic pursuits (?.«,. ferrying, fish
ing, shooting, reed-gathering, etc.', I saw little if any fever, and never met
a case of enlarged spleen or liver, such as we find daily jn India. Those
who live in the north-east do suffer from fever and have an anaemic ap-
condition of soil, although
itself produce it unless the
pearance, but 1 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 production of Ccehectia, bilious, remittent and other
diseases met with.
It is scarcely necessary to point out that there is a general exodus of
nomads from 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 basin.
'Ihe reeds, too, are all fired annually, as th 1 young spring shoots make
good coarse grazing for cattle. For days together the horizon is obscured