'Military Report on Persian Seistan' [‎84v] (173/188)

158
SHE
dialects, also in Kurdi, ‘god* and ‘zirreh , and ‘hamiin’ all possess identically
the same meaning, viz., ‘low level ground surrounded on all sides by somewhat
higher ground/ This Aamun is similar in its characteristics to the others, but
a curious phenomenon is here visible. On the open sandy desert we have the
Helmand river flowing due west and then due north, and, parallel to it is
the Shela river of clear brine (a stream flowing two feet deep when I crossed
it in March), running due south and due ea-^t. No range of hills lies l>e-
tween them, and nothing but a low ridge of rolling sand-waves breaks the
monotony of the desert.
“In foimer years all this country, from Sehkuha to the south as far as
Nawar, was cultivated from a canal from the Helmand, which latter has,
however, for years ceased to run, as it got silted up at its source.
“When the Helmand lagoon (Seistan lake, I believe it is called) to the
north of Kuh-i-Khwaja overflows, all this country is under water, i.e., from
some 10 miles south of Nawar to some 20 miles north (local information).
“Hak is said to be the extreme eastern point of the desert, liable to inunda
tion by the overflow of the Helmand hamun ; the line is shown on my map.
“It is a remarkable fact that wherever tamarisk jungle exists on this desert
(as here, at Nawar, at Lakri, etc.,) good perennial water is obtainable from
2 to 0 feet from the surface, and during the hot weather extemporised wells
are dug, as wanted, by those grazing their flocks. The latter, now that
spring has commenced, are to be met with in thousands proceeding to the
hills to the south of the desert. During the cold weather the large tanks
which formerly formed the ditches surrounding the now deserted, but
large walled villages of Kundar and Haozdar, are always full of rain-water
(as a very large drainage area of impermeable hard clay soil drains into these
tanks), and kafilas halt at these places (Haozdar, 14< miles this side of
Yarmal and 22 miles this side of Sehkuha; Kundar, 5 miles further to this
side) in preference to digging wells elsewhere. Thus, by this route, water,
good and in plenty, exists during the entire year from Sehkuha to Jalk.
There is also unlimited grazing for camels and sheep on this desert, in
addition to tamarisks (gaz), and nagaz or tagaz or kagaz (a tree somewhat
like the tamarisk); an unlimited amount of sajji also exists ; the latter at
this season is a small dark shrub and is met with in quantity in the Punjab,
especially in salt and saltpetre soil. It is here called shurak, and has a
small grain or seed, and my horses eat it and have thriven thereon. At
first they would not touch it, but hunger no doubt lent inducement to its
flavour.
“It is well known in the Punjab, and Government takes revenue from its
collection, as it there fetches a good price, so Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Khan informs me.”
The only other available crossing of the Shela, to the south-east of where
Jennings crossed it, is at Shah Gudar, some 30 to 40 miles to the south
east, visited by MacGregor; latter is on the direct route from Bandar-
i-Kamal Khan on the Helmand to the south; this route joins Jennings’
route from Ladid to Sehkuha, at Chamagh or Duzab via either the Robat
Nala or the Lar Nala or at or near Manzilaf vid the Piran Kotal.
A curious range of rolling sand waves runs over the Shela desert from
north-west to south east. They were crossed diagonally at the 62nd mile
on the road from Sehkuha to Bam pur, again between Nawar and Lar Nala,