‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎127r] (252/949)

lands and do not collect in a true lake bottom is shown by the mounds and
ruins of cities that existed here when the main river delivered its surplus
waters elsewhere. At that time these lands formed a highly-cultivated
prosperous tract receiving from the river just so much water as was needed to
raise the crops. These lands have probably experienced periods of being
submerged and of being cultivated according as the main volume of the river
was discharged over them or diverted elsewhere. When the Hamun became
abnormally dry in 1902, the ruins of the ancient city of Sabr-i-Shah were laid
dry in one*of the deeper parts of the submerged area to the north of Bahring.
At the present day the Helmand Biver turns suddenly to the north at
Band-i-Kamal Khan and, flowing due north, the waters are delivered at the
extreme north of the basin near the area which receives the surplus waters
of the Khash Bud, Earrah Bud, and Hurut Bud. The country thus flooded
represents the extreme toe of the talus of the deltaic fans which have been
made by the Helmand Biver. The apex of this fan is at Band-i-Kamal Khan.
This will be evident from a study of the topography of this basin shown on the
and maps of the Survey of India.
The information given in the notes and maps described in paragraph 12,
which was collected during the march of the Mission down the Helmand, shows
that the river once discharged itself into the Cxaud-i-Zirreh direct by a large
channel which passes by the ruins of Tarakun. An important branch of that
river runs to the south-east, under the bluffs of the high plain or “dasht”,
direct to the Gaud-i-Zirreh. The bluffs on the left bank of the Helmand at
Band-i-Kamal Khan mark the easternmost point on the left bank of the
river where the waters from the narrow gorge at one time escaped over the
extended deltaic plain. On the right bank the bluffs at Killa-i-Eath mark the
southernmost point on the river, here flowing north, at which the waters
escaped. At Killa-i-Eath the plain extends eastwards to the line of bluffs at
the Puza-i-Margo and from thence northwards to the deltaic fans at the tail
waters of the Earrah Bud and Khash Bud.
4. A tracing (Appendix A) has been prepared from the 8 miles to an
inch map which shows the whole plain at one time or another commanded by
the tail waters of the Helmand. At the present day these waters are concen
trated on the small portion of the plain, coloured green and blue, and are
uncontrolled. But the lands coloured yellow on the map are rich alluvial
plains covered by the ruins of large canals and prosperous towns, showing
that the lands have been commanded by the river in historical times. The
portion of the map coloured red represents a bare gravel-strewn plain some 20
to 40 feet higher than the plains coloured yellow. These gravel plains would
yield rich crops could the water be lifted on to them, as underlying the thin
coating of gravel are rich finely divided clays and loams
In statement A the areas of the different tracts shown by colours on the
map are given. These figures are only approximate, and are measured from the
existing 8 miles to an inch map. Much more accurate figures will be obtained
when the J inch survey now in hand under Mr. Tate is finished. The figures
from the existing map suffice to indicate the size of the areas under considera
tion. It will be noticed that when the 1,136 square miles of uncommandable
high plain is excluded, there remains a gross commandable area of 5,893 square
miles. Erom this area should be deducted lands unfit for cultivation, such as
those th.at are submerged, those under sandhills, alkali flats, and isolated high
tracts. I estimate this area from what I have seen of the country at 20 per
* The culturable area commanded on the Chenab Cent of tllP Whole area of 5,893 Squai O
Canal is million acres, and on the VV. Jumna Canal miles. This means that the culturable
2 | million acres. The Helmand Uivor would provide i i A ^71 milp« nr
a canal system in its magnitude, and in the nature of Commanded ctTOa is 4,7 5 fl ^
its problems, very like that of the VV. Jumna Canal. q little more than three million acres.
This is divided 2,020 square miles to Persia and 2,688 to Afghanistan.. I he
soil is a finely divided very fertile cool clay or clay loam. The water is rich m
a finely divided fertile silt.
The important crop is the Bnbi. Excellent wheat and barley and some
pulses are grown. The Kharif crops are melons, millet, pulses, a little cotton,
til, some maize in Afghanistan, but none in Persia. Poppies are grown near