The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume IX, No. 4 [‎216v] (103/172)

420 THE PERSO-BALUCH BOUNDAP.Y-DISCUSSIOX.
Tt is in these valleys that the wealth of Makran lies, an.l it is wealth
Z* ' even in these days. Thick groves of date palms
not to Ire ae 1 A landsc e like a sea, with the white towers of
:XTforts rising above them, as islands break the surface of an inlet;
rank luxuriance of cultivation lies under the palms, where wheat-
Mds enclose fruit orchards, and fair-sized streams are drverted rnto a
network of irrigation channels. There are districts m Makran where
the fierce heat of early spring forbids the exrstence of any form o Irfe
whatsoever, and there are also sweet, well-shaded valleys the beauty of
which is hardly surpassed even in Kashmir. In amongst them all he
the remains of an ancient civilization, such as may be seen in the ruins
of old cities, of old forts, of roads, and of canals. 1 bese tell a tale which
we may hope ere long fairly to unravel.
Old as this Asiatic world may he, it is yet a new world to much of
scientific inquiry. Its geography is fairly solved, hut rts ethnography
is still a riddle, and its history, when research and investigation shall
unfold it, will fill up many a gap in the stories of the nations, i i can
never claim a national character itself. I deeply regret hat I have
neither photographs nor sketches to illustrate some of the more re-
markahle corners of this No man’s land. It is not that I have neglected
to secure such records, hut that they are m India, whilst I am here I
can only hope that in calling your attention to this long-forgotten
country I have claimed your interest in succeeding records when per
chance there may he leisure and opportunity to tell a completer tale.
Before the reading of the paper, the Chairman, Admiral Wharton, said : I am
sorry that Mr. Curzon, who was to have presided here to-night, has been preyente
by his public duties. We can understand that at present he has not much time to
spare. I am particularly sorry, because I feel a sailor is out of place in tbe chair
when talking about the borders of Afghanistan, of which I know nothing and Mr.
Curzon a great deal. I do not think I need do more than introduce to you the
lecturer, Captain McMahon, who will now read his paper. _ .
After Captain McMahon’s paper, Admiral Wharton said: While < aptain
McMahon was tracing his boundary, Colonel Hoidich was tracing another
boundary, and he has kindly consented to give us a short account of his experiences.
After the reading of the papers, the following discussion took place
Admiral Wharton : I am sorry Sir Frederic Goldsmid is not here; I had a letter
this morning from him to say he is unfortunately laid up. He conducted the former
delimitation°commission between Afghanistan and Persia, and brought it up to the
point where Colonel Hoidich and Captain McMahon took their surveys. Also Colonel
Woodthorpe wished to be here, but I am sorry he has not been able to come.
Would Mr. Alcock say something of the collections Captain McMahon brought
back ?
Mr. Alcock : There is very little of general interest I can say about the collec
tions brought back by Captain McMahon and Ur. Maynard. As Captain McMahon
has said, its chief interest is reptiles; in fact, judging from that collection, one is
quite prepared to understand that Baluchistan is a land of reptiles. Anothei
feature of the collection is the large number of scorpions, spiders, and venomous