The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume IX, No. 4 [‎203v] (77/172)

394
THE SOUTHERN BORDERLANDS OF AFGHANISTAN.
country, is impossible in tbe small compass of tbis paper; and 1 can
only give the general characteristics of tbe country, with a few
remarks here and there on places of more than ordinary interest. In
our wanderings we traversed many tracts of country hitherto seen by
only a very few Europeans, and again large tracts hitherto unvisited
by any Europeans at all.
The general characteristics of the whole country we traversed are,
I may say, barren dryness—barren hills and mountain ranges and vast
open plains, where, in most cases, either want of water or the unsettled
state of the people has prevented the cultivation of the soil. Rocks
and stones, varying from the size of the huge gigantic boulders on the
mountain-sides to that of the small pebbles and shingle of the strands
of the dry torrent beds, cover the greater portion of the surface of the
country, while another large portion is given up to deserts of deep soft
sand. Throw in here and there springs of water of widely varying
medicinal properties and every degree of saltness, and you have a
rough general idea of the country I am describing. To those who
indulge in varied mineral waters, and would like to test the vary
ing effects of petroleum, sulphur, ammonia, potassium, either mixed or
by themselves, I can recommend them to pay a visit to that country.
Rut they must remember that, unfortunately, none of the springs are
labelled, and so you don’t know until afterwards what you are drinking.
However, I must not lead you for a moment to suppose that this
country has no redeeming features. Refreshing green oases here and
there, sometimes in the form of green wooded valleys with rippling
streams of pure water, sometimes in forest lands along the high moun
tain-tops, sometimes in the form of extensive tracts of rich cultivation
in wide valleys and plains, break the monotony of the vast wastes
around, and afford a relief to the eye and a pleasure to the senses which
none but travellers in that country can fully realize. Then, again, the
deal', dry, sparkling atmosphere, the deep blue cloudless skies of the
greater part of the year, and the almost boundless horizons produce
feelings of exhilaration and a sense of freedom which go far to make
up for the shortcomings of the country in other respects. Last, but not
least, we find the inhabitants a fine manly race, whose love of inde
pendence is as rugged as their hills, and whose stubborn bravery is
unquestionable. A\ ith fair complexions and splendid physique, they
fonn for the most part a magnificent race of men.
On April 5, 1894, our mission reached Domandi, a dreary uninhabited
spot 3500 feet above sea-level, at the junction of the Gomal and Kundar
rivers, the starting-point of the boundary-line which we were to lay
down Our party consisted of six British officers: Captain R. J. Mac
kenzie, r.e., was the survey officer; Captain C. Griffiths, 16th Bengal
Cavalry, and Captain F. G. Fowler, 1st Baluches, commanded the
cavalry and infantry escort; Surgeon-Captain F. W. Gee was our