678 EEPORT— 1902. 



Concerning tlie variable lower course of the Helmaild, the authof gained some 

 interesting details when travelling in Sistan nearly four years ago. Indeed, it 

 must be recollected that Sistan is not only fed by the Helmand, the classic 

 Etymander, but that its waters form the lagoon in which this interesting river 

 discharges. To summarise the courses taken by the Helmand, in the fourteenth 

 century there was a solid dam, known originally as the Band-i-Rustam and later as 

 Band-i-Akwa (evidently a corruption of Afghan or Agwan). This was situate 

 at a point on the Helmand some forty miles east of the ruins of Hauzdar, and at 

 an equal distance from the limits of Sistan as it is to-day. A deep canal running 

 west irrigated the fertile plain of Hauzdar, the main stream flowing north under 

 the name of Rud-i-Nasru. On its banks were the famous cities of Shahristan 

 and Zahidan. Towards the close of the fourteenth century Sistan was invaded by 

 Timur or Tamerlane, who destroyed the dam, and thus reduced the Hauzdar plain 

 to a waterless desert. 



The Helmand, while still keeping to the Rud-i-Nasru, created a second branch 

 encircling Sehkuha, which had not hitherto been inhabited. There was appa- 

 rently no other change until early in the nineteenth century, when the whole 

 volume of water united to carve out a channel farther east, to the west of the 

 village and mound of Nad-i-Ali. As cultivated Sistan was thereby left high and 

 dry, the Rud-i-Sistau was cut a little to the north of Sehkuha — a task of great 

 magnitude. This was the state of affairs when Sir Frederic Goldsmid made his 

 award ; but in 1896 tlie Helmand began to forsake the Nad-i-Ali channel, and 

 striick out a new course between it and the Rud-i-Nasru. This is now known as 

 the Rud-i-Perian, which was a fine river when the author crossed it on a reed raft 

 in 1899. It is anticipated by the greybeards of Sistan that the wayward 

 Helmand will finally return to the ancient Rud-i-Nasru. 



The Lut, undoubtedly the salient characteristic of Persian physical geography, 

 is believed to have been in early times an inland sea, which theory is supported 

 by the presence of the active volcano of Sarhad, the extinct volcano of Bazman, 

 and many legends. Careful inquiry has led the author to believe that the name 

 Lut properly applies to the whole of the great desert of Persia, including the 

 so-called Dasht-i-Kavir in the north and the Dasht-i-Lut in the south, and that 

 its saline portions are known as Kavir, which is undoubtedly the Arabic word 

 hafr, signifying a saline swamp. As regards the term Lut, the guides point out 

 fantastic bluffs, resembling forts, mosques, or cathedrals, and explain how they are 

 ruins of cities which the Almighty destroyed, as was the case with the cities of 

 the plain, from which Lot escaped with so much difficulty. Furthermore, Luti 

 although now used to designate a butibon, formerly meant a Sodomite. It would 

 seem that this great waste of Persia has become associated (most appropriately) 

 with the name of Lot, Abraham's nephew. 



The author finally made some remarks on the trade routes and on the telegi'aph 

 line which is being constructed across Persia, showing how, in every case, direction 

 was determined by geographical features. 



FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 

 The following Papers were read : — 



1. Yilnnan. By Captain C. H. D. Ryder, R.E. 



Of the eighteen Provinces into which China proper is divided, Yiinnan, though 

 one of the largest, is one of the least populated. It is one mass of hills with small 

 plains nestling among them, in which reside the Chinese, who leave most of the 

 hilly country and the deeper valleys to the original inhabitants, such as Lolos, 

 Shans, &c. 



There are some seventy walled cities, many of them cities only in name, each 

 plain as a rule containing one city, the official centre of the district. 



