1896.] A. Alcock & F. Finn — Afghan- Baluch Beptilia. 551 



From Spintijha we struck the Lora River, and followed its course 

 south to its termination in the plains of Shorawuk and Nushki. Game 

 was abundant all along the river and most of the birds obtained were 

 shot round about Sahib Zada Kili, a village at the northern end of 

 Shorawuk, which is all Afghan territory. Near this village the waters of 

 the Lora river are diverted into irrigation channels, and used for turn- 

 ing wheat-grinding mills. In February, at the time of our visit, wheat 

 and barley crops were coming on well, and the plain appeared fertile. 

 This appearance was confirmed by the numerous large pukka built 

 villages. After leaving them we practically met with no more in- 

 habitants, a few nomad families being the only people we saw. 



From Nushki onwards to Robat I, the country was of a more desert 

 character, and water was scarce. Barren rocky mountains alternated 

 with intervening sandy plains. We crossed the northern end of the 

 Lora Hamun. This is a large area of flat desert 'pat' which, having 

 been occasionally flooded with water, has become covered with a thin 

 saline coating, and is now one huge white level plain about 36 miles by 

 10 miles in area. It is without vegetation save for an occasional low 

 bush. All the same some lizards were caught far from its edge, and we 

 had a magnificent three miles gallop after ' gad ' (antelope) which 

 seemed to be fairly numerous and very wary and fleet. 



Robat I is situated just south of the Koh Malik-do-khand, on the 

 bank of a small stream. This Koh is a remarkable granite mountain 

 with a double peaked top which gives it its resemblance to a double 

 crowned tooth, — the meaning of the name it bears. Although there is 

 said to be a ziarat (shrine) on the summit of the blunter peak, its sides 

 are very precipitous and appear unscaleable, and rise straight up 2500 

 feet from the plain below, making the hill the most striking looking 

 object for fifty miles round. On some rocks at the foot were scratched 

 several rough sketches of ibex. Near the northern foot were some beds 

 of red and white marble. There was also a hot spring credited with 

 medicinal powers. The water contained chiefly sulphate of magnesium. 



From Robat I to Robat II (the wor&robat signifying outpost and being 

 common all over Afghanistan), at the foot of the Koh-i-malik Siah, the 

 country is desert pure and simple. The route skirted along the northern 

 foot of successive barren mountain ranges and crossed alternate gravel 

 plains (dasht) and sand mountains. " Sandhill" does not describe these, 

 as they are not composed of sand entirely, but are really rocky hills that 

 have become buried in sand. Vegetation was very scanty and water even 

 more so. Water was only met with in about seven places in the 270 

 miles, and was always saline and generally scanty, being found either in 

 springs or by digging wells. 



