810 Eeport on subjects connected with Affghanistan. [No. 118. 



springs. On this depends, I am disposed to think, though perhaps in 

 a secondary point, many of the peculiarities of AfFghan vegetation. 

 But few as springs are, and few as streams are, the effect is heightened 

 by the quantities of water expended in irrigation. To this, and in 

 a greater degree to great absorbent powers of soil, is to be attributed 

 the not unfrequent occurrence of the actual disappearance of the 

 streams in AfFghanistan, at various distances from their sources. This 

 may be observed both in the Kojuck and Khybur passes. 



Before remarking on the only two rivers in the country worthy of 

 any detailed notice, some observations on the lines of drainage may be 

 necessary. 



The main lines are two, one easterly, towards the Indus, the other 

 westerly, towards the lake of Seistan ; of course in both cases there 

 will be many minor modifications. 



After crossing the Bolan range until one arrives within the influ- 

 ence of the Logur, between Ghuzni and Cabul, all the streams ob- 

 served flowed westerly. From the point mentioned all flowed easterly, 

 and perhaps a line drawn due north from near Sharkabad to the crest 

 of the Koh-i-Baba, will describe the approximate direction of the divi- 

 sion of the two lines of drainage now alluded to. 



The chief river of AfFghanistan is the Helraund, the principal feeder of 

 Helmund River, the celebrated Seistan lake. This river has a course of 

 perhaps 400 miles, and arises in the southern face of the eastern portion 

 of the Koh-i-Baba, or western of the Hindoo Koosh. I have only seen 

 it towards its head, at an elevation of 1 1,500 feet ; it is at Girdun Dewar, 

 where it is crossed going to Bamean from Cabul, by a small river, 

 knee-deep in the cold weather. At Girishk, the Helmund is a large and a 

 rapid river. I am not aware whether this river is ever made use of for 

 the purposes of descent ; the only use, so far as intercourse is con- 

 cerned, that the collected waters of so variously levelled a country can 

 be put to. But connected with the small distance of Girishk from 

 Candahar, (40 miles,) the valley of the Helmund is worthy of being 

 surveyed, with a view of ascertaining its mineral resources. Connected 

 too with the subject of wool, its capabilities of affording a rapid 

 means of descent to within 40 miles of the second place in the country 

 should not be lost sight of, more particularly if any of the upper parts 

 of the valley are great sheep resorts during the shearing season. Were 



