710 Tke Hodesum (improperly called KolehanJ. [No. 103. 



important objects. As these however have been fully accomplished in 

 the paper before us, I trust that, should opportunity offer, search may 

 be made in the vicinity of these deserted cities for any traces which 

 may enable us to arrive at conclusions regarding their history. A paper 

 which I hope soon to publish (Journal of an expedition to the Naga 

 HiUs, by Lieut. Grange) will prove the value of similar research in a 

 historical point of view, by the result of that officer's observations on 

 Dhemapoor Nuggur, now like Lalgurhpeer a mass of ruins in a wild 

 forest, but formerly the residence of the Cacharee Rajas. iTi 



Sketch of the Physical Geography of Seistan,hy Captain Edward 

 CoNOLLY, 6th Cavalry. 



The southern limit of the lower ranges of that portion of the great 

 Caucasian chain of mountains which lies between the 62nd and 65th 

 meridians of east longitude, is well defined by the lower, or Dilaram 

 road from Girishke to Furrah. From this line a vast desolate tract 



p . . extends, part of that great desert, named rather loosely 



by Malcolm, the Salt Desert. Sloping gradually to the 

 south-west, it descends, like the plains of Tartary, in steppes, till its pro- 

 gress is arrested, on the south, by a high sandy desert, and on the west 

 by a broad and lofty chain of hills (1) which stretches in a south-west 

 direction from probably near Ghorian to the Surhud, and thus perhaps 

 connects the Parapomisan mountains with the Southern Kohistan. The 

 south-west corner of this thus interrupted plain, the last and lowest 

 steppes, are Seistan (2). 



The country so named, of which the length may in round numbers 



be estimated at 100 miles, and the breadth at 60, is entirely composed 



of flats, with the exception of one hill, (3) (the 



Koh-i-Zor) and in its whole extent, not a stone is to 



1. This range is known by different names ; in the latitude of Killah Rah, it is called, from 

 a celebrated hill, Atishana near Bundau, Koh-i-Bundau— and opposite Zirreh Koh-i-Pulung, — the 

 hill of leopards. 



2. That is modern Seistan. In ancient times, the country known by this name was only 

 bounded on the north by Ghare and Zemindawer, in the latter of which a learned orientalist has 

 recognized Zabul. As the present sketch is intended solely to explain the map, and the ancient 

 history and geography of Seistan and the countries around it will form the subject of a separate 

 memoir, no allusion to the latter will be found here. 



3. In the Univ: Gazetteer, 1837, you read, "The country is generally mountainous"? There 

 is a small hill called Kohga, on the north-west of the Hamoon, which is sometimes surrounded 

 by the water of the lake ; at present it belongs to the chief of Laush. 



