1840.] Sketch of the Physicat Geography of Seistan. 725 



Seistan, and for three months of the year only, the cold months (16), can life 

 in it be said to be enjoyed. (17) 



Note on the Map. 



Any merits, which the map may be judged to possess, should be 

 attributed to Sergeant Cameron, who surveyed the whole route, except 

 that part of it which lies between Seistan and Killah Beest, for the errors 

 of which I alone am responsible. (18) 



The survey has been made only with the compass, but a flat country, 

 with hills interspersed at long intervals is so easily laid down, we had so 

 many well determined points d'appui, and our numerous bearings answer- 

 ed so perfectly, that I feel confident of there being no error of consequence 

 in the portion of the map over which our route lay. 



From Gerishke to Herat the route has been taken from Capt. Lander's 

 survey. 



The villages in the valley of Furrah are placed from native information. 

 During our stay in that valley there was a thick haze which prevented the 

 taking of a bearing. 



The determining what shape to give to the Hamoon, which has a 

 different shape every month of the year, was a point of much doubt and 

 difficulty ; the one adopted is that we believe the lake to assume in June, 

 when the water retires from overflowing the surrounding country to its 

 more natural and proper bed. Under these circumstances all that can be 

 hoped for, or expected, is an approximation to the truth, but the only part 



] 6 The cold weather is very pleasant, and similar to that of the north-west of Hindoostan. Snow 

 has been known to fall in Seistan, but it is a rare and remarkable occurrence. Snow lies for five or 

 six days during the winter at Herat. Its boundary is said to be the height of Shah Bed, but it not 

 unfrequently snows at Hilzawar. About two years ago an army from Candahar invaded Herat ; 

 while it was encamped at Jaja a fall of snow surprised them, which was so severe that they lost 

 several hundred horses. 



1 7 In apology for the many omissions of this imperfect paper, I may mention that it is only a part 

 of a more comprehensive memoir, which I am drawing up on the subject of Seistan. 



18 The untimely end of Sergeant Cameron has been already made public. This man, the son of 

 a respectable builder of Perth, after his return from Seistan accompanied me in a journey through 

 some before unexplored parts of the Eusafzye country. I cannot speak too highly of his zeal for 

 science, industry, ready talents, and gentlemanly deportment. His health failed him in Seistan, 

 from whence to the Helmund, we were obliged to have him carried on a bed. Afterwards he rallied 



iin, but his disease, consumption, was latterly gaining upon him, and I do not think that under 

 any circumstances, he could have lived many months longer. As he was too weak to travel except 

 slowly, I left him at Peshawer to follow at his leisure, and myself went on in advance with a few 

 horsemen to Jelalabad. He had a strong guard with him, and had nearly reached the end of the 

 Khyber pass. Unsuspicious of danger, he had dropped a little in rear of his party, when on a 

 sudden he found himself surrounded by sixty men, while sixty others appeared on the hill above 

 him. Seeing that resistance was hopeless, he dismounted, and drawing his sword, presented it 

 to the nearest of the robbers. Just at that moment a stone struck him on the head and knocked 

 l»im down ; the ruffians in their blind fury rushed on him, and cut him to pieces with their knives. 



4z 



