842 Itinerary from Herat to Cabool via Candahar. [No. 154. 



S.W., but lower down to the West, passing through Seistan, and eventu- 

 ally losing itself in the Zeri lake. On leaving the hills, the Helmund is a 

 rapid stream, and having very confined banks, it is subject to overflows. 

 During some time in 1825 this occurred, when it swept away more 

 than ten thousand tents, including inhabitants and their flocks that 

 were encamped upon its banks. The water is very clear from passing 

 over a gravelly bottom, excepting during the rainy season it is fordable 

 in some places ; the best is that by which we crossed, and which is 

 about three miles above Girisk : it is known from there being a number 

 of high poplar trees close upon the left bank. Here the river divides 

 into three branches ; the eastern one of which is deepest. Artillery 

 might cross over, but not without unloading the waggons. It is sur- 

 prising that there are no ferry boats, considering it would not be dif- 

 ficult to construct them, as the neighbouring hills would furnish suf- 

 ficient wood, but the Affghans have not sufficient foresight to see the 

 utility of it. 



Girisk is a good sized place, situated about f of a mile from the 

 Helmund, but which formerly washed its walls, the intervening space 

 being now rice fields ; it is defended by a fort, on an elevated site, and 

 which commands it ; it is of no great strength, and could offer no resist- 

 ance to Artillery ; the side which faces to the East, is on level ground, 

 but the other three has it much broken, and by taking advantage of the 

 ravines, they can be approached to a very short distance ; in addition to 

 which the fort might be mined. It was built by Peerdil Khan, one of 

 the present rulers of Candahar ; it is the principal seat of the Barik- 

 zyes, who inhabit the banks of the Helmund : this tribe has become the 

 most powerful in Affghanistan ; its chiefs having dethroned Mahomed 

 Shah, have divided amongst themselves the provinces of the kingdom, 

 which they rule despotically, and live in a perfect state of independence. 

 Here we were subject to a most rigorous examination ; the people of 

 the custom house actually searching us to the very skin, and for every 

 sequin found on us taking at the rate of five per cent, and every laden 

 animal was taxed at two sequins, the vagabonds practising every kind of 

 fraud to impose upon the merchants, and even confiscating a part of their 

 wares. From Girisk to Candahar it is not more than 20 pharsacs ; the 

 road is generally over a very barren soil ; the Firaz mountains are still 

 in sight, and which here join the Shah Macesoond mountains, from 



