606 Notes on Geology and Mineralogy of Affghanistan. 



junction with each other, or empty themselves singly into the 

 great Lake of Seistan; while the very occurrence of that 

 lake is sufficiently indicative of a hollow, and furnishes a 

 reason for their change of course. This change however, 

 while it tends perhaps to fertilize a greater extent of land 

 lying immediately within the limits of Affghanistan, most 

 effectually consigns the sands of the south to a hopeless 

 state of barrenness, by depriving them of the only means 

 of producing vegetation to bind the loose and shifting soil. 



The Lora, Doree, and Turnuk, after traversing their res- 

 pective districts for some miles, are all suddenly dried up in 

 the thirsty soil, and the only really permanent rivers of 

 importance, are the Argandab and Helmund, which after 

 diffusing vegetation along their banks, eventually unite and 

 empty themselves into the Lake of Seistan. 



The Argandab rising among the lofty peaks of the Gilzye 

 mountains to the north, at first like the other rivers, pursues 

 a S. W. course consequent on the direction of the mountains 

 which bound its valley, but after passing the southernmost 

 flank of these ranges, it turns away suddenly to the west, 

 until it effects a junction with the Helmund, immediately 

 below the old town and fortress of Killa Beest. 



The Helmund rising among the northern highlands, also 

 preserves a S. W. course until it receives the waters of the 

 Argandab, when it also turns away to the west, but takes 

 again a somewhat backward N. westerly course to about the 

 neighbourhood of Dooshak in Seistan, when it once more 

 turns to the west and falls into the lake. 



Beyond the Helmund I had no opportunity of travelling, 

 but the information kindly given me by Lieutenant C. F. 

 North, of the Bombay Engineers, who travelled to Herat, 

 and surveyed the route, tends to show that the features of the 

 country are nearly the same throughout. As there appear 

 to be more rivers laid down upon the maps than actually 

 exist, it may be useful to quote from that Officer's letters. 



