AFGHAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 177 



come so far south ; the fertile valleys of the Jam, of Shahr-i-JSTao, and 

 of Khaf were surveyed as far westasTurbat-i-Haidri, and subsequently 

 opportunity was found by Captain Gore of extending his triangula- 

 tion to the south-west of Herat across the great salt plains south of 

 Khaf to the hills about Birjand. Sub-Surveyors Hira Sing and Ata 

 Mahomed were busy plane-tabling over this border during most of 

 the summer and autumn of 1885, and whilst the route triangulation 

 which had been carried out during the march from India was greatly 

 strengthened between Seistan and Herat, a good basis was secured 

 for the final extension of the survey from Birjand via Kirman to 

 Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf. This was finally carried out 

 by Captain Gore, while the rest of the mission was en route from 

 the Oxus to India, across the Hindu Kush. 



The plains at the foot of the Paropamisus range are swept by the 

 fierce north-west blasts that dry up and almost devastate 

 liz. During the heavy rainfalls in March and April the hills 

 are denuded and a large detritus of mud and sliding rock is spread 

 out, fan-shaped, across the plain below. Occasionally in the course 

 of a few hours the dry beds of watercourses become living mud 

 torrents, with results that were disastrous to the British party. 

 The physical effect of this is to diminish the relative heights of hill 

 and plain, to round off prominent spurs, and gradually flatten the 

 ridge where no central backbone of hard rock exists, rendering 

 it less formidable as a natural barrier. Over the whole line, indeed, 

 of the western Paropamisan system, including its smaller collateral 

 branches, and even the Band-i-Turkestan, which may be called a 

 distinct range, Colonel Holdich says that there is no pass over which 

 a horse cannot be ridden. 



The Paropamisus is the name given to the range which bounds 

 the Hari-Rud valley on the north as far west as Kaman-i-Bihisht. 

 Here it is only about 2,000 feet in height, but at Chashma Sabz 

 it assumes a more distinct form with one easily recognisable central 

 water-shed, and from thence eastward past Herat to the north of the 

 Korokh valley it gradually gains in altitude till it attains a height 

 of nearly 11,000 feet above sea-level. The surface soil consists of 

 reddish clay and sand beds, with outcrops of trap and limestone 

 rocks, affording a plentiful growth of grass and brilliant flowers 

 during the summer. Between the western boundary and the 

 Zarmast pass north-east of Herat, at the head of the Korokh valley, 

 there are 11 well-known passes, besides minor tracks, all of which 



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