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of Chakhansoor (or Seistan). It is mostly barren and unpro-
ductive, but in days which cannot be said to be very old, it was
a prosperous country and had a fine system of irrigation. The
Mughal depredations early in the 13th century A.D. wiped out
these fine irrigation works, thus turning the smiling face of the
country into a wilderness. The present Afghan Government is
once more trying to irrigate these lands. The construction of
the Kajaki Dam and the digging of the Boghra Canal are a part
of this new programme. It is hoped that the Kajaki Dam will
store sufficient water to increase the irrigation of Chakhansoor.
Farah to Sabzawar (94 miles): Three rivers—the Farah,
Khash-Rud and the Harut are crossed en route. The banks of
the Farah are covered with a jungle growth of tamarisk and
mimosa. The country between Farah and Sabzawar is a vast
jumble of ridges and low rolling hills, with small plains
inhabited mostly by nomadic tribes.
Sabzawar (altitude 3,350 feet): This is an important post
on the Herat-Kabul route, situated midway between Farah and
Herat. It stands on the left bank of the Harut River, at the
foot of an outlying spur of the Siah Koh (the Black Mountain).
Beyond and partly surrounding it is a wide open plain, well-
irrigated from the waters of the Harut, and it is in consequence
highly productive.
Sabzawar to Herat (80 miles): Due north, and at a
distance of 80 miles lies Herat, one of the most important cities
of Afghanistan.
HERAT (Height 3,030 ft. above sea-level) ; population:
100,000, The town of Herat lies on the right bank of the Hari
Rud (Arius of the classical writers). Its strategical and com-
mercial importance is scarcely to be underrated, for here
Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.