Near the point of junction of the Bulut Tagh with the
Hindu Kush, some branches strike off from the southern side
of the latter chain, in such a direction as almost to appear to
be a continuation of the elevated range coming from the north.
The most westerly of these (called Soleiman Tagh) commences
nearly south of the point where the Bulut Tagh joins
the Hindu Kush, and runs in a southerly direction from
thence as far as 29° north latitude, or the confines of Kach’h
Gandavah, in three parallel ridges towards the Indus; and
from this river, which forms the eastern limit of Kabul, the
third and lowest of these ridges is not very distant. The
northern portion of the space thus traversed is intersected by
the range of the Salt Mountains, and by two others, which
cross it from west to east, and between these are plains sloping
towards the Indus.1
Another branch, forming an acute angle with the Soleiman
range, appears to leave the Hindu Kush at the same point,
and continues to some distance below Ghaznein (Ghizni),
under the name of the Khwajeh Amran mountains. Having
reached 31° 31' north latitude, one branch diverges from the
principal chain, and runs in a south-west direction, till it is
broken by the valleys of Pishin and Lorah, near the borders
of the adjoining territory.
The mountains of Baluchistan are derived from two arms
of the great chain of the Caucasus, which enter the territory
towards the eastern limits, and from a third arm, coming in
at its western extremity. From each of these a number of
inferior ramifications take their departure, and intersect the
country in almost every direction, the western branch passing
in a southerly direction, not far from Herat. This branch
afterwards forms the line of separation between Kirman and
Siwistan; and is so elevated on entering Baluchistan, that
the towering summits of the Surhud, or Cold Mountains, are
visible at the distance of eighty or ninety miles.2 After
literally covering the district of Kohak with masses of mountains,
a number of branches are sent out in different directions
1 Elphinstone’s Kdbul, p. 102.
* Pottinger’s Travels in Bdluchistan, p. 312.
to the southward and westward; and from these again there
are other offsets, one of which, passing by Gaih and Kedge,
traverses the whole of Mekrán to its eastern extremity, in a
direction nearly parallel to the sea.
The eastern branch, or the Brahúik mountains,1 which
likewise form an arm of the Hindú Kush, enters Bálá-
chistán above the Bolán pass, and there sends out many
collateral piles to the N, N. W. and W. N. W .: some of
these proceed westward, through the whole length of Baluchistan
and the mountains of Persia, whilst others stretch
southerly till they approach, or touch the sea.2
The third, or central range, which, geographically, may be
considered as a continuation of the westerly branch of the
Khwájeh Amrán, takes the name of the Sárawání mountains,
and runs nearly S.S.W. from the valley of Shál, as far as 28°
north latitude. Here it divides, and sends one fork to the
S.E., to join the Brahúik mountains near the sea ; whilst the
other, called Wushutu mountains, runs W.S.W. towards the
opposite side of Bálúchistán. From each of these, as well
as from the preceding ranges, numerous offsets intersect
ancient Gedrosia in every direction, imparting to it that
desert-like and desolate appearance for which it is so remarkable.
With the exception of the navigable Indus and the Hari*
rúd,3 the largest streams in Afghánistán partake of the character
of torrents, which are fordable throughout most of the
year, and are, moreover, diminished in their onward course by
the supplies drawn from them for cultivation in passing
through the valleys which they fertilize.4
The ancient kingdom, now the district of Herat, and
formerly eastern Khorásán, extends from the borders of
Síwístán, in 32° 30', to those of Turcomania, in 36° north
latitude ; and eastward from Western Khorásán, in 65° 5', to
1 Pottinger’s Travels, p. 251.
8 Ibid., p. 252.
8 The Orehus, which rises at Oba, on the Paropamisan mountains.—Elphin-
stone’s Kabul, p. 117.
4 Ibid., p. 108.
M 2