Journal of the Royal United
Service Institution
VOL. XIX. 1875. No. LXXX.
LECTURE.
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might have been added on the
S.W. as an important city within the specified limits.
Serai. — Herat has been often
described. In reverting to it we need not go back to the
classical period, or even to the Arabic and Persian
geographers, though materials are ample in both respects.
During the present century Christie is its earliest
English visitor; but Forster preceded him by 27 years, or
in 1783. Arthur Conolly, a hero in life as a martyr in
death, was there in 1830. His Persian attire did not
divest him of his English personality, and his name and
nationality were known to Shah Kamran. From Eldred
Pottinger's arrival there in 1837, until Todd's departure
in 1841, it was the open abode, as well as halting-place,
of many British Officers. After the latter year, less
direct and trustworthy information on the locality has
been at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government, if we
except that obtained by Colonel Taylor's mission in 1857,
and by Colonel (now Sir Lewis) Pelly in 1860. But
Ferrier, traveling in 1845, Khanikoff in 1858, and Vambery in 1863, have
published most interesting particulars of this much
extolled city, its inhabitants, and surroundings ; and to
these writers the general public is greatly indebted for
the readiness and ability with which they have utilized
their labors in print. From the sources named, there is
no difficulty in depicting the "Heri" of the
present day within the bounds necessary to be observed in
an ordinary lecture.
The word “julgah " is
commonly applied in the East of Persia to the large
tracts of low level ground in a hilly country, lying
between long ranges, parts of one mountain system. These,
being rather plains than valleys, riverless, but watered
from the overhanging mountains, are in some cases fairly
fertile; in others partially so; in others almost desert.
The large district of Kaian, on the Kaianat, S.W. of the
Siah-kuh range, through which I passed when returning
from Seistan in 1872, affords a full illustration of my
meaning. Now, the valley in which Herat is situated,
inclusive of the surrounding plain, is of the most
fertile class, and, unlike the ordinary Persian
"julgah," is rich in the possession of a river.
Its length, from east to west, is put down at 30 miles.
It is about 16 miles in breadth, exclusive of the ground
taken up by the fortress and walls : four of these miles
separate the town from the northern, and twelve from the
southern hills, while at one quarter of the latter
distance runs the Hari-rud, or Herat river, which, rising
near the Kuh-i-Baba, pursues a westerly course till,
passing its namesake city, it sweeps, first gradually,
then decidedly, to the north, eventually to expend itself
or lose its distinctiveness in the environs of Serakhs. But the later progress of
this river, both in its junction with the Tejen, and
separate diffusion, has yet to be clearly traced. It
presents a feature of political as of geographical
interest; for it passes between the Persian and Afghan
frontier-posts of Kaliriz and Kusun respectively, and may
therefore be considered to mark the Perso-Afghan boundary
at the Western
Paropamisus. Striking an average between conflicting
measurements and otherwise carefully weighing the data
before us, I think we may accept a description
| JBOC Note: The explanation of Julgah is
important here. Land has no real value in that
part of the world without water. Along rivers and
in the foothills and valleys of mountains where
there is water there are people and farms.
Without that water it is just worthless desert. |
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