Adreskan river is very favourable, and Sebzewar may yet recover that prosperity which Afghan feuds and Persian and Belooch hostility have taken from it. Between Sebzewar and Ferrah the scarcity of water still continues to be the great trouble; but this can be overcome to a great degree by following the course of the Haroot or Adreskan river; and by doing so, it is found that in this short journey only eighty miles— there are at least seven distinct places where water can be procured in abundance. From Ferrah to Girishk, across the Khash-rud and through the Bukwa valley, the difficulties completely vanish. The Bukwa valley, watered by the Khash, is one of the most productive spots in the whole of Afghanistan, and could alone provide a host with supplies for an indefinite period. Between Ferrah and Girishk, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles, there are fifteen usual halting-places, and the country is well watered. The district of Khash to the south could also be drawn upon for supplies.

But although this road is the best, the alternative one is not wholly useless. There is also the cross road followed by Mons. Ferrier to Abkourmeh and Giraneh. Giraneh is certainly an important place, and, if garrisoned, would no doubt tend to the advantage of the authority that was recognised in Herat. Mons. Ferrier followed a route still to the south through Gurmab, and he suffered great inconvenience from the want of water. The road to the north, while passing through more mountainous country, is infinitely better in this respect. But of all, the Ferrah road is

the best. That leads to Girishk on the Helmund, whence Candahar, by a well-known road, is seventyfive miles distant. The valley of the Helmund is the principal granary of southern Afghanistan, and although some portions of the roads into that valley from the west pass through an arid tract of country where water is scarce, and the heat during several months intense, it cannot be said that the difficulties even in this portion of the supposed move against the Indian frontier are such as would prevent an attempt at invasion. To give a comparison, they are not greater than those which beset an army in marching from Scinde upon Candahar, which has been thrice accomplished by English armies. Once in possession of Candahar, an enemy can strike at several points in the Indian frontier.

According to some authorities, and the maps are unanimous in supporting the assertion, there is another road leading from the Helmund almost in a straight line to the town of Khelat. There is no evidence that we can find of this route having been followed by a large army, or, indeed, by any army save small bodies of Belooch troops, either in raids into Seistan or when engaged on some petty mission of conquest. This route, commencing at Ferrah, passes by the Ferrah-rud and Lash into Seistan, thence by Nasirabad and the Helmund to a place on that river known as Pulatak, whence it takes a south-easterly course by Kuchan and Nushki to Khelat. Captain Christie used this route in his travels; and his account of it tends to show that it would be out of the question for a

large army to follow it. Mons. Ferrier took a more hopeful view of this route, but in face of the contradictory evidence it is impossible to give any unhesitating opinion as to its value. There are certainly fifty miles of sandy desert to be traversed, and six separate passes of unknown difficulty. On the other hand, it also avoids much difficult country, and possesses the great recommendation of being short and direct. By it Herat is under six hundred miles from Khelat, whence, by the Mula pass, much easier than the Bolan, it is a matter of no difficulty to reach the Indian frontier. Of Nushki itself we possess some information, mainly from Pottinger. The productions to be found in this district are few, and, such as they are, of a very uncertain character, often failing altogether. No army could rely upon receiving a sufficient quantity of supplies from this district to enable it to pursue any great enterprise. As a matter of fact, the march from the Helmund to Khelat would have to be a forced march, made without any halts, and consequently in no great strength. Even then it would be a dangerous experiment. It is only mentioned here because such a route has been said to exist.

As little need be said of the Seistan or Persian Gulf routes, as these are only available to a strong power dominant in Isfahan and Shiraz. Russia is not, as yet, that power, nor is it likely that her immediate aspirations will so far have a practical result as to place her in the position of such a power. The Persian Gulf route is also only available for a country supreme upon the sea, and Russia is not in that enviable

position, nor is it probable that she ever will be able to rival England or the United States in that respect. It may therefore be assumed that the road to India lies somewhere between the Kashgar and the Khorasan roads. For a large army-that is to say, for one of greater strength than thirty thousand men-the Persian and Turcoman roads are alone available; but for a smaller army, there can be no doubt that there are several which lead from the Russian frontier to Balkh and Afghan-Turkestan. There is danger in each direction; in the one part it will be more formidable, in the other it is more insidious. Each requires to be vigilantly observed, and estimated, and against both should precautions be taken, and in good time.

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CHAPTER VI.

RUSSIA'S RELATIONS WITH KHIVA AND KHOKAND.

ALTHOUGH, practically speaking, Russia has overcome all the resistance that the two khanates of Khiva and Khokand are capable of offering her, and although they are now as much her vassals as any of the Indian feudatories is ours, yet it will not be out of place to give here a sketch of the past intercourse between them.* That retrospect will also afford the opportunity of qualifying the favourable opinion as to the security of Russia's position which would be formed. from regarding the matter from the point of view of religion alone; and it may be found that, after all, religious fanaticism is the least potent sentiment that is at work adverse to the peace of Russia.

Russia's relations with Khiva are of old standing. It was the first Central Asian Court with which Russia had any intercourse, and it was also one of the last

* Works which may be consulted on this subject are Schuyler's "Turkistan," and Helwald's "Russians in Central Asia."