Ghuzni river and its tributaries to the valley of the Indus, while the
latter were located in the modern Candahar, upon the Urghand-ab and
Turnuk rivers. The character of these tracts is similar to that of
north-western Kabul, but somewhat less rugged and mountainous. Hills and
downs alternate with rocky ranges and fairly fertile vales. There is
a scantiness of water, but still a certain number of moderate-sized
rivers, tolerably well supplied with affluents. The soil, however, is
either rocky or sandy; and without a careful system of irrigation great
portions of the country remain of necessity barren and unproductive.

The south-eastern corner of the plateau, below the countries of the
Sarangians and the Arachotians, was occupied by a people, called
Paricanians by Herodotus, perhaps identical with the Gedrosians of
later writers. This district, the modern Beloochistan, is still very
imperfectly known, but appears to be generally mountainous, to have a
singularly barren soil, and to be deficient in rivers. The nomadic life
is a necessity in the greater part of the region, which is in few places
suitable for cultivation, but has good pastures in the mountains or the
plains according to the season of the year. The rivers of the country
are for the most part mere torrents, which carry a heavy body of
water after rains, but are often absolutely dry for several months in
succession. Water, however, is generally obtainable by digging wells in
their beds; and the liquid procured in this way suffices, not only for
the wants of man and beast, but also for a limited irrigation.

The Great Plateau which has been here described is bordered everywhere,
except at its north-eastern and north-western corners, by low regions.
On the north the lowland is at first a mere narrow strip intervening
between the Elburz range and the Caspian, a strip which has been already
described in the account given of the Third Monarchy. Where, however,