SEISTAN, formerly called Segetan, and sometimes Nimroz, a khanat or principality of Asia, forming the southwest portion of Afghanistan, bounded on the north by Herat, east by Kandahar, south by the Great Desert, which separates Afghanistan from Beloochistan, and west by Persia. It lies between N. Lat. 30. 30. and 32. 0., E. Long. 61. 0. and 62. 30., and is nearly oval in form, about 100 miles in length from N. to S., and 60 in breadth, with an area of about 5000 square miles. Though this region is raised to a height of probably not less than 2500 feet above the sea, it is, in comparison with the surrounding country, very much depressed. From the southern foot of the great Caucasian Mountains, which traverse Afghanistan from E. to W., a vast expanse of desolate ground stretches to the S.W., gradually sloping downwards, till it is met on the west by a chain of hills extending southwards, and on the south by the elevated desert of Beloochistan. In the lowest part of this vast slope lies Seistan. The whole country is an extensive plain, except one small hill near the eastern shore of the Great Lake, or Hamoon. This is merely a sheet of shallow water, or swamp, into which the rivers flow from the surrounding countries, for none of the streams that enter Seistan can flow out from it again. They consequently stagnate in the more depressed places, and form shallow lakes, which are constantly changing their form and size. The largest of these is the Great Hamoon, about 70 miles long, and from 15 to 20 wide. The principal rivers that flow into Seistan are the Helmund, the Khash Rood, and the Ibrahim Jui, from the east; the Furrah Rood and Adruscund from the north; and the Bundau from the west. All these, even the largest, are rather mountain-torrents than perennial rivers, rushing down at one time with a full volume of muddy water, and at another with merely a small stream in the bottom of the channel, which, in the case of the smaller rivers, is left dry altogether. Most of the lakes and morasses are imbued with salt, so that the water is frequently not drinkable. The soil in some parts is rich and fertile, and along the banks of the Helmund it is well cultivated; but the climate is excessively hot, and the atmosphere unhealthy. Wheat, rice, and other grains, as well as cotton and tobacco, are grown. There are no forests here, but dense jungle of tamarisks cover, in many parts, the face of the country. Beasts of prey, such as leopards, wolves, jackals, hyenas, &c., abound here; there are also many wild asses, wild-boars, deers, porcupines, hedgehogs, &c. Domestic animals do not thrive well here; horses cannot be kept, and cows are subject to a great mortality. The majority of the inhabitants are of Persian origin, but there are also many Afghans and Belooches, and a few Hindus. They live in felt tents, and are mostly employed in hunting and fishing. Their language is a broken Persian, and their religion
Mohammedanism. They are governed by a khan who resides at Dovshak, but who has little power on account of the numerous petty chieftains in the country. Seistan was once a fertile and flourishing country, full of large and magnificent cities, whose ruins still lie strewed for miles over the plain. The rivers were embanked, and the soil enriched by a careful system of irrigation. All this prosperity was destroyed by the conquest of the country in 1383, by Tamerlane, who exterminated the inhabitants, and laid the towns in ruins. The present population is from 50,000 to 60,000.