'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎184] (239/905)

184
FRUITS AND TIMBER OF BALUCHISTAN. [CHAP. VIII.
Sarawan and
Kohistan.
fhem/uches^ ma ^ C0ns ^ ere ^ as comprising a number of petty republics
subject to one head, or chief, who is the arbitrator of all
trifling differences amongst the people. Some little com
mercial intercourse with other countries takes place on the
coast of Mekran, whither the Baluches carry dates and other
produce; receiving in return some few articles of foreign
growth, and the remainder in silver rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . 1
Desert between As the great desert stretching northward really belongs to
Afghanistan Proper, it is only necessary to notice that por
tion of it which forms a kind of inlet into Baluchistan, and
thus separates Sarawan from Kohistan. The surface of this
desert consists of high hillocks of sand, like the waves of the
sea, extending 63 miles, 2 from west to east. Afterwards it is
chiefly composed of black gravel, without the least trace of
verdure for a distance of 80 miles onward, 3 to the borders of
the pass leading into Kohistan, where the mountains and the
cheerless prospect of the desert are all at once changed for
the romantic and beautiful pass of Harand. The state of
extreme desolation thus described does not, however, appear
to prevail throughout the whole of the fourth division; for
the sandy tract which separates the eastern from the western
part of Baluchistan is partially inhabited, and yields a supply
of forage, with a moderate proportion of grain and fruits,
especially dates, for the wants of the inhabitants, and even for
exportation. In addition to gold, silver, lead, copper, tin
antimony, brimstone,, alum, saltpetre, 4 &c., Baluchistdn pro^
duces madder, cotton, indigo, hemp, flax, oil, and horses ^
and is supplied with apricots, peaches, grapes of various kinds,
almonds, pistachio-nuts, apples, pears, plums, currants, cher
ries, quinces, figs, pomegranates, mulberries, plantains, and
melons. Nor is it deficient in timber, having the upoor 6 a
large tree like the teak, the tamarind, babool, lye, neem
peepul, sissoo, chinar, walnut, and sycamore. 7 It would'
erefore, appear to have improved since the time of Strabo,'
1 Pottinger's Travels, p. 314.
® Ibid., pp. 135 to 138.
' Ogilby's Asia, p. 36.
Productions.
2 Ibid., pp. 132, 133.
4 Ibid., pp. 322, 324.
rbi? 60168 0f ziz yP hus jujiiba..—fottinger's Travels, p. 327.