'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.' [‎185] (240/905)

CHAP. VIII.]
ANCIENT GEDROSIA.
185
who says it is deficient in fruits and water, except in the
summer time, but abounds in aromatic plants; adding, that
the heat is less than that of India, but greater than it is in
the rest of Asia. 1
Mekran, also called Circan, 2 together with the neighbour- Extent of
ing districts, represents the Gedrosia of the ancients. This Gedr08ia '
vast tract at one period included Guzerat, but in the time of
Ptolemy it formed the continuation of the coast line from
Carmania to the Indus, and extended northward from the
Indian Ocean till it touched Drangiana at the western, and
Arachosia at the eastern extremity 3 (both in about 30° 10'
N. latitude), and the country of the Paropamisidse to the
north. 4
The principal people were the Gedrosi and Gedrusi, 5 and inhabitants,
its rivers the Arbis, 6 or Arke, 7 and the Nagari. The earlier
capital was Panea, and the later Geste, or Gedrosar; 8 the
other chief towns, Arabis, Cuni, Calamace, and Partonis, 9
Oscana, Easis, and Omisoe. Besides the Gedrosi, the country
was inhabited by the Arabii, the Oritse, and Ichthyophagi;
amongst whom Arrian divides the whole territory, which at
one time had eight subdivisions, or satrapies, and twelve *
towns. 10
As may be imagined, the climate and seasons vary exceed- climate of
ingly in different parts of this extensive territory. In the Baluchl8tan "
loftiest regions of Baluchistan there prevails throughout a
protracted winter, and part of a late spring, an extensive cold,
accompanied by violent winds from the N.E. ; 11 whilst, on
the other hand, the temperature of the maritime provinces
and deserts approaches that of the tropics, with the ordinary
variations caused by the hot, rainy, and cold seasons. At
the commencement of the last, the inhabitants of J'halawan
1 Book XV., p. 121.
2 The Chike of the Portuguese.—Ogilby's Asia, p. 36.
3 Ptolemy, lib. VI., c. xxi. 4 Strabo, XV., p. 723.
5 Pliny, lib. VI., c. xxi. 6 Ogilby's Asia, p. 36.
7 The Arab of Quintus Curtius, lib. IX., c. x.; also called the Ilmont.
8 Heylyn's Little Des., p. 631.
9 Patalia.—Ogilby's Asia, p. 36.
10 ^earch. Perip.j ix. x. 11 Pottinger's Travels, p. 319.
VOL. I. ^ B