'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎62] (104/476)

£2 BELOOCHES.
branches of the Guz (Tamarisk) bush: an assemblage of these Ghe-
dans constitute a Toomun, or village, and the inhabitants of it a
Kheil, or society, of which, from the nature of their formation, it
is clear there may be an unlimited number in one tribe; and 1 know
half a dozen of instances where they exceed twenty or thirty; they
are commonly discriminated by a titular prefix, such as Umeeree,
Daodee, Surdaree, &c. to the word Kheil, as the Umeeree Kheil,
the noble society, Daodee Kheil, David's society, &c. ^c. Ihis
complicated subdivision of the tribes into Kheils, is likely to confuse
a casual observer, and more especially from their changing, as they
often do, their distinguishing titles with their places of residence.
For example, when I was at Nooshky, on the borders oi the desert,
there was a Kheil of Mingull Brahooes, (a people whose country is
to the southward of Kelat,) encamped about two miles off; and, on
my asking one of them his tribe, he replied, Mingull, and his Kheil,
Nooshkyee, or the society of Nooshky. It is right to add, that some
of the Belooches, particularly the Nharooe clans, prefer mud houses
to tents, and even live in forts; nor is it uncommon, in the western
parts of Beloochistan, to find one half the Kheil residing in Ghe-
dans, and the other in huts ; I believe that the preference which is
shewn to the latter, is on account of the cold.
Their reception of guests is simple, yet impressive. When a visi
tor arrives at a Toomun, a carpet is spread in front of the door of
the Mihman Khanu, or house for guests, of which there is one in
every town or village in Beloochistan; the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , or head of the
Kheil, immediately appears, and he and the stranger having em
braced, and mutually kissed hands, the followers of the latter suc
cessively approach, and the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. gives them his hand, which they
press to their foreheads and lips. So far the reception is conducted
in profound silence, and the parties now sit down, on which the
chief addresses the stranger, and asks him, four several times, how
he does, to which the other answers in the usual complimentary
terms; he then inquires in the same manner for his family and
friends, and even for the health of his followers who are present, to