'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎313] (355/476)

HISTORY OF BELOOCHISTAN.
313
The two principal districts in the Kohistan are those of Mydanee,
or the plain ; and Kohukee, or the hills. The former includes the
towns and villages of Huftur, Puhra, Bunpoor, and Basman, beside a
great number ot roomuns ol felt tents, which are the only abodes
used by the mountaineers of the other district. The natives of both,
likewise, adopt local terms amongst themselves, to discriminate par
ticular quarters of these districts ; but as these are likely to be changed
with every new Kheil, it would be answering no purpose to enumerate
them *. The Kohistan is exclusively peopled by Belooches, who are
not intermixed with any other classes; neither do Hindoos, or
foreigners, venture to colonize under their authority. There are not
above eight or ten tribes of note in the whole of this Division, which
is but thinly populated, owing partly to the general infertility of the
soil, and partly to the migrations that have taken place, of late years,
from it into Persia, as well as to the eastward, towards Kutch
Gundava.
4
It might with safety be affirmed, that the forms of government
and the common laws of society are equally unknown and dis
regarded by these people, as they both depend solely on the caprice
and temper of the heads of the various tribes composing the popu
lation ; but that distinction being hereditary, and the sons being bred
up with the prejudices and views of their fathers, they naturally im
bibe all their principles and habits, so that, in the course of time,
the system which was at first the effect of chance, assumes something
like an air of regularity, that passes down from one generation to
another. Viewed in this light, we find that the Kohistan comprises
a number of petty republics, in which every member of the com
munity feels that he has a right to revenge his own wrongs, and give
his vote on all points relating to the common good; in fact, there is
a most perfect equality as to sentiments and actions, from the highest
♦ These local distinctions are such as Surhud, or the cold district, also applied to it as
the boundary. " Sirrirood," or the district on the river. " Pooshte kohee," or behind
the mountain, &c. &c.
S S