'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.' [‎183] (238/905)

chap. viii.]
desert of baluchistan.
183
people, remove thither during the winter, in order to avoid
the extreme cold of the lofty regions of J'halawan and
Sarawan. 1
The remaining territory lying eastward is the small district Districts of
of Harand Dajel , which extends westward from the Indus ian
to the districts of Tul and Chuteealy, or nearly to the borders
of the preceding province, and northward to Derrahi Ghazi
Khan. 2 The chief town is Harand, and the second Dajel.
Although the district scarcely exceeds 50 miles in length
or breadth, the soil is so fruitful, that the khan of Kelat
receives a greater revenue from it than from the whole of the
province of Sarawan. 3
Kohistan , or the land of mountains, is the third great ^
division: it extends in a triangular shape northward from
Mekran, into the desert country, by which it is inclosed on
three sides, the east, north, and west. 4 It extends about 180
miles from north to south, nearly as many from east to west
at the base, or broadest part, and it contains two principal
districts, Ma'idani (the Plain), and Kohak (the Hills). 5 In
the former are permanent towns and villages, whilst the
latter has only groups of felt tents here and there along the
valleys.
Being of a primitive character, the mountains of Baluchis- Minerals, &c.
tan contain different kinds of marble, mineral salt, sulphur,
naphtha, sal ammoniac, and alum, with a large proportion
of iron, copper, and other metals, which are partially worked
by the natives for local purposes. 6
Of late years the population has been so much diminished
by migrations into Persia, as well as to the territory lying
eastward, that at present there are not more than eight or
ten tribes of note remaining in the whole division. Except Government,
the ordinary patriarchal authority, the Baluches have not any
particular form of government, or regular system of laws,
beyond the capricious customs and prejudices handed down in
each section; therefore, in this respect at least, the country
1 Pottinger's Travels, p. 310.
3 Ibid., p. 311.
5 Ibid., p; 313.
s Ibid.
4 Ibid.
6 Ibid., p. 312.