"تقرير عسكري حول مناطق نوشكي-جاغي-سنجراني الغربية" [و‎‎٣‎٠] (٣٠٢/٦٤)

47
A few horses are owned by the Sirdars and used for their The equine
private riding; there are practically no other horses or ponies in race -
these districts and horse-breeding does not prombe to be successful.
There are no donkeys or mules, but the wild ass is found near the
Hamun-i-Mashkel.
It is difficult to estimate the numbers of the flocks of sheep Sheep and
and goats, which, with the camels, are the chief source of liveli- goat 1 *’
hood of the inhabitants, because, owing to the nomadic habits of
the owners, the grazing grounds are constantly changed acci rding
to the season of the year. Probably 40,( 00 head might be found
after good spring rains in the Chagai Sarlat, and reports place the
numbers grazing in the Registan at about 30,000 sheep.
The best centres for purchasing sheep and goats would be the
Dak, the Kacha Koh range, Sarhad, Southern Seistan, and, most
especially, the Chagai Sarlat or Malik Naru range. In the Kacha
Ki’h sheep and goats would be obtainable only in the spring of
good years, i.e., when grazing is plentiful.
Bullocks and cows are very scarce throughout the country. Cattle, etc.
Fowls too are scarce, and, beyond Nushki bazar, are seldom kept
by the Baluch.
In the bills tbe ibex and wild sheep, or gnd, abound, and Wild beasts,
leopard may occasionally be met with.
In tbe plains chinkara and the Persian gazelle are generally-
found, and the wild ass, or gor, is to be seen in some numbers near
the Hamun-i-Mashkel and the country between the Kacha Koh
and the Gaud-i-Zirreh. It grazes on the adjoining plains, and
retires to the during tbe day. These animals are frequently
shot as they come to drink at the springs on the outskirts of tbe
billy tract north-west of Jalk; their flesh is esteemed a delicacy by
the Baluchis. Hyenas, jackals, wolves and foxes are not unccmmon.
Vultures, kites, hawks and ravens are common ; sandgrouse Wild birds,
are plentiful and breed in this country; ohikor and sisi may
occasionally be found in the Chagai Sarlat. When the/&aww//s
and larger nawars hold water, duck and water-fowl oi all descrip
tions collect on them in vast numlers
Venomous snakes ai e common, and lizards of many varieties Reptiles,
including the regmahi, which looks half snake and half lizard'
and is found in the sand-hills. Flies, mosquitoes and sand-flies Insects,
exist in enormous numbers, and the white-ant is found every
where. Locusts breed in large numbers in the sandy desert
north of Amir Chah.
There are several localities from which salt is obtained, the Minerals,
most extensive deposit lying in the eastern portion of the Hamun-
i-Mashkel ; here the salt is two feet thick over an area of
several square miles.
The principal localities in which metals may be found are at
Saindak, Koh-i-Robat, Lar Koh and Drana Koh. Alum, salt-
petre and sulphur are found in very considerable quantities, the
Koh-i-Sultan being the chief place of deposit. Here also is found
red and yellow ochre which is used by the inhabitants for dyeing
purposes. Oriental alabaster is found at Malmal Ghisir, a few miles
north of J uli, and at a place just south of the Koh-i-Dalil.