may be considered as comprising a number of petty republics,
subject to one head, or chief, who is the arbitrator of all
trifling differences amongst the people. Some little commercial
intercourse with other countries takes place on the
coast of Mekran, whither the Baluches carry dates and other
produce; receiving in return some few articles of foreign
growth, and the remainder in silver rupees.1
As the great desert stretching northward really belongs to
Afghanistan Proper, it is only necessary to notice that portion
of it which forms a kind of inlet into Baluchistan, and
thus separates Sarawan from Kohistan. The surface of this
desert consists of high hillocks of sand, like the waves of the
sea, extending 63 miles,2 from west to east. Afterwards it is
chiefly composed of black gravel, without the least trace of
verdure for a distance of 80 miles onward,8 to the borders of
the pass leading into Kohistan, where the mountains and the
cheerless prospect of the desert are all at once changed for
the romantic and beautiful pass of Harand. The: state of
extreme desolation thus described does not, however, appear
to prevail throughout the whole of the fourth division; for
the sandy tract which separates the eastern from the western
part of Baluchistan is partially inhabited, and yields a supply
of forage, with a moderate proportion of grain and fruits,
especially dates, for the wants of the inhabitants, and even for
exportation. In addition to gold, silver, lead, copper, tin,
antimony, brimstone, alum, saltpetre,4 &c., Baluchistan produces
madder, cotton, indigo, hemp, flax, oil, and horses;5
and is supplied with apricots, peaches, grapes of various kinds,
almonds, pistachio-nuts, apples, pears, plums, currants, cherries,
quinces, figs, pomegranates, mulberries, plantains, and
melons. Nor is it deficient in timber, having the upoor,6 a
large tree like the teak, the tamarind, babool, lye, neem,
peepul, sissoo, chinar, walnut, and sycamore.7 It would,
therefore, appear to have improved since the time of Strabo,
1 Pottinger’s Travels, p. 314. 2 Ibid., pp. 132, 133.
8 Ibid., pp. 135 to 138. 1 Ibid., pp. 322, 324.
8 Ogilby’s Asia, p. 36.
6 A species of zizyphus jujuba.—Pottinger’s Travels, p. 327.'
7 Ibid.
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 neighbouring
districts, represents the Gedrosia of the ancients. This
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
Aracliosia at the eastern extremity8 (both in about 30° 10'
N. latitude), and the country of the Paropamisidee to the
north.4
The principal people were the Gedrosi and Gedrusi,5 and
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 exceedingly
in different parts of this extensive territory. In the
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. 721.
2 The Chike of the Portuguese.—Ogilby’s Asia, p. 36.
Ptolemy, lib. VI., c. xxi. 4 Strabo, XV., p. 723.
8 Pliny, lib. VI., c. xxi. 8 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.
2 Patalia.—Ogilby’s Asia, p. 36.
10 Nearch. Perip., ix. x, 11 Pottinger’s Travels, p. 319.