Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/279

 BALXJCHISTAN 157

The power of the Khans of Kalat was founded by the Miiwaris about the iitteenth century. Authentic history begins with Mtr Ahmad I,, whose successors gradually made themselves supreme from Kalat to the Arabian Sea, and rose to the height of their power in the time of Mir Nasir Khan L, who was the first to take the title ot Khan. The districts of Quetta and MastuDg were granted to him by Ahmad Shah, the Durrani King of Afghanistan. Nasir Khan's grandson, Mehrab Khan, was killed in the storming of Kalat by a British force in 1839. His son, Nasir Khan II., was acknowledged by the British Goverument in 1840 ; and in 1854 a treaty was executed with him, under the terms of which he received a yearly subsidy of 50,000 rupees. In 1857 Nasir Khan was succeeded by his brother, Khudadad Khan, with whom a fresh treaty was concluded in December, 1876, by which the subsidy was raised to 100,000 rupees a year. Owing to the state of anarchy which prevailed in the State, and which reacted on British interests in India, it became essential that a settlement should be effected, and Major (afterwards Sir Robert) Sandeman was deputed to Kalat for this purpose, in 1876, with most successful results. Mir Khudadad Khan died in J\Iay, 1909.

The Khan of Kalat is the head of a confederacy of chiefs, but the extent of his control has now been considerably reduced. In all important matters he is amenable to the advice of the Agent to the Governor-General in Baluchistan, who also arbitrates in disputes between the Khan and minor chiefs. The area of Kalat State, is 73,278 square miles, and the population 359,086 (1911 census.)

The Khan's revenue, including the subsidies and rents for the leased areas paid by the British Government, amounts to 8,00,000 rupees annually. The Khan has an irregular force of 461 cavalry and artillery. The chief towns in the State are Kalat, Mastung, Bhag, Gandawaand Dadhar.

The ruling chief of Las Bela has the title of Jam. Jam Mir Khan, the grandfather of the present chief, succeeded in 1840 ; Jam Ali Khan, his father, succeeded in 1889 ; and Jam Mir Kamal Khan, the present chief, succeeded in 1896. The area of the State is 7,132 square miles ; population, 61,205 (1911 census) ; revenue varies from 2 to 3 lakhs ; military force, 330 infantry, 35 cavalry, and 4 guns ; military police force, 100 men. Before the British occupation the ruler of Las Bela was a feudatory of the Khan of Kaldt, but in recent times the connection has almost entirely ceased. The State is under the control of the Political Agent in Kalat.

3. The Tribal Areas. — These^ territories comprise 7,268 square miles, with a population of 34,766 (1911 census), chiefly Marris and Bugtis, under the Sibi agency.

Geiieral. — The most numerous races in Baluchistan are the Brahiii, Pathan and Baloch, 554,800. The Brahuis occupy the centre of the country stretching through Chagai to meet the Baloch of Western Sanjrani, and southwards to the Lasis and the Baloch of Makran. The Pathan s are chiefly contained within British and administered territory. The Baloch are distributed through the southern regions in the Marri and Bugti country, the Kachhi plain, the Nasirabad tahsil, the Dombki, Umrani, and Kaheri country, and Makran. The Lasis (27,779), are almost wholly confined to Las Bela, the term Lasi being of modern invention. The other inhabitants are either scattered, as the Chuttas and Saiads, or are subject races and occupational groups such as the Jat cultivators of the Kachhi plain, the Dehwar cultivators of the uplands, the Darzadahs and Naqibs of Makran, and the Ghulams who are of servile oi*igin. There are also indigenous Hindus (14,985) living under the protection of the tribes and carrying on the trade of the country.