Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/211

 GOVERNMENT 15<J

November, 1887, were formally constituted u British Baluchistan. In 1883, the districts of Quetta and Bolan were made over by the Khan to the British on an annual quit-rent of 25,000 rupees and 80,000 rupees respectively. In 1886, the Bori valley, in which is now the cantonment of Loralai, was occupied. In 1887, the Khetran country, now known as the Barkhan tahsil, was brought under British control ; in 1889 British authority was established in the Zhob valley and Kakar Khurasan ; in 1896 Chagai and Western Sinjrani were included in administered territory ; in 1 899, the Xuskhi Niabat was made over by the Khan of Kalat on an annual quit- rent of 9,000 rupees ; and in 1908 the Nasirabad tahsil was acquired from the Khan on an annual quit-rent of 117,500 rupees. The area of British and administered territory, including tribal areas, is 54,228 sq. miles, and the population (1911) 414,412. The head of the civil administration is the Chief Commissioner and Agent to the Governor-General. The area under his direct administration is divided into 6 districts, each in charge of a Political Agent as follows : Quetta- Pishin, Sibi, Zhob, Loralai, Bolan Pass, Chagai. The Political Agent in charge of the Bolan Pass is also Political Agent for Kalat and Las Bela. The revenue administration of the Province is entrusted to an officer who is styled the Revenue and Judicial Commissioner.

In the directly administered territory the chief items of revenue are: Land revenue, excise, court fees and stamps, and judicial fines. In some places the land revenue is levied in money in accordance with a fixed assessment, but generally it is levied in kind. This is usually one-sixth of the crop ; but in the Sibi tahsil it is two-ninths, and on the lands of the Shebo and Khushdil irrigation canals, constructed by the Government, the proportion is one third In Nasirabad the assessment per acre of the cultivated area varies from 8 annas to Rs. 4 according to the crops raised and means of water-supply. For revenue purposes each district is divided into tahsils, each of which is in charge of an Indian official known as a Tansildar, who has a Naib-Tahsildar, Kanungos and Patwaris subordinate to him. The revenue from all sources in 1919-20 was Rs. 20,01,948 ; and in 1918-19, Rs. 18,49,523.

Almost all cases in which local men are concerned are referred to ' councils of elders ' (locally called jirga) for settlement along the well- tried lines of the ancient customary and tribal law. This system of settlement of cases forms an integral and essential part of the machinery for the administration of Civil and Criminal justice in Baluchistan. During 1916 5857 cases were disposed of by Jirgahs. Appeals from, or rather applications for revision of, the jirga decision! when confirmed by the district officers, lie to the Agent to the Governor General and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan. Cases in which aliens are concerned are settled by Regular Courts and the highest court of appeal in such cases is tHe Judicial Commissioner in Baluchistan.

Regular troops are cantoned at Quetta, Chaman, Fort Sandeman, and Loralai, and detachments are stationed at different places, principally in the Zhob and Loralai Districts, for the preservation of law and order. There is also a police force, supplemented by levies and the Zhob militia, Makran and Chagai Levy Corps. The latter are recruited from the local tribes, and have their own leading men as officers.

The medical work of the Province is under the Residency Surgeon and Chief Medical Officer, and there are Civil Surgeons at Quetta, Sibi, Loralai, Fort Sandemana and Chaman, and Civil Assistant-Surgeons at Quetta, Sibi, Kalat and Pangur, and Railway Assistant -Surgeons at Shahrig and Mach.

The Xative States of Kaldi and Las Bela.— The leading chief of Kalat