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 BALUCHISTAN.

28

Ras Muari, the eastern headland of Sonmiani Bay; Gurab Singh Ras Arubah; Ras Nu, forming the western headland of Gwadel Bay; Ras Juni, forming the eastern point of Gwadar Bay, and Cape Zegin at its western extremity. There is no good harbour along the coast, though it extends about 600 miles; but there are several roadsteads with good hokling- ground, and sheltered at several points. Of these the best are Sonmiani Bay, Homara, at Gwadar. On the latter are situated a small town and a fort of the same name, and also a telegraph station of the Indo-European line.

or



History little

.

— Of the

or nothing

country,

is

earlj’

history of this portion of the Asiatic continent,

The poverty and

known.

combined with the ferocious

have equally repelled the friendly

seem

to

of inquisitive strangers, and the

visits

hostile incursions of invading armies.

natural strength of the

habits of the natives,

The

first

distinct account

which

we have is from Arrian, who, with his usual brevity and severe veracity, narrates the march of Alexander through this region, which he calls the country of the Oritts and Gadrosii. He gives a very accurate account of this forlorn tract, its general aridity, and the necessity of obtaining water by digging in the beds of torrents inhabitants as dates and fish



describes the food of the

and adverts to the occasional occurrence of fertile spots, the abundance of aromatic and thorny shrubs and fragrant plants, and the violence of the monsoon in the western part of Mekran. He notices also the impossibility of subsisting a large army, and the consequent destruction of the greater part of the men and beasts which accompanied the expedition of Alexander. At the commencement of the 8th century the country was traversed by an army of

the Kaliphate.

The country

is inhabited by two distinct races, the Brahm' and These are each divided into numerous classes and although Baluchistan derives its name from the latter, the Brahms are considered the dominant people, and from amongst them the rulers of the country are always selected. So marked is the social distinction between these races, that when the Khan assembles his tribes for warlike purposes, the Brahui portion demand as a right wheaten flour for their rations,

Baluch.



while the Baluch can only claim a

The

much

coarser grain called jodr.

period of the arrival of either of the above races in the country

a matter of uncertainty, although

many

is

surmises have been offered, but

was probably several centuries ago. One of the numerous traditions most prevalent is, that the last Raja of the Hindu dynasty, named Siwa, found himself compelled to call in the assistance of the mountain shepherds, to aid in repelling the attacks of certain marauders from the direction of Sind, who, under the leadership of an Afghan chief, The mountain shepthreatened to attack the seat of Government. herds, under a chief called Kambar, having successfully performed

it