Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/48

 BALUCHISTAN.

38

The

elation.

on the other hand, has nothing analogous

Brahui'ki,

words, and, as dialect

Baluchi's

tures

strikes

it

spoken

the ear, bears a strong resemblance to the

in the Punjab.

general have

in

tall

As

regards personal appearance, the

figures,

long visages, and raised fea-

the Brahuis, on the contrary, have short, thick



round faces and

flat

to

number of ancient Hindu

Persian, but appears to contain a great

lineaments,

with

hair

bones, with

and beards frequently

brown.

The Baluchi's (Baluch and Brahui') are a handsome, active race of men, not possessing great physical strength, but inured to changes of climate and season, and capable of enduring every species of fatigue. In their habits they are pastoral, and much addicted to predatory warfare, in the course of which they do not hesitate to commit every kind of outrage and cruelty. Notwithstanding their predatory habits, however, they are considered to be a hospitable people.

After the

fashion of other barbarous tribes in that part of the world, they will

no and murdering him as soon as he has left their precincts. They are indolent, and unless excited by amusement or war, or compelled to action by some urgent motive, spend their time in idleness, rude dissipation, and the enjoyment of such coarse luxuries as they can procure in lounging, gambling, smoking tobacco or hemp, and chewing opium. The tenets of their religion, and still more, perhaps, their poverty, preserve them from the abuse of fermented protect and kindly entertain a stranger while their guest, but feel

scruple in robbing

—

Their principal articles of food are milk in all its forms, the domestic animals, not excepting that of the camel, and game, including wild asses, the flesh of which is considered a delicacy. Their appetites are voracious ; they consume incredible quantities of liquors.

flesh of

flesh

They

when

it

can be obtained, and prefer

it

in

a half-cooked state.

and prepared in various other ways but they enjoy most such articles of food or condiment as possess a strong and stimulating flavour, as capsicum, onions, and garlic. Their indolence prompts them to keep as many slaves as they can obtain and support. Polygamy is universal. Some of the lower orders have as many as eight women, either as wives or concubines, and the number is increased in proportion to the rank and means of the man. Wives are obtained by purchase, payment being made in cattle or other articles of pastoral wealth. The ceremony of marriage is performed by the mullah or priest and on this occasion, as well as on some others affecting females, practices similar to those of the Levitical law are observed. For instance, in this country, as also among the Afghans, a man is expected to marry the widow of a deceased brother. When a death takes place, the body is watched for also use grain in the form of bread,



three

successive

nights

by assembled friends and neighbours, who