Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/513

BALTZER. His writings were mainly devoted to the propagation of his views; among them are Alte und neue Weltanschauung (1850-59), and Gott, Welt und Mensch (1869). BALTT, bii'loo (native name). A variegated wild-cat of Sumatra, probably a variety of Felis aurata. BA-LUBA, ba-Ioolja. A Xegroid people of the middle Kassai Basin. Congo Free State. They are intelligent, adaptive, industrious, and skilled in the arts; travelers praise the good qualities of this powerful people. BALUCHI, ba-IoU'ohe. ur BELOOCHE. A modern Iranian dialeet, with many foreign loan-words from the Persian, Aral)ic, Turkish, and Sindhi. The Baluchi is divided into two main dialects, one of which, the southern or JIaprani, has ])reserved many of the older features of the language with less change than is the case with the northern Baluchi, which, however, possesses the better-known literature. The Baluchi is far inferior to the Afghan (q.v.) in literary development. On the other hand, it represents in it.s consonantal system by far the oldest stage of any of the modern Iranian dialects, being in this regard on the same level as the Middle Persian or Pahlavi (q.v.). Consult: Geiger, "Sprache der Balutschen," in Geiger and Kuhn, Orundriss der iranischen Philologic ( Strassburg, 1898), and the literature there cited. BALUCHISTAN, ba-loo'che-stan', or BELU- CHISTAN, be-lijo'- (Pers. stun, district, region, of the Baluchis). A semi-independent country in Asia, bounded by Afghanistan on the north, Sindh (British India), on the east, the Arabian Sea on the south., and Persia on the ^st (Map: Asia, Central, K G). It extends from latitude 25° to 32° N., and from longitude (51° to about 70' 30' E., and covers an estimated area of l.'U.OOO square miles, including the territory directly or indirectly held by Great Britain.

Description. The general appearance of the surface is rugged and uninviting. The chief mountain ranges enter from Afghanistan, through the northeastern end, and run in a general- ly southwestern direction toward the Persian frontier. Along the eastern frontier runs the Kirthar Range, terminating at Cape Monzen, on the Arabian Sea, and to the west of this are the Hala Mountains, while the northeastern ]iortiun of the country is traversed in a north and south direction by a continuation of the Suleinum Mouitains. The level country is found mainly in the northwest. The highest peaks have ail altitude ranging from 10,000 to 12,000 feet. The coast line, having a total length of about 000 miles, is mostly elevated and very little indented. It is without any harbors, but has a few road- steads, the most important of which are Or- marah and Gwadur. The rivers of Baluchistan are generally short, and flow in a direction from north to south. Very few of them, how- ever, reach the coast, as their scanty waters are either diverted for irrigation pui-])oses or are absorbed by the sandy soil. The chief of them are the Bolnn and the Mula in the north, the Purali and the Hingol in the south, the latter entering the sea, and the Dasht at the south- western end, also discharging into the Arabian Sea. The climate varies greatly with the for- mation of the surface. The winters are gen- erally severe, and snow is found even in the valleys. The summers are excessively hot, espe- cially on the coast.

Industries. Baluchistan has but a small pro- portion of cultivable land. Outside of the moun- tain regions, which are usuallj' barren, a large part of the level country is desert. The larger part of the agricultural land is found in the Province of Ginidava, where the common Indian grains grow freely. Cotton, indigo, and all kinds of southern fniit are cultivated in sev- eral parts of the country, and the date-palm grows in abundance in the southwestern Prov- ince of Mekran. Land available for grazing purposes is found in some localities, and cam- els, sheep, and horses are reared. The min- eral deposits are numerous, and include gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, saltpetre, and different kinds of sails. Manufacturing industries are practically i*)n-existent: the principal products are rough blankets. The chief exports are wool, hides, dried fruit, madder, and tobacco. Inland transportation is effected chiefly by camels, whilo the trade with British India "is carried on through the Sindh-Pishin Railway. A railway line through the eastern part of Baluchistan, from Karachi to Khelat, by way of Lus Bela, is projected.

Government. The larger part of Baluchi- stan is under the administration of native chiefs, subject to the Khan of Khelat, who is advised by a British political agent, represent- ing the Governor-General of India. The districts of yuetta and Bolan, in the northeast, nomin- ally belong to Baluchistan, but are administered by British officials: while the territory east of Quetta is now treated as a part of British India. The population of Baluchistan (1902) is esti- mated at 800,000, and consists principally of the two tribes of the Baluchis and the Brahuis, the latter being the dominant class.

Ethnography. The Baluchis, after whom Baluchistan is named, are, like the Afghans, an Aryan people, with Tndic and Iranic linguistic affinities, perhaps more of the latter. They are physically above the average, largely nomadic, and ])rcsent some of the best and some of the worst characteristics of partly civilized races. In physical constitution, dress, and mental disposi- tion they are distinguished from the Brahuis, who seem to have come earlier into the country. Both peoples are followers of Islam, professing the Sunnite creed, and the various tribes still lead a semi-independent life. Less important peoples in Baluchistan are the Persian Dehw^ars, or 'villagers,' and the Gypsy-like Luris.

History. Baluchistan, which is first mentioned by the historians of Alexander the Great under the name of Gedrosia, was ruled from early times to the end of the Seventeenth Century by a line of Hindu princes. Hard pressed by the mountain tribes of the interior, the Hindu rulers summoned to their aid the Brahuis, under their leader Kumbar, who subdued the predatory tribes, and then made themselves masters of the country. The descendants of Kumbar established themselves firmly in power, and were confirmed in their authority by the celebrated Xadir Shah, ruler of Persia, who overr.an the region on his expedition into India in 1739. Under the energetic Nasir Khan (1730-95). the supremacy of the Khan of Khelat was successfully asserted over the numerous tribal chiefs. British infiuence in Baluchistan