Keith

KEITH, police burgh and parish, Banffshire, Scotland, on the Isla, 53i m. N.W. of Aberdeen by the L.M.S. railway. Pop. (1930 4,424. A branch of the L.N.E. railway also gives access to Elgin, and there is a line to Buckie and Portessie on the Moray Firth. The burgh includes Old Keith and New Keith on the east bank of the Isla, and Fife-Keith on the west bank. Old Keith, which has a charter dating from William the Lion, fell into gradual decay ; New Keith was founded in the 18th century by the second earl of Seafield, and Fife-Keith has grown up since 1816. In the Roman Catholic church there is a painting of the "Incredulity of St. Thomas," presented by Charles X. of France. The industries include manufactures of manure, meal, tweeds, blankets and agricultural implements; there are also distilleries and breweries. Keith is also important as the centre of the agri cultural trade of the shire, and for its September horse fair, one of the largest in the north of Scotland.

KEJ

or KECH, the chief place in a district of the province of Makran in Baluchistan, which has given its name to Kej-Makran, as distinguished from Persian Makran. There is no town, but a number of small villages dominated by a fort built upon a rock, on the eastern bank of the Kej river. This fort, like many others similarly placed throughout the country, is supposed to be impreg nable, but is of no strength except against the matchlocks of the surrounding tribes. Kej (or Kiz) was an important trade centre

in the days of Arab supremacy in Sind, and the rulers of Kalat at various times marched armies into the province with a view to maintaining their authority. At the beginning of the 19th century it had the reputation of a commercial centre, trading through Panjgur with Kandahar, with Karachi via Bela, and with Muscat and the Persian gulf by the seaport of Gwadar, distant about 8o m. The present Khan of Kalat exercises but a feeble sway over this portion of his dominion, although he appoints a governor to the province. The principal tribe residing around Kej is that of the Gichki, who claim to be of Rajput origin, and to have settled in Makran during the 17th century, having been driven out of Rajputana. The climate during summer is too hot for Europeans. During winter, however, it is temperate. The principal exports consist of dates, which are considered of the finest quality. A local revolt against Kalat rendered an expedition against Kej necessary in 1898, when the fort was captured.