QUETTA, the capital of British Baluchistan, India, which also gives its name to a district. It rose to prominence in 1876, when Sir Robert Sandeman founded a residency there. The name is a variation of the word kwat-kot, signifying a fortress, and the place is still locally known as Shal Kot. Quetta is the southernmost point in the line of frontier posts and system of strategic railways on the north-west frontier of India, 536 m. by rail N. of Karachi. It forms the headquarters of a division and of the Western Com mand. The railway was built in 1879, with a view to its continu ance to Kandahar ; but its present terminus is New Chaman on the Afghan border. A branch line to Nushki was completed in 1905 and carried on to Duaz-ab during the World War. The cantonment and civil station of Quetta stand in the open plain about 5,5oo ft. above sea-level, within a ring of mountains (such as Takatu, Murdar and Chiltan), which overlook it from a height of over II,000 ft. North of Quetta is the open plain leading to Pishin and the Harnai, also traversed by the Sibi-Pishin railway, which passes through the fortifications. These defensive works, stretching from the base of Takatu to the foot of the Mashelak hills on the west, bar the way to advance from the Khojak pass. During the last quarter of the 19th century Quetta grew from a dilapidated group of mud buildings, with an inferior bazaar and a few scattered rem nants of neglected orchard cultivation, into a strong fortress, and one of the most popular stations of the Indian army. The Indian
Staff College opened here in 1907. Trade mart for western Afghan istan, eastern Persia, and much of central Asia, its population grew to 60,272 by 1931. However a disastrous earthquake practi cally destroyed the city in June 1935, claiming a toll of from 20,000 to 40,000 lives—the most fatal quake in twenty years.
The DISTRICT OF QUETTA (including Pishin) has an area of 4,8o6 sq.m. The actual line of valley which contains Quetta and the Bolan pass was originally rented from the khan of Kalat. This perpetual leasehold was afterwards extended so as to include Nushki and give the British government the command of the trade route to Seistan. The Quetta district is administered, together with the assigned districts of Pishin, Tal Chotiali and Sibi by a regular staff of civil officials, the head being known as the Agent to the Governor-General.
See Thornton, Life of Sir Robert Sandeman (London, 1896) ; Quetta-Pishin District Gazetteer (Ajmer, 1907). (T. H. H.)