The Khan of Kalat's dominions extend from Shal or Quetta in the N. southwards to the sea on the coast of Makran, and from the frontier of Persia beyond Kharan and Panjgur on the W. eastward to British Sind, a length and breadth of about 400 miles. This territory, varied in character to no ordinary degree, consists of lofty, rugged table-land and level ground, and their climates exhibit the severest heat and most intense cold. When the plains of Cutchi are intolerable in the month of May, by reason of the intense heat, dust-storms, and poisonous winds, the weather about Quetta and Mustung resembles an English spring-time.
A mountainous table-land, running north and south, comprises the provinces of Saharawan, Jhalawan, and Las. It extends from the Afghan mountains N. of Quetta southwards to Cape Monze, or from lat. 40° to 25° N., a length of 340 miles. In breadth it extends from the level plains of Cutchi eastward, to Nushki on the borders of the Seistan desert westward, extending thus about 150 miles, widest about the centre, but it gradually narrows southwards until, at Cape Monze, the range is only a few miles in width. The height also varies. The greatest altitude is attained at Kalat, about 7000 feet, where the climate is European ; southward it rapidly de clines, until in the province of Las the elevation is little above that of Sind. In this mountain range hero and there are long and meandering valleys, but it is the natural boundary of Western India.
The Kohistan of Baluchistan is the part lying to the westward. On its N.E. and W. it has sandy deserts, and on its south are various dis tricts of Makran. Its principal mountains are those called the Sarhad between lat. 29° and 30° N., visible from a distance of 80 or 90 miles. In several places are brooks of liquid salt ; pools of water covered with naphtha, sulphur, muriate of ammonia, and hot springs. It is occupied ex elusively by Brahui, iu a number of petty re publics.
The Badozai and Bari tribes of Baluch inhabit the district of Past-i-koh west of Sibi in this Kohistan.
The Memaseni tribe of Seistan and Luristan, west by north from Shiraz, occupy still farther west in the valley of Mushki. They are the bravest but the most savage of the tribes, and lead a wild, disorderly life, frequently at feud with their neighbours. They are the powerful tribe encountered by Alexander in Upper Bac triana.
Bashkurd is the most western district of the Kohistan ; it is extremely mountainous, and is separated by a desert from the Persian province of Nurmanshahr. It is occupied by a tribe of Kurds who have advanced out of Luristan. They are pastoral, and prefer the uplands. There is a hot spring at &man, a hamlet in the Kohistan.
The Baluch and Brahui take their tribal names from the chiefs under whom they serve, the dis trict or country to which they belong, or the traditions as to whence they derive their descent. Between the numerous clans, blood-feuds have at times been long continued. The authority of the Khan is acknowledged by the greater portion of the tribes and races in Baluchistan, and the khanate has treaties with British India. Quetta is now (1883) garrisoned by a British force.
Pottinger, writing early in the 19th century, enumerated 74 principal tribes of Brahui, and gave 106,760 as their fighting strength ; but he added that he could have given twice as many more names.
The more important of the Baluch, Brahui, and Afghan tribes in the khanate occupy the follow ing districts : Nusherwani (Balnch) in Kharan and Washak and partly in Maskai.
Mirwari (Brabui) in Maskai.
Gitchki (Brahui) n Panchgur and Kej.
Lumri or Numri In Las. They are connected by blood with the Batti of Jeysulmir, and trace their an cestors to Samar, the founder of Samarcand. Kasai (Afghan) in Shal.
Mingbal tribes and Bizanju, Zahri,Haidarani, Kaidrani, and Kambarani occupy the Jhalawan districts of Wad, Nal, Sohrab, Zahri, and Kozdar.
Raisani, Sherwani, and Bangalzai (Brahui) in Mustang. Rakshani (Baluch ? Brahui?) in Nusbki.
Kalat by Dehwar, Brahui, Babi, Hindu, Afghan, and slaves. The Brahui is the dominant tribe.
Rind (Baluch) and Jat are in Clutch Gandava, w'th Rind and Bugti (Rind) in the hills beyond. Garchani (Rind) occupy Maraud.
Baluch inhabit the hills to the W. of the N.W. British frontier from the Vihowa pass on the N. to the extreme limits of Jacobabad on the south and west. The kbanate tribes own the authority only of their respective chiefs, but several of them occupy partly khanate and partly British territory.
Major John Jacob, C.B., writing in the year 1854, gives the following three lists of.— i. Tribes residing beyond British territory, and de facto independent of any other state.