Saharawan province, in Central Baluchistan, is about 10,000 square miles. The population does not exceed 50,000. This elevated plateau is the more northern of the Baluch confederate provinces, and runs with the Afghan districts of Peshin and Toba, and is separated on the east by a range of bills from Dadar and Cutch Gandava. It has only the Bolan river and a few rivulets, but the climate is cool, and the rains ensure good grain harvests. Quetta, Kot, or Shal is one of its districts, and snow lies there for two months of the year. The population consists of the Kassi (Kassye) tribe of Afghans, who claim affinity with the Safi clans ; but in spring and summer numerous Brahui tomans range over its plains. Its capital, called Shal by the Baluch, by the Afghan is called Quetta, an equivalent for kot ' or fort, sometimes Shal-Kot.
The Shal valley was ceded to Nasir Khan of Kalat by Ahmad Shah, the first Daurani sovereign. It has many small divisions and villages. Its capital, Shal or Quetta, is very unhealthy from July to September.
Part of the Sherwani Brahui dwell in Shal. The Sherwani occupy also exclusively Khad and Kishna, but reside with other tribes in Shal and Mustung. They take their name from their belief that they came from Sherwan on the Caspian.
Mustang has a healthy climate and fertile soil. It contains no Afghans, the fixed inhabitants are Debwar, mixed with the Raisani, Sherwani, Mahmud. Shahi, Bangal-zai, Lari, and Sirphera tribes of Brahui.
The Raisani, the most respectable of the Sahara wan tribes (from Rais, Arabic for ruler), are able to raise 500 fighting men. The Raisani furnish the chief of Saharawan, whose place on all state occasions is on the right of the Khan of Kalat, the chief of Jhalawan being on the left. They are traders, horse-dealers.
The Dui Brahui occupy the valley of Nermuk in Saharawan, but reside also at Mustang and Shal, with other tribes.
Sirphera, literally head-shearers, dwell in Saha rawan and Cutchi. They reside in summer in Gurchani, and during winter in Cutch Gandava. Pliny mentions the Saraparn near the Oxus.
Mangachar has a few dispersed hamlets. It is well irrigated with canals, and the whole plain is intersected with dams to preserve the rain. The tomans are scattered over the plain. Many brood mares are kept. It is separated from Mustung by a lengthened valley termed Khad, in which the Sherwani tribe of Brahui dwell. The Brahui tribes on the east border with the Mandawari, Kuchik, and Puzh Rind tribes and the Ghazghi Brahui, adjacent to Catch Gandava. The Langhao are in Mangachar.
Dasht-i-be-Dwulat belongs to the Kurd Brahui tribes. It is in the northern part of Saharawan and west of the Bolan Hills, and is about 15 miles in length and breadth. In spring it is clothed with lovely flowers and grasses, and is then covered with the tomans of the Kurd, who retire to Mery after the harvest of autumn, and then predatory bands of Khaka roam over the ground. The Kurd possess also Tikari in Cutch Gandava. Their sections are the Made-zai, Shadan sal, Zirdad-zai, Shadi-zai, and Massutari. A pastoral tribe of Kurd occupy the Kohistan.
The Kharan province, in which lie two small towns, is occupied by a Rind tribe of Persian origin, called the Nusherwani, of whom the Alit zai are one branch. They cultivate a little wheat and barley, but insufficient for their own wants. They claim a descent from Nusherwan similar to the Udaipur Rajputs. They are the dominant tribe in Kharan. The Dagari and Hijbari tribes are said to be the original owners.
The Rodani Rind are at Ashi Khan and Puden, the Ghazghi and Samalari are in the hills west of Khanak, and the Sunari in Dasht-i Goran.
Jhalawan province has that of Saharawan on the north and west, Las-Beyla on the south, and Cutchi and Sind on the east. It lies between lat. 26° and 29° N., and long. and 67° E., and comprises the districts of Sohrab, Zahri, Baghwan, Khozdar, Zidi, Kappar, Wad, and Nall, together with the hills occupied by the Mingal, Bizanju, and Samalari Brahui. The inhabitants are pas toral, and have large flocks of sheep. Jhalawan has less elevation than Saharawan. Many of the tribes are supposed to be of Rajput origin ; and, until lately, the practice of infanticide was prevalent amongst them. Near Bagwana Dr. Cook saw a cave in the rock filled with the dried mummy-like bodies of infants, some of which when seen had a comparatively recent appearance. The fixed population in their little towns does not exceed 10,000, and are greatly exceeded by the pastoral tribes. The great Brahui tribes of Mingal and Bizanju give them the preponderance. The Bagwana valley is all well cultivated.
Bizanju Brahui inhabit the districts of NA, Urnach, and Kolwah, also Ormara in Makran. They have 10 sections,—Tamarari, Muhammadari, Gabarari, Umarari, Nindowari, Ludani, Lotani, Chaim!, Baduzi, and Siapad. Many of the sections occupy the Urnach valley. The two great divisions, the Umarari and Tamarari, are west of, but on the same hills as, the Mingal. They are a violent people, and much addicted to rapine.