KEISII ISLAND, in the Persian Gulf, is 21 miles in circumference, well wooded, and from the sea the prettiest in the Gulf. There is plenty of good water, and some cultivation of barley and vegetables. The island is subject to the Shaikh of Canack on the mainland. The goats on this island were consecrated to Venus and Mercury in tho time of Alexander, when Nearchus, with the Grecian fleet, cast anchor here ; for the Cat= of his journal (preserved by Anhui) is Keis or Keish in the nomenclature of oriental geography. It is, however, said to have been named Keish since the 10th century, when one Keis, the son of a poor widow in Siras, embarked for India, with his sole property, a cat. There he fortunately arrived at a time when the palace was se infested by mice or rats that they invaded the king's food, and persons were employed to drive them from the royal banquet. Keis pro duced his cat, the noxious animals soon dis appeared, and magnificent rewards were bestowed on the adventurer of Siras, who returned to that city, and afterwards, with his mother and brothers, settled in the island, which, from him, has been denominated Keis, or, according to the Persians, Keish. In countries widely separated, and in various languages, the same story has been re lated of different persons.—Ouseley's Travels, i. p.
170.
KEJ, the most western of the Kalat territories. Kej is called Mekran, sometimes also Kej Mekran, and is supposed to be the Gedrosia of the Greeks. It is inhabited by many tribes, of whom the Gitchki is the most numerous, but about half the population is a Muhammadan tribe called Ziggar. The maritime and fishing population of the little ports on the coast of Mekran from Sanmiani to Charbai, are denominated Med, and comprise four divisions,—the Guzbur, Hormari, Jellar-zai, and Chelmar-zai. Although often overrun by armies from Kalat, its subjection has been more nominal than real: A treaty was made with the naib of Kej, fakir Noor Muhammad, of the Bezunjo tribe, in 1862, by which he agreed, for an annual sub sidy, to protect the Mekran telegraph which passes through his territories. The subsidy granted was Rs. 6000, of which Rs. 1000 are paid to the chief of Pusnee. If the term Kej was in use anciently, it is likely to have given rise to the name Gedrosia.—Rennell's Memoir, 183; Treaties.