There are, in Makran, cyclopean structures raised by some unknown prior race. They are called Ghorbasta or Ghorbaud, and bear a resem blance to the cyclopean remains of Europe. They are built across ravines and on the declivities of mountains, to form tanks and to distribute the water. They must have been constructed by a race who had, on entering it, foreseen that the country would not otherwise support them, and the race is supposed by Dr. Cooke to have been Pelasgi, or a people with kindred habits.
Ras Jashk, or Cape Jashk, is the western limit of the Makran seaboard. The inhabitants of the village near it are Baluch and Arab fishermen. The present population of Makran, about 200,000, consists,—lst, of Gitchki, Boledi, and Malikah, who furnished the ruling chiefs in Makran ; 2d, the second class are great and powerful tribes, some of them of Brahui origin, viz. the Bizanju, Nu sherwani, Mirwari (Brahni), and some Nand or Baluch, viz. Hot and Rind ; 3d, tribes of respect ability, viz.
Ashkani. Jatgal. Lagaori. Sajadi.
Bari. Kaodai. Mulai. Saugorif.
Band. Kalmati. Maidizai. Singalu.
Birdi. Ketwari. Puzhi. Shahzadah.
Gojah. Kosaji. Raisi.
Gorji. Kotigi. Shebi. Zishtkhani.
4th, inferior tribes, viz. Bahari. I Kolwah. I Lori. Med.
Durzadah. Langao. Lundi. I Zati.
The Makran tribes are hospitable, faithful to their agreements, and courageous. Though averse to European discipline, they take service with Sindhia, Holkar, the Gaekwar, and the Kattyawar chiefs. The Makrani is capable of great fatigue and endurance, though not of large frame. Their language is a branch of ancient Persian. Their houses are mean, chiefly of matting.
The Saugor, a tribe of Baluch, are fishermen.
Gwadar town is occupied by 4000 or 5000 in habitants,—Biadhiah, Arab, Hindu, Khojah, Med, and Korawa.
The small seaport village of Chaobar or Char bar, belonging to the Imam of Muskat, has 560 inhabitants, consisting of Med, Bosdar, Keji, Tizi, Shirik, Khojah, Bania, and Hamali.
The Raushani Narui, in Upper Makran, are numerous and influential, and have the following sections:— Arbabi, Khasoji, Kurd or Shahidi, 3lalika, Ming or Mind, Rakshani, Sajadi. The Rakshani give the chief to the tribe.
The Aland district is occupied by a lawless portion of the Rind tribe.
The Jagdal, Jalgal, Zodga], or Zadgal tribe, in Alakran, are of Lumri or Nuinri origin, immigrants from Sind and Las. They wrested power from the Boledi, and now hold the Baho Dashtiari district under the Persian Government.
The Kalmati or Karmati tribe in Baluch Makran are immigrants from Sind.
The Hot, a Baluch is widely spread over Central Makran, in Tump, Dasht, Baho, and Geh. They are the most numerous in the province, and are held in high consideration.
The Mirwari tribe dwell in Mushki, Jhao, and Kolwah. Pottinger in 1810 said their fighting strength was 7000. Masson says they are of the Kamburani family now ruling at Kalat.
Ashkani Baluch are settled in the hilly districts north of Kai, in Baluch Makran.
The date trees of Makran flower in February and March, and the fruit ripens in August and September. When in full flower, a stalk of the male flower is inserted into a small incision made in the core of the top of the female tree.
The maritime and fishing population of the little ports on the coast of Makran, from Sonmiani to Charbar, are often denominated Med, and comprise four divisions,—the Guzbur, Hormari, Jellarzai, and Chelmarzai. Med fishermen are boat-owners. Padiharee have no boats. The other fisher races are the Korawa and the Raisi. The Kaodai or Khudai, a tribe in the Dasht and Kolwah districts of Makran, are a well-to-do and respectable people. Lagaori tribe in Persian Makran are perhaps the Laghari.
The Birdi is a tribe settled in Makran.
Zati or Sati occupy chiefly Baho and Daslitiari.
The Shahzadah are of Arab descent. They first settled in Sind, but 'migrated afterwards to Juni, Dasht, and Baho, in Makran.
The Boledi also is an Arab tribe, which has taken its name from that of a town in the Kej district. In the 17th century they seem to have subverted the power of the Malika, only to be, in their turn, put aside by the Gitcliki.
The Kolwah dwell only in Gwadar, in Makran, to which they came from Juni, where they were slaves or servants to the Shahzadah. They are a seafaring people, superior to the Med in social position ; but, like the Med, superstitious and immoral, with peculiar religious rites.
Panjgur (or Panchghar) is a district of Baluch Makran about 100 miles to the N.E. of Kej. It is a rich and fertile tract, with a cluster of forts and villages amongst groves of date trees, for which it is celebrated. It is occupied by the Gitchki tribe of Brahui, of peaceful and agricul tural habits, and also by the Nusherwani tribe of Persian origin, the two tribes being at feud.