AIEKR AN, or AlEeRas, is a province of Persia, stretching from Cape Jask to the frontiers of Scind, along the Indian Ocean, which bounds it on the south. On the north it is bounded by Seistan and Arokaje ; on the east by Scind ; and on the west and north-west by Kerman. Alekran is divided by a range of moun tains running from east to west. The northern part has got the name of Balouchistan. To the east there is a small independent state called Lus. Balouchistan is again subdivided into the seven following provinces or districts: Jhalawan, the most southern, and Sara wan, the most northern, both of which are extremely mountainous, and in general barren, though some of the wallies are capable of high cultivation, and produce, in favourable seasons, very abundant crops.—Cutch Gandava, which is about 150 miles long, and 40 or 50 broad, is chiefly low country, having a rich black loam soil, and producing all sorts of grain, besides cotton, indigo, and madder.—iinund Dejel, to the northward of the former, whose climate and soil are excellent.— Shal and illuslung, which are of very inconsiderable ex tent, but distinguished for the excellence and cheap ness of their productions ; and Zuhree, which is well peopled, and has the name of being the most civilized district of Balouchistan.
The province or district of Lus is of a circular form, and neatly surrounded by mountains. which separate it from western Mekran, Balouchistan, and Scind. The country itself is fiat and sandy, and remarkably fertile in every description of grain. It has two small rivers, Wudd and Pooralee, (the ancient Arabius,) which, rising in the mountains near Bayla, falls into the ocean at Son meany, the principal sea-port of Lus. In order to ob tain water, the inhabitants of this district, who are chief ly fishers, are obliged to dig holes in the sand, and hav ing taken a supply, they fillt hem up immediately, lest the water should become salt, which it certainly does when the holes are left open.
Punjgoor, or Punger, which is remarkable for its dates. is a small, fertile, and well peopled district. It lies at the distance of about ten days journey, in a direction north north-east from Kej, the capital of Alekran, the whole of the mountainous tracts to the westward forming the southern boundary of the sandy desert, and on the parallel of Punjgoor. It has obtained the general name of Wushutee, or Meech. Noosliky is a small sandy barren
district, occupying an area of about 36 square miles, whose inhabitants subsist chiefly by plunder. Gurmsyl is also a very small but extremely fertile district, and is about five days journey to the north-west of Noosky. It is a narrow strip, in some places frequently not exceeding half a mile in breadth, and being flanked on both sides with high banks, it resembles the dry bed of a river. It derives its extraordinary fertility from the annual over flowing of the river Heernzund.
Sortie of the districts in this province are almost en tirely mountainous. The northern and southern parts of Balouchistan are described as a confused mass of tre mendous hills, extending in length about 350 miles, but varying considerably in breadth ; and the small state of Lus is bounded on three sides by one stupendous chain. In Western Mekran, the mountains run parallel with the shore, at the distance of eight or ten miles. At Chobar, however, and Cape Jask, they approach the coast. This chain attains its greatest elevation at Surku, the streams on the north side flowing towards the Persian Gulf, and those on the south to the Indian Sea.
The rivers in Mekran present a singular appearance during the summer months, being then almost quite dry. The following are the principal of which we have re ceived any account : The Neam Khor, or salt river, which falls into the sea at Tiz. The Cajoo river, which rises in the hills at Suroo, and joins the ocean thirty miles west of Chobar, between Roasim and Tank. The Bunpoor river, whose course is from east to west. After its confluence with another stream which traverses the fertile plains of Lushar, it loses itself in the sands about forty miles to the westward of the town of Bunpoor. When visited by Captain Grant in the month of February, it was 20 yards wide and 3 feet deep.
The population of Mekran consists of many different tribes and independent chiefs, of which the Balouches are the most numerous. A corrupt Persian, mixed with Scindi, is the common language of the country. The whole force of Mekran may amount to about 25,000 men. Lead and iron are produced in the mountains to the south of Kelat. Some gold and silver have been found at Nal. Copper, tin, antimony, sulphur, saltpetre and marble are also found. See Kinnier's Geos-. Mem. of Persia, p. 202 —225.