in, and his name mentioned with respect. With a little wisdom or patriotism in their Chiefs, the people of the Western Provinces might have shared the same fortune, and all Beloochistan united under the Khan would have been safe from Persian aggression.

Some passages from the Persian history of Nadir Shah, containing allusion to matters noticed in the foregoing sketch, are appended; as is also a Table showing the genealogy of the principal branch of the Gaitchkee family.

Gwadur, 22nd May 1865.

Extracts, translated from the Life of Nadir Shah.

A.D. 1734.

EXTRACT No. 1.

The Governors of Kerman and Seistan had been ordered to proceed with a force, and chastise the Balojis of Dizak. Despatches from the said Governors conveyed intelligence to the illustrious Court, that, under the auspices of the Imperial prosperity, they had humbled and crushed the rebels in that district, and after slaying a number of them had taken the Fort of Dizak.

EXTRACT No. 2.

Operations in Beloochistan, 1736 A.D.

It has been previously stated, that Pir Mahomed Khan and Eselmas Khan, had been sent from Ispahan, to command in Beloochistan, and were ordered to proceed with a fully equipped force and artillery, to chastise the rioters of Kharan. On 9th Zu'l Hije, when Nadir was encamped on the plains of Candahar, Mahomed Ali Beg Saewhloo, Naib of Ishac and Chief of the Agas, was despatched with a force to punish the Shir Khan tribe of Beloochees, and those of Shorabec (in Kharan) who were committing outrages. The Belooches, aware of the approach of this force, assembled and gave battle, when they were within two parasangs of Shorabec; seven hundred Beloochees were slain, and many of their mules and camels taken.

Mahomed Ali was next directed to join the Beloochistan Commander at Jalk Kharan, and on the conclusion of their operations to return to Shorabec, and reduce all the forts in its vicinity.

23rd April 1736.

On the 3rd Mohurrum 1150, Ameer Mohubbut Khan and Ameer Iltryaz, the sons of Abdullah Khan, whose attachment to this Government, and the favours he had received from it, have been already noticed, arrived at Court and received presents of horses and swords, and other marks of favour. Mohubbut Khan was confirmed afresh in the Government of Beloochistan.

Although the Persian Generals (Pir Mahomed and Eselmas Khan) had done good service in taking the Fort of Jalk, renowned for the strength of its defences, yet unfortunately Pir Mahomed, who was chief Sirdar, being a man of little wisdom, conceited, and quarrelsome, separated from Eselmas Khan on account of a trifling squabble, and neglecting to advance on Kharan, by leading his troops into desert and mountainous districts, exposed them to dreadful perils. Many perished from famine and thirst, and the cattle and baggage were abandoned.

A.D. 1738.

EXTRACT No. 3.

Orders were sent to Mahomed Tahi Khan Beylubegi of Fars, to bring the forces of Fars, Kerman, Kohgilooyah, and the seaports which were in readiness for the Muscat expedition, to Sind and Salta, proceeding himself by the land route, and sending his artillery and superfluous troops by sea in Government vessels.

There [Larkana] a despatch was received from Mahomed Tahi Khan Beylubegi of Fars, stating that unfavourable circumstances having prevented his advanc

A.D. 1739.

ing to Sind, he had entered Kej and Mekran. There, Malik Dinar, Governor of that district, having chosen to withhold his fort, Tahi Khan sent a force against it, and had vanquished and reduced him to obedience. On account of the approaching close of the season for seavoyages, he had taken the precaution of sending the ships back to Bunder Abbassee, and had himself remained in Kej and Mekran.

An order was issued to the effect, that as the Sind undertaking had been successfully accomplished, he should dismiss his forces and hasten to join Nadir.

Sheik Kasim-Boleidee wife.

Bhaee Khan or Bhayan. Futteh Khan.-M. daughter

REPORT ON A VISIT TO KEJ; AND ROUTE Through MEKRAN FROM GWADUR TO KURRACHEE.

LEAVING Gwadur on 10th September 1865, I marched for Kej by the shortest route, which, for several miles, leads nearly due north. Another road, which, though longer, is also frequently taken by persons travelling from Gwadur to Kej, leads in a more easterly direction, and circling round by Kapper and Kolanch joins the first at the Talar Pass. In addition to the Belooch sepoys forming my escort, I was attended by one Moola Doora, an Agent to Mir Fuqueer Mahomed, Naib of Kej, whom the latter had appointed at my suggestion to accompany me. I had considered it advisable that I should enter Kej conducted by a person known to be in the Naib's service and confidence. I found that Moola Doora had instructions not only to conduct me to Kej, but further to attend me to any part of Beloochistan I should visit. Being an intelligent person and well acquainted with the country and inhabitants, I subsequently benefitted much by his advice and assistance. My baggage was carried by camels-the only description of carriage obtainable or indeed which could be used in Mekran.

For the first three stages from Gwadur to the "Dusht" District, the road lies through a barren, almost uninhaGwadur to " Dusht." bited tract. About eight miles from Gwadur a little oasis is passed named Nigor, where are to be seen a few date trees and patches of cultivated land. Totally dependent on the seasons, when rain is plentiful the owners of the fields sow and reap, but in dry years the fields are neglected. After a ride of 8 hours, having at 12 miles north of Gwadur passed through the Nigor hills, early on the morning of the 11th I arrived at the spot fixed on for the first halt. The place, named Tonk, is a little valley containing some fertile soil and a small grove of date trees. An artificial bund, 150 yards long, has been constructed, and in good seasons a little grain is grown. Two miles from the halting ground there is also a field of Cotton. The supply of water from a well in an adjacent nullah was scanty and bad. Two or three huts were seen belonging to goat-herds who live in miserable poverty. There is a sufficiency of camels' food and a little fodder for horses. The heat was great, 110° in a tent, at mid-day. The lofty Daram hills bore S. S. E. from my Camp, distant about five miles, and to the north another range was seen. From Touk, which I left on the evening of the

11th, the road takes a more easterly direction, between the two ranges of hills. Seven hours of an easy level path brought me to a wooded spot called Beylar, where I made my second halt. Water is procurable here from a well, and forage for camels and horses, but there being no inhabitants no other supplies are obtainable. Being provided with a sextant and artificial horizon, I here took the sun's altitude at noon, and subsequently continued to take observations to determine the altitude at most of the places where I halted. For the longitude I trusted to reckoning, when possible, consulting a compass for direction of march. At 4-30 P.M. on the 12th, I marched from Beylar. Six miles march in a north-easterly direction brought us to a pass through the mountains, known as Talar Pass. South of this pass the road to Kolanch branches off in a southerly direction. By the latter route Gwadur may be reached in two marches, and though it is perhaps somewhat more circuitous than the route I pursued, passes through a more interesting country. The Talar Pass is narrow and difficult, but not more than half a mile in length. It is a rocky ravine, the bed of which is strewn with large boulders and contained a con-siderable quantity of rain water. During heavy rains this pass is impracticable and, at all times, might be held by a few men against numbers. The hills on either side-unlike those along the sea coast-are rocky, at the pass the strata are set up semivertically, ending in sharp peaks, all of like inclination, which gives the scenery a singular appearThe name of Talar occurring frequently in Mekran I particularly inquired into its meaning. It seems to be in general applied to rocky hills distinguished from the clayey or sandy ones, but occasionally to be given to large boulders or rocks. The name is not applied by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood to the mountain range generally, and here I will observe, with regard to mountains and rivers in Mekran, that general names are not employed by the natives. Hills ni the vicinity of a well known place assume its name, and the same with rivers. In case of rivers this custom is likely to lead to mistakes when the course of a stream is not followed up.

ance.

The words "Jebel" and "Koh" are both in use to indicate mountains. A river, or its bed, is termed "Khor."

Having rested a few hours at the north side of Talar Pass, I proceeded en route for Kohuk at 1 A.M. on the 13th. From the pass, the road to Kohuk

Dusht.