to Persia by the rulers of Kej, whether Maliks or Bolridis; he also said that Kej in ancient times bore the name of Gunjava.

During the past year Azad Khan of Kharan made an attempt to plunder Sami, but was prevented by the promptness of Fuqueer Mahomed in assembling a force to oppose him.

On the morning of 23rd September I moved 12 miles further east, still following up the course of the Khor. The valley here is productive, and fields of rice and wheat are to be seen, wild pig are numerous and troublesome, little artificial brooks irrigate the land in several directions, population is spare, but here and there huts of cultivators may be seen, and occasionally "Tomuns" or temporary encampments of wandering pastoral Belooch (here termed "Halk") are met with. Passing the hot part of the day under the shade of a clump of trees I continued my route in the afternoon, and at sunset halted in the vicinity of a "Halk," six miles further east. In this part of the valley, the road leads along the course of the Khor and water is every where procurable, and as there are no villages the traveller halts just as suits his convenience irrespective of particular localities. In this neighbourhood the inhabitants are said to be mostly "Zikris;" heaps of stones piled together which are aften met with are said to be so placed from religious motives by votaries of that sect.

Balgetter.

Next day, the 24th September, 8 miles further east or 26 miles east of Sami, I struck off from the Kolwa road which continues straight along the valley, and took the road to Punjgoor which here turns northeasterly. Ten miles of this course carried us by a winding but easy pass through the hills to the north, and we emerged on an extensive plain known as Balgetter, halting for repose by a small fountain south of this plain. On 25th I proceeded northerly across the Balgetter plain. a distance of 11 miles. This plain is not altogether devoid of cultivation and inhabitants, but it presents altogether any thing but a fertile aspect. Near our halting place, which was by a fountain of good water, was a jowari field. A few natives who took care of it immediately fled to the hills on approach of my party, taking us for a marauding party; they afterwards returned and I procured sufficient forage for a few horses. A messenger had arrived the night before from Punjgoor sent by Mir Boher Gitchki, who, in Mir Esa's absence, is in authority there, directing all flocks to be at once driven off to the hills, as Pursund

Khan had collected some 2,000 hill Belooch, and was advancing on a "Chupao" into the Punjgoor districts. Supposing the information I now received to be true I should exactly cross Pursund Khan's route by advancing on Punjgoor. As the state of affairs at Punjgoor itself was said to be unsatisfactory, a feud existing between the two powerful families there, I concluded that a visit would be under the circumstances ill-timed, and that I should be without sufficient motive running the risk of detention, and perhaps ill-treatment; I therefore abandoned my intention of at present visiting Punjgoor, and resolved on pursuing the Kolwa route. I made the latitude of this halting place 26° 18′ and that was the most northerly point I reached. Punjgoor is three marches further north, and I should judge from the statements made by the natives, about fifty miles distant from this spot; between is a tract named Dusht, on which stands the fort of Shahbaz.

From Balgetter striking a south-easterly course I arrived, at evening on 25th September, at the river, here known as Kill Khor, the same which lower down is called "Kej Khor" and "Dusht Khor." Here I for the first time beheld it in the form of a fine clear flowing stream which, up to this point in its course, it never fails to be. The source I am informed is amongst hills not far east of Punjgoor; its course is here southerly through the hills. On the morning of the 26th September I encamped on its banks 2 miles lower down. Thence having repassed range of hills, a march of 12 miles brought me to a small fort and

the

Kolwah.

village of Puk in the district of Kolwah, which here commences and extends about

60 miles east to Mushk; no person of importance resides at Puk.

The district of Kolwah is the most fertile of Mekran, and is remarkable for the excellence of its barley and other grains, which are grown in comparatively large quantities. It possesses no stream, and the land is dependent for irrigation chiefly on the supply of rain, for the retention of which dams are constructed. Oxen are numerous, and flocks of sheep and goats are every where met with, the former the fat tailed description, and very fine.

The principal tribes or families now inhabiting Kolwa are Mirwani, Kowdaee, Nowsherwani, Ormerani (a branch of the Bezunjoo). In former times a large division of the Rind tribe resided in it, but a feud occurred between them and the Kowdaees, which ended in the total expulsion of the Rinds; there are several forts and villages in the pro

vince. On the north side of the valley are Rudkhana, the residence of Mir Gungozai, the chief of the Kolwah Kowdaees, who consider themselves of more importance than the Kowdees of Dusht; they have intermarried extensively with the Mirwanis-Maday, the residence of Dost Mahomed Kowdaee,-Hur, held by Shahdad Nowsherwani and his son Belooch Khan, given to plundering; and Zeek the residence of Dad Kerim Mirwani. On the south side are Balor, Chumbur, and Gushanak, which will be further noticed.

There are several Hindoo merchants residing in the various villages of Kolwah, who import cloth and other necessaries from India by way of Ormara, despatching grain, wool, and ghee to that port, and quantities of grain to Kej and Punjgoor, whence they receive in return the produce of those places.

Balor.

Kolwah was formerly ruled from Kej, but has ceased to be so, and an agent of the Khan yearly receives the dues. As these are largely paid in grain the Hindoos obtain it at a cheap rate on these occasions. On the 27th I was at Balor, a Kowdai village with about 200 inhabitants. Here I obtained fresh camels for Jow. From Balor to Ormara is four days for laden camels, the road being hilly. From this place I proceeded along the south side of the valley to Chumbur, situated about 20 miles east. Here is (for Mekran) an imposing-looking fort, built on an eminence; it belongs to Mir Nundoo, the Naib of Ormara, who at the time of my visit had gone to Kelat. A nephew of his received me, and seemed anxious to make himself agreeable, but as I arrived at sunset and left early next morning I had little time to cultivate his acquaintance. On the 29th of September, at evening, I arrived at the fort of Gusha. nak, which much resembles Chumbur; round it is a village of 200 or 300 inhabitants. Gushanak is the seat of Wuli Mahomed, the Chief of the Mirwanis. This Chief displayed the usual amount of hospitality, sending presents of grain, forage, &c. The valley here trends more northerly. A little east of Gushanak we left the valley, and the road thenceforward to Jow lay amongst the hills to the south; though sometimes steep and stony the path is every where passable by laden camels; forage is procurable to a limited extent at several places along this route. On the evening of the 30th September I reached a river called the Pao Khor, which, flowing from the Mushki valley, here winds amongst the hills,

Gushanak.

and lower down uniting with the "Jow" Khor, reaches the sea under the name of the Hingole. This day's march led through large groves of the Pish palm, which is turned by the natives to a variety of uses.

On the 1st October I halted at a fountain amongst the hills, near which is the grave of a Fuqueer, the place being accordingly named "Ziaret." There are no inhabitants. A few more miles took us clear of the hills, and the pretty valley of Jow presented itself to view.

Jow.

Through the centre in a south-westerly direction flows the Jow Khor, a pleasant flowing stream, which has its source far north, and lower down joins the Pao; the valley is well wooded, but possesses but little cultivated land; it is chiefly rich in herds of camels and buffaloes, and flocks of sheep and goats. The inhabitants are Bezunjoos, Mirwanis, and Ormeranis. From its situation Jow is exempt from raids and troubles, and is perhaps the most quiet, peaceable spot to be found in the country. At the southeastern side is a fine lofty mountain called Daroon, on the summit of which is a grove of date trees and some fertile land; the road which leads to the top might be held by a few men against an army. The population of the valley is spare and chiefly pastoral. I halted at evening at a village on the river, where resides Suffer Khan (son of Fuqueer Mahomed, Naib of Kej), by whom I was very warmly welcomed. With him resides Sedeek, his father-in-law, who belongs to the Ormerani branch of the Bezunjoo tribe; this person has a great reputation for plundering. The village is small, and has no distinctive name; supplies are here plentiful.

Remaining at Suffer Khan's village, on the 2nd, in the evening, having obtained fresh camels, I took the road to Bela, and passing through a sterile tract halted at a nullah 15 miles east. Between Jow and Bela there is no village, and I saw no inhabitants, but in the tracts named Arrah and Lukhsur there is a certain amount of grazing land.

The province of Lus Beyla is here divided from the western provinces by a lofty, well-defined range of mountains. The Lak or pass through these mountains is excessively steep, and is partly artificially constructed. The hills are of clayey formation, and a deep cutting has been made place, which is called the Lak. This place is extremely narrow, and laden camels are unable to pass; the loads are necessarily removed at the top or foot of the pass, and carried up and down by coolies. The construction of this pass is ascribed by the natives to the famous Per

in one

sian Statuary Ferhad, who pierced the hill, they say, to win the beautiful Shirin, who, according to local tradition, was a daughter of a former King of Lus Bela. The supposed tomb of the lovers is situated close to the Lak, and is a favourite resort of ladies to whom nature has denied families. A pool of water hard by where I halted on the 5th of October is called Koomb-i-Shirin, or the pool of Shirin; close by it is the grave of the old woman who is said to have betrayed them both to death. On it every Belooch who passes considers it his duty to cast a stone or piece of rubbish, and it was amusing to see the heap of stones and old shoes thus formed.

Koomb-i-Shirin.

On the afternoon of the 5th October I came to the part of the passage through the mountains known as the Lak; it is certainly a very steep descent, but the principal difficulty is its extreme narrowness. A practicable road for laden beasts might without difficulty be constructed, but the necessary funds are not as yet forthcoming. The steep pass being descended, a disagreeable stony road along the bed of a nullah follows, winding for several miles through the hills; at length emerging from the hills the level plain of Lus Bela is gained, and a few miles further on lies Bela, the capital of that Province. The change from Mekran, as well as being geographically well marked, is likewise in other respects, striking; the face of the country now presents a fertile comfortable aspect, and there are signs of greater order and regularity than met with to the west. At the period of my visit the Jam was a prisoner at Kelat, his son was also absent from the Capital. I informed the Dewan, the principal Official present, of the arrival of my party, and of my intention of proceeding the same day to Sonmiani. I was freely offered any assistance required, and a guide placed at my disposal. Leaving Bela'on the evening of the 6th of October, I proceeded by forced marches to Kurrachee, where I arrived on the morning of the 9th October. To offer any description of this portion of the route would be superfluous, but understanding that the first part from Gwadur to Bela has not previously been reported on, I have embodied such practical information as I have been able to acquire regarding it in a separate and more concise form; a Map is also submitted. The lower part or coast line is copied from Colonel Goldsmid's survey, the upper half exhibiting the route now reported on cannot pretend to such accuracy, but as the Maps I have hitherto seen of this part of the country seem defective, I have thought it may not be useless.