1903.] Papers. J13 



from the directions of the Himalayas and Central Asia, it is shown that 

 the more abnormal features of the weather in Bengal may be explained, 

 the excessive heat by impaired convection, and the failure of thunder- 

 storms by the diminished vertical temperature gradient.. 



6. Notes about the Wanechis (Spin Tarin Afghans) of the Shahrig 

 Tahsil, Thai Chotiali, Baluchistan. — By Rai Sahib Jamiat Rai, Special 

 Assistant to the Superintendent, Imperial Gazetteer, Baluchistan. Commu- 

 nicated by the Anthropological Secretary. 



(Abstract.) 



The Wanechis are a section of the Spin Tarin Afghans. These, 

 with a few exceptions, have left their original home in Pishin, and 

 migrated southwards to Shahrig and Duki Tahsils of Thai Chotiali. 

 Numerically their strongest group is the Wanechi, which is said to come 

 of an alien stock. Theoretically an Afghan tribe, as we find it in Balu- 

 chistan, is constituted from a number of kindred groups of agnates. 

 That is to say, descent is through the father, and the son inherits the 

 blood of the father. Affiliated with a good many tribes, however, are 

 to be found a certain number of alien groups known as Mindun or 

 Hamsctyah, The latter term means : " living in the same shade." These 

 groups are admittedly not united to the tribe by kinship. The number 

 of Wanechis according to the last census is 2,802, and the sections speci- 

 fied are twenty. The paper then goes into further details with regard 

 to the sub-divisions or clans making up the various sections, their origin? 

 their grouping in time of tribal warfare, the division of looted property, 

 transit-dues levied by some tribes, their marriage customs, and compen- 

 sations paid for various offences, such as murder, injury, theft and 

 adultery. 



