HOWARD 6 



most of this is really cultivation rendered possible by the water received 

 from the hill torrents. The methods of irrigation employed are very 

 various. 



(1) Rivers and si reams. Owing to the mountainous nature of the country, 

 rivers and hill torrents are numerous. In only a few of the. rivers, however, 

 is there any considerable amount of permanent water. Manv consist only of a 

 shallow stream, except when flooded by rain from the hills, while in others 

 the bed is quite dry for a large part of the year. Where the ground is soft, 

 as in parts of Kalat. the rivers, on reaching the plain, divide into numerous 

 small streams and are thus immediately available for irrigation. In the rivers 

 with a permanent flow, dams are made of brushwood and eaith and the water 

 is led away in open channels. These dams are generally constructed and 

 owned by a hamlet or by a family, who keep them in repair and divide the 

 water thus obtained among the members. Some of these dams are very lai-ge. 

 The Mamak dam in the Mula. Kachhi took 700 pairs of bullocks two months 

 to erect. Owing to the flimsy nature of their construction, these dams are 

 continually being breached by the force of sudden floods. 



In Makran, where the rivers often form a series of deep pools, irrigation 

 is carried out by leading the water from these pools on to the fields by open 

 channels. In the case of hill torrents, the fields are embanked and the flood 

 water is led on to them by open channels whenever possible. 



(2) Canals. These are only to be found in Nasirabad. Sibi. and near 

 Pishin. 



(3) Springs. Springs are common in the highlands of the Agency, and 

 are much used for iriigation. If the spring is a large one. the water is led 

 directly by open channels on to the land : if it is small, a reservoir is 

 constructed. Water has also been obtained by artesian borings in the 

 Quctta District. 



(4) Kdrezes. The kdrez is a very ancient form of irrigation peculiar to 

 Baluchistan and Persia. It consists of a series of wells connected by an under- 

 ground channel. The first well is usually on the talus below the hills and the 

 series is continued until the water debouches on the surface and can be run 

 diiect on to the fields. A kdrez is generally owned by a family or tiibal group 

 and the water is shared by time — thus if twelve members own equal shares, 

 each in turn will use the entire flow for twenty-four hours. Repaiis are carried 

 out by the headman at the expense of the owners. 



(5) Wells. Well irrigation is not much practised except in parts of Sibi 

 and parts of Kachhi where the practice is said to be increasing. 



