ee es ee 
in the Lower Valley of the Indus and Cuichi. 23 
Upper Sindh and Cutchi countries are certain death to all but 
a Bilich, who, without any hesitation, exposes himself fear- 
lessly to them, at a period when he tells you the very crows 
even are obliged to leave the country. For eight months in 
the year Cutchi is, however, a fine climate, and for five as 
cold as the most fastidious need require. The author, speak- 
ing from experience, would prefer Shikarpore, with a good 
protection from the sun, to any climate in Sindh, though the 
range of the thermometer there is 115° to 120° in the shade 
from May to August. The Sindhian Bilachis are of very dark 
complexion, with fine oval contours of countenance, aquiline 
nose, and large expressive eyes. Unlike Mahomedans gene- 
rally, they cultivate the growth of the hair on the head as 
well as the beard. In Sindh, the former is confined under 
the cap by a knot and comb, being thrown back from the fore- 
head ; but in Cutchi and the mountains, it is allowed to fall 
in wild luxuriance over the shoulders, and is often twisted in 
with the folds of the turban, imparting a peculiarly wild and 
savage appearance. A slight sketch of one or two of these 
figures would tend better to elucidate their appearance than 
an inadequate description. The hair is dyed black when it 
becomes grey, and holy characters use the henna plant to in- 
duce a red tinge to the beard and hair. The costume of the 
women is simply a pair of full drawers, confined by a string 
at the waist, and a loose shirt over them, reaching to the 
knees, and open at the bosom. Over the head is thrown a 
loose cloth. Their condition is that of perfect slavery, doing 
the whole of the hard work and drudgery for their lazy lords, 
who, occupied in the unceasing amusement of smoking or talk- 
ing in groups, pass their time away. The Biluchi women are 
hard featured and plain, bearing in their manner and coun- 
tenances strong proofs of the degradation to which they are 
exposed. 
The Jutts do all the laborious work of the cultivation ; for 
though the Bilachis possessed the land, they considered them- 
selves, like the military class in India, above such menial oc- 
cupations. ‘This people profess the Mahomedan religion, and 
are, for the most part, of the Suni faith, though the chiefs 
were of the Sheah persuasion ; totally ignorant, however, of 
