34 Captain Postans on the Bilticht Tribes inhabiting Sindh, 
vided for, for any length of time he or they chose to sojourn 
asaguest. The first study of a Biltch, from the highest to 
the lowest, was this display of kindly feeling. On arrival, 
tired or wayworn at a Biltchi village, the author has often 
thrown himself in a cot, and, to his surprise, has suddenly 
found himself surrounded by a party of these wild men, who 
began to chafe and knead his limbs, and continued to do so 
for hours, to dispel lassitude and fatigue; vying with each 
other, at the same time, in supplying his wants, or appeasing 
hunger or thirst with the best of their simple food or bever- 
age. Not to receive such civilities is the height of rudeness, 
and, on the other hand, to eat of his salt and dip your hand 
into his dish, is the signal for claiming him as a brother ;—in 
short, all who have travelled through their countries have 
been forcibly impressed with this very pleasing trait of Bilt- 
chi character. 
These people have an amazing stock of good temper mixed 
with their ignorance, almost amounting to stupidity. A Bi- 
lach can readily understand and enter into a joke, and, like 
the Arab of Egypt, it is the best means of effecting a purpose 
with him. He may be thus brought to meet your views 
when other plans would probably fail; when excited, how- 
ever, he is fierce and savage enough for any deed of blood or 
violence. The Bilfichis are sociable even to an extent un- 
known amongst Asiatics generally, as evinced in their ordi- 
nary salutations, and the great delight they take in forming 
parties for the sole purpose of smoking, talking, singing, or 
drinking together. They accost each other with a curious 
string of inquiries, not only after the health of the individual 
addressed, but those of his family, and the welfare of his house 
generally; the Salaam uleikim, is only a prelude to the usual 
chunqgo, hullah? kliiar? sullah?* &c., which, when con- 
cluded by one party, must be taken up by the other. In a 
large assembly, as for instance a burbar, these inquiries and 
rejoinders occupied a considerable space of time, and even 
after these, if, during the interview, the stranger’s eye caught 
that of an acquaintance, he would join his hand, and demand 
* Are you well, happy, comfortable? 
* 
