997 



BELOOCHISTAN. 



BELPER. 



east and west, about 200 miles. No northern boundary can be 

 assigned to it, since it continues northward to the banks of the 

 Helmund River, where it is called the desert of Sejestau. Nearly in 

 the middle it is traversed from north to south by a river called 

 Boodoor, which flows southward towards the coast, and on both sides 

 of it the desert presents a different aspect. On the east the surface is 

 covered by a very light and red sand. This sand is thrown by the 

 wind into an irregular mass of waves running principally east and 

 west, and varying in height from ten to twenty feet. Only two plants 

 have been observed growing on this sand. To the west of the river 

 Boodoor the surface is covered with a hard black gravel, on which no 

 trace of verdure is seen ; nor even the most trifling irregularity in the 

 surface. The bed of the river is covered with thick jungle, the haunt 

 of wild animals. The sultry air on this desert is frequently refreshed 

 by tornadoes, accompanied by torrents of rain. Without these tor- 

 nadoex it would be impossible to pass through the desert at any season ; 

 and from June to September it cannot be traversed, notwithstanding 

 the prevalence of these gusts, for in this season the winds are so 

 scorching and destructive as to kill both animals and vegetables. 



Not "lie-hundredth part of Beloochistan is actually under cultiva- 

 tion. The districts fit for pasture are much more extensive. The 

 inhabitants however are not without ingenuity and industry in some 

 branches of agriculture. All kinds of grain known in India are 

 cultivated in Beloochistan, as rice, wheat, barley, bajree (Holeus 

 ipicattu), jawaree, moong (Phaseolut Munyo), maize, dal (vetch), 

 mutter (a kind of pea), til, and chunna (dicer ariftinum). Rice will 

 not grow in Gundava. 



About Kelat vegetables are cultivated in great variety. Madder ia 

 grown in the districts north and east of Kelat, cotton in great 

 abundance in Cutch Gundava, and indigo in different places. The 

 sugar-cane grows chiefly on the plains of Lus. 



The upland country about Kelat abounds in apricots, peaches, 

 grapes of various kinds, apples, currants, figs, mulberries, melons, 

 pistachio-nuts, plantains, guavas, and other productions of a similar 

 clam. The water-melons attain such a size that one man is unable to 

 raise them. Almonds are excellent in the northern districts of Shawl 

 and Mustoong. 



The numerous herds of cattle require much fodder, and to make 

 up the requisite supply a peculiar kind of clover called oushpoosh, 

 or camel-grass, which grows with a stalk a foot or two high and has 

 leaves like a shamrock, is cultivated to some extent. 



The best timber is produced by hetupoors (a species of Zizyphus 

 Jujuba) aud the tamarind-trees. The former resemble teak, and are 

 very hard. Host of the trees of this country are not known in 

 Europe, and many of our trees, as the oak, ash, fir, &c., are unknown 

 there. 



The domestic animals consist of horses, mules, asses, Bactrian 

 camels, dromedaries, buffaloes, sheep (mostly of the flat-tailed kind), 

 goats, dogs, and cats. The dromedary is highly prized on account of 

 its fitness for the remote marauding expeditions to which the 

 inhabitant!) are prone. 



Of wild animals there are lions, tigers, leopards, byeenas, wolves, 

 jackals, tiger-cats, foxes, antelopes, elks, wild asses, &c. Wild dogs 

 frequently hunt in packs of twenty or thirty, and will seize a bullock 

 and kill him in a few minutes ; but being timid they generally keep 

 in the jungles. The hyaena attacks man when urged by severe 

 hunger or when irritated. 



Of domestic birds only fowls and pigeons occur. Of wild birds 

 almost every kind known in Europe and India is met with, and the 

 bustards, jungle-fowls, and black partridges are very numerous. 

 Hawking is a favourite pastime with some of the chiefs in the 

 western districts, and they pay great attention to the training of their 

 birds. 



In some of the larger rivers, especially in the Poorally, fish are 

 plentiful at some places ; and the few inhabitants of the sea-coast 

 gain their chief subsistence by fishing : but it does not seem that fish 

 are abundant along the shore. 



Gold and silver are found in Jhalawan, in the mines near the town 

 of Hal, not far from Khozdur, and are sent hi their native state to the 

 Panjab. Lead, iron, copper, tin, antimony, brimstone, alum, and 

 many kinds of mineral salts occur. Saltpetre is dug up in some places 

 in a native state. At Kelat it is extracted from the earth, and is 

 preferred to that which is found pure. Rock-salt is very common in 

 Kohistan. 



We are imperfectly acquainted with the races of men that inhabit 

 Beloochistan. The Beloochees and the Brahooes differ considerably 

 in their figure and language, and partly also in manners and 

 character. 



The Beloochees are a tall, active race of men, not possessing great 

 physical strength, but adapted and inured to changes of climate and 

 season, and accustomed to undergo every species of fatigue. They 

 have a long face and prominent features, a dark complexion, and black 

 hair. The Brahooes are short and strong-boned ; their faces are round 

 and flat : numbers of them have brown hair and beards. They are 

 active, strong, and hardy, and are inured both to cold and heat. 



The Beloochee language partakes considerably of the idiom of 

 modern Persia, and at least one half of the words are borrowed from 

 that language, but greatly disguised under a corrupt pronunciation. 



The language of the Brahooes contains a great number of Hiudustance 

 words. 



The Beloochees are subdivided into three principal tribes, the 

 Nharooes, Rhinds, and Mughsees, of which the Nharooes are the 

 most distinguished. They inhabit the mountains of Kohistan exclu- 

 sively, and are settled in considerable numbers in the eastern upland 

 country to the north and south of Kelat. The other two tribes have 

 settled in Cutch Gundava, where they are incorporated with the 

 Juths, or cultivators of the soil. The Beloochees, but especially the 

 Nharooes, consider private theft dishonourable, but the plunder of a 

 country as an honourable proceeding ; and accordingly they are 

 addicted to predatory incursions. They usually reside in ghedans, or 

 tents, made of black felt or coarse blanket stretched over a frame of 

 wickerwork. They are generally hospitable, indolent, and fond of 

 hunting. They have commonly two wives, and sometimes more. 

 They treat their women with attention and respect. They are 

 avaricious, revengeful, aud cruel. 



The Brahooes, who principally inhabit the province of Jhalawan, 

 and are also dispersed towards the north as far as the desert, usually 

 take up their abode in one part of the country during the summer 

 and emigrate to another during the winter season ; they likewise 

 change their residence many times every year in quest of pasturage, 

 a practice which is rare among the Beloochees. Many of them are 

 husbandmen and laborious hard-workers. They are as hospitable and 

 as faithful to their promises as the Belooehees ; and they are more 

 quiet, industrious, and inoffensive. The men tend the flocks and till 

 the ground ; the women are occupied in milking, making butter, 

 cheese, and ghee, and working carpets, felts, and coarse white cloth. 

 As both nations are Sunni Mussulmans, many of their usages are 

 regulated by the Koran. 



The Dewars, or Dehkans (that is, the villagers), are agriculturists, 

 and do not migrate. They are found chiefly about Kelat. They 

 speak the common Persian. In stature they are below the 

 middle size, with blunt features, high cheek-bones, and full cheeks. 

 They are quiet and harmless in their disposition, and civil and 

 obliging to strangers, but not given to hospitality. 



The Juths, who form the great bulk of the population of Cutch 

 Gundava, are descended from the aboriginal Hindoos. The Juths, 

 like the Dewars, have been converted to the Mohammedan faith. 



The inhabitants of Lus speak a language similar to that of Sinde, 

 and they strongly resemble the Hindoos, especially in their apathy and 

 the want of energy in their countenances. 



The inhabitants of the sea-coast of Mukran are a puny and delicate 

 race when compared with the Beloochees and Brahooes, and of darker 

 complexion. In the interior of Mukran some pastoral tribes wander 

 about. The inhabitants of Bushkurd are also devoted to pastoral 

 occupations. In the towns and places of commerce a great number 

 of Hindoos are settled as merchants, and they are commonly the 

 wealthiest inhabitants. 



Beloochistan exports grain from Cutch Gundava and Lus, dates 

 from Mukran, and horses from Kelat aud Gundava. The imports 

 consist principally of some metals, spices, manufactured goods of 

 silk and cotton, and salt from Moultan. 



The government of Kelat is despotic, but limited by a feudal system. 

 The sirdars, or chiefs of the tribes, are bound to furnish their quota of 

 soldiers, and to attend the court. They are partly hereditary and 

 partly chosen by the tribes. In the western districts the authority 

 of the khan is only nominal ; and government is in the hands of the 

 sirdars, who are commonly chosen by the people, but do not enjoy 

 extensive authority. The tribes here are, properly speaking, a 

 number of petty republics, in which every member feels that he has 

 a right of revenging his own wrongs, and of giving his vote on all 

 matters of public interest. 



(Pottinger's Travels in Beloochistan and Scinde; Conolly's Journey 

 to the North of India, Ac. ; Burnes's Travels to Bokhara ; Map of 

 Central Ana, by Arrowsmith; Kaye's Afghan War.) 



BELOPOL. [CHARKOFF.] 



BELPER, Derbyshire, a market-town and the seat of a Poor-Law 

 Union in the parish of Duffield, and hundred of Appletree, is 

 situated on the banks of the river Derwent, in 53 2' N. lat., 1 29' 

 W. long. ; 8 miles N. from Derby, 134 miles N.W. by N. from London 

 by road, and 139 miles by the North-Western and Midland railways: 

 the population in 1851 was 10,082. The government is in the hands 

 of a head constable and six assistant constables. The living is a 

 perpetual curacy -in the archdeaconry of Derby and diocese of Lich- 

 field. Belper Poor-Law Union contains 35 parishes and townships, 

 with an area of 63,788 acres, and a population in 1851 of 46,875. 



The prosperity of Belper is of modem date, and is to be principally 

 ascribed to the establishment of the cotton-works of Messrs. Strutt. 

 It is now one of the most flourishing towns in Derbyshire. The 

 older buildings form a very small portion of the place, which consist 

 chiefly of more modern and better erections. New buildings, with 

 neat *xteriors, flower-gardens, orchards, and plantations are fast 

 spreading over the rising grounds about the town ; and on the 

 opposite side of the Derwent is Bridge Hill, the seat of one of tho 

 Messrs. Strutt. Gritstone, which the neighbourhood furnishes of 

 excellent quality, is much used in building. The town in general 

 and some of the factories are lighted by gas, made by a company 



