1843.] and the Eastern portion of Cutchee. 41 



since the country he inhabits, possesses capabilities of no ordinary 

 kind, but rather from a natural propensity to lawless practices. 



The Beloochees are vindictive, treacherous, and cruel. In their 

 feuds, they hold no terms but blood for blood, and while committing 

 their depredations, spare neither age nor sex. 



7. As may be expected from a totally ignorant people, uninformed 

 on all but the merely external observances of the Mahomedan religion, 

 the Beloochees are to the highest degree superstitious. The office 

 of a Syud is so much respected by them, that he forms the only 

 security for the faith of tribes towards each other, and is himself 

 the only individual whose life is safe in the hands of a Beloochee. 



8. Unrestrained in these countries, as the Beloochee tribes have 

 been, in consequence of the lax nature of the Governments, they are 

 not now disposed to yield willing submission to new systems of 

 controul, calculated to check the long established freedom of their 

 lawless habits, and compel them to the acknowledgement of a regu- 

 lated authority. 



9. The Beloochee tribe of Northern Cutchee, have ever been more 

 dependent upon plunder than cultivation, which seems in accordance 

 with their habits of idleness and dissipation. With the produce of the 

 country at his disposal, it was scarcely probable, that the wild and 

 lawless Beloochee would settle as a quiet agriculturist, consequently 

 the small portion of these tribes who come under the denomination of 

 " cultivating classes," are usually found to be the dependents or 

 slaves* of influential chiefs. 



10. In Boordekur, and other portions of the country to the south- 

 ward of the Burshoree desert, the Beloochees being of a less decidedly 

 predatory class, cultivate more extensively than those above mentioned. 



The restraint which good government will impose on these tribes, 

 with the aid of patient encouragement to peaceful occupation, must 

 in time effect a reform in their habits and practices. The general 

 character of the country they inhabit, as one possessing capabilities 

 of great fertility,t is in every way favorable to the object in view, 



* Slavery obtains amongst the Belooche tribes, children being bought and sold or 

 exchanged, for goods in kind, 



f The effects of the inundations of the Indus extend to the vicinity of Rajhan ; all 

 the intermediate country being as capable of fertility as any part of the rest, and 



G 



