1844.] 1838 and 1839, by Hajee Abdun Nubee, of Kabul. 679 



The Gichkees are believed, and believe themselves to be a colony of 

 Gichkees. Sikhs, and this belief is supported by the fact, that they 

 are the only tribe in Baloochisthan that do not allow the razor to 

 touch their heads. Their reason for originally settling at Gichk was, 

 that they found the inhabitants very peaceable and unresisting. Soon 

 after their arrival, they commenced forays in the Panjgoor district, the 

 inhabitants of which place not able to resist them, laid a complaint 

 before their governor at Kech, who was a descendant of Cyrus, who 

 lent them a force with which they succeeded in nearly exterminating 

 the Sikhs. But the few that remained, took refuge among the Bra- 

 hoees, and got them to join forces to attack Kech ; to this they consent- 

 ed only on condition of having half of all the conquered districts, 

 which they enjoy to the present day. The Gichkees are fond of 

 surrounding the common bedstead, on which they carry their dead to 

 the grave, with a red silk cloth, which is divided between the grave- 

 digger and priest. 



The governor on the part of the Gichkees is Meer Ahmed Gichkee, 

 Governor. son f jyieer Hasan, who was Meer Nusseer Khan's son- 

 in-law. 



The revenue in ready money amounts to 2,000 Kashanee rupees, 

 Revenue. s j x of which go to a Seetaranee ducat, and that in grain 

 may amount to 10,000 Panjgooree, or 500 Company's maunds at the 

 tithe rate for the summer crop, and § rds of the same quantity for the 

 autumn crop. The revenue derived from dates also, at the tithe rate, 

 amounts to about 6,500 Company's maunds. This fruit is so plentiful, 

 Exuberance of Dates. that cows, asses and camels are partly fed on it; 

 the very dogs get their share, and in winter horses are given date water 

 instead of the pure element. The Panjgoorees even declare that some 

 of them remember once when the Rakshan Kaur swelled to an extra- 

 ordinary degree, and carried away part of their date groves, that em- 

 bankments were made of purchase* of dates, to stop the devastation, 

 and divert the current. The Brahoees of the north soon get ill at Panj- 

 goor, whereas the Mukranees look upon it as their paradise ; snow some- 

 Quality of Water, times falls here. The river water is much superior 

 for drinking to that of the karezes, which is very indigestible. 



The principal men of Panjgoor, with Meer Ahmed, are Mulla 

 Principal Men. Haibatim Kashanee, Mulla Boieeyan Ibrahim, Sher 



* Sic. in MS.— -parcels ?— Eds. 



