696 Tour through parts of Baloochisthan, in [No. 153. 



There is not a date to be seen, the fruits being pomegranates, wal- 

 nuts, apples, peaches, mulberries, apricots, almonds, Khujak 

 pears. The inhabitants build very little; when they do, 

 they generally use mulberry wood. 



In the mountain of Beer, a great quantity of cardamums is pro- 

 duced, and about 20 camel loads are yearly gathered. 

 Productions. _, . , , ^ . , 



In the Diptan mountain are produced sulphur, sala- 

 moniac, and at the foot of the same mountain is a hot spring ; 

 asafcetida is also plentifully produced. As the inhabitants of Sar- 

 bad are all thieves, as might be expected, there are no weavers or 

 resident traders, but at harvest-time Hindoos come from Dezak with 

 lead and saltpetre, which they exchange for ghee, wool, cardamums 

 and asafcetida, for transportation to the port of Gwadar. I spent three 

 days at Sarbad, during which I did not venture to visit Maddut 

 Khan. 



3\st December. — Started, and proceeded 8 kos over a good road to a 

 few tents of Damanees, where I reluctantly put up for the night; to- 

 wardse vening after having dined, I requested a place in the tent, as the 

 weather was very cold, which was refused me. I afterwards overheard 

 them making conjectures as to my wealth, which they all agreed must 

 be true, as I lived in what to them appeared a most extravagant style, 

 eating rice and ghee. They moreover learnt from my guide, that I had 

 been talking a great deal at Sarbad of mines and metals, and that I 

 , , must therefore, for both these reasons, be an alchymist. In 



Alchymist. J 



fact they determined on stealing my khoorjeen or saddle 



bags during the night ; watching was useless, as it would only increase 



their suspicions, in fact confirm them. I therefore had recourse to a lit— 



„ . . tie conjuring that I had learnt in Hindusthan ; first I cook- 



Conjunng. " ° 



ed some dates and sprinkled a little tincture of bhang on 

 those intended to be distributed to my hosts. I then ignited three 

 pieces of camphor and set them floating in a basin, and having washed 

 my mouth well with akrkorah root and sal ammoniac, I held a bit of 

 ignited charcoal in it, jumping about and pretending to utter incanta- 

 tions ; afterwards beginning to get tired, I gave instructions aloud in 

 Belochee to what my host supposed were two attendant sprites to take 

 care of my saddle-bags during the night, and blind and lame any 

 one that attempted to lay hands on them. My host began now to get 



