2$0 VREDENBURG : SKETCH OF BALtJCHlSTAN DESERT. 



agglomerate or the outlines of crystals are often perfectly clear, al- 

 though nothing remains of the original substance, the case being, no 

 doubt, similar to that of the structures so well preserved in silicified 

 wood. In a few instances the silica has been coloured green by 

 slightly cupriferous emanations. 



The great cliffs of agglomerates of the K6h-i-Sultan produce the 

 most wonderful echoes, a word being repeated distinctly in some 

 places as many as five times. To these echoes I would attribute a 

 curious sound which is supposed to be that of a war-drum or 

 "Naqava" played by the Pir Sultin during certain nights. This 

 performance is supposed to take place on the 



The " magic drum." 



summit of Shandi-Koh, one of the peaks ot the 

 western circle of cliffs. I heard this sound on one occasion when I 

 was encamped at Washa'b, a short distance east of Shandi-Koh. It 

 is a clear, high-pitched, slightly vibrating sound, not unlike the 

 distant roll of a somewhat metallic drum, nnw becoming fainter, 

 now swelling till it becomes astonishingly loud, and it is heard for 

 hours at a time in the dead of night. The night when I heard this 

 sound was a very calm night. It may be that when there is very 

 little wind in the valleys, the noise of the breeze on the hill-tops is 

 exaggerated by the echo. It would be interesting to find out whether 

 it is only with the wind blowing in certain directions that the sound 

 is heard. 1 



All over the alluvial plain north of the K6h*i-Sultan are scattered 

 numerous blocks of pumice. I have not observed from which point 

 they were derived, it is probably from the unexamined portion at 

 the eastern extremity of the mountain. At Wash^b there are some 

 tuffs entirely made up of small fragments of pumice (specimen ¥ 1 ^). 



1 This myth of the Pir Sultan, like many other myths of this region of Baluchistan, is no 

 doubt of pre Mahometan origin. Mr. Tate, who by his thorough knowledge of oriental 

 languages, has been able to collect a great deal of interesting folk-lore, informed me that it is 

 net allowed to kill snakes in the Koh-i-Sultan and the neighbouring dstricts as these animals 

 am supposed to be under the protection of the Pir Sultan, apparently a remnant of an ancient 

 sn; ke worship. In addition to flaying the drum, the Fir Sultan is occasionally heard and 

 seen liding about the mountains at night. It is very curicus that there exist absolutely similar 

 legends in Central India in connection with a spirit called Pit Maharaj, who is worshipped 

 both ty Hindus and Mahometans. 



( '02 ) 



