]98 Account of the Lower Derdjdt. [No. 3. 



from the banks of the Indus, and about half that distance from 

 the first or lower chain of hills. The Black Range here aver- 

 ages about nine miles in width from east to west, with a belt in the 

 centre from one and a half to three miles in breadth, and from which 

 the highest peaks shoot up. This is the most rugged portion of the 

 whole, and correctly speaking, forms the true boundary of Siwistan 

 on the east and south. There are many level spots capable of cul- 

 tivation watered by numerous small streams, which, after heavy 

 rains, increase considerably in volume. Those rising on the eastern 

 slope of the Suliman Range in some instances find their way into 

 the plains of the Derajat, and those on the western slope flow in 

 that direction, fertilizing the country in their track. 



That part of the high range which is inhabited by the Khetrans 

 runs almost due north and south like the more northern portion ; 

 but a short distance to the south of the parallel of Dera Ghazi 

 Khan, in 30° of north latitude, it makes a bend towards the west 

 for about fifty miles, and then runs at nearly right angles from 

 east to west towards Dadur at the entrance of the Bolan Pass. 

 In this lengthy valley, formed by the southern slope of the Black 

 Range just referred to, and the northern slope of the Surukh Range 

 which runs parallel to it to the south, lies the fort and town of 

 Kahun, so famous for its defence during the Afghan war; and in 

 the latter range the equally famous Nutusk Pass, from which the 

 late Major Glibborn and his troops were forced to retire after severe 

 loss in attempting to relieve that post. The westerly bend of both 

 ranges is held by the Murri tribe and both are generally known as 

 the Kahun Hills. 



The road from Multan to Kandahar by the Bolan, lies through the 

 Harrand pass to Kahun, which I shall have occasion to refer to 

 again in a future paragraph. 



The Khetrans are on friendly terms with the Khosahs and the 

 Lagharis, but are at feud with the Liini Afghans, the Bozdars, and 

 the Murris. 



So lately as July 1855, the Hamzahzai and Musa Khel clans of the 

 Liini and Kakarr Afghans, made a raid on the lands of the Khetrans 

 and Hudiani Lagharis and carried oft' a number of their cattle after 

 killing seventeen of the latter. The assailants, however, were pur- 



