1857.] Account of the Lower Derdjdt. 199 



sued by the Khetrans, and Lagharis, who mustered to the number 

 of two thousand. They came up with them before they could 

 succeed in reaching their own strongholds, and rescued the cattle 

 after a severe skirmish, in which the Afghans are said to have lost 

 one hundred and sixty men killed and wounded. 



GURCHANIS. 



The tribe to the south of the Lagharis are the Gurchanis, the 

 chief of whom Hyder Khan holds an appointment in the Derajat 

 mounted Police, and enjoys Kusur and Bardt fees or assignments 

 on the lands. The tribe is divided into three septs — the Lasharis, 

 Durkanis, and Chachris, which are again subdivided into several smal- 

 ler clans, who altogether can muster at least two thousand adult 

 males. About one half the tribe are shepherds and graziers and 

 dwell in the hills, the remainder cultivate the lands in the vicinity 

 of the fort and town of Harrand, the former of which was built 

 to keep them in awe, as well as to defend the pass leading by Kahun, 

 Siri, Bagh, Dadur and the Bolan Pass, to Quettah or Shawl and 

 Kandahar. Their chief villages are Lal-gurh, Chutti, Thall Wuzar, 

 and Pitafi. They hold the different minor Darrahs from that of 

 Choti of the Lagharis, as far south as the valley and pass of Chachur, 

 which together with those of Khatti, Kaha or Harrand, and the 

 pass of Khalgerey, are the furthest to the south, and the most im- 

 portant of the whole. 



The lands within the Kaha or Harrand pass are cultivated by 

 J;he Gurchanis. They are well-watered by a stream running 

 through the valley, which also supplies the tupah or plain on which 

 Harrand stands. 



The Chachar valley contains a mineral spring and a little sweet 

 water, but it is totally uninhabited, and is chiefly remarkable on 

 account of the great road to Quettah or Shawl by Kahun and 

 Hadur which runs through it. It is practicable for beasts of 

 burthen, but I am informed that it is not so good a road as that 

 through the Siiri valley further south. The different encamping 

 or halting grounds by this route are ; — 1st, To Muni, 12 miles ; 

 water bad, and quite hot. 2ud, To Tobah, 12 miles ; excellent 

 water. 3rd, To Gond, 12 miles -, hot and brackish water. 4th, To 



