of northern Baluchistan. The central line or axis of the range
lies a little east of the meridian of 70deg E., and it is geologically
composed of one or more great folds of the Cretaceous series. Towards the
northern extremity of the range occur a group of peaks, which together form
an oblong block or "massif" amongst the neighbouring ridges known as
"Kaisargarh" amongst the Sherani clansmen who occupy it; and as the
"Takht-i-Suliman" (Solomon's throne), generally, on the frontier, from the
fact of a celebrated shrine of that name existing near its southern
abutment. The massif of the Takht is a high tableland (about 8000 ft. above
sea-level), bounded on its eastern and western edges by high, rugged and
steep parallel ridges. The western ridge culminates on the north in the
peak of Kaisargarh (11,300 ft.), and the eastern in a block, or detached
headland, on the south, where rests the immortal "zirat" or shrine (11,070
ft.). This tableland is formed by a huge cap of coral limestone, estimated
by Griesbach at from 4000 to 5000 ft. in thickness. At each end the
tableland is rent by gorges which deepen, amidst stupendous precipices, to
the channel of the Draband or "Gat" on the north, and of the Dhana on the
south. These two channels carry the rush of mountain streams from the
western slopes of the massif right across the axis of the mountains and
through the intervening barrier of minor ridges to the plains of the Indus.
The plateau is covered with a fairly thick growth of the chilghosa or
"edible" pine, and a sprinkling of juniper, on the higher slopes. It was
ascended and surveyed for the first time in 1883.

From the summit of the Kaisargarh peak a magnificent view is obtained which
practically embraces the whole width of northern Baluchistan. Westwards,
looking towards Afghanistan, line upon line of broken jagged ridges and
ranges, folds in the Cretaceous series overlaid by coarse sandstones and
shales, follow each other in order, preserving their approximate
parallelism until they touch the borders of Baluchistan. Immediately on the
west of the Kaisargarh there towers the Shingarh Mountain, a geological
repetition of the Kaisargarh ridge, black with pines towards the summit and
crowned with crags of coral limestone. Beyond it are the grey outlines of
the close-packed ridges which enclose the lower reaches of the Zhob and the
Kundar. As they pass away southwards this grid-iron formation strikes with
a gentle curve westw