ges, and which consequently send down
torrents of rapidly accumulating rainfall, both these central lines of
water-course are liable to terrific floods. The drainage of the Bolan and
Nari finally disappears in the irrigated flats of the alluvial bay (Kach
Gandava), which extends 130 m. from the Indus to Sibi at the foot of the
hills, and which offers (in spite of periodic Indus floods) an opportunity
for railway approach to Baluchistan such as occurs nowhere else on the
frontier. Kach Gandava, whilst its agricultural development has in no way
receded, is now rivalled by many of the valleys of the highlands. Its
climate debars it from European occupation. It is a land of dust-storms and
poisonous winds; a land where the thermometer never sinks below 100deg F.
in summer, and drops below freezing-point in winter; where there is a
deadly monotony of dust-coloured scenery for the greater part of the year,
with the minimum of rain and the maximum of heat. The Quetta and Pishin
plateau to which it leads is the central dominant water-divide of
Baluchistan and the base of the Kandahar highway.

[Sidenote: British.]

An irregularly-shaped block of upland territory, which includes all the
upper Lora tributaries, and the Toba plateau beyond them; resting on the
Kwaja Amran (Kojak) Range (with an advanced loop to include the Chaman
railway terminus) on the west; reaching south through Shorarud to Nushki;
including the basins of the Bolan and Nari as far as Sibi to the
south-east; stretching out an arm to embrace the Thal Chotiali valley on
the east, and following the main water-divide between the Zhob and Lora on
the north, is called British Baluchistan. It is leased from Kalat, and
forms a distinctive province, being brought under the ordinary forms of
civil administration in British India. Beyond it, north and south, lies
independent Baluchistan, which is under British political control. Its
administrative staff is usually composed of military officers. The degree
of independence enjoyed by the various districts of Baluchistan may be said
to vary in direct proportion to their [v.03 p.0292] distance from Quetta.
No part of Baluchistan is beyond the reach of the political officer, but
there are many parts where he is not often seen. The climate of British
Baluchistan is dry and bracing--even exhilarating--but the extremes of
temperature lead to the development of fever in very severe forms. On the
whole it is favourable to European