Kharan
Kharan, 1908
A quasi-independent tribal area of the Kalat State, Baluchistan, lying between 26 degree 52' and 29 degree 13' N. and 62 degree 49' and 66° 4' E., with an area of 14,210 square miles. It consists of a wide plain, irregularly quadrilateral in shape, and varying in elevation from 2,500 feet on the north-east to 1,600 feet on the west. It is bounded on the north by the RAs Koh hills ; on the south by the Siahan range ; on the east by the Garr hills of the Jhalawan country ; while on the west the boundary runs with Persia. The country is generally regarded as entirely desert ; in reality, however, considerable tracts of cultivated land are situated at the foot of the hills and along the courses of the Baddo and Mashkel rivers. Most of the remainder of the country is covered by immense stretches of sand. The hydrography of the plain is peculiar. Torrents drain into it from the surrounding moun- tains, but find no outlet to the sea. Besides the Mashkel and Baddo, the only streams of importance are the Garruk or Sarap and the Korakan.
The only part of Kharan that has been geologically examined is the Ras Koh range, the mass of which may be divided into three zones, the northern consisting mainly of intrusive rocks, the central of shales, and the southern of tall limestone ridges. The plain is covered in parts with alluvial deposit and elsewhere with sand. The botany of the country has never been studied. Trees are scarce, but the ravines contain quantities of tamarisk, of Haloxylon ammodendron, and in years of good rainfall many grasses. Among the latter may be men- tioned magher (Jiumex vesicarius), the seed of which is eaten as a famine food and is also exported. Another famine food consists of kulkusht (Citrullus Colocynthis) the seeds of which are made into bread. The surrounding hills produce asafoetida. Sind ibex and mountain sheep inhabit the hills, and 'ravine-deer' (gazelle) their skirts. Herds of wild asses are found in the neighbourhood of the Mashkel river. Snakes are numerous.
The climate is dry but healthy. Severe dust-storms are experienced throughout the year, being especially trying from June to September. The heat in summer is great, but the nights are always cool. The winter is cold. Most of the small amount of rain that falls is received between January and March.
Little is known of the history of the country previous to the end of the seventeenth century, when Ibrahim Khan, the Nausherwani chief of Kharan, served the Ghilzai dynasty of Kandahar, except that it appears to have formed part of the Persian province of Kirman. The Nausherwani chiefs, round whom local history centres, claim descent from the Kianian Maliks, and have always been a race of strong-willed, bold, and adventurous men, taking full advantage of their desert-pro- tected country for organizing raiding expeditions against their neigh- bours, and professing a fitful allegiance to Persia, to Kalat, and to Afghanistan in turn. The most famous were Purdil Khan, against whom Nadir Shah had to send an expedition about 1734; and Azad Khan, who died in 1885. There is evidence that, in the time of Nadir Shah, Kharan was still included in Kirman ; but Naslr Khan I appears to have brought it under the control of Kalat, and the country remained under that State until quarrels between Mir Khudadad Khan and Azad Khan in the middle of the nineteenth century threw the latter into the arms of Afghanistan. In 1884 Sir Robert Sandeman visited Kharan, and succeeded in settling the chief points of difference between the chief and Khudadad Khan. Kharan was brought under the political control of the British, and an allowance of Rs. 6,000 per annum was given to the chief. The only Europeans who had previously visited Kharan were Pottinger, who marched through the whole length of the country in 1 810 ; and Macgregor, who crossed the western end in 1877.
The principal objects of archaeological interest are tombs, attributed to the Kianian Maliks, bearing large brick slabs on which are engraved rough representations of camels, horses, and other animals, the best preserved being at Gwachig in Dehgwar. Inscriptions, presumably Kufic, have been found in Jalwar and Kallag.
The normal population is about 19,000 persons, but it is estimated that 5,500 have recently emigrated. Almost all are nomads living in mat huts and blanket tents. The permanent villages number twenty. The head-quarters of the country are at Shahr-i-Karez or Kharan Kalat, which possesses a population of 1,500. Baluchi is the language of the majority, but in the east Brahui is also spoken. The name usually applied by the people to themselves is Rakhshani ; but this term is strictly applicable only to the groups forming the majority, the remainder being Muhammad Hasnis, and miscellaneous groups such as Kambranis, Gurgnaris, Chhanals, Loris, and servile dependants. The dominant class, the Nausherwanis, consists of nine families. Other Nausherwanis live in Makran, where their quarrels with the Gichkis have long been a thorn in the side of the Makran adminis- tration. Camel-breeding and flock-owning are the principal occupa- tions, in addition to agriculture. Felts, rugs in the dart stitch, and sacking are made by the women for home use. By religion the people are Sunni Muhammadans.
The country is divided into six niabats : Kharan with Sarawan, Gwash, Shimshan with Salambek, Hurmagai including J al war, Mashkel, and Washuk with Palantak. Raghai and Rakhshan in Makran also belong to the Kharan chief, and he holds lands in Panjgur, Mashkai, and elsewhere in the Jhalawan country.
The greater part of the cultivable area is ' dry crop,' dependent on flood irrigation. Four dams have been constructed in the Baddo river, and one each in the Korakan and the Garruk. The niabats of Kharan with Sarawan, Gwash, and Washuk with Palantak possess a few irri- gated lands. The alluvial soil is fertile when irrigated. The spring harvest consists of wheat with a little barley. In summer joivar and melons are grown. Washuk and Mashkel contain large date-groves. The system of planting the date-trees is peculiar, the root-suckers being placed in pits, dug to the depth of the moisture-bearing strata, which are kept clear of the wind-blown sand until the suckers have taken root, when the pits are allowed to fill. Camels, sheep, and goats form the live-stock of the country, and are sold in Afghanistan and many parts of Baluchistan. About 100 horses are kept by the chief. Bullocks are few in number. Good salt is obtained from Wad-i-Sultan and Wadian in the Hamun-i-Mashkel.
Since the recent development of Nushki, much of the trade finds its way to that place. Trade is also carried on with Nal in the Jhalawan country and Panjgur in Makran. The exports consist of ghi and wool, and the imports of piece-goods, tobacco, and grain, the latter chiefly from the Helmand valley. Sheep and goats are sent to Quetta and Karachi. Tracks, possessing a moderate supply of water from wells, connect Shahr-i-Karez with Ladgasht and thence with Panjgur ; with Nal via Beseima ; and with Panjgur via Washuk. Long periods of drought are common, causing the people to migrate. That such migrations were not unknown in former days also is indicated by a sanad from Ahmad Shah Durrani, which is still extant, permitting the Kharan chief to collect his scattered people from the adjoining countries. In recent years the rainfall has been constantly deficient and much emigration has taken place. The chief always keeps the granaries in his niabats full, and when scarcity occurs makes advances in grain without interest, which are recovered at the next harvest. This system is quite exceptional for Baluchistan.
In 1884 the chief consented to sit in Kalat darbdrs with the Sarawan division of the Brahuis ; but since then he has acquired a position of quasi-independence, and is directly controlled by the Political Agent in Kalat. Each of the niabats already mentioned is in charge of a naib, whose business is to collect the revenue, pursue raiders and offenders, and report cases after inquiry to the chief or to his agent, known as the shahghasi. Civil cases are decided either by the chief or his agent, or by the kazi at Kharan Kalat in accordance with Muhammadan law. Order is maintained by a force of about 450 men, armed with swords, matchlocks, and breechloaders. About 1 70 of these form the garrison of Dehgwar, to prevent raids by the Damanis of the Persian border, and 69 are stationed in Raghai and Rakhshan. In addition, all the tribesmen are liable to military service, when called upon. Those living near Shahr-i-Karez and all sepoys must always keep ready for emergencies a skin of water, a pair of sandals, and a bag containing about 8 lb. of flour. The chief possesses three muzzle-loading cannon and a mortar.
Besides an allowance of Rs. 6,000 from the Government, the chief's revenue consists of his share of grain in kind ; a poll-tax on some households ; a goat, sheep, or felt from others ; the equivalent of the price of one or two camels from certain groups ; fines ; unclaimed property ; and transit dues. The aggregate income from local sources fluctuates with the character of the agricultural seasons, but probably amounts to about a lakh of rupees in a good year. The land revenue is levied at the rate of one-fourth to one-tenth of the produce. The chief's own lands are cultivated by his dependants and servants, who receive a share of the produce, generally one-fifth. The largest items of expenditure are incurred on the maintenance of the chief's per- manent force, which is estimated to cost about Rs. 2,000 a month, and on the entertainment of guests, the system of Baloch hospitality obliging the chief to keep his house open to all comers.
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
