Quetta-Pishin
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.
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<body lang=EN-IN style='tab-interval:36.0pt'>
=Quetta-Pishin=
A highland District of Baluchistan, lying be-
tween 29 52' and 31 18' N. and 66 15' and 67 48' E , with an area
of 5,127 square miles. It is bounded on the noith and west by
Afghanistan , on the east by Zhob and Sibi Districts , and on the
south by the Bolan Pass and the Mastung nidbat of the Kalat State.
==Physical aspects==</o:p>
The District consists of a series of valleys of con-
i=iderable length but medium width, forming the
catchment area of the Pishm Lora, and enclosed
on all sides by the mountains of the TOBA-KAKAR and CENTRAL
BRAHUI ranges The valleys vaiy in elevation from 4,500 to 5,500
feet, and the mountains from about 8,000 to 11,500 feet On the
north he the Toba hills, containing the fine plateau of Loe Toba and
Tablna. This range sends out the Khwaja Amran offshoot south-
ward to form the western boundary of the District under the name
of the Sarlath. On the east a barrier is formed by the mass of
Zarghun (11,738 feet), with the ranges of Takatu (n,375 feet) and
Murdar (10,398 feet). Directly to the south lie the Chiltan and
Mashelakh hills. Besides the PISHIN LORA, \\hich, with its tributaries,
drains the greater part of the District, the only river of impoitance
is the Kadanai on the north, which drains the Toba plateau and
eventually joins the Helmand in Afghanistan. The District is subject
to earthquakes. Severe shocks occurred in Decembei, 1892, and in
March, 1902
</o:p>
Two different systems of hill ranges meet in the neighbourhood </o:p>
of Quelta, giving rise to a complicated geological structure. The
principal rock formations belong to the Permo-Carbomferous , Upper
Trias; Lia^ Middle Jurassic (masbive limestone), neocomian (belemmte
beds); Upper Cretaceous (Dunghan) , Deccan trap; middle eocene
(Khojak shales, Ghazij, and Splntangi) 3 oligocene (Upper Nan) ,
middle and upper miocene (Lower, Middle, and Upper Siwaliks) , and
a vast accumulation of sub-recent and recent formations.
</o:p>
Except parts of the Toba, Zarghun, and Mashelakh langes, the hills
are almost entirely bare of trees. In the valleys are orchards of
apricot, almond, peach, pear, pomegranate, and apple trees, protected
by belts of poplar, willow, and slnjid (Elaeagnus angustifoha). The
plane (chinar) gives grateful shade in Quetta In spring the hill-sides
become covered for a little while with irises, red and yellow tulips, and
many Astragali. In the undergrsound water-channels maiden-hair
fern is found. The valley basins are covered with a scrub jungle
of Artemisia and Halo\ylon GriffithiL In parts Tamarix gallic a
covers the ground, and salsolaceous plants are frequent. The grasses
are chiefly species of Bromus, Poa, and Hordenm. On the Khwaja
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
Amran range wild rhubarb (Rheum Euiodi} is found in years of good
rainfall.
</o:p>
The 'reserved' forests in Zarghun foim a welcome breeding ground
for mountain sheep and mdrkhor^ but elsewhere they are decreasing
in numbers The leopard is found occasionally A few hares are
met with in the valleys. Wolves sometimes cause damage to the
flocks in winter, and foxes are fairly abundant. Ducks are plentiful
in the irrigation tanks in Pishm Chikor and MSI abound in years
of good lamfall.
</o:p>
The climate is dry ; dust-storms are common in the spring and
summer months, especially in that part of the Chaman subdivision
which borders on the Registan or sandy desert. The seasons are
well marked, the spring commencing towards the end of March, the
summer in June, the autumn in September, and the winter in December
Only in July and August is the day temperature high ] the nights are
always cool. The mean temperature in summer is 78 and in winter
40. The higher elevations are covered with snow in winter, when
piercing winds blowing off the hills reduce the temperature below
freezing-point. The total annual rain and snowfall vanes from less
than 7 inches in Chaman to io| in Quetta. Most of it is received
between December and March.
</o:p>
==History==</o:p>
</o:p>
In former times Pishm was known as Fushanj and Pashang. The
ancient name of Quetta was Shal, a term by \\hich it is still known
among the people of the country, and which Rawhn-
son traces back to the tenth century. The District
was held in turns by the Ghazmvids, Ghonds, and Mongols, and
towards the end of the fifteenth century was conferred by the ruler
of Herat on Shah Beg Arghun, who, ho\\ever, had shortly to give
way before the using power of the Mughals. The Aiti-i-Akbarl
mentions both Shal and Pishm as supplying military service and
revenue to Akbar. From the Mughals they passed with Kandahar
to the Safavids. On the rise of the Ghilzai power in Kandahar
at the beginning of the eighteenth century, simultaneously with that
of the Brahms in Kalat, Quetta and Pishm became the battle-ground
between Afghan and Brahui, until Nadir Shah handed Quetta over
to the Biahuis about 1740. The Durranis and their successois
continued to hold possession of Pishm and Shorarud till the final
transfer of these places to the British in 1879 On the advance of
the Army of the Indus m 1839, Captain Bean was appointed the first
Political Agent in Shal, and the country was managed by him on
behalf of Shah Shuja-ul-mulk. In March, 1842, General England
was advancing on Kandahar with treasure for General Nott when he was
worsted in an encounter at Haikalzai m Pishin, but the disgrace was
wiped out at the same place a month later. The country was evacuated
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
in 1842 and handed over to Kalat. After Sir Robert Sandeman's
mission to Kalat in 1876, the fort at Quetta was occupied by his
escort and the country was managed on behalf of the Khan up to
1883, when it was leased to the British Government for an annual
rent of Rs 25,000 It was formed, with Pishln and Shorarud, into
a single administrative charge in 1883 Up to 1888 Old Chaman was
the most advanced post on the frontier , but, on the extension of the
railroad across the Khwaja Amran, the terminus was fixed at its present
site, 7 miles from that place. The boundary with Afghanistan was
finally demarcated in 1895-6
</o:p>
Many mounds containing pottery are to be found throughout the
District. In the Quetta tahsil the most ancient karez are known to
the people of the country as Gabri^ i. e. Zoroastrian, While the present
arsenal at Quetta was being excavated in 1886, a bronze or copper
statuette of Hercules was unearthed, which was 2\ feet high and held
in its left hand the skin of the Nemcan lion,
</o:p>
The number of towns is three, the largest being QULITA, and of
villages 329 The population was 78,662 in 1891
and 114,087 in 1901, an increase of 45 per cent.
The following table gives statistics of area, &c , by tafalls in 1901 .
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
Tahsil</o:p> |
Area India square miles</o:p> |
Numbers Towns, |
</o:p> Villages</o:p> |
Population</o:p> |
Population Per separe mile</o:p> |
Chaman</o:p> Pishin</o:p> |
2,236</o:p> 2717</o:p> |
1</o:p> 1</o:p> 1</o:p> |
4</o:p> 271</o:p> 47</o:p> 7</o:p> |
16,437</o:p> 31,753</o:p> 1,062</o:p> |
13</o:p> 19</o:p> 83</o:p> 2</o:p> |
Quetta</o:p> Shorarud</o:p> |
340</o:p> 634</o:p> |
3</o:p> |
329</o:p> |
114,087</o:p> |
22</o:p> |
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
More than 84 per cent of the people are Muhammadans of the
Sunm sect; Hindus number 10 per cent
and Christians, who are
chiefly Europeans, about 3 per cent. The language most widely spoken
is Pashtu ; Brahui is the tongue of about 6 per cent of the people,
and a little Persian is also used Of the indigenous population 67,600,
or 78 per cent., are Afghans, rather more than half of them being
Kakars and a third Tarins. Of the latter, the most numerous are the
Abdals, repiesented by the Achakzais occupying the Chaman sub-
division and part of Pishln. The Brahuis, who live in the south of
the District, form 8 per cent., and Saiyids, who are numerous in the
Pishln tahsil, about 9 per cent The indigenous population is almost
entirely engaged in cultivation and flock-owning. The Afghans of
Pishln, especially the Huramzai Saiyids, carry on a large trade in
horses. Many of them have made their way as far as Australia, or
are engaged in trade in parts of India.
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
The missions working in Quetta consist of branches of the Church
Missionaiy Society and of the Church of England Zanana Missionaiy
Society. They maintain two hospitals and four schools, one of which
is aided from Local funds A mission church was opened in 1903.
The efforts of the workers are principally devoted to medical aid and
education, and few converts have so far been made among the people
of the country.
</o:p>
==Agriculture==</o:p>
</o:p>
The soil in the centre of the valleys consists of fine clay and sandy
beds. Along the skirts of the hills loess is found, and higher up
a fringe of coarse-grained gravel The soil of Shora- .
</o:p>
rud is impregnated with salt. At Barshor, in the gnc
Pishin tahsilt cultivation is carried on in terraced fields, Crops are
assured only on lands which can be permanently irrigated. The ' dry-
crop' area consists chiefly of embanked land to which flood-water is
led Irrigated land is allowed to lie fallow for one to three years,
unless it can be manured ; c dry-crop ' land can be cultivated every
year, but more than one good crop in five years is seldom obtained.
The harvest reaped in spring is sown with the help of the winter rains ;
the autumn harvest, which is small compared with the former, is sown
in June and July.
</o:p>
The cultivable area in the two tahsils of Quetta and Pishin, which
have been cadastially surveyed, is 706 square miles, of which 324 are
cultivated by rotation. Of this latter total, 221 square miles (68 per
cent ) are permanently irrigated (dbi) , and the remainder are either
' flood-crop ' (saildba) or ' dry-crop ' (k/wshkdba). The area under crop
in 1902-3 was 72 square miles, of which 79 per cent, was under wheat,
the staple grain of the District ; 4 per cent, under barley; 10 per cent,
under maize and millets 3 3 per cent, under green vegetables ; and 4 per
cent, under lucerne Owing to the peace and protection which have
followed the British occupation, cultivation has increased very largely
during the past twenty-five years. Potatoes, vegetables, and lucerne are
profitably cultivated ; fruit orchards and vineyards are extending ; and
great attention is bestowed on melon growing. The cultivators eagerly
avail themselves of Government loans, the amount advanced between
1897 and 1904 being 1-3 lakhs.
</o:p>
The short-legged breed of Kachhi cattle is imported for the plough.
Transport is by camel, and these animals are used in the plough in
Chaman and Pishin. The local breed of horses is excellent, and has
been much improved by the introduction of imported stallions, of
which 1 8 are generally stationed in the District in summer. The
branded mares number 256. A horse-fair and cattle-show is held at
Quetta in the autumn, which is largely patronized by local breeders
Sheep impoited from Siahband in Afghanistan are much prized,
</o:p>
Of the total irugated area in the tahslls of Quetta and Pishin, 14 per
cent is supplied from Government irrigation works and 66 per cent,
from 254 karez or underground channels. Water is also obtained
from 1 8 streams and 854 springs Artesian wells number 24. The
Government irrigation works aie the Khushdil Khan reservoir and
the Shebo canal, both situated in Pishin The former, which is fed
by flood-water from two feeder-cuts, is capable of holding about 750
million cubic feet of water It commands about 17,000 acies, but the
average area cultivated by its aid has hitherto been only 3,300 acres
This area will probably be increased by impiovements effected in 1902.
Up to 1903 the capital cost incurred was about 10 lakhs The Shebo
canal takes off from the Quetta Lora and is supplemented by a system
of tanks. It commands 5,340 acres, but less than half of this is nn-
gated annually. The capital cost up to 1903 was about 6| lakhs,
Revenue and water rate aie levied together, on both systems, in the
shape of one-third of the gross produce, the -\\hole amount being
credited to the Irrigation department
</o:p>
In 1903 the District contained four juniper Reserves on the Zarghun
range, with an area of 52 square miles ; two pistachio forests of 13
square miles ; and one mixed forest covering 2 square miles. In the
latter tamansk is the chief tree Experimental plantations, covering
63 acres, are maintained close to Quetta
</o:p>
Coal is found in the Soi lange to the east of Quetta The seam
is narrow, but has been traced foi neaily 20 miles. It is worked in
different places by fi\e contractors The output, which is entirely
consumed in Quetta, was 7,148 tons in 1903. Chiomite has been
discovered in scattered pockets in the serpentines and basic igneous
intrusions near Khanozai, for woikmg some of which a lease has been
given to the Baluchistan Mining Syndicate During 1903 about 284
tons were extracted.
</o:p>
==Trade and communication==</o:p>
</o:p>
The manufactuie of felts and of rugs formed by the dart stitch is
an indigenous industry. Excellent silk embroidery is prepared, espe-
cially by Brahui women. In Quetta, Kandahans make
</o:p>
Trade and coppei vessels, which are equal m quality to those
communications. </o:p>
</o:p>
sold in Peshawar. The Murree Brewery Company
</o:p>
has a bianch at Kiram, about 5 miles fiom Quetta, the output of which
was 347,220 gallons of beer in 1903. In 1904 some successful experi-
ments weie made in sericulture.
</o:p>
The great increase in trade is lefeired to in the article on QUETTA
TOWN. The only other marts of importance are Kila Abdullah and
Chaman, from both of which places trade is carried on with Afghanistan.
The total value of this trade in 1903 amounted to about 13^ lakhs,
imports being valued at 6-| and expoits at 7 lakhs. Live animals, ghi, </o:p>
asafoetida, fresh and dried fruits, and pile carpets are the principal
imports from Afghanistan, and food-giams, piece-goods, and metals
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
from India Expoits to India aie chiefly wool, gift, and fruits, and
to Afghanistan piece-goods, metals, and dyes.
</o:p>
The Mushkaf-Bolan branch of the North-Westem Railway, on the
standard gauge, enters the District from the south and runs to Quetta,
where it meets a branch of the Smd-Pishin section from Bostan. The
latter line enteis the District near Fullei's Camp and runs across the
Pishm plain to Chaman The District is well provided with roads, the
total length of metalled and partially metalled roads being 405, and
of unmetalled paths 228 miles They are maintained partly from
Provincial revenues and partly from military funds
</o:p>
==Famine==</o:p>
</o:p>
Owing to its large irngated aiea and excellent communications, the
District is well piotected and actual famine has not been known Some
distress occurred between 1897 and 1902, owing to
deficient rainfall and to damage done by locusts. amme.
</o:p>
Relief was affoided by the suspension and remission of land revenue,
the grant of advances foi the purchase of seed-grain and bullocks, and
the opening of relief works, costing about Rs. 14,000. In years of
deficient pasturage the railway is used by graziers to transport their
flocks to more favoured tracts. </o:p>
</o:p>
==Administration==</o:p>
</o:p>
The District is divided into thiee subdivisions and tahsih' CHAMA.N,
PISHIN, and QUETTA. Of these, Chaman, Pibhln, and Shorarud in
</o:p>
Quetta form part of British Baluchistan, and the rest . .
of the Quetta tahsilAgency Terntoiy. The execu-
tive head of the District combines the functions of Deputy-Commis- </o:p>
sioner for areas included m British Baluchistan, and of Political Agent
for Agency Territories A Native Assistant is in charge of Chaman, </o:p>
an Extra-Assistant Commissioner of Pishln, and the Assistant Political
Agent of the Quetta subdivision The tahslis of Quetta and Pishin
each have a tahsildar and a naib-taJmldar foi revenue work The
superior staff at head-quarters includes a Superintendent of police,
two Extra-Assistant Commissioners, a Cantonment Magistrate, and
an Assistant Cantonment Magistrate.
</o:p>
Civil work at Quetta is disposed of by a Munsif, and four Honorary
Magistrates assist the ordinary staff m deciding criminal cases. Both
civil and criminal powers are exercised by all the officers mentioned
in the preceding paragraph The Political Agent is the District and
Sessions Judge. In 1903 the total number of cognizable cases reported
was 1,402, conviction being obtained in 1,232. Most of the cases were
of a petty nature. The total number of criminal cases disposed of
by the courts m 1903-4 was 3,102, and of civil cases 4,807. Disputes
were referred to &jirga for award under the Frontier Crimes Regulation
m 203 cases.
</o:p>
The District furnished the emperor Akbar with a force of 2,550
horse and 2,600 foot^ Rs 750 m cash ; 4,340 sheep , 1,280 kharwars
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
of grain, and 7 maunds of butter. Nadii Shah assessed Pishm to
furnish a fixed number of men-at-aims, a system known as gham-i-
naukar, which was continued by Ahmad Shah Durrani, in whose time
895 naukars were taken. In the time of Timur Shah some of the
tribesmen were recalcitrant, and the land of 151 naukars was con-
fiscated The remaining service giants weie subsequently commuted
for cash payment. When the Distnct came into the hands of the
British this cash payment was still in force in some parts of the Pishm
tahsil) while m others the system had broken down, and batai^ or the
taking of an actual share of the produce, had been substituted The
combined system was continued in Pishm up to 1889, the Government
share of the produce being levied at rates varying from one-third to
one-sixth. In 1899 a fixed cash assessment on irrigated estates was
introduced for twenty years. The incidence per irrigated acre ranged
from a maximum of Rs. 5-0-3 to a minimum of Rs 1-5-3, the average
being Rs. 2-13-10 In the Quetta valley, the land revenue undei
native rule was obtained partly from a fixed assessment in cash or
kind, called zar-i-kalang, partly from appraisement, and partly by
division of the crops. The system continued up to 1890, when batai
at a uniform rate of one-sixth of the produce and a grazing tax were
introduced. A fixed cash assessment was imposed on irrigated lands
for ten years from 1897, and is now about to be revised. The maxi-
mum incidence per acre on irrigated area was Rs. 3-9-4, the minimum
Rs. 1-6-2, and the average Rs. 2-0-4. In Shorarud, revenue was first
levied in 1882-3 at one-sixth of the produce, and from April, 1897,
a fixed cash assessment was imposed on irrigated lands. Large revenue-
free grants are held, especially in Pishm. The estimated annual value
of the land revenue thus alienated is Rs. 42,700. The total land reve-
nue of the District in 1903-4 was 1-5 lakhs, and the revenue from all
sources 3-2 lakhs. The land revenue yielded 47 per cent of the total,
stamps 12 per cent,, and excise 35 per cent.
</o:p>
The Quetta municipality was formally constituted in October, 1896.
Its affairs are managed by a committee, consisting of thirteen nominated
official and non-official members, with the Political Agent as ex-officio
president. The only Local fund is the Pishm Sadr and District bazar
fund, which is controlled by the Political Agent. Its chief source of
income is octroi, and its expenditure is incurred on objects of public
utility, principally at Pishm and Chaman. The income in 1903-4
amounted to Rs, 39,600 and the expenditure to Rs. 34,000.
</o:p>
QUETTA is the head-quarters of the fourth division of the Western
Command and has the usual staff. Besides the garrison of Quetta,
a Native infantry regiment is stationed at Chaman and detachments
are posted at Pishm and, to guard the Khojak tunnel, at Shelabagh
and Spmwana.
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
</o:p>
In 1904 the total force of police amounted to 519 men, of whom
362 were constables and 53 horsemen. The officers include a Dis-
trict Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent, 5 inspectors, and
ii deputy-inspectors. The force was distributed in 17 stations. The
Quetta municipality pays for a force of 86 police, the cantonment
committee for 84, and Local funds for 24 watchmen. The local levies
number 487, including 170 mounted men. There is a District jail
at Quetta, and a subsidiary jail at Pishln, with total accommodation
for 139 male and 10 female prisoners. Convicts whose term exceeds
six months are generally sent to the Shikarpur jail in Smd.
</o:p>
In educational, as in other respects, the District is the most advanced
in the Province. In 1904 the number of Government and aided
schools was twelve, with 827 pupils, including 148 Indian girls and
44 European and Eurasian chilaren. The cost amounted to Rs. 23,500,
of which Rs. 7,700 was derived from fees and subscriptions, and
Rs. 7,100 from Provincial revenues, the balance being met by the
North-Western Railway and from Local funds. The three mission
schools had 85 pupils. About 900 pupils were under instruction in
mosque schools
</o:p>
The District possesses one Government-aided hospital, in charge of
a Civil Surgeon, and seven dispensaries, including a female dispensary
maintained from the Lady DufTerin fund. They contain accommoda- </o:p>
tion for 118 in-patients. The total attendance of patients in 1903
was 63,310; the daily average attendance in Government institutions
being 59 in-patients and 211 out-patients. Two of these institutions
are maintained by the North-Western Railway, at Bostan and Shela-
bagh, and two receive grants from Local funds; the expenditure of
the others is met from Provincial revenues. In 1903 the total expen-
diture from Provincial revenues and Local funds amounted to Rs. 18,109.
The Church of England Medical Mission maintains two hospitals, to
which 592 in-patients were admitted in 1902, while the out-patients
numbered 19,190.
</o:p>
Vaccination is compulsory in the town and cantonment of Quetta,
and there are indications that the people are beginning to prefer this
method to inoculation. The number of successful vaccinations in 1 903
was 2,660, or about 23 per 1,000 of the population.
</o:p>
[Settlement Report of the Pishln Tahsll (1899); J. H. Stocqueler,
Memorials of Afghanistan (Calcutta, 1843), Records, Geological Survey
of India, vol. xxvi, pt. ii of 1893.]
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</o:p>
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