'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎197v] (399/652)

MAK—MAK
S86
of alluvial soil, and the last 7 to 12 miles of the courses of the rivers before
reaching the sea are usually characterised by considerable alluvial deposits.
Mud volcanoes are met with between the Bir and Kair rivers, and on the
sea beach, 15 miles east of New Jashk, there are some hot springs.
Trees are not found on this plain except by the banks of rivers, where
tamarisks and acacia grow in profusion and even large banyans are some
times found; but grass and other small vegetation is fairly plentiful after
rain. In the hills of the interior the Pish palm flourishes, and the banyan Merchant of Indian extraction.
and even the mango occur in some inland valleys.
Wild animals include, in the neighbourhood of the coast, the leopard,
wolf, jackal, fox, hyfena, gazelle, ibex, and oorial, while black bears
are found in the more northern areas. The bustard, partridge (?), chikor,
sisi, pigeon, dove, vulture, kite, falcon and raven are always found
and the wild duck, sandgrouse and quail at the seasons of their migra
tion southward. The kupper, or adder, scorpion, lizard, centipede and
tarantula are all seen, also the viper, which is very common, and the black
rocksnake, which is seldom met with. In places mosquitoes are trouble-
some. i nir
The cold weather lasts from October to April, the hot weather rrom May
to October. From the observations at New
Climate and seasons. Jashk and Chahbar in 1903 and 1904, it would
seem that the maximum winter temperature on the coast varies from
87° to 94° Fahrenheit, and the maximum summer temperature from 94°
to 110°. At New Jashk the thermometer has been known to fall in the
cold weather to 47°. Bainfall is uncertain, but usually occurs in
November, December, January and February, occasionally continuing into
March ; the annual rainfall has not been observed but is probably on the
average between 6 and 7 inches; it differs c onsiderably from place
to place.
In summer it would be impossible for Europeans to sleep under canvas by
day on account of the heat ; while wherever water exists, mosquitoes and
other insect pests frequently make rest impossible.
The country is peopled by a medley of tribes, mostly claiming to be
descended from Arabs who either originally
n a itan s. settled in Makran or removed thither from
earlier settlements in Sind and Katch. The following is an alphabetical
table of the predominant tribes :—
Name.
Supposed origin.
Distribution.
Remarks. ' '
Bird!
Originally Brahuis .
Mostly east of Chahbar.
Camel owners.
Bizanju .
Brahuis
They are scattered in
small numbers over
the whole country.
A small tribe.
Buzdar .
Baluchis
In and around Chahbar
In Persian Makran the
Buzdars are mat-makers
and own sheep and goats.