'Report on the Baluch-Persian Caravan Route and Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani Districts' [‎5r] (9/72)

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APPENDIX I.
Administration and local Trade of Nushki, Chagai, and
Western Sinjerani country.
For the purpose of this Appendix, I propose to treat of the country to
which it refers in three distinct sections, dealing in each with one ot the three
divisions into which by its natural configuration the country falls, and to
discuss the trade and administration aspect of each under its own separate
heading.
These divisions would be—
(a) Nushki, or the country east of Chagai, bounded on the north and
east by the lately demarcated fromier, and on the south by the
Saklat Range.
(<5) Ciiagai, or the country directly west of Nushkt, and contained
between pillars clvii and clxxvi of the Baluch-Afghan boundary
on the north, the Kaskoh Ivammaran Malik Sarindag hills on the
south, and on the west by a straight line draw n from pillar clxxvi
through Lal Khan to the Goukok hill near Galachah.
(c) Western Sinjerani country, or that tract west of the line just
drawn and enclosed between the Baluch-Afghan and Baluce-
Persian frontiers.
1 . The Nushki district to all intents and purposes is inhabited by only
two tribes, the Zagar Mengal and Rakhshani. Of these, the former,
if we include the nomad members, outnumbers the latter in the proportion
of seven to one.
In former times, the whole of Nushki undoubtedly belonged to the
Rakshani, with its rich arable lands and pasturage, and this they retained till
conquered by the Mengals. The fact that the proprietorship of the land is
chiefly in the hands of the Rakshani affords sufficient evidence that the
Mengal yoke pressed but lightly on the Rakhshani. Beyond being stripped
of a few lands and the right to levy a tax on passing merchandise, they w r ereleffc
pretty much to themselves. The explanation of this appeal s to be in the fact that
the Mengals, by inclination, were essentially a pastoral race and, as large num
bers do to the present day, preferred bartering their surplus stock for grain to
engaging in the uncongenial toils of cultivation. To come down to more
modern times, the Mengals are divided into two great branches—the Badini
and Nozai, each of these branches in turn being sub-divided as follows, viz.,
the Badini into the Bajarzai, Tarasizai and Amirzai ; and the Nozai into
the Mahmudzai, Mandai, Ahmedzai, Baranzai ; and each of these sub
divisions is a^ain still further divided into from six to eight Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . All the
Nozai branch, and the TarasiSj sub-division of the Badini branch of the
Mengals, are migratory ; that is to say, that, while owning extensive lands in the
Dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. , on the southern side of the frontier, they pass the major portion of the
year—and in years of drought, the entire year—pasturing their flocks in
Afghan Registan. While none dispute the Sardarship of Muhammad Ali
Khan, Bajarzai Mengal, yet, since the Baluch-Afghan Boundary Commission
finished their labours last year and many of the leading migratory Mengals
visited Kabul, they have not shown themselves so ready to acknowledge the
Sardar’s sway as of old.
2 . The order of precedence of the branches into which the Rakshani are
divided is as follow's : the Badini, Jamaldini, and Mandai. The latter branch
is of little account, as the Badini and Jamaldini, long years ago, combined
to crush them and strip them of their possessions, and thus it came about that
the Mandai Chief, Baloch Khan, was reduced to bis present impoverished
condition,
3. The Badini and Jamaldini, having overthrown the common enemy,
straightway turned their attention to one another. For over thirty years
have these two clans been struggling for the supremacy, fortune sometimes
favouring one side, sometimes the other. By hereditary right, Alam Khan,