Abstract

The coast of Mekran (the ancient Gedrosia) extends in an east and west direction for abont 500 miles, between the town of Sonmiâni, on the Pûr Ali river near the frontier of Hindustan, and Râs Jâshak, near the entrance point of the Persian Gulf (fig. 1).

It is an almost rainless district, but occasionally subject to heavy storms of rain not of long duration, and generally occurring in the winter months. Sometimes no rain falls during the whole year, or even for two years successively. There are no rivers of any size; but the large watercourses after heavy rain discharge large volumes of water.

The appearance of the coast is singular, and the hills near the sea are all of similar formation—table hills with abrupt, almost perpendicular sides, fantastic peaks, pillars, and pinnacles rising out of extensive plains of clay being the universal type.

These clay plains are irregularly veined in places with crystalline gypsum, and are impregnated with saliferous matter, which effloresces on the surface. It need hardly be added that nearly the whole country near the sea is a desert.