The Coolidge examiner., 1931-04-03
prepared by the National Geographic
Society Washington. d. c.

Society. Washington. d. c.
~ URING the disturbed condi-
tions of the past year along
the Afghan border of India,
Baluchistan, a short distance TO the
south - another potential trouble
zone for Great Britain-has been
relatively quiet. Only on one or
two occasions were there minor dis
turbances in this western frontier
province.
The customs of Baluchistan are
vastly different from those of the
West, and many strange comprO-
mise has to be made by the British
political agent in dispensing JUS
tice among the natives.
The British do not own Quetta,
though they conquered a small re-
giOn north of il. They hold it un-
der perpetual lease from the khan
of Kalat. Formerly the ferOcious
tribes of these barren mountains
and beyond used to depend largely
for their existence upon raids into
India, and for a time they lived
sumptuOusly upon the spoils of
Delhi. Horde after horde of these
savage warriors established tempo
rary sovereignties over the rich cit
les of the central plains, only TO be
overwhelmed in turn when they be-
came soft under the influence of
luxury.
Ii is to prevent this sort of thing
that the British occupy Baluchistan
and the North West Frontier prov
ince to the northeast They do not
depend altogether on armed forces,
but attach great importance to
their political agents.
In these agents are combined the
functions of executive. judge and
despOt. But they do not attempt
to impose western notions of law
and justice on the wild Moham-
medans under their jurisdiction.
Wives Cause Much Trouble.
Much of the trouble among the
natives in Baluchistan concerns
wives. Girls are not of as much
consequence as boys. and their par
ents give the warm coats and best
food to the sons; so that the death
rate among daughters is much high
er, with the result that there are
not enough wives TO go around, es-
pecially as some of the richer men
avail themselves of the Prophets
permission and buy more than one
helpmeet.
Wives. like camels, are bought at
high prices, and, like camels, are
often stolen. The girls preference
Is not consulted, and as her be-
trothal in many cases has taken
place before her birth she not in
frequently prefers another to her
husband. Woe to her. however. If
her unfaithfulness is discovered or
suspected, for it then becomes the
duty of her husband. her son, her
father, or her brother to kill her
without mercy. and to kill her
lover. too, if he can he found.
Adam Khan was sixteen years
old. One night he was wakened
and went to the tent door. but found
no one. 1t happened a second time,
but even the camels were quiet
So he lay and listened, and the
third time he saw man whisper
ing to his mother. Amina. AS Adam
reused his father, DOst MOhammed.
the lover. Nasho, escaped.
Dost Mohammed loved his wife
and shrank from killing her. Nay,
he even tried TO protect her against
the vengeance of her son. So it
happened that when Adam tried to
shoot his mother it was his father
who first fell. Afterward she. too,
was slain. Then. while it was yet
dark. Adam hid in a nullah (gully)
near the home of her lover. with his
gun pointed and cooked.
The lover. however, had become
too crafty TO return home. and
when Adam Khan shot the first
man who came out of the hut, in
the gray twilight, it was the lovers
father, Karin. who fell groaning
AS he was desperately wounded,
the old man of his own accord
raised his head that another bullet
might end his suffering.
When day was advanced and the
English political agent had fin
ished his breakfast. Adam Khan
sought him and demanded justice.
Perhaps you would think justice
would begin by hanging Adam. Far
from It'll That would have started
a feud which would have lasted
perhaps, forever, and many yet un-
born would kill each other because
the balance of justice had, in this
instance, kicked the beam. The
English political agent, wise from
long experience, summoned the vii,
lage elders and laid the case before
them.
Decision in Complicated Case.
Well versed in the customs OF
their forefathers from time i'm
memorial, the elders easily arrived
at their decision. Had the case
been simple, both the unfaithful
mother and her lover would have
been slain and the case ended. In
lieu of the lover. however. the lat
latter's father had fallen and. so
far, all was well.
But the boy Adam. in accomplish
ing the necessary killing of his