The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-08-02

washington ~. O.-W4NO oSA
TIME Indian province of Balucni-
stan lost its most important city
in the recent earthquake that
destroyed Quetta.
Quota, the capital of Baluchistan
and the only municipality in the pro-
vince, existed primarily for military
purposes, but the Pax Britannica, SUBJ
stitute for the lawlessness and bandit
ry of former days, had made an impor-
tant civil community and trading cen
ter Of it as well.
Baluchistan is India's fortress to the
east, and Quetta was its donjon keep.
The British have been in control of
the place since 1877, and since 1888
have held it under perpetual lease from
it's old ruler, the picturesquely named
Wall of Kalat.
When the British went in Quetta was
only a little group Of mud huts sur
rounded by unhealthy plains that were
virtually swamps. Drainage and SAM
tation made the place over. The pop
ulation increased to 10000, and once
swampy lowlands furnished setting
for villas and farm houses surrounded
by orchards and planted groves.
The outstanding feature of Quetta
was the cantonment where six or
eight regiments of British and Indian
troops were quartered. This extensive
post was to the north on relatively high
ground, while the civil town was to
the south on a lower level. Mud, in
the form of sun-dried brick was an i'm
portant building material in the town,
though not to the extent that 1t was two
decades ago. Then mud-brick domes
formed many of the roofs. and were
considered safe because of Quotas
scant rainfall (about 10 inches annual
Ivy. But there came an unusually wet
spring, and most of the buildings melt
ed away. Since then many iron roofs
less picturesque, but better insurance
against weather vagaries-surmounted
the mud walls of the town.
Western influence had permeated
Quota and the standard of living had
risen accordingly. Tea, a little while
ago a marked luxury. was becoming
a common beverage. Leather footwear
had displaced sandals to a noticeable
degree.
Hot Days, Geld Nights.
Quota is in the same latitude as
Cairo, Jacksonville, Fla, ard Shanghai,
but because of its 5000 feet of altitude
and the physical aspect of the sur
rounding country, its climate is very
different. Each day the mercury bobs
up and down through wide range.
The difference between daily maximum
and minimum has been known to reach
80 degrees; but such excessive changes
are confined to certain short seasons.
The hills and even the valleys of Ba-
luchistan are largely treeless, and when
the sun is down heat radiates away
rapidly. AS consequence the nights
are always cool, even when the sun
blisters one by day.
The area devastated by the earth
quake extends south of Quetta into
the state of Kalat, vast mountain
streaked region of Baluchistan, where
modern progress has hardly penetrated.
There are no road maps in Kalat,
for good roads are scarce. In recent
years towns of the coastal region and
of the extreme north have been linked
with telegraph lines. The railroad
from Karachi to eastern Persia runs
across the states northern extremity,
but even in the shadows of the tele-
graph poles and along the railroad
right-of-way the natives cling to their
camels and horses. A network of an
imal paths forms the major communi-
cation system. Few people of the in
terror have seen an automobile, and to
many coins are curiosities, for their
wants are satisfied by barter.
Kalat is sparsely settled. The state
is nearly as large as Nebraska but 1t
mas only twice as many inhabitants
as the city of Omaha. Small villages
are sprinkled on the plains and in the
valleys and there are perhaps dozen
fair-sized towns, but no large cities in
the American sense. Kalat, the capt.
tai, was a cluster of mud houses and
mating huts climbing hill topped
with the mud-walled. fortresslike CT
tadel of the Khan. Much Of 1t was de-
stroyed by the earthquake.
The inhabitants of Kalat are divided
into tribes, each with chief. Many
tribes Craze sheep and herd goats, fol-
lowing their animals wherever there is
fresh pasturage. Some Of them live
the year round in mating or cloth-coy-
cred huts; others refuse to be bur-
dened with cargo when on the move
ana huiid new hrushwood huts at each