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A spade or shovel, exactly like its English counterpart, and a reaping-hook, or sickle, having its cutting edge furnished with minute teeth, complete the list of a Baluchi's agricultural tools. Jebri Fort stands on a steep hillock about fifty feet in height. From here a good view was obtainable of the surrounding country.
These are rudely thatched over with palm leaves, bits of stick, and plaited straw, thus forming a warm and comfortable shelter. The Chief of Jebri, one Chabas Khan, rode out to meet me, clad in a long gown of golden thread, which, flashing in the sun, was discernible a couple of miles off.
Jebri contains about four hundred inhabitants, and is a neatly built village, protected by a large mud fort, and a garrison of twenty Baluchis armed with Snider rifles. Chabas, who was very proud of his village, informed me that his rule extended over a considerable extent of country, containing a population of over 20,000.
The fourth day after birth a name is given to the infant, and on the sixth an entertainment to friends. The country between Gajjar and Jebri, which was reached next day, is bare and sterile, notwithstanding that, at the latter place, water is seldom scarce, even in the dryest seasons. The plain, which consists of loose, drifting sand, with intervals of hard, stony ground, is called Kandari.
In the evening his son brought me a delicious dish of preserved apricots and cream, for which I presented him with three rupees, one of which he instantly returned. It is considered, by Baluchis, extremely unlucky to give or accept an odd number of coins. At Jebri, for the first time, we suffered severely from cold at night, the thermometer dropping to 42° Fahr. just before sunrise.
The kindly old chief now pressed my acceptance of a fine fat goat a very acceptable gift, considering the impoverished condition of the camp larder. We then visited the fort and village, under his guidance. Jebri and its neighbourhood are well cultivated.
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