TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

Case Study 6
The Marri Baluch ofPakistan
DOUGLAS J. JOHNSON
The Baluchi tribes, mingled with large numbers of culturally
akin Brahui, stretch over the vast, barren, underpopulated region
known u Baluchistan. Unfortunately the recipients of little detailed
study, l the Baluchi range far afield, some groups being reported u far
north as the Harat area. 2 The only systematic study was conducted
by Pehrson,S who deals with the Marri Baluch. This group dwells
in a hilly, broken area at the northeut end of the Baluchi-inhabited
territory near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and is aeparated
from the main grouping of Baluchi tribes of Makran and Chagai
and from the Brahui tribes of Kalat by the non-Baluchi and nontribal
areu of the Sibi buin. North of the Marri area are found
the tuni and Kakar Pathan agriculturalists u well u the Afghani
powindGh nomads who occupy the northern region during the winter.
The Marri are cut off from direct access to the Indus valley by the
Khetrans, speakers of their own peculiar dialect, and are bound to
the south by the Bugti Baluch, traditional enemies of the Marri.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT4
While the Sibi basin and the Indus valley lowland are extremely
flat, featureless plains, the Marri area, a tangled mass of limestone
hills and narrow valleys, is a complete contrast. Except for the
Sulaiman range, which has a north-south axis and overlooks the Indus
288