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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 10, p. 128.

128 CHALLAKFRE compared with 60,711 in 1891. There are two towns, NAYAKANHATTI (population, 2,858) and Challakere (2,000), the head-quarters ; and 192 villages. The land revenue demand in 1903-4 was Rs. 1,10,000. The Vedavati flows through the east from south to north, receiving two streams from the west. The surface of the taluk is comparatively flat, with a few rocky ridges or bare hills. Date groves occur in some parts, and groups of babail in tank-beds and along the river. Except for these, the country generally presents a bleak and barren appearance. An area of 104 square miles is occupied by Amrit Mahal grazing- grounds. The soil is mostly red and sandy, but in the south-west corner there is some good black soil. The surface is often covered with loose stones, solid rock constantly crops up, and enormous boulders are found even in the cultivated fields. In many villages the soil is impreg- nated with saline matter, which causes a white efflorescence on the surface. This soil is cultivated, but produces very poor crops. The tanks are numerous, but few are of the first class. Wells are more relied upon, many of which tap talpard is or spring-heads. Great attention is paid to the cultivation of rice and other irrigated cereals, as well as to the coco-nut and areca-nut gardens, but ' dry-crop' cultivation is carried on in a slovenly and careless manner. Sajje and save are the principal 'dry crops,' but castor-oil, horse-gram, rcigi, and iowar are also grown. The two latter, however, as well as wheat, navane, and tobacco, are almost always raised on irrigated lands. Cotton is grown in small quantities, chiefly on the black soil. Chaman Subdivision.-The most northerly subdivision and tahsil of the Quetta-Pishin District, Baluchistan, lying between 30° 28' and 31° r8' N. and 66° 16' and 67° 19' E. It is bordered on the north by Afghanistan. The greater part consists of the mountainous region called Toba, which has a mean elevation of about 8,ooo feet, though its western skirts descend to about half that height. There is little cultivation, pasture being the principal means of livelihood. The area is 1,236 square miles, and the population in 1901 was 16,437, showing an increase of 5,375 since 18gr. The only place of impor- tance is the head-quarters, CHAMAN TOWN (population, 2,233). The indigenous Achakzai Afghans are nomadic, and permanent villages are practically unknown. They pay as revenue a lump assessment of Rs. 8,ooo per annum. Chaman Town.-Head-quarters of the Chaman subdivision of the Quetta-Pishin District, Baluchistan, and the frontier terminus of the North-Western Railway, situated in 30° 56' N. and 66° 26' E., at an elevation of 4,311 feet above sea-level. It is the head-quarters of a Native Assistant. Population (1901), 2,233. The garrison consists of a regiment of native infantry and some cavalry occupying the fort. A supply of water is brought in pipes from the Bogra stream, the system