91.8 percent Muslim in 1931. Much of Balukistan is desert. Wheat, barley and maize was grown on the coastal plains and eastern lowlands. The area was mostly autonomous before the British arrived. These were mainly tribal people, with no writing. Balochi was the chief language spoken. The area had only 1.1 million people, nine persons per square mile in 51. by 1985 that popuation more than quadrupled.