Baluchi

Baluchi (Beluchi, Bilochi), an East Iranian nation, properly the lowlanders, as opposed to the Brahui, or highlanders, of Baluchistan, or Beloochistan (q.v.), to which they give their name; partly in Katch-Gandava, but in centre and west reaching to Karman, in Persia, and even to Strait of Ormuz; are all Mohammedans (Sunni sect), and even claim Arab descent, but are undoubtedly Iranians, with regular Aryan features, light brown complexion, hair often chestnut and even fair, eyes light grey and sometimes blue; speech, a rude uncultivated variety of old Persian, with two marked dialects, a northern and a southern (Makrani). Socially, the Baluchi are divided into tomuns, or tribes, under a tomundar (head chief); paras (clans), under a mugaddam; and palli (septs), each under its own headman; and again subdivided into family groups. Thus the tribal subdivisions are almost innumerable, but are reducible to three main branches: - 1. Narui (Nharui), in the centre and west, including the Rakshani, Sajadi, Khasoji, Shahadi, Minds, Arbabi, and Malika; 2. Maghzi, in Katch-Gandava and East Makran, comprising the Lashari, Nari, Jatki, Kalandarani, Kakrani, and others; 3. Rind, also in Katch-Gandava, intermediate between the Baluchi proper and the Jats, include the Rindani, Dinari, Jalambani, Dumki, Boledi, Kharani, Nusherwani, Bugti, Mari, Lagari, Lurd, and many others. Most of the Baluchi are still nomad pastors and marauders, raiding especially westwards far into Persia. But they are very brave and amenable to discipline, and many take "service under the British raj.