Pathan Races
The
Pathan tribes with whom this report deals are so similar in their main
characteristic, their manner of living, religion, language, etc., that they may
conveniently be tracted as one people and their countries as one country.
All the Pathan races of this
country claim to be Bani Israel or children of Israel. It is not within the scope
of this report to discuss the validness of their claim to that origin. Suffice
it to say that they claim to Talut [Saul] , King of Israel.
The tribes occupying the country under
report are the Akozai Yusafzai, the Tarkilanri and Utman Khel, [who all claim]
descent from a common origin. Their traditions have it that they migrated from
Gwara Murgha in Khorasan. The Khorasan referred to is doubtless the tract still
known by that name, in the north of the Zhob district, in so-called
Baluchistan. The Utman Khel would appear to have been the first to move from
there, because when the Yusafzai and Tarkilanri were on their way northwards
from Khorasan, it is said they were joined by the Utman Khel, who were then it
is stated, settled on the banks of the Gomal river.
It is a curious fact that during the
progress of the Baluch-Afghan Boundary Commission up the Kunar river, which
leads from Khorasan into the Gomal, the clearance of a camping ground at Gustoi
brought to light the remains of lines of walls marking what appeared to be the
site of some ancient walled encampment of considerable .Enquiries made from the
local inhabitants, showed that the tradition had been handed down that in some
long past time a tribe called Yusafzai had passed through that country and
stayed at Gustoi, where the old encampment said to have been there is still
known by their name.
