'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎20v] (45/652)

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BAL-BAL
The latter during his lifetime abdicated in favour of his son
Mir Chahkar, at that time a boy aged seven years. During his reign he
was attacked by an army composed of Persians and Turks, and being
worsted determined to migrate to Sind and Kachhi. He was accompanied
by Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Guhram Khan, Rind, and Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Bakhar (?) Khan, Magassi,
together with the majority of the descendants of the Rinds and Magassis
. who had come with his grand-father from Syria.
Up to this period, it is stated that the word Baluch only meant (m
Arabic or Turkish ?) “ a robber ” or “quarrelsome fellow but that
from Mir Chahkar’s departure he and all who accompanied him received
the generic name of “ Baluch ” ; but those who remained behind were not,
till many years afterwards, considered Baluchis.
The following is how the legend goes on :—
Amongst the Rinds and Magassis, many were poor, some were afraid, while others
preferred deserting Mir Chahkar and remaining in the homes they had established for
themselves in their newly-adopted country. ....
Those who remained behind were known from this period onwards as distinct tribes
by the following names, which were bestowed upon them by Mir Chahkar
1 RikIs—A t this time these people lived on the sandy desert east and north of
Jaik and they were called as above, the name being derived from “ Rek, ” a corrup
tion of “ Rig,” meaning “ sand ” in Persian. , , , , ^ .
They are now (1885 A.D.) for the most part to be found on the banks of the Hel-
mand, in Narmashir, Sarhad, Mashkid, Kkaran, Jalk and around Bampur ; there
are also some in Kalat territory.
2 Rakshanis In Baluchi “ Rakshan ” (?) means a ‘ painter [a corruption of the
Persian word “ naqsheh ” (?), meaning a map]. These, not being men of war, declined
to accompany Mir Chahkar, who hence bestowed the name of their calling on them
as a tribe. . _ _ _ , . T _ . _ ,
They are now (1885 A.D.) principally met with in Kharan, Dasht, Kolwa, Kak-
shanaad Sistan (?).
3. Bamaris—W hen Mir Chahkar was about to start on his expedition, at the time
of morning prayer, a section of his people ran away and concealed themselves. On
! Mir Chahkar enquiring where they were, he was informed that when the mulla beat
the drum for morning prayer (this mullah is called the “Mu’azzin ; ” the drum is called
in Arabic “ zan ” ; in Urdu “ bang ” ; and in Baluchi “ bam ”) these people ran away.
Hence as they showed the white feather at the time of “ bam,” they were called Ba
maris.
They are mentioned in an old Baluch ballad as follows :
“ Kvrd-o-Gubol-o-Bamari
■ Har se ghulame Chakiri.”
They are met with in and around Bampur, in Rudbar, and Sarhad ; while the Mans
of Kahan, of whom Mir Ullah is Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , are said to belong to this section. For a
a further account of this tribe, see account of Sarhad. ^ __
They are now (1909) under S'dyid Khan, son of Husain Khan, Nahrui. They
muster 400 armed men, living in Jahangahi, Karvanda and Kunch. Head man
Navab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Khan : although Baluch by origin, this tri' e intermingles with the Persians,
and many of them are Shi’ahs. _ {{
4. Kalkalts—T his section received their name from the Baluch word “ Kalkuli,”
which means “ boiling. ”
When Mir Chankar was starting, these people said their “ deg ” (cooking pots) were
not yet ready or “ kalkali,” but that when they were they would follow Mir Chahkar,
i.e. as soon as they had partaken of their food.
This answer was simply given as an excuse, as they meant to desert him.
They reside in the neighbourhood of Bampur, also in Sinukan and neighbourhood.
5. StrBHAKis—These deserted Mir Chahkar in the early morning {subh in Persian
and Baluchi); hence their name. .