Group of Timuris (1878-1880)

This image of a group of Timuri tribesmen is from an album of rare historical photographs depicting people and places associated with the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The Timuris are considered a subset of the nomadic-pastoral Aimaq peoples and live primarily in eastern Iran and western Afghanistan. They speak a distinct language that draws on Indo-European and Indo-Iranian roots, but most Timuris would also understand Farsi. Small groups live near the Khyber Pass, and are relatively integrated into Pashtun culture. The four Timuri men shown here are well-dressed in traditional chapans (overcoats), woolen loose-fitting pants, and turbans. This image is by Sir Benjamin Simpson (1831–1923), an avid amateur photographer who spent many years in the Indian Medical Service and served as deputy surgeon general in the Southern Afghanistan Field Force in 1880–81.

Source: Library of Congress