The Tajik (or Dehgan) chief of Pesh (or Besh) Bolak village (located in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan) offering hospitality to the British military officers, June 1879. Drawn by William Simpson. From London Illustrated News, Vol.LXXIV.
London Illustrated News: "The chief and chief inhabitants of a village near Jellalabad, hospitably entertaing some British who had gone out for a reconnaissance with a detachment of the 10th Hussars. The Afghans treated their foriegn visitors with tea, served in small poreclain cups of native manufacture, and with eggs, chuppaties or cakes, and a variety of fruit. A crowd of men and boys was standing round the "charpoys", or native bedsteads, which had been brought out for seats; while not a few women, though obliged to keep in the distance, showed their natural curiosity upon this occasion".
The artist William Simpson’s original inscription names the village as Pesh Bolak. Source
The inhabitants of Pesh Bolak are referred to as either Tajik or Dehgan in the 19th century sources.
In the Jalalabad district Dehgans are found principally in Pesh Bolak, Kandibagh, Hisarshahi, Deh-i-Tahir, Lawangapur, and Mast Ali, but the present home of the race is Kunar and in the Dara-i-Nur and some parts of Laghman.
The Dehgans are often confounded with the Tajiks by the people of the country, but they are quite distinct. While the Tajiks invariably speak Persian, the Dehgans have a peculiar language of their own, called Laghmani or Kohistani. This language seems to be comprised of Sanskrit and modern Persian, with some words of Pushtu, and a very large admixture of some unknown root. ('Historical and Political Gazetteer of Afghanistan', By Ludwig W.Adamec, Vol-6, p-156)
The headman of Pesh-Bolak (in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan) sumbitting to General McPherson of the British invading force, Febraury 1879. Source
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