Pashtun tribesmen, N.W.Frontier, 1913.
Postcard photo produced by Ram Singh and sons, Kohat.
A written message on postcard: "these people live on the border of the frontier province. They are not British subjects. The British government control their political affairs though. A'int they horrible looking creatures? we have to live near them. They commit many raids if they get a chance and kidnap the people to get some ransom.
To Miss G.I.Rees, London. "
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| A Sipah Afridi chieftain, 1890 (c). From "The tribes on our frontier" series of photos by Bourne & Shepherd. Source |
The Tribal Chief of Sepah Tribe [1880's] Malik Siraj Uddin Afridi Sepah son of Malik Saleem Khan Sepah is shown seated with two deadly Khyberi Chourray and mid size defensive shield wearing a loose tunic and patkaye. He was Father to Malik Sher Muhammad Khan Sepah mentioned many times in the book "18 years in Khyber" by Colonel Robert Warburton the first Political Officer of Khyber. His father Malik Saleem Khan Afridi Sepah accompanied by His brother Malik Abdurehman Afridi Sepah was chosen to represent all Tribes of Afridis of Khyber (Khyberi) negotiated terms of safe passage through Khyber Pass for the combined troops of Shah Shuja, Sikh and British East India Company Alliance with Exiled King Shah Shujah sadozai of Afghanistan and Abu Tabelila ( Pablo Crescendo Avitabile) the Governor of Peshawar in Sikh era (1839) in the present days Ali Mardan Khan Garden Pavilion Peshawar Cantonment but negotiations failed. (Info provided by Malikzada Muhammad Arif Afridi)
Mullagori is a small Pashtun tribe which are found in the Mullagori tehsil of the Khyber district.
The author of Hayat-i-Afghani writes:
“The Mullagori clan, with its four sub-divisions of Pahar-Khel, Tar-Khel, Ahmad-Khel and Daulat-Khel, is held by some not to be of Afghan stock at all. Its ancestor, say these, was a stranger who attached himself to the Mohmand and partook their fortunes. Others relate that this ancestor was a Mohmand of the name of Mullah, who having once taken part with some of his fellows in a robbing enterprise, was afterwards observed by his companions to be standing apart with fixed look as if in meditation; upon which one of them remarked in Pashto ‘Mullagori’ i.e. ‘Mullah is looking or staring’ and the phrase clung to him and finally gave the name to his descendants. Whatever may be thought of this story, certain it is that the Mulla-gori live in the midst and in close community of interest with the hill Mohmand. The clan, numbering about 500 men, is chiefly settled in the Tahtara, where it apportions its time and energies between the conflicting claims of pillage and agriculture. The following are maliks: of the Pahar-Khel, Shengi Khan and Dad Gul; of the Tar-Khel, Khadri and Khairu Khan; of the Ahmad-Khel, Mir Alim, son of Sikandar; of the Daulat Khel, Asmatullah.”
[English translation by Henry Priestley, p.139]
William Merk, who prepared a report on Mohmands, had a theory that Mullagoris could be remnants of Dilazak Pashtuns. He writes that Mullagoris have tradition that their ancestors founded a great kingdom, the capital of which was somewhere near Pesh Bolak in Ningarhar (which was formerly inhabited by Dilazaks). ["The Mohmands" by W.R.H. Merk, p.85]
