The Arab origin (probably the theory most frequently held by travellers),

The general vague idea that the Baloches have Arab features seems to be based

mainly on the fact that they have long aquiline noses, which are supposed to
look Jewish; and they are, therefore, assumed to be Semitic and Arabs. But this is
not the Arab type. The latter is well described by Von Luschan,

2 who remarks

that the Beduins must be considered as pure descendants of the Old Semitic race:
‘They have long, narrow heads, dark complexion, and a short, small, and straight
nose, which is in every respect the direct opposite of what we are accustomed to
call a typical Jewish nose.’ To this it may be added that the Arab nose is very
commonly depressed at the root, a characteristic hardly ever found among the
Baloches. The great abundance of hair and beard among the Baloches is not an
Arab feature. The hairiness is often extreme, and I have on several occasions seen
Baloches whose backs were covered with hair.
Resemblances in general character and in customs, both to the Arabs and the
Turkomans, have been pointed out. On the whole, the resemblance to the
Turkomans seems the strongest, but that to the true Persian nomads is strongest
of all. In any case, it must be remembered that a nomadic life in a parched-up
country is likely to develop similar customs, even in distinct races. The fondness
for horses characterizes the races of Central Asia and the Persian Plateau as
strongly as the Arabs. The Baloches, when we first hear of them, were mounted
archers, like the Parthians; they wore long red boots; they had striped rugs and
carpets—all characteristics referring rather to Northern Persia than Arabia. When
they came to close quarters they alighted and fought on foot, like the warriors of
the Shahnama, a custom they still maintain. In one point of character they differ
strikingly from the Arabs.