tribes of the Sulaiman

Although historical data are wanting, their place is to some extent supplied by

tradition, which among the Baloches, especially the tribes of the Sulaiman
Mountains, is full and circumstantial, and contained in numerous heroic ballads
of ancient data.2 The traditional narrative, as far as it possesses any value, may be
said to commence with the sojourn in Sistan. Before that the legend simply
asserts that the Baloches were descended from Mir Hamza, the Prophet’s uncle,
and from a Pari, and that they took part in the wars of ‘Ali’s sons against Yazid
and fought at Kerbela. This is merely the introduction, the descent from some
Muhammadan notable or from someone mentioned in the Quran, which is

considered necessary to every respectable Musalman race, just as the Kalhoras of

Sindh and the Daudpotras of Bahawalpur claim descent from Abbas, and the
sons of Hindus converted to Muhammadanism are called Sheikh and blossom
into Qureshis of the purest blood. Between Kerbela and Sistan there is a gap, and
the settlement in the latter is really the starting- point of the legend. The Baloches
are represented in the old ballads, as I have always heard the tale related, as
arriving in Sistan and being hospitably received by a King named Shamsu’d-din.
After a time another King arose named Badru’d-din, who persecuted and drove
them out. Now, there really was a Malik of Sistan, an independent ruler of the
dynasty claiming descent from the Saffaris, named Shamsu’d-din, who died in
A.H. 559. He is described as a cruel tyrant, hated by his people.

1 It is quite

possible that he may have utilized the services of the Baloches, who were

certainly settled to some extent in Sistan at this time, as mercenaries to uphold

his power. Badru’d-din is not so easily identified.