The Turkoman origin, as advocated by Pottinger and Khanikoff;

Opinions as to the appearance of the Baloches have varied as much as those

regarding their origin. Pottinger compared them to the Turkomans,

1 while

Khanikoff detected a strong resemblance to the Kirghiz, probably to one of the
least Mongolian in appearance of the tribes included under this name. Pottinger

denied all resemblance to the Arabs, while, on the other hand, many travellers

speak of their Arab features. Sir T. Holdich, who advocated their Arab origin in a
paper on the’ Arabs of the North-West Frontier,’ read before the Anthropological
Society in 1899, considered the resemblance both in character and appearance
very strong. Sir B. Burton, who knew the Baloches well and had an almost
unrivalled acquaintance with the Arabs, did not favour this view. He says:

1 ‘His

appearance bears little resemblance to that of Ismail’s descendants. The eye is the
full, black, expressive Persian, not the small, restless, fiery Arab organ; the other
features are peculiarly high, regular, and Iranian; and the beard, unerring
indicator of high physical development, is long and lustrous, thick and flowing.’