The Nadir are the strongest of all the sections. They have been estimated to number from 1850 to 12,000 families. They are migratory, dwelling in summer among the Tokhi and Ohtak Ghilzae, and moving in winter to the Derajat. They trade less than other sections, but depend on their flocks and herds for food, clothing, and tents. Their sheep and camels are numerous. They are small of stature, ugly, and black ;. are rude and squalid in their general appearance, and barbarous in their manners. They are one of the chief trading clans between Hindustan and Khorasan.
The Lohani section have three branches, Daulat Khel, Pani, and Mian Khel. The first two and part of the Mian Khel have settled to agriculture. The remainder of the Mian Khel are traders, the men in summer visiting Bokhara, Samarcand, and Kabul, a guard being left to pro tect the women in their felt tents ; in the winter they move through the Gomal pass to the Derajat, when some of them proceed to Lahore and Benares, and return in April to revisit Karabagh and Pana.
The Aka Khel are a poor tribe of the Povindah. Three of their divisions visit British territory for trade, bringing fruits and cloths. They have a considerable number of camels.
Lohani, a section of the Povindah, are descended from Nub, son of Ismail, and are rightly called Nuhani. Nuh had two wives,—Shiri, from whom are sprung the Maorat and the Tori ; Tori had sse,soLas,—Mama, Mian, Talor, Hod, and Palakh. Mama's descendants are the Daulat Khel of Tank, Isa Khel, and llian Khel. The Daulat Khel, agri culturists in the Dehra Ismail Khan district, form the predominant tribe in Tank, which is a semi independent portion of the Dehra Ismail Khan dis trict. Kati Khel, a section of Daulat Khel Lohani Povindab, also reside at Tank.
The Ali Khel are a poor branch of the great Ghilzae tribe ; a few trade on their own account, but the majority hire out their camels to the Suliman Khel, With whom they travel. A camel load is about 3f maunds, and they charge Rs. 5 to Rs. 5f a maund from Khorasan to the Daman.
The Daotani tribe of the Povindah have nine sections or khel, viz. Badin, Hagan, Ibrahim, Madu, Nuso, Rana, Sado, Sankizai, and Usmanzai. They live at Wana, and come down in three Keri after the Kharoti. They bring silk, pashrn, carpets, charts, and are one of the richest of the Povindah tribes.
The Kharoti tribe in Afghanistan inhabit the district of Karabagh and the table-lands of Dur Tselae, Saroba, and Sar-Afzai on the E. borders of Khorasan ; their khel are three,—Zadu, I, and Adu, with numerous subdivisions, about 15,000 to 20,000 souls. The Povindah and agricultural Kharoti are of the same clan ; the Povindah Kharoti are Ghilzae. They are friendly with the Lohani and Ghilzae Povindab, with the exception of the Suliman Khel, with whom they have an old and very bitter blood feud ; they are at enmity with the Waziri.
Purmuli, or Fermuli, or Hurmuli, a brave and warlike race, about 8000 in number, residing south of the Kabul river near Orglum in the Kharoti country, and to the west of Kabul. They carry on an unceasing hostility with the Kharoti tribes around them. Some are soldiers in the Amir's army, and some engage in trade. They occupy the lands at the head of the Waziri country.
The Pashai race, in Afghanistan, were formerly very numerous, but are now greatly reduced, their remnants being found in the districts of Mundal, Chitela, Parena, Koondee, Seva Koolman, Nijrao, Lughman, Koh Karinj, Kunar, Bajawar. The Panjsher people are probably Pashai, though calling themselves Tajak. They and the Nijrao inhabitants speak the Pashai dialect. The Safi of Taghai and the Dara Mir are also probably Pashai. The Pashai are mentioned repeatedly by Lieut. Leech as one of the most numerous tribes in the Panjsher valley and adjoining passes. These are supposed to be Muhammadans, but as the name is mentioned also by Elphinstone as that of one of the Kafir tribes, part of them in the moun tains may have retained their heathenism and in dependence.
The Safi, with about 2800 fighting men between Pashut and Shewa, occupy the north side of the hills on the left bank of the Kunar river. The Safi understand Pukhto, but speak the Pashai. They inhabit the valley of Dara Nur, the hills to the north of Jalalabad, and between that division and the Kafir country, also the valleys of Barhot and Daminj to the west of Dara Nur. They are a straightforward, manlyrace, with florid complexion, light eyes and hair. They have bee-hives, and make wine and vinegar.