The government of Swat, like that of all Pathan tribes, is a most complete democracy. The country is split up into as many factions almost as there are villages, and even in these there are often several sections. But the late akhund, Mullah Abdul Ghafur, working on their religious feelings, was able to induce them to combine, and he used all his power to prevent collision with the British Indian Government.
Abdul Ghafur, the akhund, was born in the village of Syedasam in Buner. He was poor, and for twelve years studied for the priesthood in the village of Beka in Yusufzai, living on shanaak and milk, and he became a disciple of the Mian of Kaku Khel. He returned to Buner, and afterwards went to Swat, where he was revered for his sanctity, and was always consulted by the Swat people. He recommended them to select Syud Akbar of Satana as their king. When that ruler died, on the 11th May 1857, his son, Syud Mubarak Shah, made unsuccessful efforts to succeed him, and, being expelled from Swat, he, with mutineers of the Bengal N.I., settled in the valley of Panjtar, which adjoins the Yusufzai side of the valley of Peshawur, where they founded a Wahabi colony, headed by Mill vi Muhammad Inayat.
The Pathans of Swat are hospitable ; the men are spare and apparently feeble ; the women are strong, stout, and buxom, and enjoy more liberty and rule the men to a far greater degree than is known amongst other Pathans.
Deshi, a clan of the Swati on the eastern face of the Black Mountain. They have 720 fighting men. Other tribes, Zizrari, Syud, Mula, Akhun Khel, and Gujar, have settled amongst them.
Garwi, a Kohistani tribe inhabiting the head of the Swat valley, and numbering about 3000 adult males. They are not Afghans, and have a distinct language.
Maturizai, a section of the Baizai Akozai Yusufzai on the east bank of the Swat river. Their two sections are the Balol Khel and Ala Khel.
Musa Khel, a section of the Baizai Akozai Yusufzai on the left bank of the river.
Naikbi Khel, a section of the Khwazozai Akozai Yusufzai on the right bank of the Swat river. They have 6000 fighting men.
Orakzai, Bazoti, Sipah, Zaimusht, and Turi adjoin the Kohat district of the Panjab. The Orakzai inhabit the mountainous country to the north and west of the Kohat district. Their country is called Tira. It consists of the Khankai and Mas tura or Tira Toi valleys. The Tire. mountains are spurs from the Samana range and from the Safed Koh, and of 5000 to 7000 feet of elevation. The people are all Orakzai mountaineers, wiry, martial, deceitful, cruel, and avaricious. They migrate for the winter with their flocks to the low levels of the Kohat and Tiri hills about Miranzai.
The Orakzai have the Afridi on their north and east, the Kohat district bounds them on the south, and the Safed Koh on the west. Their chief sec tions are the Daulatzai, ismailzai, Laskarzai, and the Hamsaya, and they can furnish 28,870 fighting men. In 1855 they caused trouble in the district adjoining them. On the 30th April, 1500 or 2000 of the Afridi and Orakzai were driven off from an attack on General Chamberlain's camp at Darsamand. In 1868 and 1869, they again gave trouble, till Colonel Keyes advanced against Garo in February 1869, and destroyed it on the 25th February, since which time they have been quiet. Garo was a mere collection of caves.
Rabic Khel section of the Ismailzai Orakzai was the most prominent of all the Orakzai in the disturbances on the Miranzai border in 1855. From April .to August 1855, they com mitted eighteen raids. They occupy the crest and north ridge of the Samana range. Fighting men, 600. They were punished by a force under General Chamberlain.
The Daulatzai section of the Orakzai inhabit the corner of the Afridi hills, near the Afridi and the Kohat district. Their sections are the Bazoti and the Usturi Khel, each 500; the Utman Khel, 600; the Mani Kiwi and Firoz Kite!, each 800; the Sipah, 300; the Abdul Aziz Khel, 400; and liar Muhammad Khel, 1000.
Bazoti inhabit the corner of the Orakzai country between the Afridi and the Kohat district. They have several khel or clans, which are said to number 500 fighting men. In the cold weather the Bazoti live in the Bazoti valley ; but in summer, from April to November, they go to the head of the Mastura glen in Tim, where they sow their wheat before leaving, and their rice crop in the Bazoti valley before their return to Tim. At the commence ment of the British rule west of the Indus, the Bazoti were always cattle - lifting on the British border, and they organized and headed the attack on the Kohat pass which led to Sir Charles Napier 's expedition of 1850. But they were quiet till the 15th January 1868, when they joined with others in again making raids. On the 11th February, a small force of 2 guns, 80 cavalry, and 480 infantry, were sent against them, but were unsuc cessful, retiring with the loss of 9 killed and 27 wounded ; and on the 13th February 1869, the Utman Khel attacked the Kohat Kotal, supported by the Bazoti. Colonel Keyes, 25th February, moved against them with 4 guns and 2000 men, but retired with a loss of 2 killed and 34 wounded ; the enemy were about 200 strong, and lost 17 killed and wounded.