Mahsuds
The Mahsuds living in Waziristan were no less dangerous for the British. Olaf Caroe, the British Governor of NWFP, likens the Mahsud to a wolf and the Wazir to a panther. “The Mahsud is as redoubtable in council as he is in battle, as difficult to deal with on planes other than that of force as in the field.” They were considered one of the most intractable tribes by the British. Caroe refers to the Evelyn Howell’s book MizhDrai Mahsit, We Three Mahsuds, referring to three main sections the Alizais, the Shamankhels and Bahlolzais as the inhabitants of Great Britain refer to England, Scotland and Wales.”
The Mahsuds are said to be even more superstitious and under the influence of mullahs than are the Darwesh Khel. They are also more democratic, and any man who distinguishes himself in bravery or wisdom may rise to the position of malik. Their physique and stamina are good, and judged from the limited extent to which they have hitherto enlisted with us, some rate their soldierly qualities even higher than those of the Afridis.
The Mahsuds inhabit a large portion of the center of Waziristan drained by the Tank Zam and Shahur Rivers. Their territory is a rough triangle between Jandola, the hills North of Razmak and from Shuidar to Janimela north of Wana. No portion of their territory touches the “settled” districts, and they are surrounded on the North and West by the Wazirs, on the east by the Bhittanis, and on the South by the Wazirs and Sheranis.
With the exception of a few Shabi Khel in the Bannu District, some land near Gumal in the Tank Tehsil, and the colonies at Chark and elsewhere in the Logar Valley in Afghanistan, none of them own land outside of South Waziristan Agency. To escape the severe cold in the higher hills during the cold weather, a large number move down to the lower valleys, but always keep within the Mahsud territorial limits.
The Mahsuds belong to the Kakai branch of the Ghurghust Pathans, being descended from Wazir. The descendants of Wazir, who was the son of Suleiman, who was the son of Kakai, himself the son of Karlan and grandson of Ghurghusht, so that they are usually described as being a tribe of Karlanri or Ghurghusht Pathans. From this common origin come the Wazirs, a title which properly includes both Darwesh Khel and Mahsuds, but the name Wazir has now been practically appropriated by the former.
The Mahsuds are divided into three clans, all very much mixed as to locality.
1. The Alizai.
2. The Bahlolzai.
3. The Shaman Khel.
Geneological Tree of Mahsuds
A) Alizai 1.Manzai 1) Malikdinai
a. Mon Khel
b. Kira Khel
c. Dali Khel
2) Palli Khel
a. Shamarai I) Tori Shamirai
II) Sur Shamirai
b. Dachi Khel Poi Khel & Khujirai a)
Salimi Khel I) Kasadin Khel
Guri Kharmaz Khel
II) Nawar Khel
III) Gaji Khel
IV) Asghar Khel
V) Push
b)
Mai Khel I) Walid Khel
II) Raji Khel
c)
Guri Khel I) Karim Khel
II) Dhai Khel
III) Biland Khel
d)Darkai and I) Darkai
Khanjirai II) Kanjiral
e)
Shomai Khel I) Michi Khel b) Mohammad Khel
c) Margha
d) Dhir
f) Quresh
g) Tattar Khel
h) Aabbas Khel
Para Khel
II) Bahadur Khel a) Pahan Khel
b) Pande Khel
III)Khon Khel a) Lalak Khel
b) Shira Khel
c) Mir Khan Khel
d) Baloch Khel
e) Darai Khel
f) Shakar Khel
g) Landi
IV) Garraizai a) Boi Khel
b) Zarmi Khel
3)Giddi
Khel a.Langar Khel I) Abul Khel
II)Nikarab Khel
III)Ali Mohammad Khel
b.Wazirgai I) Makki Khel
II)Zamani Khel
c.Kai Khel I) Sultan Khel
II) Babar Khel
III)Langar Khel
d.Dreplarai I) Ghund Khel
II) Batakai
III) Targadai
e.Faridai
f.Bromi khel I)Daulat Khel
II)Pirat Khel
III)Shah Mohammad Khel
IV)Tattar Khel
2.Shabi Khel 1)Astonai
a.Bromi Khel I)Bangash Khel
II)Tajal Khel
III)Ane Khel
b.Imar Khel I)Lakki Khel
II)Kutma Khel
c.Khandar Khel I)Alam Khel
II) Landia Khel
III)Ghaiza Khel
IV)Tor Khel
V)Zari Khel
VI)Morza Khel
d.Dodia Khel I)Akhmad Khel
II)Augar Khel
III)Khawaz Khel
2)Bromai
a.Baya Khel
b.Mir Khan Khel
c.Khadi Khel
3)Sultanai a.Marobi Khel
b.Surat Khel
c.Mirza Khel
4)Patonai
a.Makhal Khel
b.Baryam Khel
c.Bicha Khel
5)Bibizai
a.Daria Khel
b.Bikhonai
c.Kamal Khel
d.Moghalgai
6)Khon
khel a.Khon Khel of
Khaisora.
b.Khon Kheo of
Babrah.
B)Shaman 1.Khalli Khel 1)Badiwai
Khel 2)Spinkai
2.Char Khel 1)Qasim
Khel
2)Brund
3)Iral
Khel
4)Idarai
3.Gallishai 1)Mangi
Khel
2)Bakhti
Khel
3)Kaikhal
Khel
4)Bale
Khel
5)Kaka
Khel
6)Shobai
Khel
7)Mat Khel
8)Dari
Khel
4.Budinzai 1)Gulop
Khel
2)Qasim
Khel
3)Tapai
Khel
5.Shahoor shaman Khel 1)Char
Khel a.Idarai
b.Zaria Khel
c.Qasim Khel
2)Khalil
khel
C)Bahlozai 1.Aimal Khel 1)Nazar
Khel a.Aziz Khel
b.Kharmaz Khel
2)Abdullai
a.Shamak Khel
b.Lale Khel
c.Pinzplorai
3)Malikshahi a.Bizodai
b.Khoidadi
2.Nano Khel 1)Addur
Rahman Khel a.Rahimdad Khel
b.Pirdad Khel
c.Karimdad Khel
d.Mirdad Khel
2)Jalal
Khel a.Shomi Khel
b.Shiraz Khel
3)Kikarai
a.Alikhonai
b.Mirkhonai
c.Mande Khel
4)Imar
Khel a.Sherin Khel
b.Bakhti Khel
5)Haibat
Khel a.Sher Khel
b.Abbas Khel
c.Khawaz Khel
6)Giga
Khel a.Sarmast Khel
b.Sura Khel
7)Nekzan
Khel a.Batik Khel
b.Ladi Khel
c.Abdak Khel
d.Sheralai
e.Dhir
f.Push and Khwaz Khel
8)Umar
Khel a.Raji Khel
b.Kandi Khel
c.Shodi Khel
3.Shingi 1)Malai
a.Kharmast Khel
b.Mamia Khel
c.Bojai Khel
d.Urmar Khel
e.Ozabkai
f.Bobalai
2)Mamadi a.Boi Khel
b.Karoon
4.Band Khel 1)Nasir
Khel
2)Aikam
Khel
3)Totia
Khel
4)Usman
Khel
5)Dindor