THE BALUCH IN EAST AFRICA.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...44.2013.831726 says Quote"Baluchi diasporic presence in the Gulf region is well documented, but little is known about Baluchi settlements in East Africa. The Baluchis—in Swahili called Wabulushi (singular: Mbulushi)—who settled in Kenya and Tanzania in the 1820s are heterogeneous Baluchi-cum-Swahili-speaking Sunni Muslim communities originating in Iran. They came to Zanzibar as mercenaries with the Omani forces, and after 1890, they joined the German and British colonial forces in East Africa."Unquote.

What can be seen of their weapons suggests that they adopted some Omani Swords such as Shamshiir and Indian variants of the various Tulvar marks as well as the various daggers available ...and Indian gunpowder weaponry. They did have a cavalry outfit and I am looking for weapons in that sphere..

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Evidence of Baluch Cavalry in East Africa is very difficult to find..They were instrumental in taking Fort Jesus from the Portuguese although details are scant. However I imagine it would look something like this ~

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

By way of a precis and update see http://www.atheer.om/en/7162/brief-h...d-baluchistan/

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Baluchi Shield. This has a remarkable resemblance to Caucasus shield form and perhaps that is related to the major Baluch weapon makers; .. The Sarmastani. Their name implies a connection with the historical Sarmatians tribes of the Caucasus.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

In finding an example of Baluch warriors with firearms I chose this...

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

An interesting anecdotal record can be seen at https://baluchsarmachar.wordpress.co...f-east-africa/

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

There is an incredible journey in 1891 across Persia and Baluchistan which I can recommend for a background into the country from which these Mercenaries originated.. I cannot imagine a rougher more dangerous land. Please see http://www.travelbooksonline.com/asi...age1_1000.html and in it a description of the weapons usually carried ...Weapons of the Baluch tribal militia or guards in the fiefdoms were usually of the flintlock variety shown and of Indian form in respect of Tulvar swords and other regionally related daggers...in what is often described as "Armed to the Teeth" scenarios.

Below please meet below Khuda Dad Khan of Kalat arguably the most murderous butcher that ever stalked the earth...and who is part of the story in the great journey above ..from about page 50 onwards to about page 60.