Luni

The Makhzan-i Afghani, in Dorn's translation, gives Miana thirteen sons, twelve his own and a thirteenth, Gharsheen, adopted: Ghorni, Lorni, Mukha, Lat, Salaj, Chot, Ashkun, Lawani, Rahwani, Tugh, Jafar, Somat and Gharsheen. Dorn's note says that the Lorni of his copy is no doubt a mistake for Loni, and quotes the Khulasat al-Ansab: Ghorni, Loni, Rohani, Tughi and Kharshin are all descendants of Miani, and they live on the east side of Koh Kiseh, next to the Shirani. Rose's Glossary (Longworth Dames) gives the same thirteen sons with the Luni as Launai or Lunai.

The Loralai gazetteer (1907) says the Luni descend from Miani and are therefore connected with the Jafar of Musa Khel. They call themselves Durrani, because Miani was a brother of Tarin, the ancestor of the Durrani. It says the Patozai, who are Kakar, and the Laths, who are probably descended from another brother of Luni named Latz, are of other descent. It adds that the Ghorani and Shudiani sections are said to be aliens, and that the Drugzai claim Sayyid descent and are treated with respect by the Luni.

The gazetteer adds that living near the Baloch and constantly at feud with them, the Luni seem to have copied the Baloch habit of arranging their groups into large clans. They are divided into three: Drugzai, Palao and Rakhanwal.^1–4

پر دې ولاړ: دودیزې شجرې · استعماري اسناد

In 1901 the Luni of Loralai District numbered 2,556 (1,309 males and 1,247 females; 787 adult males). Of these 2,474 lived in the Duki tahsil, chiefly in the Luni and Lakhi circles. The rest were scattered in Bori (66), Musa Khel (10) and Barkhan (6). The three clans counted Drugzai 949, Palao 561 and Rakhanwal 903, with 143 miscellaneous. The Shamezai, 169 strong, were the chief family.

The 1910 Dictionary places them from the Bori and Thal plains to the foot of the main eastern branch of the Sulaiman hills. In 1905 the chief had moved from Dewana Shahr, also called Samundar Khan Shahr, to Dhuki. The gazetteer says they had gradually extended their holdings by purchase and owned several villages in the Luni and Lakhi circles.^3,5

پر دې ولاړ: استعماري اسناد

Local accounts in the gazetteer say the Luni descend from a Durrani, and that they were originally a pastoral tribe. They came down from Khurasan to graze their flocks at Rarkan, Kingri and nearby places, and went back to Khurasan for the summer. The eldest son of Laun was Shame, ancestor of the Shamezai chiefs. After Shame the chiefs were Abubakar, Hatang and Haidar. In the time of Haidar's son Ghazi Khan some Luni stayed behind in Rarkan, and under Ghazi Khan's son Muhammad Khan the yearly return to Khurasan stopped altogether.

Muhammad Khan founded the village of Kot Khan Muhammad in Kingri. He had seven sons. Dost Muhammad moved to Dera Ghazi Khan, and Perag Khan began cultivating at Karkana and Kara Sham. The Luni then clashed with the Musa Khel at Hazargat on the Luni river; 400 Luni were killed and the rest withdrew to Charnalang and Nath-ki-chap.

Perag Khan had two sons, Jalal Khan and Paind Khan. When Jalal Khan died Paind Khan became chief, because Jalal Khan's son Samundar Khan was a weak man. Paind Khan raised 800 men and attacked some Marri living with the Khetran. Babul Khan, a Khetran, demanded the loot back and the Luni refused. The Luni at first prevailed, but the Khetran and Marri gathered in such numbers that the Luni had to fall back toward Lakhi. The gazetteer records that the Luni are not on good terms with the Marri.³

پر دې ولاړ: استعماري اسناد

In 1873 the Luni headmen met Captain, later Sir Robert, Sandeman and asked him to find them the service they had held under the Sikh government, protecting the trade route to India. When a brigade marched through their country in 1880, Samundar Khan went with a party of sowars as far as Girda Kach, and the gazetteer says he did excellent service.

Samundar Khan succeeded Paind Khan and died in 1893. Sardar Nawab Khan then became chief and was given the title Khan Bahadur in 1900. His lands in Lakhi were revenue-free for life, and he and his brother Mir Khan received an allowance of 1,050 maunds of grain a year, turned into a cash allowance of Rs 2,625 in April 1900. Makho Khan of the Shamezai was another man of weight.

Most Luni are farmers now. Some of the Waliani, Marufzai, Mirzai, Tado and Kata Khel also keep flocks. Luni land is also let to others: Gharshin Sayyids at Kingri and Kara Sham cultivated Luni lands and paid one-fifteenth of the produce as rent to the Luni headman.³

پر دې ولاړ: استعماري اسناد