THE MOHMANDS

The publication of WRH Merk’s Report on the Mohmands completes a trilogy of three rare and valuable accounts of three major tribes living in the Tribal Areas of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Merk’s Report, like the other two authoritative monographs by E Howell on the “Mahsuds” (Mizh: a Monograph on Government’s Relations with the Mahsud Tribe, Oxford University Press, Oxford in Asia Historical Reprint Series, 1979) and LW King on the “Orakzais” (Monograph on the Orakzai Country and Clans, Vanguard Books, Lahore, Historical Reprint Series, 1984) is little known and not to be found in the bibliographies of the standard books on the Frontier such as Olaf Caroe’s “The Pathans” (Macmillan 1965) and Frederik Barth’s “Political Leadership among Swat Pathans” (Athlone Press 1972).

Although brief, Merk’s report provides a wealth of detail regarding tribal administration and organization. It is in fact to my knowledge the only authoritative extant account of the Mohmands written before or during the British period.

Written in a clear and simple style the Report conveys a vivid picture of the Mohmands.

Alas, one wishes the report could have been longer so more of Merk’s material could have emerged. In its present form the Report stands as a valuable contribution to the limited literature on tribal societies and administration in Pakistan.

ISBN: 9694024277 – Hardback
Publisher: VANGUARD BOOKS
ISBN: 9694024277
Publisher: VANGUARD BOOKS