THE LAND OP CONTRASTS 7

lakhs between the boundary of the Settled Districts and
the border of the Independent Territory which was subject
to the political control of the Deputy Commissioner of the
Settled Districts, who was answerable fpr the administra-
tion of the independent tribes to the Political Department
of the British India Government, (iii) the northern States
within the Malakand Agency, viz., Chitral, Dir, and Swat
with a population of about 94 lakhs, (iv) the region lying
between the border of the Tribal Belt and the Durand
Line and constituting the Independent Territory with a
population of 5 to 54 lakhs of Pathans, the bulk of whom
were in Tirah and Waziristan.

The bulk of the Inhabitants of the N. W. F. Province
are Pathans. The term " Pathan" * is applied to any
tribe speaking the Pushtu (Pukhtu) language. It has no
racial significance. Thus it can be applied to Pushtu-
speaking Hindus and Sikhs too of the Frontier Province,
as in fact it often was, after the inauguration of the
Khudai Khidmatgar movement. The Pathans of the trans-
border Tribal territory, who owe no dependence to Kabul,
nor to the British Government, are hardier and fiercer than
their fellow clansmen living in the Settled Districts of the
North-West Frontier Province. The Tribal Belt, a hilly
•country between the Frontier Province proper and the
Durand Line is held by the four important tribes of Afridis,
Mohmands, Waziris and Mahsuds. Other important
tribes are the Orakzais, Usufzais, Bhittanis, Shinwaris etc.

Beginning from the north, the Usufzais inhabit Buner
and the hilly country beyond the vale of Peshawar. The
Usufzais of Buner are said to be frugal and abstentious,
yet extremely hospitable. Even the smallest village pos-
sesses its hujra or guest-house. They are very patriotic
and proud of their descent, "of which they eternally
"boast ".f

To the north-west of Peshawar, between Ahe Kabul
river and the Swat river dwell the Mohmands. In their

* Rhymes with tarn, not to be pronounced as Paithan.
t Collin Davies: The Problem of the North-West Frontier, p. 60.