Geography & People Baluchis The Baluchi tribes reside in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. They speak a form of Persian language. It has been said that they may have originally come from the Arabian Peninsula or the surrounding area of present-day Iraq. It has been documented that some Baluchi tribes were found in southern Iran near Kerman in the 10th century, and that in the 13th century, many were migrating across Afghanistan and the southeast Iranian Province of Sistan. In the early 18th century, many were forced by Nadir Shah (a Turkoman ruler who lived from 1688-1747) to migrate north to the Iranian Province of Khorassan near the city of Mashad in the regions of Torbat-e-Jam and Torbat-e-Heydarieh. Torbat-e-Jam has now become the market place for Baluchi weaving. Today, about half of the Baluchi population live in the Baluchistan territory, which consists of the southwestern Pakistani Province of Baluchistan and a part of southeastern Iran. Baluchis of Baluchistan territory are primarily nomads and mostly weave flatweaves. Baluchis who weave pile rugs live in western Afghanistan and the Iranian province of Khorassan. Baluchi weavers of Afghanistan live in nomadic camps and Baluchi weavers of Khorassan, live in villages. Rug weaving is still an essential source of income for all Baluchis whether living in nomadic camps, villages or towns. The Baluchis weave small size rugs in addition to sofrehs (a cloth laid on a rug and used to place food on), ru-korsi (a table cloth used to cover a table with a heater underneath), saddlebags, salt bags, and pillow covers. Baluchis used to live in simple tent-like structures; some Baluchis who have continued a nomadic lifestyle still live in such tents. The women are the principal weavers and young women prior to their marriage, during the engagement period, weave the household items necessary for their future life. Baluchi rugs are mainly geometric. The Blauchi tree-of-life prayer rug is the most well known of all Baluchi designs. Even though Baluchi rugs are sometimes sold under the name of the specific tribe which has woven them such as the Mushwani, Nishapur, Dokhtar-e-Ghazi, Koudani and Haft Bolah and the village of Chichaksu, often times Baluchi rugs are marketed by the names of Mashad or Herat Baluchi. Herat Baluchi rugs are made in Afghanistan and are mainly prayer rugs. The Mashad Baluchi rugs are made in Iran and are generally all-over repeats. Tree-of-Life Prayer Rug Return to Top