The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-18 00:00:00

in general by the King, while the choice of the
people elects the "head of one of the inferior divisions.
The collection of the royal revenue, and the raising of
the militia are, by the aristocratic tribes, committed to
the Khan, and owing to the exercise of these duties, and
the emoluments of his office, especially in cases where he
presides over a numerous tribe, he derives extensive
power and influence. Each inferior division of the tribe
has its respective head, and in cases of emergency all the
tribes meet together and form a general assembly, called
a Jeerga, which, with the Khaa presiding over it,
deliberates and decides in all matters of public impoi tance.
The liemis of the inferior branches of the tribes hold
similar assemblies, which decide on minor matters, and
are guided by the same rules as the greater convention.
When wars arise among the different tribes, it is the
business of the assemblies to provide the means of car-
rying them on, to concert the plan of operations, or
settle the term of peace. They have the power, along
with the Khan, to call out the fighting :nen of the tribe,
or they ina,y levy taxes for any purpose of public utility.
701.1TERS OF .T a'7.; SOlrgßal'lGN AND THE

ILHAYCS.

The Affghan nation, consisting of numerous rude
democracies, is firmed into one State by the su-
preme authority of the Sovereign. He is the .natural
head of the tribe of Dooratmee, the greatest, .bravest,
and most civilised in the nation. He has, besides, a
general superintendence over the whole kingdom, .and
may levy troops or money from ~each tribe for the
common defence. But his authority is not equally re-
spected by all the tribes. In the
.plains around the
towns, throughout a considerable portion of the country,
and in all the foreign provinces, he rules v.ith full
power, and collects a revenue, and maintains an army,
without the aid of the Khans or the popular assemblies.
He employs for this purpose officers of his own appoint-
merit, :

1. A Haukim, who collects the revenue, and commands
the miiitia.

2. A Sirdar, ho commands the regular troops, and
whose duty it is to enforce submission to the Haukim.
3. The Cauzy, who presides over the administration
of justice.
4. The heads of tribes, and under them the heads of
the divisions of tribes, act in the revenue and police de-
partments, under the Haukim and the Sirdar.
Where the royal authority is strong, the Khans have
compat atively little influence ; but, on the other hand,
where it is weak, it is frequently resisted by the power-
ful influence of the Khans, who form the aristocracy of
the land, as their authority is also rvisted by the infe-
rior assemblies • and it sometimes 'happens that these
assemblies differ with each otheri about the limits
of their own powers ; and hence the democra-
tic tribes are often involved in ',dissension by this
complicated collision of rival authorities. In the
concerns of some of the tribes the ilKing never inter-
feres ; he merely levies supplies of niefiey for the public
service, which, notwithstanding the itesence of one of
the royal Sirdars, are frequently withheld or granted ac-
cording to the discretion of the Khan; and in like manner
the Khan and the Cauzy contend with more or less suc-
cess, according to the state of the King's authority, for
the exercise o the judicial power. One or two tribes,
such as the Eusofyes, in the eastern corner of the country,
set the King at defiance, and boast of their independence.
SPIRIT OF CLANSHIP. —The nation being divided into
tribes, which continue much unmixed, each under its
own peculiar government, and with little interference
from the royal power, undergoes, in the spirit of clan-
ship which prevails, and which is eminently exclusive
a 'continued series f feuds. These clans appear to be
but :little attached to. their chiefs, but very strongly to
their tribe : they are jealous of interference, and their
republican spirit has preserved the country. from de-
generating into the ordinary oriental despotism. The
reply made to an English traveller, who expatiated on
the freedom from alarm, blood, and discord which must
ensue from a more steady government was, " We are
content with discord, we are content with alarms, we are
content with blood, but we will never be content with a
master."