Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-06-14

geiher with the stupid impolicy of the go
vernment, offer Masquerade bars to the at
tainment of great military power.
| There is not, therefore, on the Continent
of Asia, cas-, of the Indus, any power ca
pable of offering efiectual opposition TO
European skill and energy But within
six or seven years past variety of causes
have induced the British TO carry their
arms westward Of tina, river into Afghan
istan. country presenting in its climate
and surface, geographical obstacles to mi
litary operations incomparably greater than
any that exist in the warm and level re-
gioEs Of China and India, and peoped by
fierce fana,ical tribes of Mahommedans,
who for ages have been warriors and con-
querers. A contest with such people, in
such country, must necessarily assume
stefner and more dubious aspect, than
the with effeminate Hindoos or Chinese.
The details of its origin are worthy Of at
ten,ion, a1illusirative Of British Indian po-
hey; hut - FENDER them more Ineligible,
we viii give brief sketch Of the Afghans
and their country.
Afghanistan is a high and mountainous
region, composing nearly half million of
square miles, or about eight times the ex-
tent of New England 1t is bounded on
the north by what is usually termed Inde-
pendent Tarary, on the South by Beloo-
clustan, and on the West by the ancient
kingdom Of Persia, from which it is most
ly separated by an extensive salty desert:
the eastern frontier stretches TO the Indus,
between which and the British domnions
lies the country Of the Sinks, one of the
most peculiar people in the world.
The population Of A(ghanistan is vari-
ously estimated at from four to fifteen mill
lions, which last number is probably near
est the truth. 1t is divided into several
distinct tribes, who yet like ancient Israel,
have but one language and form but one
people. Their origin is somewhat obscure,
but they have with great probability been
considered the descendants Of the Ten
Tribes who were carried into captivity
Their features and general appearance,
and many Of their customs are decidedly
Hebrew. The country they inhabit lies
directly eastward from Babylonia, and
once formed the uttermost par, Of the do
mlnions Of the Grea, King, to which, ac-
wi uihS W VIC oloiC, tiicy "CiC tduopOIteU
Above all, the Afghans call themselves BIZ
nj Israeli or children Of Israel, though they
consider the term Yahoedee, or Jew, to be
one Of reproach. They say that Nebu-
chadneZZar, after the overthrow Of the tenn
pie Of Jerusalem, tran splanted them into
their present country, and that they are
called Afghans from their chief Afghana.
They say that they lived as Jews till the
Caliph kaed summoned them in the first
century Of Mohammcdanism to assis, in
the wars against the infdels. They have
ever since remained Mohammedans.
They are Il very brave and warlike peo-
pie, and strongly attached to their country
and its independence. Though repeatedly
conquered by their neighbors, the Tartars
and Persians, their subjugation has never
been of long duration. At the first oppor-
tunity, they have risen and thrown off the
yoke, much in the manner Of their present
revolt against the British. To an English
traveller, who expatiaed on the advanta-
ges of firm and steady government, in
the security it gives from alarms, dscord
and bloodshed, the Afghans replied, 1--WE
are content with discord, we are content
with alarms, we are content with blood
shed, but we shall never be content with
a MASTER"