New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-18
AHphanistau.

| We believe that Affghanistan has been eut Pas-
| tally known to the English themselves, tiii
the last eight or ter years. hougn Io go ~
many great events IN ancient Pesioa5 % y
j, is now said 20 be Inhabited oy wiz anu aneis-
ilized race. The mountain passes IL hiieu ~
rsbbers, and the mass OF the population are nerce
"a .r.,cbero1s The country that bears the gen.
eral name of AHghanis,an s quite extensive, occu-
-,;,e, the greater part of the space between Hin
sos,an and Persia; being about eight or nine nun
dred miles in length east and west, and FIVE or six
hundred in breadth north and south. Ii is watered
| By the Indus and its branches. The northern por-
| ton is mountainous, and exhibits the variety OF
| climate within small compass which is peculiar
to mountain regions. Caubu or Cabeo!, OF Ca
bull, as it is differently spelled, and Jelalabad, or
.Julalabad, between which the destruction OF the
British army was effected, are near the northern
boundary. They are about ninety miles apart, al
most in a line east aud west upon Cabul river;
Cabul being farthest west and most elevated. Be-
tween the two and about twenty five miles west CT
Jellalabad, is the boundary between the hot and
cold regions; the country thence becomes roNgh
| and hazardous along the mountain passes. fro n
frost and snow during half the year, and from the
lawiess and ierocious character of the population
| at all times.
Cabul is noisy and busting city, situated al an
elevation OF 5000 feet, or il 900 another au-
thorty has il, above the Lowell OF the 1t IS
place of great trade, and contains so 900 inhabt-
ants The natives say it is 5000 years old, and
the popular belief is that when Satan was cast out
of Heaven he fell in Cabul. Tire snow lasts for
FIVE months OF the year, but the remainder of the
season is delightful, and the fruits and flowers are
abundant. The passes belwcen this city and jel-
lalabad arc occupied by predatory bands of noun
taineers.
.Jellalabad is dirty town, with regular popu
Iation of 1000 residents but in the cold season
the people flock it from the surrounding villa
gcs. Between that town and Cabu is the mount
of Noorgiil, or kooncr covered with perpetual
snow, on which the Affghanistans believe the ark
of Noah to have rested after the deluge. Not ma
nv miles distant the natives point out the tomb Of
Lanech, the father Of Noah
The Affghans call themselves Is Benz Israel,
children Of Israel, yet consider the term Jew to
be one of ieproacb. They say they were transla
red BY Nebadhadnezzar, after the overthrow Of
the temple, to the neighborhood of Bemeean
own west of Cabul. and lived as Jews till they
we're converted TO MohammedisE1. They have
all the appearance of Jews, and retain the Hebrew
custom ofthe younger brother marrying the widow
of the elder. The question of their descent is,
however Considered doubtful one.
Ioia, whose name 10 COHSP!Cuou9iy iiieii-
toned IN the n9'--Faper accounts of the massa-
ere, is the uncle of Shal. Xamraun, an afghan
monarch, having his capital at l1--at nearer the
borders of Khorassan. This Kamraun, so,..- wear.
since put TO death his Vizier Futteh Khan, in :,
lit Of jealousy. Upon this the brothers of the Vi
zier reeened, and succeeded in gaining possession
of great part of the aGshan empire British
troops we're now introduced into the country
Their alliance was courted by Shah Kamraun, a
prince as weak as cruel, or by his uncle Shah
shooja, and the proposed object has been to resist
the just indignation of the brothers OF the Vzier
and to reinstae the authority of tie ancient mon
arch. Candahar, city with about 0000 inhab-
itants, situated southeast from Herat and south
west from Cabul, and about equally distant from
| each city, is Of the principal places possess
cd by the brothers. Cabul another ef their
| cities
In 1923 this country was penetrated by Brit
| ish gentleman named Stirling, who gave ii his
opinion that EuropeaA army would meet with in
! superable difficulties in attempting 10 invade the
| Afghan territories. Our facts are chiefly gained
| from the notes of Lieut.. Burns, who made a sim
| liar journey two ,hr~. years afterward.
Nat. Egs.