The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-08-16
KAFIRISTAN AND THE KAFIRS.
BY REV. j. D. BROWN OF THE INDIA con-
FERENCE.
From the Methodist.

BY REV. ]. D. BROWN OF THE INDIA con-
FERENCE.
From the Methodist.
On the northwestern frontier of Hindo-
stan lies wild, hilly country, called Kafir-
istan, the name meaning "The place Of
Kafirs," or infidels. The name is of Mo-
hammedan origin, and was doubtless given
by the followers of the false prophet, as
the inhabtants-a warlike, independent
people-have never submitted to the Mos
lem yoke, notwithstanding wars of exter-
mination have been waged against them
again and again. The attention of the
reading public in India has recently been
called to this country and people by the
adventures of a missionary named Downes,
with whom the writer formed a pleasant
acquaintance several years ago in Lucknow.
Mr.. Downes was formerly captain in the
English army in India, but being deeply
impressed with the importance of mission
airy work among these heather millions, he
resigned his commission, laid aside his
carnal weapons, and girding on the sword
of the Spirit, went forth in the name of the
worlds destined Conqueror to do battle
against the Kings enemies, and to deliver
the captives from idolatry and superstition.
Being stationed in the Punjab, near the
borders of English territory, he took it into
his head to 60 into "the regions beyond"
and carry the good tidings of salvation to
the poor, half-savage Kafrs of Kafiristan.
KAFIR ENMITY TOWARD MoHAMMEpANs.
A mortal hatred of Mohammedans seems
to be universal among the Kafirs. For
this state of things, the Mohammedans
have only themselves to blame. Centuries
ago the bigoted, blood thirsty Moslems
swept like devastating flood over the
countries Of Eastern Asia. Country after
country was devastated, and while some
degree Of mercy was shown to those who
accepted the religion of the impostor, those
who rejected it were treated with unrelent-
ing cruely, and generally ruthlessly slaugh-
tered. The brave mountaineers of the re-
gion visited by Mr. Downes resisted nu-
merous attempts to subjugate them; and
through all the centuries during which the
powerful dynasties of India were brought
under the Moslem yoke, the Kafirs fear
lessly maintained their independence, and
even to this day the green flag of Islam
waves not among the hills of Kafiristan,
and no Mohammedans head is safe in their
territory.
HONESTY OF THE KAFIRs.
Idolators though they be, there seems to
be very little dishonesty among them. In
deed, it is said theft is.a crime unknown
among the Kafrs. They do, however,
despoil the Mohammedans they kill, plac-
ing what they thus obtain as trophies in
their temples. Remarkable stories are told
of the chastity of the Kafirs. If the fol-
lowing can be relied on, these barbarians
differ widely from their Mohammedan and
Hindos neighbors, among whom virtue is
thing almost unknown:
Adultery is never known in Kafiristan,
but many men have more than one wife.
The breach of the seventh commandment
in any form is not for moment endured.
They believe the vengeance of their gods
fall on the whole village for it,
1t is said that if a case of adultery is dis
covered, the property of both the man and
women is at once plundered, and the houses
of both are burned to the ground; and the
guilty parties, pelted and booted by boys
and girls, are expelled forever from the vii
lage, and sent away to the Mussulmans
The very road they 60 is deemed impure,
so the people from the village follow them,
and sacrifice goat at the first stream they
cross.
OTHER PECULIAR CUSTOMS OF THE KAFIRs
The men, like certain classes of Hindoos,
wear tufts of long hair on the crown of
| their shaven heads. Married women wear
ring in their left ear. Corpses are placed
| in boxes, and exposed on a hill. The num-
Der of sticks laid across the box denotes
the number Of Mohammedans slain by the
deceased while living. They do not be-
lieve in future state, but regard temporal
ca!amities, such as drought, pestilence,
hail, ETC., as punishments for sins. When
they return from foray against Moham-
"Cuduo, ouCh ho hdNC oldlu du uCuly are
permitted to brandish sticks over their
heads, while the less successful hold their
sticks behind their backs. The maidens of
the villages come out to meet them, and
present the slayers of Moslems with dried
fruits, walnuts, ETC.. while such as have
failed to put Moslem to death have their
faces pelted with ashes and cow-dung.
When so much henor is awarded to the
slayers of Mohammedans, it is no wonder
a Mohammedan seldom escapes with his
life.
GOAT-s SKIN CLOTHING.
The dress of the common people is COM
posed of the skins of the long haired goat
of their native mountains, tanned with the
hair on. The men 60 bare headed, and
pluck out the hair on the upper lip and
cheeks but allow their beard to grow.
The dress of the women differs but little
from that of the men. They have the hair
plated and fastened to the top Of the head,
and over it a small cap is worn, around
which is a little turban. AS usual with
savages and half-civilized people, they wear
abundance of jewelry.
Kafir houses are generally made of wood,
and are often three stories high, but are
poorly furnished, and lack most of the
comforts we Western World people con-
slider necessities.
MARRIAGE AMONG THE KAFIRs.
The following is the usual marriage GER
emory among these people: The BRIDE
groom brings COW and six rupees ($3) to
the father of the bride, who then fastens
chain of silver on his daughters ears,
clothes her in usual style, and sends her
away with the bridegroom. A few days
after the wedding, the brides father brings
twenty cows to the happy couple as his
daughters dowry. The women work hard
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