The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-12-05

20 u6ks anu OO lllllls anu wv NSBs ANA W.
and longitude 60 degs. and II degs 30
min. eat. It's northern boundary is
Turkistan eastern, the Punjaub and
Scinde; southern, BelooChstan and
western, the Persian highlands of Khor.
asan. It's total area is about 2l5,000 So
miles, and population probably about g.
100000. From Typographical point OF
view it is what may be termed a badly
broken country, being composed of high
mountains, deep valleys, and all the in
termediate variations of surface. The
climate presents as great a variety as the
land. In the mountains the snow may
be seen all the year round, while in
some of the valleys the mercury rarely
ever falls below 100. But taken as a
whole, Afghanistan is a more agreeable
residence than India, and generally very
healthy. A large portion of the soil is
fertile, and even the careless cultivation
of the soil by the natives is generously
rewarded. Sugar cane, cotton, and all
the European fruits and vegetables are
produced in abundance. The wild ami
mails belonging to the tropical and tenn
perate zones are found here, and the list
of domesticated beasts embraces the ass
horse, OK, sheep, and camel. Iron, lead,
plumbago, salt'petre, sulphur, salt, alum
and copper ARE among the mineral re.
sources, and the quality of the first and
last is said to be especially fine. The
Helmund and the Cabool are the most
important rivers the former overlooking
its banks at regular intervals, like the
Nile, and enriChing the adjacent terri,
tory with heavy deposits of vegetable
matter. The four chief cities are Cabool
the capital, Ghuzni, Candahar and He.
rat Their trade is comparatively small,
owing to the peculiar character of the
people at large, who are not disposed to
sustain commercial relations with other
countries.
The Afghans are mainly agriculturists
and stock raisers, and care very little for
anything except fighting, which is at
once their business and amusement.
They are brave and robust; tough and
gallant race full of energy and intepen-
dence, and not at all inclined to yield to
foreign yoke. They are divided into
two principal tribes, the Durannis and
the Ghiljies the former being the most
powerful and warlike, and furnishing
most of the soldiers for the central gov
ernment That government is monar-
chy, but limited in its jurisdiction by
the temper of its subjects; who, while al
ways loyal to their sovereign, demand
from him certain concessions to the ma.
tional spirit, The kingdom is divided
into provinces, each in charge of a royal
officer who is supposed to execute the
laws. The religion is Mohammedan,
which may prove an important feature
in the approaching war; as the most
troublesome of Engand's Indian sub.
jects belong to the same faith, and will
naturally sympathize with their breth-
ren, and assist them whenever opportu.
nifty offers.
The only portion of Afghan history of |
any particular interest, is that which re-
lates to the previous efforts of England |
to obtain controlling position in the |
country. In 1888 Afghanistan was ruled
by three brothers, the eldest and abest
OF whom, the famous Dost Mohammed,
had his seat of government at Cabool.
Having attacked Runjeet Singh, Pun
jaub prince under British protection,
England declared war against him; sole
ly, however, for the purpose of putting
another British puppet, Shuiah, on the
Afghan throne. Cabool was captured in
August, 1889, and Dost Mohammed him.
self surrendered in October, 1910. The
conquest of Afghanistan seemed com.
plete, but insurreCtion followed insurrec.
ton in the rural districts, and the cost of
occupation amounted to $6,00O,0O0 per
annum. Finally, in Nov. 184l, rebellion
broke out in CaboOl, and through the in
efficiency of Gen. Elphinstone, the Brit
lsh commander, was 80 successful that in
anuary of the next yearthe army capt. ,
llated and agreed to evaCuate the count
ry, pay liberal indemnity, and leave :
behind all the artillery aod military
stores. Owing to the intense cold and
The constant attacks of guerrilla parties, .
out OF 1900 combatants and 10000 camp 8
followers, only one Englishmau, DR.. Bry. 4
Ion, reached India to tell the dismal +
ItOry. This terrible disaster was aveng.
I'd in a few months by a force under ]
zen. Pollock. Cabool was occupied in q
sept. lS42, and The next month D)st Mo- r
lammed was brought back from captiv .
ty and re-established with the consent a
md by the aid of the coDquerors. He n
howed his gratitude in 1886 by forming a
m alliance with Sikhs and renewing hos. n
llities. Beaten at the decisive battle of 3
Iuzerat, Feb. 2l, 1S49, be fed into India n
tut returned in 1850, and fur years later q
ucceeded in obtaining possession of ~
Jandahar, and with it the supremacy in q
be whole southern part of the kingdom a
lie was now able to make an offensive r,
nd defensive treaty with England, which I,
las renewed, with some alterations. in ~
S5I. After surviving other foreign and tr
omestlc troubles of more or less conse. ~
seuce, DOst Mohammed died in Nav. n
S63, leaving his throne 10 his son, Shere Ia
LII, who is now obliged to face his faith. r.
RS old enemies He was recognized as oi
he legitimate sovereign of Afghanistan y"
y Earl Mayo, the British Governor r.,
Ieneral, in 1869 Since then he has been b'
laying the fast and loose" with Eng. sT yr
md, and at last has gone over to Russia rr 'r
} entirely that England proposes to m
nip him into unconditional submission ot
then Shere Ali is the equal of Dost y,
lohammed in brains and bravery, the y,
'hipping will not be an easy process. A, A.
The following, in regard to the English 4,
nd Afghan forces, is from the New York ar
Horld. a.
The actual strength Of the English in in
'my in India is SO 1858 men; the nominal 10, !"
renth being 62650, this including not an
le native troops, who number l25,OOO Se a
ne forces detailed for operation against pS ny
le Atghansi according to recent mail an
lvices from India and England, had n ~
tai strength of 2l,475 men, and field TI rT
rength of 1892, the Europeans here ~