Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-07
OF THE .AFGH4yS.

L
| Afghanistan, beg to offer the following obser-
| vations TO the readers OF your journal: What
| ever may be the ultimate purposes OF Russia
| her position in Afghanistan would for long
| time be the reverse of enyiable. She will mud
herself among people notorious for the worst
qualities OF the human race. Every traveller
and visitor, from the time of Mountaland Ell
phistone, who went from India TO Cabul on a
special mission seventy years ago. has described
them as faithleSS, cruel, cOyetOuS OF gold bigoted
and SuperstitOuS. Their redeemng virtues are
lofty courage, u love of independence and "A
rude hospitality. The latter quality, however,
is neutralZed by its limitations The man who
will respect his guest while he remains within
the dom.cile-gf5e him refreShment and a rug
Sill not hesitate TO cut his throat and plumber
dwelling. Inconsistent In their treatment of
their foes they are s1ayed to and fro by alter
nate impulses of murderous hatred and of an
almost chivalrOuS humanity. This varying
mOOd-ene OF the most striking characteristics
OF the Afghan people In general-received Sevc-
raj illustrations in their treatment of the Brit
iSh who fell into their hands when the army OF
occupation was expelled in 1S41. Akbar Khan
himself. the murderer of Sir VIM. MaSSaghter,
under circumstances of the mOSt'savage treach-
cry. could, nevertheless, in few days after
perpetrating the daStartily deed, act the part OF
coed Samaritan by descending from his horse
to dress the wounds of an English officer WHOM
he found lying helpless in one of the passes,
and quitting turban on his head and pos
theen "a dressed SheepSkin cloak on his shou,-
der, made him ride by his side so as to es cape
detection by the Infatuated enemy" During the
retreat OF the British force Major Bygrave,
pay master, had his toes bitten off by the frost
He was LETT by his cOmrade, a sutler, to crawl
on as best he might with nothing in his havreSa *
but some coffee berries and geam wherewth II
sustain nature. All alone he crawled up a hill
and to his surprise, saw, in a valley below,
some hutS. Indifferent as to the reception he
might experience he, nevertheless crept down,
and was speedily greeted by a bepded AFGHAN.
putting his hands to his eyes, and shouting
q m tt-ntr
ing OF his interlocutor who felt ii impossible to
resist the appeal In the name OF religion if he
''Ailah Allah. will protect you" said the AZ
CHAN. He gave Bygraye bread cakes OF hour
and water like the damper OF the Australians.
who eat them with voracity. Soon afterwards
Akbar Khan, hearing or the incident. sent for
Major BygrOye. His host refused to surrender
him. second and third summons was sent,
treated him very kindly, ana. to the last, By
grave, who was fun OF good feeling. retained
grateful recollection of his benefactorS
Another illustration OF this electric impu!slve-
ness, for good or evil. in the Afghan character
came to the knowledge of the writer of this
article through General Sir Vincent Eyre, who
had been Il prisoner in the hands OF Akbar Khan
1t is rather amusing the scene being laid in the
Gtreets OF London. Two young Barukzye mobiles,
one being native Of Cabul, the other OF Can
dahar. while walking tremendously arm and
arm through the streets. were attracted by the
appearance OF some black and red crabs in a
hshmonger's shop, and an animated discussion
IL
raj color OF the crab: one stOuty asserting it to
be red, and the other being equally positive that
IL was black. Suddenly, their angry passions
were aroused: their teeth CRASHED with race;
the fire of murderous fury flashed from THAR
eyes, and the following expressive dia-
logue tCok place: ''Ah," muttered, one Ia
breast heaved with suppressed emotion, "If
had qon at CanIaht,r ,rould strange you Ike u
dog; To which the other. with still stronger
and more deliberate emphasis. retorted Ind
if hal you at CGbm ID cat Uour throat ike q
pig"' And the probability is that, had either OF
the above-named localities been the real scene
OF the little comedy. il might have been turned
into genuine tragedy; but, suddenly renem-
bering that they were in London, unarmed and
within easy grasp OF the police their anger.
having boiled over in hot. scalding words, as
rapidly gave place 10 a keen sense OF the lldi-
crous, aud, with burst Of wild laughter, they
again Joined arms and pursued their peaceful
way to partake OF an amicable supper
But 1t is not only In the uncertain character
OF the AfghanS that the Russians would find
their position unpleasant ana demanding the
greatest caution and circumspectIon. The A.
CHAN plumeS himself upon his Independence
and the slightest symptoms OF a possibility OF
an armed European power appearing In the
state viii arouse his jealousy and intiame his
rage 1t may be that III the presence of the
measures OF the English government the Ameer
may be glad OF military alliance with Russia,
and the people, for time, be disposed to be-
lieye that their new northern friend will Dr.
tect them against their eastern foe. But sooner
or later It will occur to the suspicious Subjc Us
Sihhs and PathanS, associated with British
troops, cross bay onetS with any European force
tie may encounter i'll Afghani stan, the inllabi-
tantS Will be crushed between the TWO armies
ard reduced TO a dependence Oh ore or the
other. Russia has, therefore, difficult card to
play, aud her crooked diplomacy may lind itself
embarrassed between her desire to extend her
power in Central Asia, only andgher supposed
wish TO make an attempt on the British pos
| sessions in India. Her agents and the car
perpctually disavow Interior designs east
OF the Hindoo KOSh. and ircautiously de-
clare the Russian object to be the
subsection of tie Mahomedan races south of the
empire. conversation is recorded which took
place recently between an English nobleman
and Russian officer who had been travelling in
western Turkistan. They were fellow paSSen-
| gers In a railway carriage. In the course of
their talk the Englishman touched upon the
impression, long prevailing in many quarters
that Russia had an eye to India, the brightest
| gether a mistake said the Muscovite. apo
| you think we shall be such fools as to fight
England for the burning plains of India, when
| we have the whole of Central Asia and the king
| dom of China at our feet? We have of course
| used that terrible document which so haunts
| the minds of political alarmists, the will o:
| Peter the Great: but admitting the authenticity
| and genuineness Of the document, which is
| known to be doubtful, we cannot bring ourselves
| to realize that so acute and able man as Peter
| ever dreamt Of bringing Russian legions face to
| face with British pluck and British bayonets at
the mouth Of Khyber Pass. At the time of the
death of Peter, $50 years ago. the English had
oSuICtly lOUtiilS Ill HUH dl I'LL, anu
| indeed the great Cars object in recommending
an advance upon India was rather to get British
| gold than to try conclusions with British bayo-
nets" Bare words, which must be taken cum
| grdDo. In any event march upon India must
! be deferred for at least another generation
Russia will find, in the interval sufficient occu-
| patton in strengthening her own authority and
| making good Ier situation, without meddling
| with neighbOr much too powerful for her to
| cope with Succe Sfully in that quarter
In the meanwhile the British armies have
moved to the frontier Of Afghanistan. The SHOWS
| OF winter will prevent any further movements
towards Cabul, though Candahar Will be easy OF
occupation; but returning spring VIII develop
the policy OF the Gar and the British govern
ment, and in the meanwhile America can look
on with calm trust in the triumph Of Justice
and honesty. 1t Is difficult to find any other
explanation OF the present movement of Eng
land beyond chiyalouS intention OF avenging
an insult, than this: She has assumed the re-
spOnSibility of governing and advancing to
civilization S00GO,0O0 Of the human race. Any
hostile attempt upon the northwestern frontier
Of India, whether directly by the Afghans, or
indirectly under Russian guidance, is a threat
ened disturbance of the peace OF the HindOo and
MaSsalm population, and therefore an inter-
ruption to its progress in enlightenment. On
these grounds England is bound to strain any
effort to check the prospective approaches of
offensive neighbOrS, and. ChriStendOm should
hold her action exempt from reproach.
j. II. SIDD0Ns.