The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-10-26

childhood, are familiar with death and are
| audacious In attack, but are easily disconr-
aged, excessively turbulent, and unsubmis-
sive to law or discipline; apparently frank
and afable in manner, especially when they
hope to gain some object but capable OF the
| grossest brutality when that hope ceases.
| They are INSCRIPTIONS In perjury, treacher-
ous, vain, and Unsuitable, passionate in
vindictiyeness, which they will satisfy at
the cost of their own lives and in
the most cruel manner. Nowhere Is crlnF
committed on such thrilling grounds or win
such general impunity, though when i Is
punished the punishment Is atrocOl9'
Among themselves the Afghans are ql.sllel-
some, Intriguing and distrustful; esnallge-
ments and aIirays are of constant occutt,e1ces es
The Afghan is, by breed and nature O plra m OF
prey. They are eternally boasthg OF thelr
lineage, their independence and tneir proWess
They regard themselves as the iirst OF na-
2n yet hsy vgs he Phra' cruel A9ssd
Nothing said Sir Fl. hoWards, .ls llnef
than their physique or verse than their mo-
rale.'
The Afghans are organized In tribes, and
elect thei, own chiefs and representatives to
occasional councils. Their political constitu-
tion Is q compound Of democracy and abso-
utism.
Afghanjstan is under one prince, butit Is
hardly a monarchy as we understand the
term, r. is rather the government of q
dictator for life over military aristocracy
and within this Il congeris Of small demo-
cracles. The sirdors govern their respect,l,'ve
districts, each after his own fashion. The
spirit Of the Afghans is expressed In the re-
djscord; we are content with alarms; we are
colltent with blood; but we will never be
content with master
The Afghans are Mohammedans, and
nearly oil of them are of the Sanni or ortho-
dox branch They are very superstitious and
fond Of field sports.
THE REVENUE
of tho country is from 49, 800 900 to So, 900 900
year. The regular army was formed in 1863
with sixteen infantry regiments OF 800 mon
each, 900 cavalry, eighty field pieces, and q
few heavy guns. The main mill tary force,
however. is the unframed but hardy and
warlke levies that the tribal chiefs can
produce on occasion.
The Afghan historians call their people the
children of Israel, and claim to be descended
from King Saul.
In 1909, in consequence Of the intrigues Of
Napoleon in Persia the Hon. MountsteWart
Elphiustone was sent to Shah Shuja. then In
power. and was well received. This was the
first acquaintance Of tho Afghans with Eng
lishmen. In 1887 the Persian seige OF Herat
uneasiness and the English determlned to
reinstate Shah Shuia long g refugee In Brit
ish possessions. Rauiit Singh, king OF the
Punjab agreed to assist but finally refused
his aid. The army OF the Indus, q, 600 men,
under Sir John Keane, advanced through the
Bolan Pass in March, 1888. There was little
opposition and the expedition appeared to
have been an easy success. But in l84i o re-
volt against the English and Shah ShuJa
| broke out. beginning in khbul with the mas
sacre of several English officers.
| DISASTER AFTER DISASTER
was suffered by the English AmbuscadeG;
and the SHOWS Of winter almost annihilated
the army Of forty-five hundred men that
sought to retreat into India.
In 1912 the English sent an army to avengf
this defeat This army delivered q number
Of prisoners, destroyed the citadel st kabul
and then returned to India.
The country has since 1919 passed through
many vicissitudes, and for several years the
ameer has been on good terms with the gov
ernment of India. and has received numerous
| and valuable presents from it.