The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-06-11

The Ghazis-6allant Fanatics Who
Seek Paradise on the Kafflr's Steel.
The word "Ghazi'' has come to mean
in Western eyes something very differ
ent from its legitimate Specification. 1t
meant conqueror: or great
hero, and in this sense it is used in
modern Turkey. Osman Pasha was
dubbed "Ghazi'' when his splendid
resistance to the Russians saved for a
time the fate of his country, and the title
is one held in the highest respect by
From ''conqueror'
the meaning has passed into lower
grades, one of cOmmOnest being "a
gallant soldier Especially combating
infidels); and at last, in the common
course of events. it has been apprOpria-
ed in the all-comprehensive vocabulary
of the English language with distinct
and localized meaning To us now q
Ghazi is simply man upon whom
fanaticism has had so powerful an
effect that all physical fear of death is
swamped in his desire to take the life
of Kaffir, and, with his soul purified
by the blood of the unbeliever, to be
translated at once to Paradise, A true
Ghazi counts no odds too great to face,
no danger too menacing to be brav ed;
the certainty of death only adds to his
exultation, and, as in the case of other
madmen, desperation and insensibility
to consequences add enormously to his
muscular powers and endurance. 10
kill such man is sometimes SO difficult
task at close quarters that our men
have learned to respect their peculiar
mode of fighting, and rifle bullet at
fair distance checks the Ghazi's course
before he can close upon his assailants
with the terrible sharp knife he knows
so well how to use. If every Afghan
were Ghazi, as once said during the
siege of Sherpur, our defenses would
have been carried and enormous slaugh-
ter would have followed on both sides;
but Ghazis are few and far between,
though spurious imitation is not un-
common. This imitation is often taken
for the real article, whereas phang or
some other stimulant is the motive
power, and not desperate fanaticism.
The misuse of the word "Ghazi' is
strikingly seen in the accounts of the
last war, forty years ago. We are told
of bands of Ghazis, many thousand
strong, harassing the retreating army
and cutting off stragglers; and these
Ghazis are always spoken of as being
quite out of the control of Akbar-
Khan. If they had been true Ghazis
they would have made short work of
our little army long before it reached
the Khurd Cabul. To see how
thousands of Ghazis are always being
spoken of, one would imagine they
were a powerful clan, similar to the
Ghilzais, Kohistans or Afrids; but prac-
teal acquaintance with the form fanati-
cism assumes about Cabul shows only
too clearly that out of crowd of 5O,-
600 armed fanatics, such as lately held
Cabul, not one in a hundred rises to the
supreme rank of Ghazi. They are
not born and bred to the vocation :;
chance makes them what they are, and
our men know that stray spark of en-
thusiasm may kindle their fanaticism
and send them into our midst.
The Ghazi is the creature of the mool-
lab. The latter's eloquence is listened
to by some more than usually suscepti-
BILE villager, whose enthusiasm is
aroused to fever heat by glowing story
of a Ghazi who went out into the infidel
camp, cut down two or three kat1irs
and died the death of a martyr, his soul
going straight to the laps of the hours,
and his name living forever among
his kindred. Shall he not emulate
such glorious example. so
that his children and his children's
children may hand down his name to
all generations as Ghazi Altah-din-a
champion of the Faith?' The
moollah's preaching has had its effect,
and Ghazi has been called into being.
If great jehad is being preached. that
man will always be in the forefront of
the battle, and will probably carry the
standard of his clan, blessed by the
moollah who has aroused the tribes
men. But few weeks ago the arch
moollah, Musk Alan, sent out his mes
sage from Sharkh, and how we'll it was
responded to we are living witnesses.
With Ghazis in their midst to lead the
timorous, and moollahs always at hand
to fan their fanaticism, Mohammed
JAMS rabble did wonders. How the
Ghazis acquitted themselves our men
well know, many poor fellows to their
cost. In the action in the Charden Val
lev the standard. bearers rushed in even
when our cavalry charged, and no more
reckless rush was ever made. Many
went down, but about them were others
equal in desperation. A trooper of the
Ninth transfixed man with his lance;
the Ghazi wriggled up like an eel,
grasped the lance with his left hand.