The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-04-10
HERAT.
The Chestnut which the Russian
Bear and British Lion arc
Reaching For.

Reaching For.
The city of Herat possesses a peculiar
interest Mt present as being the goal to
ward which all the advances Of Russia in
Central Asia are tending-the prize v hich
the paw OF the Russian bear is out
stretched to grasp. But why this desire,
this eager striving, for the possession
of a city neither wealthy nor COM
mercially important; The reason is that
Herat is the key to Afghanistan, and the
Gate OF India" It must not, however,
be supposed that il is anything OF a fortune.
Although looked upon by the Afghans as
the bulwark of Afghanistan against their
heretical neighbors. the Persians it could
offer little resistance TO modern artillery.
It's ramparts, which have time and again
hurled back the tide Of Persian invasion
and preserved inviolate the heritage Of
MahmOud OF Ghuzin, were, with the ex-
ceptiOn Of the citadel, only earthworks,
which have crum bled into decay and Il de-
riyes its importance not from any sup
posed egnability, but from the posi-
tion which il occupies.
Lying in that fertile valley Of the Herr,
which has been called the t" Grauary Of
Central Asia. " IL commands the mouth OF
the only pass by which a fully equipped
army can cross the mighty ranges OF the
Hindu kush, while the surrounding dis
trict fertile and healthy. and inhabited by
q hardy and docile race cannot be sur
a 1
present almost defenseless condition HerRt
could be easily seized by small force, ad-
yancing from Merv. and would then act
rs a tcte-de-pOnt, covering the passage of a
Russian army across the Hindu-Kush.
Besides commanding the passage through
the mountains, HeTat Is strategically i'm
pOrtant for another reason. There are
two great roads running through Afghan
istan which form the only lines of opera
tion against India for fun equipped
army. The first Of these leads through
Cabul. Jelalabad, and the khyber Pass to
PeShawuT in the PunJauD, the other by
Candahar Quettah and the Bolan Pass to
Shikarpur on the lower Indus. These are
the only routes by which a force with
guns could move on India, and they meet
at HerRt. ..r. ......
BY seizing Herat Russia would gain the
following advantages; AS q safe passage
across the mountains into Afghanistan, an
abundant supply Of all things necessary
for an army, and the choice Of two lines OF
advance whenever she chose TO attack In
dia. The possession Of India would also
insure to her the active support OF all At
ghanistan. All Asiatics, the Afghans in
cluded. are already contrasting the yigor-
Gus policy pursued by the Russians in
Central Asia with the supineness and SUI
tcidal indifference displayed by the British
Government.
From this comparison they infer that
while Russia is strong enough to over
come ny resistance that car. be offered.
England feels too weak to oppose her, aud
the time to drive, when they may obtain
an opportunity. of sweeping down on the
rich cities and fertile plains Of Hlndostan-
On the other hand, a British force in HerHt
would prevent a Russian army from pass
ing the mountains, and would insure the
support OF Persia, who has hitherto, from
fear Of Russia, been decidedly hostile TO
Then again, Herat would be fine base
of operations against Mery il il should be
deemed advisable to operate to the north
,, ? -
the district would 60 far to restore British
prestige in Asia.
The fertile valley which forms the Hers
tee territory IS p checker-work Of corn
fields, vineyards, and gardens dotted here
and there with little fortified villages, and
wRtered by n number OF small riyulets
which empty into the Herr. In the midst
Of these, like q gem in its setting, lies the
city itself, presenting at 3 distance very
picturesque appearance, while q few miles
to the west stands GhOrian "a rock fortress
belonging to Herat), formerly place OF
some Importance and still the chief strong
hold of Western AfghRnistan.
But charming as its surroundings are
the city itself has few claims to our Rd-
miration. IL IS nearly square, the length
OF each side being about mile, and is
surrounded by mud walls and wide
ditch. 1t has the narrow, gloomy streets
common to all Eastern towns, and IS one
of the dirtiest cities in the world. The
two baZars, which cross each other at right
angles and divide the town into four
quarters were formerly very fine, but are
now in n ruinous cOnditionlike everything
else.
MOSQUES and caravansarfes, public baths
and mud novels are juInbled together as
If they had been mixed mp in sack and
poured ont.
The number OF inhabitants varies con-
siderably, but is in the neighborhoOd Of
1000 The majority OF them belong to
the Sheeah sect, but there are a large
number of Afghans Of the SUM sect, with
a sprinkling OF HindOos, Armenians, and
Jews ..
Herat contains no buildings worthy OF
mention, and in fact, owes It's Importance
to its position at the junction OF the great
roads and at the mouth OF the pass.
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