The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-22


forms an important part of the food of the
people. Wheat IS the staple. and rice, corn,
barley, millet, lentils and tobacco are
grown for home consumption. The null
berry tree grows IN the cool valleys. The
sides OF the mountains are covered with
great forests, which lumbermen have not
disturbed as yet. Wild snimals-wolves,
bears, leopards, tigers, ions-are found in
the warmer parts Of the country. The great
chain Of the Hindoo Koosh mountains, on
ths North, rises from the lower regions in
four dist ct ranges. Thick forests Of pine
and wild olive, with variety of other
trees snd valuable herbs, with a pro-
fusion of hoEeTs, cover the lowest
range. The second range is still more
denseIy wooded, nearly to the top. The
third is almost bare. The fourth forms q
range Of the stupendons Himalsya system,
and rises in bold, spire-like peaks which are
crowned with perpetual snow. The clear
ness Of the atmosphere is remarkable, and
it is claimed that the ridges and hollows OF
these noun tains may be seen at q distance
of go miles. The government is a mon.
archy, and the country divided into prov
inces, with q tax collector in each. The tax
collector never fails to show himsslf in all
countries uucfr the sun. The tribe are
ruled by sirdars (chie:s); and in towns, jus-
tice is administered by the cadis, when the
Afghan dots not take the law into his own
hands which lie generally does. Estimate
of the population very from , 50O,0 900 to
100000. the most recent estimates placing
it at little ovsr / 000000 OF there
Z early tive thirds sre Atghans and Paths Ds,
who are Mohamm sdans. They are idl',
vicious, violent, and have 3 deplorable
tendency to commit robbery. The Afgha1s
are very ancient, and believe themselvsssde-
scended from the ancient Hebrews. In
Persian history they are said to date their
name to Afghan, son of Ererais, son of Ssnl,
King OF Israel, whose posterity, carried away
at the time OF The captivity, was settled by
the conqueTor in the mountains of Ghori,
CRbool, Candahs and Ghizni. The country
was successively part of the Persian and
Greek Empires. The name afghan" is not
recognized by the natives, but is applied
to them by their Persian neighbors. Their
proper name is Pooshtana, plural Pash-
launch. The Hindoos call them Paitans,
Patans, or Pastans. They are generally
thought to be of Arabian parentage, In the
ninth century, the Afghaps became subject
to the Persisns, and up to 170S, with inter-
walls Of independence, the county has been
an appendsge 10 some eighboriDg empire.
1t Tss long divided between the monarohs
OF Persia and Hindostsn. The history OF
Afghan Independence dates from 170S. but
wars and insure ctions, and The downfall of
one power and the uprising of another mark
its history from the beginning. In 1885
Dost Mohsmmed the reigning sovereign,
became involved in hostilities with a
Hindoo Prince OF the PuDjab, and
in ALLIANCES with Persia, and this led to the
invasion and conquest OF the country by the
British, who left gsrrisons in some of the
larger towns. But few years later the AT.
ghans rose in insarrection and drove out the
British troops with terrible slaughter. In
1S42 the British invaded the country a Sec
ond time, committed great rsvages, aud de-
stroyed the gaeater part OF the city OF Ca
bocl. with many other towns. Bat they were
driven out again, having gained nothing ex-
cept the release of some British prisoners
who had been retained since their last defeat.