The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-19
aHANrSTAN.


such seemingly uninterssting countries as
Afghan istsn. As soon. however, as q war is
talked sbont in connection with il the eyes
Of the world are attracted to IT, Something
about Afghanistsn is now in order. 1t lies
between north lstitudes 23' and $50 and en-
braces great variety OF climate, the heat in
the eastern part being intense in summer,
the thermometer rising as high as 1902 In
the shade, while in the mountain regions the
snow lies all the year. The difference in the
elevation Of different regions is so great that
ID has been said OF Cabool, its capital that at
a days journey from it the snow never falls.
and at two hours journey from it snow never
nielts. AT Kancahar and Girihsk the sum-
mer heats and the simooms render life al
most intolerabls. Its agricultural resources
are naturally fine, but the people being more
given to war than the peaceful pursuits OF
agriculture. have failed to develop oil its re-.
sources in that line. Though large part of
the country is mountainous and rocky, with
large areas of arid deserts, there are well
watered, fertile valleys, dotted with viole,s,
thyme and clover, and remarkable for pic.
turesque beauty. In the arabic regions
grain grows in abundance. and fruits Of all
kinds. The most extensive OF these valleys
and plains are Cshool and Peshawer. besides
q rich plain in the vicinity OF Herat. A
large portion of the southern and southwest
ern part Of the country for space of 800 by
100 miles is q desert waste. The winds are
generally from the west, and cold, and the
east winds are hot. but the climate on an
average is cooler than that of India. The
country lie about 600 miles long and 400
broad. Herat, in West Afghanistan, is one
Of the chief cities, is strongly fortified, and
is the key to the present situation. II is
nearly 400 miles west Of Cabool. and before
the Persian siege, in 1888. its population was
estimated ut 40 900, but 1t is supposed to be
now about 10000. Herat has been o grand
central mart for the products Of India, China,
Tartsry, Afghanistan and Persia. 1t manu-
features carpets, caps, cloaks, shoes, etc.
For long time it was capital OF the en-
pire founded by Tameriane in the four
tenth century. In the southern part OF
the country the sugar cane and cotton are
grown, and in the cases Of the sandy regions
the date palm grows abundantly, and
forms On 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 lumbsrmen have moi
disturbed as yet. Wild animals-wolves
bears, leopards, tigers, lions-are found ia
the warmer parts of the country. The great
chain of the Hindoo Koosh mountains, on
the North, rises from the lower regions ia
four distinct ranges. Thick forests of pine
and wild olive, with variety of other
trees, and valuable herbs. with a pro
fusion of flowers, 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 Himalaya system
and rises in bold, spire.like peaks which are
crowned with perpetual snow. The clear
ness of the atmosphere is remarkable, and
1t is claimed that the ridges and hollows oil
these mountains may be seen at q distance
OF go miles. The government is Q mon
archy, and the country divided into prov.
inces, with tax collector in each. The tax
collector never fails to show himself in all
countries under the sun. The tribes are
ruled by sirdars tchieis); and in towns, JUS
tics is administered by the cadis. when the
Afghan does not take the law into his own
hands. which he generally does. Estimates
of the population very from 2500,000 to
5Co0,0 the most recent estimates placing
it at little over 100000. OF these
nearly two thirds are Afghans and Pathsns
who are Mohammedans. They are idle
vicious, violent, and have a deplorabls
tendency TO commit robbery. The Afghans
are very ancient, and believe themselves]de
scended from the ancient Hebrews. Ir
Persisn history they are said to date theiI
name to Afghan, son Of Eremia, son of Saul
King OF Israel, whose posterity. carried away
at the time Of the captivity. was settled BY
the conqueror in the mountains OF Ghori
Cabool, Candaha and Ghizni. The country
was successfully part of the Persian and
Greek Empires. The name Afghan" is no.
recognized by the natives, but is applied
to them by their Persian neighbors. Their
proper name is Pooshtans, plural Pash
tauneh. The Hindoos call them Paitans
Patans, or Paetans. They are generally
thought to be OF Arabian parentage, In ths
ninth century, the Afghans became subj eel
to the Persians, and up to l70s. with inter
walls of independence, the country has beer
an appendage 10 some neighb bring empire
1t wss long divided between the monarch.
of Persia and Hindostan. The history o.
Afghan independence dates from 1708, bui
wars and Instructions, and the downfall Of
one power and the uprising Of another mari
+ its history from the beginning. In 1885
Dost Mohammed, the reigning sovereign
became involved in hostilities with {
/. Hindoo Prince OF the Panjsb, anc
: in alliance with Persia, and this led to thu
invasion and conquest of the country by tn,
British. who left garrisons in some of the
larger towns Ruf a few vears later tina 4