, 1886-10-07
ACROSS AFGHANISTAN.
Interesting Notes From the Orient-Hers.
and Its Inhabitants.


Interesting Notes From the Orient-HerS.
and Its Inhabitants.
A correspondent with the Afghan
FRONTIER commission, speaking Of their
march across Afshalistan. says that it
was very creditable feat, made as it
was under very trying circumstances.
A party OF over twelve hundred men,
with following of between two thou
sand and three thousand animals, have
been carried across nearly eight hun
dred miles of country, generally water
less stone and sand, amid great vicissi-
tudes of climate, the thermometer in
the course of our journey falling from
one hundred and three degrees to
eleven degrees below freezing point.
Yet We have onl y to deplore two deaths,
one trooper of the escort and the
other follower; neither, of which,
however, can be fairly attributed to the
march. Our losses among horses and
camels can be counted on the fingers
of my hand, and one camel which
walked off in the dark with his mas
ter's load represents our entire loss in
property. The average rate of march
ing over the two hundred and
ten miles from Nushki to
Khwaja Ali was about fifteen miles a
day, and over the five hundred miles
from Khwaja Ali to Kuhsau it was, ex-
cluding halts, over eighteen miles, and
including haults over fifteen miles
daily. Among the interesting things
observed on the way was the karez.
which was explained as the favorite
mode of irrigation in Persia and At
ghanistan. A spring is found, gen.
orally by the professional water
tinder-and then it is tapped by a series
of wells, each deeper than the other,
connected by an underground passage
Some of the karezes are of great
length; they have been known to ex-
tend forty miles.
The most noteworthy city visited by
the commission was Herat, described
as follows: The city is situated at
four miles distance from hills on the
north, and twelve miles from those
which run south of it. The space be-
tween the hills is one beautiful extent
of little fortified villages, gardens,
vineyards and corn-felds, and this rich
scene is frightened by many small
streams of shining water, which cut
the plain in all directions. A dam is
thrown across the Herr Rud, and its
waters, being turned into many canals,
are so conducted over the vale of
Herat that every part of it is watered
Varieties of the most delicious fruits
are grown in the valley, and they are
sold cheaper than at Mashad. The
necessaries of life are plentiful and
| cheap. and the bread and water of
Herat are a proverb for their excel
lence. OF the inhabitants of the place
Vambrery gives the following descrip-
ton: The eye is bewildered by the
diversity of races-Afghans, Indians,
Tartars, Turcomans, Persians and
Jews. The Afghan parades about
either in his national costume, consist
ing of long shirt, drawers, and dirty
linen clothes, or in his military un-
dress; and here his favorite garment is
the red English coat, from which even
in his sleep he will not part. He throws
il on over his shirt while he sets on his
head the picturesque Indo-Afghan tur-
ban. Others again-and these are the
beau n1oHds-are want to assume a
half-Persian costume. Weapons are
borne by all. Rarely does any one,
whether civil or military, enter the
| bazar without his sword and shield
To be quite @ la mode one must carry
about quite an arsenal, consisting OF
gun and shield. With the wild, mar
tial-looking Afghan, we can only COM
pare the Turcoman-like Jamshidi. The
wretchediy dressed Herati, the naked
Hazara, the Timuri of the vicinity are
overlooked when the Afghan is present.
He encounters around him nothing but
abject humility, but never was ruler or
conquerer so detested as is the Afghan
by the Heratis.'
Of the tribes with whom the commits
sioners were thrown in contact the least
friendly were the Nurzai, of whose dis
position the Times correspondent gives
an amusing illustration. He said: ]
was rather amused at conversation
heard between Nurzai who had been
impressed by the Ameer's officials as q
guide and one of our officials who was
thirsting for information wherewitL to
clothe the dry bones of his official re.
port. In most suave and conciliatory
tones did he accost our sulky guide
what may be yonr name, my friend?"
Gruff and disappointing was the reply.
My father knows" But our enthusi.
astic inquirer, notebook in hand, was
not to be defeated so easily. Swallow.
ing for the moment his irritation he
again clothed his words in silken attire
and mildly asked: But what is your
fathers namea" MY mother knows
was the annoying reply. Alas for poor
human nature! My friend closed hi.
pocket-book with an ugly snap, and
snarling Possibly retired and left
the surly Nurzai master of the field
the hide of his sulky stupidity, hope
quite impervious to the vindictive Par.
THAN shot. Altogether it did not seem
very desirable to encourage contact be.
tween the NurZais and ourselves
TnslGn, Times