The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-24
ON, D. O., THURSDAY, MAY "a, 1SSS-TWELVE PA

wonld never think of striking back at the
Khans farrash, who lays about him vigorously,
on occasion, with long switch, much as though
he were chasing away cattle. Old and young
receive blows without resentment.
All through the East it seems to be tacitly
understood that everybody has right to strike
his interiors and that it would be unpardon-
able presumption in the inferior to strike back or
adopt any more self-assertive measure than edg-
ing away. As a general thing in Persia blows
are given and taken with the bland and child
like philosophy of Kismet. The person who
knows himself to be in the wrong on some tri-
fling occasion receives pr0pOrtionate amount
of chastisement meekly, as being no more than
his just desert, even though the party who as
sumes the roll of executioner be a casual stran-
ger, acting on the spur of prima-facie evidence.
What is the concern Of one seems to be the con-
Germ of all not only the party directly az
grieved, but the onlOokers also are very likely
to take hand in cutting an cvil-dOer. The
person WHO'S thus publicly cuficd feels no sense
of disgrace. The whole matter IS regarded
most philosophically; having melted out pun
ishment to an offender they hob-nob with him
again on equal terms at once.
Among the
HALF-CTvILIzED AFGHANs
the rod is recognized as q very essential factor
in dealing with subordiuates. There is a GER
tain pariah strata of Afghan society that is COM
posed of persons whose attributes and instincts
are amusingly anmal-iike. They are the de-
pendents and hangers-on of the better-class
servants about the persons and establishments
of khans and military chieftains-servants of
servants. Depending for their livelihood and
tolerance on the performance Of the most me-
NAL services, shiftless irresponsible, happy go
anyhow mOrtals, they accept kicks and cuts as
part and parcel of their existence. They seem
mutely thankful at being permitted to live.
If an Afghan wishes to show particular honor
to his guest portion of the display IS very
likely to be made through the medium Of the
carcass of some seryitor who is detailed for
mental service. The head farrash is expected
to honor his masters guests by ostentatiously
fOgging this unfortunate underling around
with a stick to hurry him up. By making him
hop around and perform his services in lively,
cheerful manner, the hOspitable intention Is
| supposed to be measureably emphasized.
An amusing exhibition of this peculiar phase
of Afghan life was connected with my own ar
rest at Furrah. MahmOud Yusuph Khan, by
| way Of apolOgizing for the unpleasant neces-
| sity of having to send me back to Herat, was
anxious to impress upon me, in other dIrec-
| tiOns his good will toward me as an individual
Ia this Iaudable ambition there figured promi-
nently his chief farrash, a smart fellow in a
! cloud of snowy raiment, and wild Negro, who
was to accompany our party to Herat III charge
! of the nummud horse.
The farrash's role in the program was to
| chase the negro around and rain blows on him
with long iron kabob skewer, used in the
Afghan army for roasting kabobs on, and the
Negroes duty was to receive the castigation with
| as good grace as possible The negro was as
/ wild and almost as ugly as gorilla, and his
! idea Of good grace was TO scurry around ahead
of the farrash, make frantic rushe5 at the work
| of preparation, and howl loudly whenever the
| kabob skewer fell across his shoulders.
] MA e
VERY REALISTIC ACTING,
performed for the benefit of an audience Of one
! myself So realistic was it, in fact that the
| farrash bent and twisted the iron skewer all
out Of shape over the negrO's back, while the
martyr to AlahmOud Yusuph Khan's method Of
showing me how sincere he was IN his friend
ship scurried around like cat on hot bricks.
But no matter in how lively manner the gen
tleman Of color hoped around, the nimble fig
ure in the cloud of white was at his heels am
bilious to emphasize the good wishes of his
master. There was such an element of ludi-
! crousness in the whole sCene-a veritabIe
comedy it was in black and whitehall / had
to laugh outright. This seemed to convince the
farrash that his efforts were meeting with due
! appreciation, and, encouraged to aCqUit him
self to the best of his ability, he followed the
negro around and lard on, Macdud," harder
than ever.
1t will be seen that in all these scenes in
| Hungary, Seryia, Bulgaria, Persia and Afghan
| istan there was an element of the seriOcOmiCal.
The semi barbarous brutality was always re-
lieved by the palpabIe absence Of viciousness in
the actions of the aggressor, and by the pbilO-
sophica acceptance of the punishment by the
party beaten. The old lady in Hungary was
simply exercising her birthright to chastise a
delinquent mental. The young Serbian mobiles
slashed the peasants for their own diversion
The Bulgarian Chorbadji was the rude repre-
sentative of justice. The Afghan farrash was
acting up to his lights in doing honor to his
masters guest. Whenever my thoughts wan
der back to any of these scenes it provoke:
a smile They seem like just what they were
the simple doings of grown-up children.
RUSSIA.
Bat a complete change comes over the scene
as one crosses over into Russia. The scenes re
called no longer affect the disabilities. / shall