Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-05
r1E AKnooNn on sKlr.
Sketch of u Mysterious Parsonage whs
nied In IXr1.

ueutn Ia years ago HOOKED every ODlt-
uary writer and geographical editor in
the United States:
In 1877 Mr.. Lannigan, night editor of
The World, receiving messages by the
transatlantic telegraph in the silent
midnight hour, read tho terrible words,
"The Akhoond of Swatis dead"
"Imperial Caesar, WHO on earth is the
Akhooned of Swat?" exclaimed the
nighteditor."Men of the Time, ""Burxe's
Peerage and Landed Gentry" encyclo-
pmdias and dictionaries were consulted
in vain. Tho Worlds library threw no
light on this mystic parsonage. The
night editor was enraged. Still the
strange name haunted him. In the
early morning, ere Mr.. Lannigan retired
to slumber, he penned the rhyme which
has made tho Akhoond Of Swat an
historage personage:
Who, or why, or which. or what,
Is the Akhoond of Swat
Is he tall or short or fair?
Does he sit on a stool, or sofa, or char,
Or squat?
The Akhoond Of Swat.
Does he take his liquor cold or hot?
Does he sleep OIL mattress, bed or cot ?
The Akhoond of Swat.
remember the time when the
Akhoond of Swat was living in the odor
OF sancity within two days Journey of
the khyber Pass. He was great
miracle-worker and a great political in
tluence in his day. Both Russia and
Great Britain sought his good offices,
and in his younger days he has led the
army OF the Moslems against the Sikhs
upon their conquest Of the Punjab. The
akhoond was an ascetic. This life of
self-dcnial and of Standardization he
began on a small island in the river
Indus, on the very ford over which
Alexander's army crossed centuries ago,
but since washed away by the floods Of
that mighty river. There among the
bullrushes, he built for himself hut of
cameps thorn and lived on coarse grass,
with an occasional cup of buffalo milk.
Exposed to the chilling blasts of a
wintry night in that lonely island this
religious enthusiast would continue his
devotions, and in its silent hours the
shore of the mighty, rushing Indus
would reverberate with the cry of the
devotee: "Allahi God, Thou art the
Guldep
forl twelve long years did the little
island below the rocky heights of Attock
resolnd with the melancholy cry of the
poor dervish until the floods of the
mighty Indus encroached upon the
limited domain of this monarch Of soil.
tude and forced him to leave his peace-
ful retreat for a busy and sinful world.
For year or more he wandered from
village 10 village, unknown and uncared
for, until he found resting place in the
little hamlet OF Saleem Khana at the foot
of Unbeyla Hills. Here he attached 10
himself a number of disciples and
gradually rose to notoriety on account
OF his severe austerities.
In 1916 he claimed the title of
"akhoond," or "teacher," and called
upon the Afghans to resist the invading
army Of the Sikhs under Ranject Singh.
The akhoond was defeated and me
olkhs remained masters of the Peshawer
valley. The akhoond then returned to
the swat valley and settled in the vii.
lage OF Syda, where he resided for the
remaining years of his remarkable life.
In 1868 he collected an army of
fanatics and fought the British forces al
Unbeyla, but skilfully withdrew from
the contest when defeat was imminent
Henceforth he was the religious leader
Of Central Asia, and his fame spread
from tie Indus TO the Oxus, from the
shores OF the Indian ocean TO those of
the Caspian.
The akhoond was twice married and
his sons are now the rulers of Swat.
large tracts Of land having been ac-
qulred by their father.
The akhoond had a reputation for
miracles. One of his wonders was said
TO be performed where | was, within
few miles of his village. A native Of
Turkey have heard of the fame of the
great Akhoond of Swat, determined To
visit the so celebrated a saint and obtain
his blessing. Before leaving his home
the Turk made agreement with his wife
lhat IN case he did not return within
PERIOD OF three years she consider her
sen divorced. After tedious Journey
by sea and land the devoted pilgrim ar
rived at syda, but not until the three
years had nearly elapsed. 10 reach his
home in time to prevent his faithful
spouse from marrying another was nm
lmpossibility, and nothing could con
sole the sorrow-stricken pilgrim. whose
counteuance was detected and whose
heart was breaking with indescribable
anguish. The poor traveller could not
eat his evening meal. Akhoond sent
Tor the Turk and reproved him for his
want Of submission 10 the inevitable de-
crees OF fate, and then latter the STYLE
and manner of the Long Island
akhoond) beat the unfortunate pilgrim
with such violence that lie fell down in
a state of insensibilty. When the
Turk came to his senses he found him
self in his home in Constantinople inst
In time to prevent the second marriage
Of his disconsolate wife.
The stern asceticsm of the akhood
was only prelude TO life of ambition.
and the Fakeer of the Island of Beylxah
became tyrant as the ruler of Swat. A
Mohammedan British subject, residing
in the village Of Pubbi, on the banks of
the Cabul river, was detected in an i'm
morality. The courtsnof Justice did not
deal with the case. The akhoond is
sued an order frcm his retreat at Svda.
and the culprit was seized, his face
and, seated on a donkey. he
was paraded round the village amid the
shouts of the people and the beating of
drums. The influence of the akhoond
was so great in those days that The
English magistrate of the district dare
not interfere.
After long and. eventful career of
sanctity and tyranny, Abdul Ghafur,
the original Akhoond of Swat, died at
the advanced age of 80; in the little viii
lage Of Syda, in the Swat valley, in the
year 1877.