San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-11-16
PEOPLE OF KAFlRISTAN.
Sir George Robertson's Description of :
Almost Unknown Race.


Sir George Robertson's official report
on his visit to Kafiristan, which will
soon be published by order of the sec
rotary of state for India, contains an
interesting account of country and
people in regard to which hardly any
thing was known beyond vague sur
mise and information derived from ma
tive travellers, until he was enabled, at
the risk of his life, to penetrate within
its outer walls. Speaking of the gem
eral characteristics of the Kafirs, he
writes:
Civilization abruptly fell asleep
centuries ago in Kafiristan, and is still
dormant. A conquering race may pro-
gress in the arts and in civilization, as
it progresses and excels in war-like
skill. But not so an isolated people
like the Kafirs. They have degener-
ated until their tribal headquarters
are merely robbers nests. In the va
rious shifts and expedients to which
they have been forced in order to pre-
serve their freedom and their lives, ly-
ing, running away and underhand
vices have been particularly servicea-
BILE. In their mode of warfare no
spark of chivalry is possible. The sic
lent watcher, his face protruding from
thicl1et, his wild eyes glancing
swiftly and fearfully around, or the
1.-THE form wriggling like snake
along the ground to stab his sleeping
enemy, man, woman or child-these
are the pictures which arise in my
mind when l, think of Kafir braves;
not because this illustrates the sole
method of warfare employed, but be-
cause continued intercourse with the
people and observation of their silent,
stealthy gait and shifty faces taught
me what are the most popular methods
of attack.
Little parties of two or three will
stealthily penetrate many miles into
an enemy's country where they would
be at once killed If caught. They will
creep into forts and villages during the
night, stab right and left, and then fly
to their own hills with hue and cry
after them. In view of the inferior
nature of their weapons they achieve
wonders. The extreme difficulties
which the country presents to an in
vader has, no doubt, much to do with
their being able to maintain their in.
dependence; but the chief reason, after
all, is the gallantry, the reckless brav.
cry and devotion with which the Kafirs
defend themselves or carry any war
into the enemy's country. tits curious
to notice the almost superstitious fear
the Kafirs have of rifles, feeling gen.
Grated by ignorance. On one occasion
successful raid;ng party on its way
home was crowded round me on hill
slope. There were about one hundred
men present. To amuse them l opened
the breech of my express rifle. The
instant l did so many of them Owed
down the hill side from abject fear of
what was about to happen.
"A Kafr parliament is a strange
sight. The clamor is wonderful. A
dozen men, perhaps, try to speak at
once; each has his own little group of
listeners, whose attention, if it wan
ders, he seeks to retain by loud ejacu-
lation of al, air or by little polSes in
the ribs with his walking club. II
some very exciting topic is being dis
cussed, perhaps, all are takers and
none are listeners; but, as a rule, when
one of the tribal orators begins to
speak, he gets the attention of the
greater part of the assembly, his efforts
being helped by the shouted illustra-
trations or further arguments by one
or two of his admiring friends. Kafirs
love to argue among themselves to de-
eide on some definite line of action.
Singly, they are often reasonable, but
when they go off in mob to the dane
ing platform, or group themselves UNI
der a tree and begin excited discus
sions, it is practically impossible to
foreten what they will decide. More
over, the discussion arrived at on one
day is quite likely to be rescinded on
the next day, and reverted to on the
third. But such occurrences are ex-
ceptional, and only happen when the
people laboring under strong excite
ment on some subject, such as a pros
pect of gain. London Standard.