The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-09-17

AheLeople OF AantlsLaH'
Sir George Robertson's official report
on his visit to Katiristan, which viii
soon be published by order of secre-
tary of state for India, contains an in
teresting account Of country and peo-
pie in regard to which hardly anything
was known, beyond vague surnise and
| information derived from native travel
| ers, until he was enabled, ait the risk
of his life, to penetrate within it's outer
walls. The story of Sir Georges adven-
tures has yet to be told in detail but
we have now, for the first time, the re-
suit of his observations on the geo.
graphy and ethnology of this unfamil
lar region The governor generals
agent at Gilgit, who, as every one
knows, has since distinguished himself
in the defense Aof Chitral reached the
very heart of Kafiristan, marching
Through the sacred inner valley known
to Mohammedans as Virom, and named
by the Kafirs themselves Presun.
| Speaking generally, Kafiristan, the
| Land of Unbelievers," consists of an
arrangements of deep, narrow, and tortu-
GUS valleys and narrower ravines; the
lmain valleys being separated from each
lother by rugged and difficult mountain
ranges, which can only be crossed in
the months of summer, and not always
! then. Almost every kind of mountain
scenery is eXhibited-from giant peaks,
soaring above snowf1elds and glaciers,
to thickly wooded slopes and noisy rivu-
let's hurrying past Tickets of wild vines
and pomegranates. In summer the
heat is trying at all times; but in win
tier the cold is terribly severe. When
Sir George Robertson took his depar-
ture, the Supplemented Kafirs implored
him to intercede with the great god
Imra that their country might be made
a trif1e warmer.
/ Sir George Robertson rejects the rath-
er fanciful theory held by some author
titles that the Kafirs are the descendants
Of Greek colonists planted in central
Asia by Alexander the Great. There
are traces, indeed, OF Greek influence in
the shape and ornamentation of some
of their domestic utensils, and even In
their religious observanees; but this
may be the result Of intercourse with
Bactria previous to their flight from the
south. Speaking of the general char
lacteristies of the Kafrs, he writes:
i Civilization abruptly fell asleep CEN
turtles ago in Kafristan, and is still DOR
INFANT A conquering race may progress
lin the arts and in civilization, as it prog
Iresses and excels in war-like skill. But
mot so an isolated people like the Kaf1rs.
IThey have degenerated until their trib-
lal headquarters are merely robbers
NESTS. In the various shifts and ex-
lpedients to which they have been forced
in order to preserve their freedom and
their lives, lying, running away, and
cumberland vices have been particularly
l serviceabIe. In their mode of warfare
no spark of chivalry Is possible. The
isilent watcher, his face protruding from
a thicket, wild eyes glancing swiftly and
fearfully around, or the 1.-THE form wrig-
| CLING like snake along the ground to
stab his sleeping enemy, man, woman,
or child-these are the pictures which
arise in my mind when think Of Kafir
braves; not because this illustrates the
sole method of warfare employed, but
because continued intercourse with the
people and observation Of their silent
lstealthy gait and shifty faces taught
me what are the most popular methods
of attack.
Little parties Of two or three will
Istealthily penetrate many miles into al
enemy's country where they would be al
once killed If caught. They will Greer
into forts and villages during the night
) stab right and left, and then fly to theil
own hills with hue and cry after them
In view of the inferior nature of theil
weapons they achieve wonders. The
extreme difficulties which the country
ipresents to an invader has, no doubt
. much to do with their being able tt
maintain their independence; but tht
, chief reason, after all, is the gallantry
, the reckless bravery, and devotion with
which the Kafirs defend themselves Of
carry any war into the enemy's coun
), TRY. Tt is curious to notice the almosi
superstitious fear the Kafirs have O.
rifles a feeling generated by ignorance
On one occasion a successful raidins
party on its way home was crowded
round me on a hill slope. There were
about a hundred men present. To
anluse them opened the breech of my
express rifle. The instant 1 did so many
lof them dived down the hillside from
abject fear of what was about to hap
pen.
"A kafir parliament is strange sight
The clalmor is wonderful. A dozer
men, perhaps, try to speak at once, leacf
has his own little group of listeners
whose attention, if it wanders, he seeks
; to retain by loud CALCULATIONS of al al!
or by little polSes in the ribs with hi
walking club. If some very exciting
topic is being discussed, perhaps all ar
, takers and none are listeners; but, al
a rule, when one of the tribal orator
Ilbegins to speak, he gets the attention
of the greater part of the assembly, hi
efforts being helped by shouted illus
Itrations or further arguments by on
or two of his admiring friends. Kafir
love to argue among themselves to de
eide on some definite line of action
Singly, they are often reasonable, bu
; when they go off in mob to the dane
ing platform, or group themselves unde
a tree and begin excited discussions, i
, is practically impossible to foreteH wha
| they will decide. Moreover, the dis
cussion arrived at one day is quite like
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