Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-16
PEOPLE OF kAFlalsrAn.
VI ~eorGs Resertaon's Description sf an
 Aimast Baknowa Rnan


 AiEasst 1akNowa RA0a.
 Sir George RobertaoH's efasial report sa his visit to Kahristan, which will Soon be published by order of the sec reesry of state for India, contains an Interesting account of country and PsoPls in regard to which hardly any thing was known beyond vague sur mise and information derived from na- tive travellers, until he was enabled, at the risk of his life, to penetrate within its outer walls. Speaking of the Voa- arRi characteristics of the Kaars. he writes:
 Civilization abruptly fell asleep centuries ago in Kshristan, and Is still dormant A couquering race may pro- Eress in the arts and in civilization, as 1t progresses and sxcels in war-like skill But not SO sn isolated people like the Kafirs. They have degener- Assd until their tribal headeuarteus are merely robbers nests. In the vR- Fious Ahifts and expedients to which they hays been forced in order to pre- serve their freedom and their lives, I've Ing, running away and unherhand vices have been particularly serviesa- ele. In their mode of warfare no spark of chivalry is possible. The si- lent watcher, his face protruding from thicket, his wild eyes KlansinR swiftly and fearfully around, OF tho 1.-the form wriggllng like snake along the ground to stab his sleeping enemy, man, woman or child-theao are the pictures which arise ia my mind when 1 think of Kafir braves; not because this illustrates the sole method of warfare employed, but be- cause continued intercourse with tine people and observation of their silent, atsalthy gait and shifty faces taught ns what are the most popular methods of attack.
 Little parties of two or three will stealthily penetrate many miles into Rn enemy's country where they would be at once killed if caught. They will creep into forts aud villages during the night, stab right and left, and then fig to their own hills with a 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 inc vader has, nc doubt, much to do with their being able to maintain their in. dependence; but the chief reason, after all, is the gallantry the reckless bray. cry and devotion with which the Kafirn 1 defend themselves or carry any war into the enemy's country. 1t is curious to notice the almost superstitious fear the Kahrs have of rifles, feeling gen. erated by ignorance. On onc occasion a successful raid!ng party on it's way home was crowded round me on a hill slope. There were about one hundred men present. To amuse them opened the breech of my express rifle. The instant 1 did so many of them dived down the hill side from abjeet fear os what was about tn happen.
 "A Kafir parliament is strange sight. The clamor is wonderful. 4 Sozen men, perhaps. try to speak at once; each has his own little group of 1 listeners, whose attention, If it wan- ders, he seeks to retain by loud siacu- latiOn of ai, air or by little pokes in the ribs with his walking club. If some very exciting topic Is being dis cpssed, perhap1, all are takers and none are listeners; but, as a ruie whom one of the tribal orators begins to speak, he gets the attention of tho 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. KaflrA love to argue among themselves to de- eide on some definite line of action Singlv. they are often reasona ble, but 1 when they go off in q mob to the dane- ing platform, or group themselves un- der tree and begin excited discus sions, it ia practically impossible to foretell what they will decide. More- over, the discussion arrived st on ona day is quito likely to be rescinded on the next day, and reverted to on the third. But such occurrences are ex- oeptional, aud only happen when the people laboring under strong excite nent on some subject, such as B pros pect of gain. "-London Standard. -----.----
 Valuable Bookmarksrs In Old Bsoks.
 1t is told of Xavier Marmier that he one day discovered one thousand franc note between the leaves of Q book which he had picked up for few sous at a street stall. A similar, but much more marvellous, adventure has happened to young doctor in Turin. While turning over the leaves of book which had besn bequeathed along with others to the medieWl faculty of Turin by certain Dr. Giordan, he was as- toniahed to find between the pages no less than forty bank notes, amounting to the handsome sum of forty thousand lire. This incident will no doubt give rise to a most interesting case in the Turin courts. Although Dr. Giordani undou btedly bequeathed his books to the library of the faculty, his other heirs will hardly hs disposed ts admit that he intended to leave it his monetary savings as well. Possibly, however, the library trustees are quite prepared to prove that the deceased doctor was in the habit of utilizing his thousand-lire bank notes as book markers. Westminster Gazette.
 Our Diet.