The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-18

day. and guarded with great vigilance by
the British cOnqueror, but IL has historic
associations dating back To very early
period. 1t has been the scene not only
of the various trading enterprises OF
"klondiko expeditions" OF adventure in
early times, but 10 has been the highway
for every invading force to India for many
centuries before Christ A writer in the
London Echo" gives an interesting
sketch of these military incursions when
armed legions marched through the dark
defles of tho kbyber ana forcing an
entrance into the Peshawar Valley, which
is now held 10y strong and vigorous
garrison OF British troops, crossed the
Indus and conquered India
PERSIAN AND GREEK INVASIONS.
Five hundred years before Christ there
is lust the misty outline existing of a
great and conquerlng army passing from
Persia into Afghanistan, and so on
through the Khyber on its way to India,
IL not personally led, at least projected by
Darius, the king Of kings Then, after
two centuries of tumult. the Genius OF
the Past" points to another formi liable
invasion sweeping over kabu!. It's ad-
vanced guard OF strangers was
formed Of strangers with fair
complexions; they had light hair ana
blue eyes. spoke n strange language, wore
long -sleeved. tight-fittinR jackets OF wool
en- cloth--not sheepskins or the hides OF
shining brass and greaves of thick and
finely embossed leather: tney carried
short swords 'of brass and each horse
man had two long spears; their fleet
horses passed through kabui like tho
waves of the sea. and their imperious
riders gave out that they came from
far-off country called Macedonia; they
were led by a young and fiery
general named Alexander alexander the
Great) After sweeping through Afghan
istan like a cloud OF locusts. this army
pressed all tho best soldiers OF the con-
quered into its ranks and hurried on to-
ward India through tho khyber Pass,
where at Attook, on the Indus, IL was
Joined by more legions who had arrived in
India bv other routes.
During the following ten centuries
neither the annals Of India nor the ira
ditions of the Afghans can say much
about other invasions, although there are
good reasons 10 suppose that. In the In
teryal, Tartar, Persian and Afghan
armies in turn crossed the great frontier
river for purposes of conquest and
plumber, ultimately to be more or less
absorbed among the dark millions of this
fruitful peninsula.
The time spaces appear to have been
filled up by long caravans OF camels
wearily journeying from Tartary, Persia.
China and Siberia, II not actually for
purposes Of trade ut least for worshiping
the few holy places sacred to the prophet
Budda, who had first appeared Ii. Z. 800.
Many sought for the holy city OF
Kapilavastu, where the blessed Budda was
born. or went To sacrifice before the
much loved Bo-tree, where their great
high priest first became enlightened by
celestial wisdom.
THE FIRST MUSLIN INVASION.
In A. ID. g77 Mahmud. the sultan OF
Ghnzni. invaded Afghanistan and con-
uuered that country, but soon discovered
that all its supposed riches came from
another land, 70 which kabul river
pointed the way. Ho passed on through
the Khyber Pass, and at Attock met the
Brahmin monarch .Ieypul. backed by an
army of 200. 600 foot and lOo, 600 horse.
Here was repeated, not for the first time
in India, the spectacle OF soldiers OF the
plains teing completely overwhelmed by
the more handy warriors OF the hills. Ii
was the first time in history that the
soldiers of Muhammad had met those OF
3rahma but the conquest was not per-
manent for we find this sultan and his
chief followers returning TO Afghanistan
again through the defiles of the Khyber.
Notwithstanding, Jeypul, the wealthy
sovereign Of Lahore. was so grieved at his
deie mt that he resigned the crown to his
son, and made ready to give up his life.
Having ordered funeral pile TO be pre-
pared, no set fire to ii with his own
hands, and thus perished In remorse.
THE SECOND MUSLIN INVASION.
The next Afghan invasion was opposed
by tho combined monarcbs of 9walior,
Lahore, Delhi and Ajmere. but their
armies were routed. chiefly by panic
among the elephants Ibe invaders then
had fair field before them; they de-
stroyed fortresses; broke down magnifl-
cent temples and returned through khy-
ber loaded with plunder. Piunder and
the propagation of islam. rather than the
consoI idation of a great empire, appears
TO have been the chief object OF this con-
aueror. Mahmood, who though he sup
planted the rajabs by his own governors,
continually withdrew to tho royal city
of Ghuzni. in Afghanistan. there to en-
Joy among his own kindred, tho rich
fruits of Indian victories. Mahmood
great object wes not even to accumulate
wealth. but rather to root out idolatry.
After tho capture Of Sumnaut he went
To tho beautiful tomple Of hewn stone,
with its lofty roof, supported by % pill
lars, curiously carved and set with jasper
mcdallions. Here, so covered, was the
great idol OF tbat part OF India, standing
IL feet in height Surrounded by tho con.
quered and conquering armies Nah
mood approached the imogo. raised his
mace OF gold and conteinptuously struck
off its nose. He then ordered other parts
10 ho broken OIL ana COnVeyeu 10 bnuEnl,
where they may still be seen Succeeding
blows laid open the caphcious stomach Of
Somnat, found 90 be full Of diamonds,
rubes, pearls and golden treasures-so says
Mohammedan history.
THE MOGHUL CONQUEST.
Timur marched into tho khyber Pass
in 1898, and lighting his way through
tho Peshawar Valley crossed the River
Indus in September Of that year. Con
quering as he went, no arrived before Delhi
with 100, 900 prisoners, who were there
massacred TO prevent munlty. Delhi,
with all its immense treasure was again
plundored, but the chiet citizens. fearing
torture set fire to their own houses and
thus perished, with treasure, wives and
families, I'm the flames. Thousands OF
skilfu workmen wero made prisoners,
and sent Off tn Samarcand. there TO EN- q
bellish Timur's capital. Again the tribes
of the [hybcr swept down upon these
wretched people. and took from them all
that Thurs officers had left. even to
their clothing and their wives Having
established his authority at Delhi, Iimur
returned 20 Sacl8rcand. reading the rob-
bor tri hps of ths pass "A lesson on 4 no way,