New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08
WHERE EMPIRES MEET.
THE BRITISH-INDIAN RAMPART ALONG
THE ROOF OF THE WORLD.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRIBESMEN OF
THE HILIs-A POSSIBLE REMNANT or THE
LOST tribes or ISRAEI-A
GLIMPSE OF THE PAMIRS
GLIMPSE OF THE PAMIRs.

The scene Of Britain's latest little war; is a
suggestive one, both reminiscent and forebodihg.
Chitral lies in the very shadow of the mighty
wall of the. Hindoo Koosh. and properly pertains
to that Afghan realm which was the militant
part Of the old Empire of Iran. 1t was in Sells
tan that Saum, the Pohliva, son of Nerlmah'
dwelt and ruled, and his mightior son. Hal, ana
his grandson. Rustem, the miShtiest of all. IL
was the boast OF the latter that he bore sword
and mace Of Cabul. The latter dread city
. . set at the mountains scarped feet, hes
lust over the range from Chtral. Just to the
south lies Swat. whose picturcsquey entitleu
ruler gave TO the world one Of its most famliar
nonsense questions. Beyond Swat lies the hhy-
Der Pass, in whose name resides more than d
hclf-century of stirring Indo-Afghan history.
Then if to them are added the indubitably
Semitic features, names and rites of the noun
tain tribcsmen the Abrahams, Isaacs and Ja-
cobs which make up their nomenclature, the
tales Of Canaan and of the Persian exile when
throng their familiar legends, suggestions OF ro-
nance are borne back TO some Of the most I'M
pressivc eras Of recorded time.
All bordcrlands seem turbulent Perhaps the
little buffer State is doomed to be ground u
powder between its giant neighbors But a
hard flint pebble may do much mischief 10 the
upper and neither millstones. Chitral and SWAT
and Waziriland and Kafirstan are properly
borderland between India and Afghanistan' ana
naturally belong to the latter. But Afghanstah
IS not the ncighbor India breads. Slowly pu'
surely Russia has been making her way TO the
Roof Of the World" and now from the desoate
heights Of the Pamirs she looks. or is supposed
to be looking, with longing eyes toward the
fertile Indus Valley. Wakhan, Roshan aho
Shignan and other minor States lie at her iee'
AMI then the long slopes of the Hindoo hoosh
and India. These hillside States must form the
British vantage ground on which to make the
stand if IT ever must be made, against thf
Northern foe.
RIVALS IN CHITRAL.
Chitral indeed. is the one border State whlcf
touches the Russian frontier and also the Chl
nose 1t is the apex of the British Indiar
wedge driven to the heart Of the continent. tC
meet the apces Of two other imperial wedge:
driven home to the same goal. The Russian al
vance first drew attention to it, or something
more than mere attention. Captain Younghus
band travelling in that region, suddenly came
upon a Russian military force under the famous
pioneer of conquest, Captain Grombchevsky' OF
his colaborer, Captain YonoG. The latter nae
actually come through the passes of the Hlndo'
Koosb and advanced down the slopes. vi
meeting the British party. the Russians maze
mighty show OF innocence, as though fnereiA
travelling for health and pleasure, and so pl
an easy circuit moved back to their own land.
But the incident set Simla and Calcutta t.
thinking and Downing Street as well Chitra
was closely watched. Every murder OF Men
tar was taken into account. And when serie
Of such tragedies made the throne seem unstable
and the Kahn OF Jando planned to conquer IL
and the Ameer Of Afghanistan prepared to SELF
both Chitral and Jandol and Russia was deemed
ready to seize them ALL the gods Of things as the
are began to consider TIE things that are TO De
British force was sent to Chitral, to make
permanent garrison and keep the throne secure
A highway was opened up from Peshawar III
which the loyal legions Of the SlkhS ana luhJapl
could hasten should need he. To guard the passes
And subsidy was settled on the Mehtar' thu
making him a Vassal Of the British Indian En-
pire.
So stands the case to-day, the present eruption
being no more than a protest Of the more un
rulv Chitralis against the British overlordshlp
And so it comes that once more
The silver-throated clarion blows
Across the Pathans reody fen,
And the high sleeps Of Indian SHOWS
Shake to the tread Of armed men.
Hut if is and will be only n little war" TIL
masses of the tiibcsmon If the hills are loyal t
the British under constrant Of circumstances
if not through heartfelt love. They are al
Pathans. save the nondcscrpt Kafrs, and hav
the velI-known characteristics Of the Patha
race. The old story that tEey are Greeks. de
seconded from a colony planted by Macedonia
! Mailman" is TO BE- dismissed Some traces o
Greek forms in implements and weapons ma,