Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-21
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The recent dispatches relative to I'll
uprising along the Afghanistan frontfe
especially that of the Afridis an
Orakzais and the hurrying of Births
troops to the scene. are events of n
small Importance and description q
the situation there will be OF interes
i Peshawur Is the last city in india o.
the border between India and Afghan
istan, while Cabool lies west of Peslia
wur; and Is the principal city 0
Afghanistan. The fight mentioned DC
CURED, it would seem. north OF Indli
and east of what is usually known a.
Afghanistan. although the boundar,
lines there are tndistinct and vague
S1mla. whence. the news comes. il
across ON the eastern side OF India
about 200 miles from Peshawur. ant
how much time is lost aud how mucf
affairs are exaggerated in that dis
| lance one cannot tell. AS recently
pointed out In the Boston TRANSCRIPT.
| the news of this uprising a few days
ago Is most important, as It's success
even in small degree, would perhaps
result In similar rise in India and In
other British colonies. The victory re-
ported would, 1t was supposed, check
the outbreak, but it seems to have in
famed it instead The first danger
seemed to be from the Khost valley.
The Khost Valley is one of the most
turbulent in his nominal dominons,
and was the scene of active operations
by General Lord Roberts nearly 10Y years
ago. The Khostwals, as the inhabitants
of the valley are called. number about
10000 souls, and can muster 5000 or 1900
fighting men. They are usually fight
ing among themselves. however, as
they are split up into two NOLAN :
medan factions-the Shiahs and the
Sunnis. The adherents of both factions
are very fanatical, and are constantly
engaged in religious disputes. which
generally end In bloodshed. They ara
always ready. however.to unite against
common enemy like the British and
their native Indian allies. :
More serious for the British, how
ever, would be hostile movement Or.
the part of the Afridis. one OF the
tribes which inhabit the hills and val
leys adjacent to the Khyber Pass. tbs
direct road between Peshawur and Ca
bool. The Afridis are the most power
full tribe on the border of the Punjaj
and can muster $4,000 fighting men.
For many years the British paid black
mail to these savages. to be free from
molestation at their hands. but time
and again they have been obliged 10
send punitive expeditions against them,
to compel them to pay decent respect
to their part of the bargain. Twenty
years ago Colonel Paget of the Punjab
cavalry, in work on THE Northwest
Frontier Tribes gave the following
description of these clansmen:
The Afridi in appearance Is generally 4
fine. tall athletic highlander. whose
springy step, even in traversing the dusty
mountain origin. They are lean. but
muscular men. with long. gaunt faces.
high noses and cheek bones. and fairisn
compilations. They are described as
brave and hardy, and make good soldiers.
wthal. They are careful shots and Skin
mishers. waiting with the greatest pa
thence for the chance of an easy shot at
an enemy. This quality is less SHOWN
ment they are sppplied with unlimited
ammunition, but sun their specially is hill
fighting. They wear coarse, home
manufactured blue shirt. loose trousers
closing in tight around the ankles, neat
sandals of straw or the leaf of the dwarf
palm on the feet. a large turban placed
jauntily on the head, with a waistband
to grid up the loins. From this may be
seen obtruding the handle of Khalbari
knife, one or two pistols, with Old flint
locks. together withsall the paraphernsllia
required to carry about a magazine. in
the shape of a pOwder-horn. cartridge
cases, flint and steel, with a huge knife
or choora-and to complete all. a match
1A..ly far al bod trh
barrel for rest. Generally speaking
there is no doubt that the Afridis are now
better armed than they have ever been
almost every fighting man possesses II
gun or pistol. besides other arms: many
of the firearms are rifled, and some have
percussion locks.
The Afridis are described by other writ
ers as being most avaricious race,
desperately fond of money, and paying
little regard to the sanctity of the mar
riage tie. although otherwise strict OBJ
servers of the precepts of the Koran.
Ruthless. cowardly robbery and cold
blooded treacherous murder are said TO
be to them the salt of life, and when not
engaged in plundering they are supposed
to do simply nothing. They re.however.
described as being of hospitable inclina-
tons when nothing is to be gained by
the robbery of a chance guest. OF late
years the tribe has become very wealthy,
the result of their peculiar views of the
rights of persons and property, and the
inaceessibility of their mountain fast
neSSeS. =
The scene of this encounter in the Swat
Valley lies apparently to the south of the
Malakand Pass and Fort Chakdara. which
was the scene of the first fighting be-
tween the Anglo-Indian troops and the
tribesmen. 1t would seem, also. thar the
hostile tribesmen had been endeavorlng
to intercept the line of communication
between the British force and its base of
supplies at Peshawur. The Malakand
Pass is some sixty miles north of Now
shera. one of the frontier stations OF she
Northwestern Railway just to the east of
Peshawur. MADAM, before the recent
troubles began, was the last British sta
ton on the southern side of the line. ara
there the guides, "a magnificent force of
Pathan cavalry raised among the frontier
tribesmen, had their headquarters. BRUSH
territory proper ended in this direction
at a point just northeast of Jalala, which
is midway between Madam and the Maia-
kand Pass, and it is In this neighborhood
that the fighting just reported has Oc-
Cured.
On both sides of the valley at this point
there is a succession of barren sand hills
with small strips of fertile land and a
few villages scattered about, but higher
up the Lower Swat Valley broadens out
to a width of some extent, and by means
Of irrigation in old and new channels
considerable amount of land is kept UNI
der cultivation. Rice as well as grain Is
raised for the Indian market. and fruit