The Louisiana populist., 1898-01-21
HILL TRIBES OF INDIA.
TRAITS OF THE TRlBESMEN WHO
REVOLTED AGAINST ENGLAND.
They Are the Strongest, Most Warlike
and Bloodthirsty People in Asia -
They Have Been Urged On by the
Cruel Ameer of Afghanistan.


Cruel Ameer of Afghanistan.
India's hill tribesmen are the Pay
thans or Afghans-pure Aryans, men
Of the elder race. They are of mighty
stature, with powerful muscles and
love of combat. They are brutal
and deadly. They neither ask nor
receive quarter. They are full Of cum
ming and strategy, and they go into
battle fired with fanaticism.
The present revolt against England
is the outgrowth of this fanaticism
and the resentment against British in
tuence. The hill tribes do not take
kindly to the innovations of civilized
life. They want the country for them
selves and to follow their own ways,
which is natural enough. Their petty
rulers long for the time that shall
never come, when a British resident
Of political party will not interfere
with their pleasures and ambitions.
The priests and religious leaders
have done much to stir up the trouble.
Their influence is beyond the realiza-
ton Of one vino is not familiar with
native life in India.
One who has not studied the tribal
differences cannot make head nor tail
Of the distinctions. But this much is
quickly realized, the hill tribes are
the most dangerous in India. They
are natural warriors. They have lived
by the sword and spear for thousands
Of years. Now they have excellent
rifles which they have purchased, or
stolen, or captured from the English:
Every little while feeling of un-
rest, followed by significant activity,
takes possession Of the hill tribesmen.
This time it gained headway and
spread widely before its real impor-
tance was grasped. The Ameer of
Afghanistan is largely responsible for
it. It is on the border of that country
that the trouble is.
Abdur Rahman Khan is a very able
and bloodthirsty ruler. He is jealous
Of what he considers his rights and
privileges. Among these are included
certain tortures and outrages which
he is pleased to inaict upon those
who arouse his displeasure.
The Ameer has been going too far
during the past months. He has been
subjecting women to the most horrible
tortures. He has burned few of
them alive, and he has crucifed
others.
1t is very horrible thing to see a
woman nailed to cross and floating
down q river, as tie English soldiers
have seen more than once. And they
cannot escape the responsibility of
these things. When awoman's limbs
are hacked off because of the anger of
some ruler, it may be attributed to
accident, but crucifxion is different.
The Ameer was told very plainly
that he would have to behave himself.
His country has had experience. The
Paythans have had a beautiful time
in the beginning of the Afghan wars,
but the English had their revenge;
and the big hairy warriors suffered
terribly.
The Ameer did not want to give up
his dreadful pleasures, and he wished
to retain the support and goodwill of
the English government. To that end
he sent his son, Shadzadis, as q spe.
cial envoy. But the son was not rec
ognized. He was sent back home and
directed to tell his father to behave
himself and to stop his fendishness,
or there would be punishment in store
for him.
This aroused the anger of the
Ameer. He decided upon revenge.
He didn't want to declare war himself
and have the troops pour into his
country. He chose a much more ef-
fective and safer way. He stirred up
the border people.
A few of the bands under the direc-
ton of the Ameer started the ball
a-rolling. Of course, he has declared
that he has no influence over these
folk, and cannot hold them in check.
It doesn't deceive the British, but it
protects the Ameer in a measure.
1t is a wild and terrible country in
the fastness Of the Himalaya noun
tains. It is the home of the hillmen.
This gives them tremendous advan.
tage. They know the trails over the
mountains. They can attack, massa-
ere and escape,
The Importance Of this present mu-
tiny lies in the great numbers that
have arisen and the tribes that have
revolted. The Afridis have turned
against the English. It is a populous
and powerful tribe, and this makes it
dangerous. And heretofore the Afri-
dis have always been loyal. They
have come to be looked upon as de.
voted adherents, as much to be de-
pended upon as the Sikhs, who re-
mained faithful during the mutiny Of
1857. They have guarded that pas
sage which leads from India to the
plains of Jelubad, the keynote Of the
situation, "that sword cut in the
mountain which men call Khyber
Pass"
1t is a narrow defile thirty miles
1rpr, Nth