The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-07

Kheyl.
This, or something like it, is tn
message they sent to the British gar
rison IN Peshawar. Northern India.
The subject OF the taunting song
was a bandsman in the Hampshire
Regiment, who was found murdered
not long ago under circumstance
which could leave no doubt that h
was slain by Ghazi, a zealot sworI
TO kill. and to die, if need be, whil
killing.
After the recent border war between
the British troops aud the Alridis,
most Of the latter were pacided, and
returned calmly to their old duties as
warders Of the Khyber Pass, the mar
row defle that leads from India to
Afghanistan. They had fought and
made peace, aud all was we'll
But the zakka-Kheyl were not
satisfied. They had lost more heavily
than any other tribe OF the Afridis,
and had not inflicted sufficient damage
in return. Open warfare was impos-
sible, with the other tribes pacided,
but there was still way to even the
score. Men vowed to kill could go
down to Peshawar, ''the cork of the
Khyber," and kill by ones and twos
until the debt was paid and the feud
appeased.
1t is not feud against individuals.
Any Christian wearing the Queens
uniform will do Several soldiers had
been murdered before the killing of
the musician called attention TO the
matter. Now men go to their daily
duty in fear ana sreubiing.
Battle is one thlrg. Most men can
face that, in good compGnionship and
with plenty Of noise &c cheer them on.
But the lean Ghazi, sworn to kill or
die, crawling through the compound
in the darkness like venomous snake,
noiseless aud cool and keen on
slaughter-the Ghazi with his knife
gripped between his teeth and his |
soul ticketed to Paradise by the prom
ise Of the Prophets different af-
fair.
1t is a most extraordinary situation.
English ladies', the wives and daugh-
ters Of officers in the great Peshawar
garrison, or of the legion of civil |
functionaries who administer North
ern India may. and do with perfect
safety, ride their bicycles clear
through the Khyber Pass into Afghan
istan. The lean, brown riAemen that
guard the pass will offer them no dis
courtesy; would be their defenders in
case Of need.
But the feud Of the zakkaKheyl is
on.
Peshawar is a fashionable town. It's
European quarter is like a section Of |
Fifth avenue and Newport all in one
"a bewildering medley Of gay car
riages, brilliant costumes, parti-col. /
ored parasols; a paradise Of sport, of |
golf, tennis, polo matches, pony rae
ing, gambling in secret and Irritation
in the open.
Aud side by side with this vital,
modern nineteenth century life sinks
the primal Cain, with his barred knife.
Five o'clock tea iostles midnight mas
sacre.
A dispatch to the London Times
says that intense excitement prevails
ia Peshawar, and it is not to be won
dered at No one knows when or
where the next blow will fall. Fall it
certainly will, however, and another
aud another until the feud is STAYED.
The gray-bearded swsetmeat seller
in the bazaar, seemingly half asleep
over bis wares, may be a Ghazi Of the
Zakka-Kheyl. waiting only for night
that he may kill aud dee to the hills.
A wandering camel driver, a juggler
with his dirty red pipe and bag of
snakes, a coolie on an embankment
droning a song as he digs, each may
be murderer, implacable, impervious
to fear, With muscles of steel, heart
Of ice and the patience of the East.
As the caravans come in from far
beyond khyber with the vast trade of
Central Asia, the furs, the trees, the
bales Of hand-woven rugs. the fat
tailed sheep-who is to know which
patterin8 barefoot herdsman from the
bills nurses the memory Of brother
slain aud cherishes the sweet hope of
blood-vengeance2
Since Thuggee was stamped out in
Iadia no more remarkable conspiracy
of crime has ever puzzled the Indian
Government A man perfectly re-
gardless Of consequences aud de-
iermine3 upon killing, who is per- /
sonally unknowa aud unsupported. i
eau always do the murder he plans.
The private warfare is hard upon /
the nerves Of European soldiers, who 7
.or generations have not been ascas- Z
iomed to feui warfare. 1t makes an 0
Englishman hot in the collar not to ]
Know who his foe Is. c
Much blood is still to flow in d
Peshawar before the feud Of the Yak q
za-Kheyl is satisfied unless the Gov s
srnment takes official cognizance Of e
he campaign Of private vengeance s.
md reopsns the border war by stamp e
ng out the Iakka- Kheyls Lord Cur "a
ion viii hesitate long before he comes 8
@ that decision. New York World. y