Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-06

knowledge now of many men-the fewer
men the better; 1t is but fair to those men
who have brought forth oIt of Swat the
commodity that bears its name that they
be permitted to enjoy the fruits of their
Industry and genius.
But the Island of Swat does exist at any
rate 1t is one of the many unnoticed
bits of land in the Pacific Ocean, and many
vessels have anchored there, but for a
short period Of time, only to weigh anchor
and proceed.
An article on the Island Of Swat may
be found in at least one Of the late en-
cyclopaedias but the searcher after knowl-
edge must be careful to distinguish this
Island of Swat from the other principality
of Swat, which is located in the northwest
ern part of India And, though both of
tnese principalities bear the same name, 1t
is doubtful whether in any sense they have
ever had any connection, the one with the
other. 1t Is probable that the derivation OF
the name in the one instance was different
from the derivation Of the name In the other.
1t Is of course, possible that some OF the In
habitants of the island might have drifted
In ages past into India, or vice versa. How
ever, the two countries are separated In this
age not only by distance but by customs
and habits and other characteristics as well.
The Akoond of Swat and his island have
not come into the public notice only in re-
cent times. AS early as 1885, under date
of July Is, the Trenton On. j. True Ameri-.
can. published a short paragraph of
which the following Is a true copy:
1--WE learn from foreign dispatches, and
with considerable regret, that the Akoond of
Swat is dead. Who in thunder Is he, any
way? Can anybody answer? Long live the
new Akoond."
This inquiry put some Of the New York
papers on their mettle. and they started In
to find out who he was. They did not try
very hard. They took 1t all for granted.
and printed humorous dissertations upon
the subject. For awhile the matter drop
ped. Some seven years later, on Deem
bar 1900 about American in
hundred thousand was startled by the an
nouncement that there had been revolu-
ton in the Island of Swat, resulting in con-
siderable bloodshed This announcement
appeared In the Pittsburg Chronicle
This was followed by an inquiry in rhyme,
perpetrated by free lance upon a suf-
fering public, which appeared in the col
umns of the New York Sun a few weeks
later. This, in It's fullness contained more,
perhaps, than was desirable to print, but
1t Is just as well, by way of earnest, to Ie-
produce here but few OF these interroga-
tory lines:
Who or why or which-or what
Is the Akoond OF Swat?
Il he tall short dark or fair;
Does he sit on a sofa. stool or a ehair-or squat;
Is he wise foolish. young or old:
Does he drink his soup and his coffee COLOR hot:
Does he sing ;, or whistle whistle tabbsr or talk. ~
Does he wear turban fen or a hat
Does he sleep on a mattress. a bed a mat-or
The AkoOnd Of Swatf
Does he write a copy In round hand size
Does he his rs and finish his i's-with a dot:
Can he write letter concisely clear
without speck or smudge or a smear-or q
Do his people like him extremely WELL
| Or do they whenever they rebel-and blot.
| II he catches them then. either old or young
Does he have them chopped In pieces or hunR-or
shot
The Akoond of swata
| To amuse his mind, do bis people show him
Pictures. OF any ones last new poem-or what;
| At night, IL he suddenly screams and wakes
| Do they bring him only a few small cakes--or q
Does he live on turDirs, tea or tripe;
Doees he like his shawl to be marked with stripe
a dot
| Does he like to lay on his back in a boat.
| Like the lady who lived In that isle remote
Shallott-
The Akoond Of Swatf
| Does he beat his wife with q gold toy nine
rot:
Does BE- wear 4 white tie when he drives with
his friends.
And tie 1t neat In q bow with ends--or 4 knot:
Does be like new cream and hate msncs pies:
When be looks at the does he sQuint his eyes
somebody-or nobody knows. wo.,
Who. or why or which-or what
ID the Akoond Of Swatf
| This internecine agitation Of the ancient
press 10 mentioned merely that 1t may be
| understood completely. and. without doubt,