The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-26

AfRhAniatan,

A~fgbanistaR. "
A new and relatively exhaustive account
OF the buffer State between the British ana
Russian possessions In Central Asia Will DO
found In a volume Of some $50 pakss en-
titled Aghdnistar BY AAovs HAMILTON
Fellow Of the Royal Geographical Society
Imported by Charles ~SoFibnef'sss onSf-.ytt
Is not the authors fault that he has not
here embodied the outcome OF personal
observations, for after his return to Lon
don from the war in M%anchuria. whittier
he had gone as a newspaper correspondent,
he visited Central Asia with a view to the
composition OF this book. but his travels
terminated abruptly In an attack OF smafts
pox, contracted from the natives, while he
was wandering In the region OF the Pamirs.
Descending via Gilgit to India from the
Roof of the World, he spent twelve months
in the labor of writing, In the examination
OF a number OF works relating to the sub
ject, and especially in consultation with
those authorities who are justly distin-
guished for their first hand knowledge OF
the heart ,of mid-Asia. We are told that
in order to establish a standard OF aocu-
racy certain chapters of the volume before
us were submitted In proofs to the criticism
OF Central Asian experts, and their correc-
lions have been embodied In the final form.
On the whole, this book may doubtless be
accepted as a summary OF what Is regarded
at Calcutta as the most accurate and inn
portant information regarding the past,
present and future economical and political
condition of Afghanistan.
Before marking what the author has to
say about the ethnographical n geological
distribution OF population, the administers
ton, laws and revenue, the industry and
trade, the means Of REORGANIZATION,
fortresses and military forces Of Afghan-
istan and about that oountry's historical
and prospective relations with British India,
1t may be convenient to glance at the de-
scription of the three principal cities, Herat
Kandahar and kabu
The province Of Herat; which, from I'M
memorial times, has been locke upon as
the western vestibule Of the region which
we now call Afghanistan, extends from
near the sources Of the Hari Rud on the
east to the Persian frontier IN the west.
and from Russin's southern boundary at
Pendjeh and Kushk to the northern limits
OF Seistan, the Afghan province which lies
Immediately north Of the border of Beluch-
istan. The province Of Herat is 800 miles
from east to west and 200 miles wide from
north to south. It has been estimated that
merely the Valley of the Hair Rud is Gap
able OF furnishing supplies for an army Of
occupation which should not exceed $50, OO0
men. It is this fact, coupled, with the
strategic value OF its position as the CON-
verging point OF roads from the Caspian.
from Merv, Meshed, Bokhara, and from the
Punjab through Kandahar, which has in
vested the town Of Herat with the title OF
the Key Of India. We are told that the
Mari Rud oasis presents a wonderful ap-
pearanoe of fertility; near the city groves
of pistachio and mulberry trees, black
berry bushes, wild roses and fruit trees
abound. This river, flowing in a single
channel from 100 to 140 feet in width, which
diminishes as the summer wanes, has been
the means Of converting into a smiling
paradise the surrounding Wilderness The
city OF Herat. built entirely Of mud, with
certain outworks lying beyond It's walls,
stands in a hollow and forms a quadrangle
1900 yards in length by 1900 in width. 1t
Is about 1850 feet above sea level. Under
the supervision of British engineers the
Notifications have been materially i'm
proved during the last twenty years, but
II garrisoned by natives Of the locality. 1T
would not be likely to withstand prolonged
attack. The Herati is not a fighting man,
for which reason the defence Of the city
is intrusted mainly to regiments from
Kandahar and Kabul. On the whole, this
position Of Herat to-day, as between Russia
and India, is likened by our author to that
Of a woman whose wares are put up to the
highest bidder. The inhabitants cannot
be described as particularly partial either
to the rule OF the Amer or to the overtures
of Russia or to the influence OF. India. One
might rather say that they are indifferent
to each Of the three interested parties and
that it is merely a question Of price which
would determine their surrender. The
population of Herat has varied materially
from time to time. When Christie visited
the town in 1909 it was computed at 100 900
souls. Previously to the siege in 1888 by
the Persians the number Of inhabitants
was estimated at 10000, but when the siege
wa raised this number had dwindled to
between six and seven thousand. APP
parently by 1857 the population had again.
approached $1,000. but when Vambery
visited the place after it's siege and cap
ture by Dost Mohammed in 1858 he was
met by a scene Of utter desolation, from
which, according to the estimate made by
Col A. c. Yate in 1885. the city had. not
then recovered. The existing inhabitants
now number fewer than $4,000, exclusive
Of the Afghan garrison, which in peace
times comprehends five regiments OF regu-
lar infantry, twenty squadrons of cavalry,
O battalion Of sappers and eight batteries
of artillery. The principal building is the
Masjid-i-Jama, or Great Mosque, which
comprises an area Of 800 square yards. 1t
was built at the end Of the fifteenth century
and stands in the northeast quarter of the
city about three hundred yards from the east
wall. When perfect 1t was 485 feet long
and 276 feet wide; it has 400 cupolas, $50
windows, 444 pillars, Q entrances, and was
adorned magnifcently with gliding. carving.
precious mosaics and other elaborate and
costly embellishments.
Herat is a dirty town. The small lanes,
crooked and narrow. which branch from
the main ~thoroughfares are rooted, and
their consequent gloom offers safe harbor-
age for the preparation Of every conoeiv-
able offence. The breadth OF these sub