The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-21
THE HANDSOME AFGHANs.
Unusual Pallor of the Women-Pas
 sinn fnr Intrier,ns and 1rA,a.


 Unusual Pallor of the Women-Pas-
 sion for Intrigues and Feuds.
 The Afghans may be said to con- sist of about dozen great clans. with numerous subdivisions. The strongest and bravest of these clans are the Ghilzais, the Duranis, the Yusufzais. Their members do not recognize as Afghans all of those to whom we ap- ply the term, although they are of the same religion, speak the same langu- age, possess the same traits in character and observe the same cus- toms There is, distinction with a differnce, and the ''outsiders'' are de- scribed as Pathans-not as Afghans.
 As the Afghans are handsome and athletic, writes Angus Hamilton in the London Chronicle. Often of fair complexion, they have, for the most part. aquiline features. They grow boards, but shave the top of the head, leaving the hair at the sides to fall in large curls over the shoulders. Proud Tn bearing peremptory in manner and quick to resent injury, the average Afghan is nothing if not cruel, treacherous, perjured and vindictive. His good points are that he is fear less. an industrious cultivator, hospi- table to a fault and passionately eond or field sports. Tn a contrary direc- tlon, he has passion for the vendet- ta, and his blood feuds are pursued With no uncertain energy.
 Afghan women, who possess Jewish cast of features, are handsome with complexions of unusual pallor but sometimes rosy. They are kept rigidly secluded yet intrigues are said to be frequent; and bullet or a dag Ter thrust more often than not does duty for the divorve court. Their costume is of most picturesque des- cription Even to a plain and awk- ward woman it imparts some appear ance of grace. A "piran,' or chemise. extends from the throat to just above the ankles, with seleves that reach to the wrist It is of cloth of cold, velvet. cashmere. or calico. and in shape not unlike our own Princess robe. Beneath this are tom bons, or pajamas. These may be of cloth of gold, silk, cashmere or calico, finished off at the ankles by a fringe of diamonds, gold or silver. A round cap, worked all over with gold thread, so that it looks like gold cloth, is it. ted closely to the back of the head.
 The hair parted in the centre. is done up in tiny braids, which are caught in black silk embroidered bag worn underneath the gold cap, but hanging down the back to below the waist. Married women wear a fringe of hair, often curled. on either side of the face. Descending from the top of the head to the hem of the 'piran," leaving the face uncovered, is the gracefully draped "chader --large of finest muslin filmy gauge, or delicately tinted chiffon.
 Black hair is in vogue among the bellies of the palace, and if their locks reveal any shades of fairness, or show indications of turning gray, the vain cratures, adopting the custom of their Western sisters at once dye them. Like all their sex, too, they delight in jewelry and the use of conspicuous 
 Kabul first became the capital of the country which has played such. prominent part in Asiatic history when the illustrious Baber made him. self master of it in 15b4 fifteen years before his never to be forgotten in- vasion of Hindustan. The city stands on the right of the Kabul River and Is about three miles in scircumference. It was once enclosed within wall, of which but few traces are now remain ing, and had seven gates, but of these only the Labor Gates and the Sirdar Gate are standing. The streets are tortuous, narrow and dirty, the houses are built Of sun dried brick and wood, with flat and small. recessed entrances. The shops are insignif3cant
 The present Amir Habib Ullah was born in 1872 at Samarkand, in Russian Turkestan, while his father. Abdur Rahman. was a fugitive there from Shir Ali, and he is the fourth in direct succession from the founder of the dynasty, the Amir Dost Mahommed,
 Hahib ullah is smaller in stature and much sallower than his father. to whom he bears a marked resemblance he wears his clothes with clumsy dig nity and is evidently particular about their cut, finish and condition inclined to stoutness, but the heaviness of his features is concealed in part by. a beard and mustache.
 In conversation his face lights with an engaging smile, but he has great reserve of manner, and not unusually wears an air of abstraction or 2reoc- cupation. His knowledge of our lan- guage is .meagre and he understands English better than he speaks it.
 The Amir is an affectionate parent and at one time was much married mn. At the insttigation of the priests, however three of his wives were di-