The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-27

Aga Kahn. who has just arrived at
San Francisco. with a large retinue. for
the purpose of spending several months
visiting America. while not one of the
reigning chiefs of British India. is never
theless a most important figure in that
great Eastern Empire, and, indeed
throughout the Moslem world In fact,
the influence which he yields is superior
to that Of any Oriental potentate. 1t is
an influence which he owes to the vener-
alton in which he is held throughout
Islam as a direct descendant Of the
prophet from the latter's daughter Fa-
TINA, married to her cousin, Ali, who,
after Mahomets death, succeeded TO his
supremacy as Caliph. Aga Khan is
often spoken OF as the leader of the
Khojas, the Khojas being that sect Of the
Shah Moslems who accept Isman as the
last of the revealed Imams. This sect
fourishes. not merely in India but in
Persia, Arabia. Afghanistan. throughout
Africa. along the Central Asian steppes.
in Egypt, China, the Dutch Indies. and
even in the Philippines. But the spirit
ual power of their supreme head and
pontin, namely. Aga Khan. extends far
beyond their immediate denomination.
Aga Khan. who is a cousin of the new
ruler of Persia, talks English perfectly.
and has received, save in religious mat
tiers, an essentially English education
He is an adept at golf and at tennis,
plays polo, and keeps the largest and
most successful racing stable in all India.
His wealth is enormous, and is constantly
supplemented by tributes from his re-
ligious followers in all parts of the Mos
lem world. They comprise the costiest
sables that come TO him from the Burr
ats Of Mongolia. ivory from Africa. silks
from China, precious stones from Bur
INA. He makes his principal residence
on the Malabar Hill at Bombay, where
he has "a beautiful palace. situated in su-
perb grounds. In the hot season he
moves to his exquisite villa at Poona !;
but besides this he has residences at
Damascus, BUshiTe, NUscat, Dares Salem
TeheTan, and numerous other places, the
staff Of servants employed in keeping up
all these abodes numbering several thou
sand. BY the MOslems he is regarded
with the most extraordinary amount OF
veneration, which will strike those who
meet him here as all the more remark
able in view Of his appearance and man
ner. For il is difficult TO reconcile the
sense of his vast spiritual power and re-
ligious influence with his devotion to
horse racing, polo, tennis. and golf with
his merry, fun-loving nature, always
ready for jokes, and with his speech and
attire especially when arrayed i'm i'm
macuIate European evening dress. In
fact he conveys the idea, not Of an ORR
entail prophet. but of a rather swarthy
young EngIishmau of birth and affluenCe.
1t is natural that England should treat
him with the utmost distinction. and ac-
cord to him "a still greater regard than 10
the Gaekwar of Baroda, the Nizam of
Hyderabad, and other great Indian rulers
For it is of inestimable advantage TO
her To be able TO influence a man whose
religious authority is as UnQuestioned on
the shores of the Great Lakes of Africa.
and in the Nigeria, as it is in India, in
Central Asia. in Arabia. and IN the Mos
lem provinces of China The Pope and
the Dalai Lama OF Thibet are great spirit
ual chiefs But in them the principle of
inheritance is absent The Sultan of Tur-
key owes his position as one of the lead
ers OF Islam 10 his possession of greaE
secular power But the Aga Khan. whose
full title is His Highness Sir Sultan Mo
manned Shah Aga Khan. Grand Cross
OF the Order OF the Indian Empire is
one of the three or four chiefs OF q Te-
ligion by Inheritance who are, and have
Been for centuries, voluntarily recognized
as such by followers IN all parts of the
world. separated from each other by phy-
steal and political conditions. and united
only a. their allegiance. He is without
exception, the most interesting Oriental
who has ever visited the United States
and I understand that ne VIII be well
coined with the most marked distinction
at Washington, owing. in measure. 70
the possibility of the administration en-
listing his influence i'm its dealings with
the sultan Of SulU and other Moslem
chiefs, races, ana tribes in the Philip
pines.
II is a moot question whether Aga Khan