Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-24

yesterday and Immediately made
EAoBI II known that his visit was OF a
purely private character. Never
theless. formal calls were exchanged he
tween the amir and the viceroy. ana then
the amir settled down to a program Of
sightseeing.
Tha. really is the end and aim Of tbs
Journey, which Is remarkable one. The
amir is tourist. and as he is. for the first
time IN his lie. outside the boundaries Of
his native country he IL Informing hin,sals
and enjoying himself as only a tr.voter
can who is under no necessity OF consider
ing the cost Of pleasure or Of anything
else that interests him
He left his capital. Kabul late in De-
cember. and has been on the way ever
since. pausing when and where he listed
making side excursions to see roInts ~
interest or to pray at famous shrines. For
this private UNOFFICIAL tour he surrounded
himself with a retinue OF no less than
1900 persons. who are now quartered IN
this city.
1t must be difficult for Americans TO get
an adequate conception OF the amir either
es man or a ruler. for there is no ooun-
try with which new world people come in
direct or even diplomatic contact that
oners any sort OF analogy 70 Afghanistan
and It's civilization. There is civilization
In Afghenistan; there are stone houses.
splendid palaces, an extraordinary litera-
ture, which itself implies educational insti.
buttons; well organized government, lava
courts, army. police; but there is not one
mule Of railroad and there are few other
roads suitable for wheeled vehicles; and
its monarch. man of native intelligence
and highly educated according 20 Afghan
standards. has had his first ride in a rail-
way train this month. his first ride in a
motor car, and has had his eyes opened
In many other respects to things which by
mere force OF familiarity we have come
to regard essential Accomplishments Of
civilization.
Afghanistan IL one of the few countries
from which Great Britain had to retreat
after gaining a foothsld on the soil Be-
fore the middle of the last century the
Afghans drove out the British garrisons
and their defendants with great slaughter
No serious attempt has been made to re-
cover military control of the country, but
what the British army failed to do has
been accomplished so far as is necessary
FOR British interests by diplomacy and
money.
After much negotiation the late amir
father OF the present ruler, agreed that
Afghanistan should accept the advice Of
the British government In India on ali
questions relating to foreign affairs This
means In plain language that Afghanistan
is dependent on Great Britain. 1t cannot
make war with or enter treaty relations
/. with any other government and cannot
maintain agents or representatives in for
Sign capitals
50 far as Its domestic affairs are con-
oerned. however, Afghanistan Is as indie
pendent as the United States ana the amir
Ia its absolute ruler. He is in his own per-
son the court of appeals for all kinds of
cases and he can abrogate the Laws or pro-
claim new ones without let or hindrance
from Great Britain. There were two con-
siderations which induced the late amir to
deprive his country OF individuality in the
list Of nations-the payment to him by the
Indian government of $4,000 annually and
the guarantee by the British government
that Afghanistan should be protected
against unprovoked aggression
The country covers an area about equal
70 that of the New England states, plus
New York. Its population lie estimated at
nearly 100000. The present amir was
born In 1872 and succeeded to the throne
In October. 1901
He formally reafirmed his fathers treaty
with Great Britain IN 1905 and at that time
announced that he weuId make q journey
20 India In 1907 His 0dicial designation IN
=. rather formidable to EAglish-resdinS eyos,
lbut really not more 20 than the complete
designation Of other monarchs, the king OF
England for example. to whom oflcially
we must refer as ais most excellent maj
esty. Edward the Seventh. by the grace Of
God. of the United Kingdom Il Great
Britain and Ireland. ana of the British de-
minions beyond the seas. king. defender
OF the faith, emperor Of India" The amirs
designation is ''his highness sirsj -ul-miIlat-
wad-din Amir Habib Ullah Khan" which Is
comparatively modest In dimensions how
ever grand its meaning may be. Since his
accession he has also been made a grand
commander of the Order Of St Michael and
st. George.
The amir supports a considerable hareln-
II is not known how many conoublnes he
has but there are four regularly recog-
nized wives. the chief Of whom. known az
- the queen wife. enjoys allowance Of
tS75Oo0 a year. The allowances of the other
wives are $4,000 t1bOeOO and $4,000. ac-
cording TO seniority.
There is also q queen mother in this CON-
pick family, and II is well known that the
young monarch has a monkey and parrot
time Of It In maintaining domestic dis
oipline. The queen wife. who was formerly
a slave girl. ana whose beauty infatuated
Habib Ullah while he was yet a prince. ID
She is madly Jealous. obviously with
cause enough. and has not viewed the ac-
cession OF other wives with any degree OF
equanimity, but she cannot help herself
because the amir maintains, and the Law
tustihes him, that his rank entities him tc
at least four wives. So the queen wife
takes Il out on her attendants She chas-
tises them freely and frequently. and thus
far has killed three OF them with her Owl
hand. Abominable as this may seem in thu
eyes OF western civilization the worst of Il
S. % far as the amir is concerned. thai
the queen mother. the queen wife and al
the other wives are forever interfering II
politics. Their jealousies and conflicting In
trigues keep the court in turmoil and
tenure OF Office is preoarious for Habil
Ullah Is not celebrated for irmness. He Il
good natured and prone TO avoid trouble b
yielding 70 Il.
In his journey through India he has beer
conspicuous for his amiable qualities am