Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-23
INDIAN TRIBESMEN
PURCHASING RIFLES
Traders Profit Through Immense De-
nand for Arms and Ann-
nnunition

CALCUTTA, Oct. 22.-It is reported a
certain number Of rifles, with small
quantities of ammunition, have been
issued from Kabul to the jail Mangal
and Jadran tribesmen in Khost ana
it's neighborhood. Formal applications
for these arms have to be made by
tribal headmen through the local Al
CHAN officials, and security for pay
ment is probably taken. The ameer
has not yet sanctioned any geneIai IeI.1
distribution of rifles in the borderland,
though he encourages purchases
wherever money is forthcoming Ac-
cording to one report, the business
done has reached large proportions.
This is the natural result of the arms
traffic into Muscat, an abundant sup
ply of rifles and ammunition having
been received in Afghanistan.
A new phase is reported in the trar-
fic in arms. In Sarhad and the coun-
try south of BAN the number of rifles
in the forts of the Baluch chiefs is
now so large the market may be SAID
TO be glutted. These reserve stocks,
stored to await the arrival OF cara
vans. can be drawn upon by Afghan
traders at any time and some adVen-
turous spirits have tried to open new
market at Herat. This would indicate
that the tribesmen on the Indo-Afghan
armament or have no money left with
which to buy more rifles. The latter
is probably the real explanation. An
other factor is influencing the mar
ket Sharp practice is not unknown
among the traders, and many rifles
built to take black powder have been
sold with consignments of smokeless
ammunition. The result has been dis
astrous to those who have been thus
A Of fatal accidents
have occurred.
Are"Forcing Recruits
News comes from Jellalabad that
in consequence of orders from Kaoul
the governor of that city has actively
started on a conscription campaign
and has been collecting one man in
every eight for military drill at Kabul
and one for labor on roads and public
buildings. Consequently number or
Jellalabad people have escaped to
British territory.
A case of the 1nost remarkable kind
which has come before the additional
sessions Judge of Gonda at Bahrarch
is exciting the greatest interest
throughout India. Ten police othcers,
including Inspectors Makur, Jagan-
math, Singh and two subinspectors,
were accused of conspiring with other
prisoners to fabricate false evidence
and to bring false charge against
fifteen persons for the offense of as
sembling together to commit dacoity
(robbery). 1t appears that large cap
ture of dacoits was supposed to have
been made by the police in Kuth some
time ago and the persons arrested
were committed for trial to the
sessions.
Before the hearing came on Inspec-
tor Hakim Khan, who took part in the
capture, made a statement the whole
case was false and concocted; that the
persons captured were not dacoits but
ohowkidars disguised as dacoits, who
had been placed ready in Kutti with
guns, pistols and ammunition and in
structed how to act; that the persons
arraigned as the dacoits captured in
Kutti had been arrested at various
times beforehand and collected at
Rupaidiba, where they were substi-
tuted for the chowkidars on the re-
turn of the party from Kutti, and that
everything had been arranged before-
hand. After making this extraordinary
statement. Inspector Hakim Khan
shot himself.
Grain Trade Improves
In pleasing contrast with the stag
nation which marked the grain season
last year the wheat and seed trade Is
at present in a very satisfactory con-