El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-10

mans life is safe in Afghanlstan.- I'M
less accompanied by enough soldiers
properly armed, who could fight their
way through this English dependency,
which would mean war, and costly war
at that
England enjoys a certain amount Of
peace with Afghanistan and precious
few commercial advantages; ana only
because she does not permit anyone to
cross the Indian border and in every
possible way humOrs the emir, is she
able to keep up some trade relations
with this country. Suppose England
were to show her authority as she wise
" does in all of her other cOlOnies2 Sup
pose she should demand the right OF
free passage through Afghanistan for
any Of her subjects or those OF other
countries that come properly recon-
mended2 1t would avail her nothing,
for the emir knows only too we'll that
England is afraid to start war on ac-
count Of Russia
Closed to the World.
TN the SOS Russia had secured
great many concessions from the emir;
not only was the ambassador general
and his staff tolerated in KabuI the
capital but Russian business men
could travel about everywhere. and do
business But England's jealousy
which led TO deliberate efforts to preju-
dice the Afghans against Russia soon
put q stop to all OF Russia's good eff
forts. The emir closed his gates to all
infidel dogs forever. and today not
only Europeans are kept out Of Afghan
istan, but even Mussulmans from Per-
sia and BOkhara often pay with their
life for entering that country
In central Asia, the word Afghan
stands for terror and no country is so
absolutely closed to the world as AZ
Travelling Difficult.
The trip from Kashgar to Andi-
jan is one full Of danger and peril
reaches 1000 10 5000 feet and the
trail becomes so narrow that Cnly
yak can be used
This bovine is credited with being
by far the surest footed noun tain AMI
NAL known, but he doesn't live below
5000 feet on account OF the ticks which
infest the valley lands Every 10 miles
there Is a road house kept up by the
Russian government, where horses or
yaks may be had. as well as lodging.
provision and the necessary khirsiz
guides.
Travelling is only permitted by day
time, at night the wolves make this i'm
possible. Packs Of 500 to 500 wolves
have been known to even attack the
road houses and TO make prisoners of
the inmates The trip from kashgar 10
And1jan takes y to Is days ana TO cross
the Altai mountains is not an easy task
w est IurkeStan. pounded on the
west by the Caspian Sea, on the s0ufh
by Persia Afghanistan and India, on
the east by Chinese Turlestan, on the
into. the prairies OF southern Siberia,
has an area of One-fOurth the size OF
Europe West TUrhestan~ belongs TO
Russia
'.Fhree-fourths of the surface Of West
Turkestan is level. the rest mountain
Ouss the socalIed roof Of the world
being situated in the southeast ern
portion and extending into Afghanis-
tan Blowing sand very often covers
the railroad track of the Transcaspian
railroad, the only railway in central
Asia. for many miles. tying every thing
W. for weeks and causing untold hard
ship.
Compete With American Cotton.
Millions of acres in the socalled hun
ger steppe are being prepared for irri-
cation. and it viii not be VeE- mary
years until Russia viii not have to de-
pend upon American cotton. and what
is more to be feared. may seriously hurt
the American cotton industry The aY-
erage native viii WORK for 25 cents q
day. and once the water from the rivers
IS turned on these arid lands which are
comparatively free from sand and con-