The Ordway new era., 1918-08-16

~ Stdte anu prize 0eiihahs
~ would like to control: For it
is broad door to India. The
entente-yersus-Teuto contest for Its
adherence is gamble as delicate as
the spin of a wheel. This contest may
turn on a single throw of the dice.
It is not a question of influencing pub
lie sentiment through thousand and
one approaches, any one of which may
be abandoned If proved mistake
without jeopardizing the other thou
sand, writes Basanta KOomar Roy In
Asia. The stakes are laid on the per-
sonality of one individual-the Amir
of Afghanistan. He is astute, ambi-
tious conscious of the balance OF pow
er he holds, and not unlearned in the
art of watching the turn of world
events. If this is soil for intrigue and
influence. the pretty gamble between
the Briton and the German, which at
one period of the war was at high
tension. can hardly be considered final
ly settled, though the British claim
that the game is much in their favor
at the present time.
Next to Turkey, Afghanistan is the
strongest country in the Mohammedan
world. 1t is, like Switzerland, noun
tain fastness, and this has given 1t Its
independence as buffer state. Its
people are fierce fighters, quality
the British Raj had occasion to test
In the two Afghan wars of 1S4O-41 and
1S7S-79. The dangerous nature Of the
country's topography was also discov-
cred at this time. Afghanistan has
an area of 25O,OOO square miles, inside
which both Germany and Bulgaria
could easily be placed.
The population is 100000. or as
large as that of Holland. The
Aimaks, Ghilzais, Hazars. Kafirs,
Pathans, Tojlks and the Uzbegs are
the principal races of the population.
The great majority Of the Afghans
are Mohammedans of the Sunni sect,
but there is no such bitter animosity
between the Shias and the Sunnis as
between these sects in India. The
Afghan chronicles call the people BENZ
Israil, and the people claim descent
from Saul, whom they call Talmut.
Nine years after the proclamation of
the mission of Mohammed, the At
ghans sent a deputatiOn under Kais
to Medina. The members of the depu-
tation were converted to sMohamme-
danism. On their return home, the
Afghans embraced the new faith, and
even today high-caste Afghans feel
proud to claim descent from Kais.
Afohan Has Fine Characteristics.
The Afghan Is of remarkable race.
With long beard and flowing hair, he
walks with majestic step. He is kind.
hospitable, grateful. He will do any
thing for q benefactor, but is corre-
spondingly severe with the treacher-
Gus, or avowed enemies. He is hand
some, Woodworking, and capable of en-
during long privations. He has the
desperr.e fearlessness of the Gurkah
"a terrible fighter-and the strong.
sinewy and stalwart physique OF the
Sikh. He IS born horseman, an ex-
cellent shot, and uncompromisingly fa-
talistic. He is exceedingly patriotic,
and guards the freedom and the honor
of his country as jealously as he
gu,irds the honor of his wife or wives,
as the case may be. His fearlessness,
fatalism, physical strength and patri-
otic fervor make him splendid SOL
dier.
Agriculture is the main occupation
of the people. They have remark
able system of irrigation, and every
acre of fertile land is under cultiya-
ton. The products of the farms in
cIuoe wheat, barley, rice, lentus, to-
bacco, niillet, sugar cane, lumber, cot
ton, grapes, castor-oil seeds, berries.
Industry is undeveloped, yet the coun-
try is rich in mineral resources, par
,ticularly iron and coal; gold, silver,
copper and lead. antimony, sulphur.
The industries include the making of
carpets, felts, silks and articles from
goats and camels' hair. Afghanistan
imports every year from India total
of $2,721 600 worth of goods; her i'm
ports from Bokhara alone reach to 81
100000. Exports to India amount to
S4,O35.O 900.
It Is a PaternaI Monarchy.
The government of Afghanistan is
an absolute, but paternal, monarchy.
! The Amir is the executive and the ju-
dicial head of the state. He has
council which is composed of Moham-
medan priests, noblemen and the rep
resentatives of the people. This coun-
Gil Is divided into an upper and lower
house. He has cabinet ministers, but
none is permitted to give any advice
unless asked for 1t. But, quite unlike