The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-09-27

A state and a prize Germany
| would like to control. For it
is broad door to India. The
INSTRUMENTATION contest for its
adherence is a gamble as delicate as
the spin Of wheel. This contest may
turn on a single throw of the dice.
1t is not question Of influencing pub
lie sentiment through thousand and
one approaches, any one of which may
be abandoned If proved a mistake
without jeopardizing the other thou
sand, writes Basanta Koomar Roy in
Asia. The stakes are laid on the per-
sopality 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, a noun
tain fastness, and this has given it it's
independence as a buffer state. It's
people are fierce fighters, quality
the British Raj had occasion to test
in the two Afghan wars of 1S4O41 and
| 1S7S-79. The dangerous nature of the
country's topography was also discov-
cred at this time. Afghanistan has
an area of 100000 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, Tojiks 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 deputation under Kais
| to Medina. The members of the depu-
| tation were converted to Mohamme-
danism. On their return home, the
Afghans embraced the new faith, and
| even today high-caste Afghans feel
proud to claim descent from Kais.
Afghan Has Fine Characteristics.
The Afghan is of a remarkable race
With long beard and flowing hair, he
walks with majestic step. He is kind,
hospitable, grateful. He will do any
! thing for a benefactor, but is CORE
| spondingly severe with the treachor-
Gus, or avowed enemies. He is hand
some, Woodworking, and capable of en-
| during long privations. He has the
| desperate fearlessness of the Gurkah
"a terrible fighter-and the strong
sinewy and stalwart physique of the
| Sikh. He is a born horseman, an ex-
cellent shot, and uncompromisingly IA
talistic. He is exceedingly patriotic,
and guards the freedom and the honor
Of his country as jealousy as he
guards 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
| der.
Agriculture is the main occupation
Of the people. They have remark
able system of irrigation, and every
acre of fertile land is under cultiva-
ton. The products of the farms in
clude wheat, barley, rice, lentils, to-
bacco, millet, sugar cane, lumber, cot
ton, grapes, castor-oil seeds, berries.
Industry is undeveloped, yet the coun-
try is rich in mineral resources, par
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 a total
of S2,721 900 worth of goods; her inn
ports from Bokhara alone reach to So
100000. Exports to India amount to
| S4,035, 900.
1t Is Paternal Monarchy.
The government of Afghanistan is
an absolute, but a paternal, monarchy.
The Amir is the executive and the ju-
dicial head of the state. He has a
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