The Monticellonian., 1918-08-16

/A state and prize Germany
 A would like to control. For it
 is broad door to India. The entente-sersus-Teuton contest for it's adherence is gamble as delicate as the spin of a wheel. This contest may turn on a single throw of tbe dice. It is not 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 aFe laid on the per sonality of one individual-the Amir of Afghanistan. He is astute, ambi- tiOuS, conscious of the balance of pow CT 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. It is. like Switzerland, a noun tain fastness, and this has given it its independence as buffer state. It's people are fierce fighters, a quality the British Raj had occasion to test in the two Afghan wars of 1S40-41 and 1S7S-79. The dangerous nature of the country's topography was also discov- cred at this time. Afghanistan has an area of 2500o0 square miles, inside which both Germany and Bulgaria could easily be placed.
 The population is 6,000,000, or as large as that of Holland. The Aimaks, GhiIzais. 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 Beni- Israil, and the people claim descent from Saul, whom they call Talmut. Nine years after the proclamation of the mission of Mohammed, the Af- ghans sent a deputation under Kais to Medina. The members of the depu- tation were converted to M0hamme- 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 treacher- ous, or avowed enemies. He is hand some, hard-working, 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 jealously 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 dier.
 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 ticularly iron and coal; gold, silver copper and lead; antimony, sulphur The industries include the making O carpets, felts silks and articles iron goats and camels' hair. AfghapistaI imports every year from India tota of S2, ,721 GOO worth of goods; her i'm