Catoctin clarion., 1918-09-12

~ state and prize Germany
would like to control. For 1t
is a broad door to India. The
entente-versus-Teu contest for its
adherence is gamble as delicate as
the spin of wheel. This contest may
turn on single throw Of the dice.
1t is not a question of influencing pub
lie sentiment through a 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
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, a quality
the British Raj had occasion to test
in the two Afghan wars of 1S40-4l 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. Tho
Aimaks, Ghilzais, Hazars, kafirs
Pathans, Tojiks and the UZbegs are
the principal races Of the population
The great majority Of the Afghans
are Mohammcdans 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 dcpu'
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 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
Gus, or avowed enemies. He is hand
some, Woodworking, and capable of en-
during long privations. He has the
deSDerr+e fearlessneSS of the Gurkal
"a terrible fighter-and the strong
sinewy and stalwart physique OF the
Sikh. He IS 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 fearessness
fatalism, physical strength and patri
otic fervor make him splendid sol
dier.
Agriculture Is the main occupation
of the people. They have a 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
ticularly iron and coal; gold, silver
COPPER and lead; antimony, sulphur
The industries include the making O1
carpets, felts, silks and articles from
goats and camels' hair. Afghanistar
imports every year from India tota
of $2,721,OOO worth Of goods; her i'm
ports from Bokhara alone reach to 81,
100000. Exports to India amount t.
$4,O35,0O0.
II 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 9
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
mousse. lie has cabinet ministers, but
none Is permitted to give any advice
"n''"s asked for it. But, quite unlike
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