The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-09-02
Railroads
Are Not Wanted

itself Is no more exclusive than BROOD
ing. suspicious Kabul, the capital Of
this isolate. unfriendly realm Of
fanatic tribes, of rocks, deserts, irri-
gated valleys, and towering unsur-
veyed ranges.
"FOr reasons of foreign policy, the
amir has long left the necessity OF
secluding his little-known land to the
greatest possible extent from the out
side world. Only few Europeans,
mostly British. but occasionally also
an American and now and then few
Russians or Germans, have had per-
mission to come into this country and
to sOjourn for while in it's curious
capital. But even on such rare occa-
siOns as when foreign engineer, or
doctor whose survices are badly
the amir, the visitor is subject to a
surveillance that amounts almost to
Imprisonment. .CN
"No ambassadors or ministers, not
even missionaries, are permitted to
reside in this forbidden Moslem land.
To-day no other monarch anywhere
Yields such undisputed authority or
Is In closer touch with the everyday
life of his subjects. He personally
runs his country's religion, its foreign
! affairs, and he even supervises much
of its commerce. He also owns and
censors the only newspaper printed In
all Afghanistan
"From the World war. though he
took no active part in 1t, the amir
emerged with singular profits. His old
and once rival neighbors. Great Brit
ain and Russia, drawn together as al
lies In the world conflict, left him a
free hand, and in 1919 Great Britain
officially recognized the political in
dependence of this much-buffeted buf-
fer state, to whose rulers she had so
long paid fat annuity.
"With an area of 2450O0 square
miles, Afghanistan Is, next to Tibet,
the largest country in the world that
is practically closed to the citizens of
| other nations. But political life at
wary. alert Kabul is In sharp contrast
to the meditative seclusion and classic
aloofness Of the pious lamas at
Lhasa. Amir Amanullah Khan,
through his agents In India and else
where Is in close touch with the
worlds current events; and, as the
last remaining Independent ruler of
Moslem country, now that the pow
er of the Caliph at STEAMBOAT is bro
| ken he wlelds a far-reaching influence
| throughout the Mohammedan world ;
also, because his land happens to lie
lust as II does on the map Of the
world, It is plain that for long time
| TO come he will be an active force In
the political destinies Of middle Asia.
| Wives Distributed az Gifts.
'From the Persians the Afghans got
the idea of marrying more than one
wife; but, like the Persians, too, they
have found. to their disinay, that
polygamy is nowadays more expensive
than exciting.
sometimes, when the amir wants
TO favor his fnithful officials with
presents, or perhaps to play practical
| Jokes in certain cases, he distributes
women among them; but these gifts
often prove so troublesome that no
great degree OF gratitude is apparent
among the recipients. t
"Amir HalSbullah Khan (who was
assa ssinated in 1919 had harem OF
over 100 women, and among these
strangely enough. were few Euro
peans. The present amir. AmanulIah
Khan. has but one wife.
''The trade Of Afghnnistnn Is moved
entirely by caravans and Is largely IN
the hands Of Hindus and Tadjlks
There is not mile Of railroad In the
Kingdom, the amir. fearing that steel
highways would make isolation ifnpos
sIble.