The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-11-03
Anachronistic Struggle Between
Bandit HiHmen and Peace
full Plainsmen Persists.
TRIBES ARE Widest OF WILD
lAdIa's Northwest Borderland 10 a
Racial Crazy QviIt-Mountalnser
Never Completely subdusd by
Afghan or 1riton.

midas annual frontier war" is on
But, as pointed out in a bulletin from
the Washington Cd. c. headquarters
of the National Geographic society
dealing with the northwest Indian
frontier, troubles in the East might
easily mean a great deal more this
year.
with the Near East, central Asia
and India seething with unrest" says
the bulletin, "any mud-walled Afghan
village, with its battlemented towers
might become another Serajevo.
Hillman W. PIainsman.
From Armenia to Waziristan,
where ever-wild mountains, destitute
Of crops, frOwn down on rich valleys
and wide, fertile plains, there persists
the anachronistic struggle between
the freedom-loving bandolero of the
mountain Businesses and the peace
loving plainsman. Steadfast stand
the frontiers which separate the re-
giOns where law and order are help
from those where they are a hin
drance.
"The tribes which inhabit the
tumble Of land between the Indus and
the Afghan boundary are a wild lot
Malaria has left its mark on many
but the fittest have survived Climate
and famine. knife and jezail have dis
posed of the weaklings. Neither At
CHAN nor BritOn has ever been able
completely to subdue the freedom.
loving mountaineers who inhabit this
rabbit-hutch- of warlike clans which
have been used pro and con according
to where the best fighting was prom
ised and the best pay offered.
These are the independent tribes,
each with its own William Tell. And
If their independence is noticeable
from beyond the breastworks Of their
beloved hills, their local independence
is just as marked. For every man
who has fallen before. the invader
many another has fallen in the inter.
minable inter-tribal blOOd-feuds.
Zone might call the region the land
Of Pushto and postin, for Pushto is
the language which binds most Of the
tribes together even more closely than
their Mohammedan religion.
1.-THE Pathans claim descent from
the lost tribes of Israel, who were car.
ried captive into Media by Nebuchad.
nezzar That makes them close rela.
tives of the Durani Afghans, whose dy
nasty still fdles Afghanistan. But
there are Pathans and Pathans, and
locally at least they are called by
other names.
GhiIzai Makes Fine Figure.
"The man who wins deepest admi
ration is the Ghilzai, upon whose car.
avans the frontier trade depends
Once their dynasty ruled Persia. Now
they weave the shuttle of trade bach
and forth between central Asia and
the Indian plains, bringing the rich
rugs Of Bokhara and Persian pussy
cats past the stern walls Of Fort Jam
rud to the Kabuli bazaar in Peshawar
Tricky as a gypsy In horse-trading, full
Of contempt for the Hindu and OF fei
low feeling fer the Sikh, Warriors b,
courage. robbers by nature, traders b.
profession, the Ghilzais are a manly
lot whose early forbears Of Turkish
origin lived in the central AsiaE
lands whence they bring down the
dried fruits Of Murghab and the
Zerafshan. Hramping along with hit
heavy-necked camels, his powerfuI
chest barred to sun and wind, the Chill
zai is fine figure Of a man, one who
<hA 90 En-
Of the South, could well be thought
a god
Gall an Afghan 'Wazir' and he will
show gratitude. Call him 'Waziri
and he may kill without warning, fol-
the Waziris, the largest of Panthar
tribes, are considered as dregs of the
earth by their fellow Afghans. Theil
women are free and often unfaithful
their men hot-headed and vain TheiI
environment has given them fnl
bodies, but their souls are unredeemed
Nowhere is there q better example
of a region where every prospect
pleases, and only man Is vile.
Manhood is the first requisite OF
him who hopes to- join an Afghan
tribe. He must win his spurs befOrs
he is given a wife and his share II
the tribal lands.
Behind the coat Of dirt which Is
the right of every tribesman except OF
durbar days both men and women are
more than ordinarily good looking
In most tribes the women are jealous
ly guarded and the reward for sdult
cry Is death to the woman aSa the
loss of his right foot to her para
mour.
Warrior, freebooter, marauder
thief, the true Afghan will not keep sI
shop or learn a trade. The hills are
his brothers, his knife his bosom
friend. his matchbox his protector
He may lend himself to this faction Ol
that, to empire or democracy, to prog
ress or destruction. But above every
other interest is his desire Tor indie
pendencs.