New Britain herald., 1924-01-29
AFGHANISTAN WILL
 BECOME UP-TO.DATE
At Present This Land Has Not
 Even a Railroad

Washington, D. C., Jan. 29.-"Af-
 Ghanistan, which recently reported
 that it was bringing in German pro-
 fessors to do instructional work in
 the technical departments of the
 Amir's government, has not a single
 mile of railroad, and all the mail to
 the large cities or outlying districts
 must proceed by camel-back or run
 hers along one Of the ancient trade
 routes,' says a bulletin of the Nation
 al Geographic society of Washington,
 D. c.
 But even on the ancient roads
 motorcycles and automobiles are be-
 ginning to take the place of the swift
 Arab steeds which travelled the moun-
 tain passes, and Afghans or men of
 the hills are beginning 10 smack
 their lips over prospects of visiting
 Vienna, Paris, London or New York,
 Signs of Modernism
 For the first time in the history of the country, recent reports declare that the printing press has put in its appearance and that periodicals are actually daring to show their faces. A school for women has been opened st Fabul, and two years ago slavery was abolished.
 "Geography played the major role in isolating the Afghan Kingdom from the outside world, and patriotic and religious fanaticism have been strong supports in the case. Without exag- fgeration, the entire country may be said to lie within sight of the ever lasting hills. From the oxus, which time out of mind was the boundary between the great monarehies Of southwestern Asia and the nomads of the central Asian steppes, 1t runs 10 the deserts of Baluchistan, which shut 1t off from the sea. From the Persian frontier on the west it ex- tends through outlying spurs to the foot of the very Himalayas them- selves.
 And those rugged and unprofitable heights have produced men who fear neither God nor man. The Afridis. who live in the vicinity of the great Khyber and Kohat Passes between their native country and India, are powerful. independent, treacherous and ferocious. They hide in the seams of the hills and pick off with thelr trusty muskets travellers on the roads below.
 Know No Law But Force
 "Though the Amir is now one of | the few absolute monarchs of the | earth. his tribesmen know no law but force. An Afghan chief may promise a stranger safe conduct through his territory and he will stick to his 1 word. but in the meantime he has nrohably entered into an agreement with a neighboring chief for kidnap- ming the visitor as soon as he has en- tered the next territory. Though the qseen out sign is not visibly posted ,ts rigid inhospitality pervades the ..-,.- ,, afsually swift and punishment seNere' Thieves are often hung, not mercy rnlly by a rope, but in cages suspend- ,1 rom tall poles where they are leit ca m. of hunger These man-cages often greet one along the lonely mountain passes. ,,---..s
 some of this wild land Is exceed ,nb beautiful. resembling the fam nns yale of Kashmir, the land or i, sua Roolth, Areas around the head ,,.a,ers of the Kabul river, the most ., nortant river in the Kingdom, have ,,e,er heen explored by Europeans .,nca tho days when Alexander made his way to India. - '' A .st,eet Called Straight"
 aona of the most interesting sights In Rabul, the capital and largest city 1nopuiation i50.0oo), is Its covered bs1aar. or street of shops, similar 10 ,hs street Called Straight in Damas- .y. Tn it's mazes, struggling, burdeh- a swsating masses of humanity ,anteys' caneis, beggars and dogs [ .s. and ming1e amid the pungent { .aar, os foods and the welter or rnin- s.,. onlv occasionally does the sa,-a nart--when some important 1 .s,.onsee dashes through at a switt -, ,ts annroyed method Of snow ps his distinction. ., -.-.a s.rt one can stand the fetid atmo- | ..hsrs of the bazwhr and not mind { ztn1 . noor creature drop Tn the .treets with cholera conVuislohs oe a.tenally. he can acquire ahytIins s rou d Rashmir shawl or an lNors i ,andled dagger to a copper com oI ' he time of Alexander the Greal ~ ,nwashed grapes, cantaloupes' anu g ,omegranates. . f. ,ba $ a,,trv has it's bazaar just as every I ,1eriean small town has it's general . aro hut in Herst the attractiveness 't inc bazaar is enhanced by being s..,srsa about the public execution .rounss. and it is nothing to see some cor wretch hanging stark ana S''h [ Ter a bread or meat stall.