Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎56r] (115/312)

the administration of affairs under the tirat Untigti
Eesident, the well-known Sir Henry Lawrenos
with a staff of subordinates, many of whom like
wise became noted not very lonsj afterwards. The
events, however, of that early period of ovir rule
in the Punjaub have often been described, and we
will pass on to the author's account of the border
tribes on our North-Western frontier, which is
j oughly estimated as eight hundred miles in ex-
tent, about two hundred and eighty of which are
jnhabited by Hindoo, and the remaining five
hundred and twenty by Mohammedan races! The
.Atfghans, or ' Pathans," are° particularly
I rought under notice in their political relations
and as bearing comparison with the ancient Ameri
cans in the time of Cortes. He then procseds to tell
of the causes which led to the Umbelah campaign-
the progress and principal events of the war, aud
the lessons to be derived from ifc for our giudanae
if called upon to undertake another expeditioa of
the kind. A few particulars as to their compara
tive numbers and location are also given of the
"Bonairs," ''Swattees," 4< Momunds," and "Ba-
Jourees," and of the numerous tribes, or rather
aseemblage of tribes, known as " Afreedees'' a
term which will be familiar to many Eogliah
readers from the accounts in the pablic journals
of our dealings with them in the matter of
the Kohat Pass. The different races are taken
in geographical order, and in this way
the Khutuks, Wuzeerees, and Muhsoods
come in turn under consideration. There are also
the Powindahs, and the Bilooch tribes which join
the Patbans at the southern extremity of the
Derah Ismail Khan district, and like their neigh- ;■
bours are divided into clans. Some remarks are
added with regard to the defence of our frontier
against these border races, showing not only the
arduous nature of the warfare in which our forces
have been continually engaged, but the dissatis
faction generally felt at the non-recognition of
their services. Such neglect was particularly
.galling considering the manner in which honours
were showered after the Abyssinian and Ashaatae
campaigns, and the only way, it seems, in which -
to account for it is that the force being a civil ■
corps, under the orders of a local Government, the 1
officers' claims have not been brought to notica ^
with sufficient earnestness, or the very facb of
their not being under the military authorities may
tell against them. The subject of placing the
frontier force under the Oomoaander-in-Chief has
bten under coosideration for many years past, but
it has not yet been effected; and in discussing the
pros and cons on this point the author appears to ^
think there are more arguments to be alleged in
favour than against the measure. The second part
of his book begins with a fuller description •:
of lbe different border tribes, already roughly
enumerated, in their physical characteristics
religion, blocd feuds, social customs, and
numerical strenatb. He then considers the ;
system cf froi.tier management in Soinde and in
the Pucjsub since our first appearance on the
Afghan border in the sprinx of 1849, the proposed
charge of system, our so-called policy of cjacilU- i
tion, a nd ether matters connected wit h these '
points. In respect to our method of dealing* wi-uuu
the frontier tribes, he agrees with those who, while>
inculcating the necessity of conciliatory treatment,
yet think that all offences against the lives and
property of our subjects in India should be visited
with prompt and severe chastisement, a line of
policy which has hitherto been most insufficiently
carried out. He offers some general observations
on the feelings of the natives of India towards
the English, as manifested both by Moham
medans and Bindoos ; and briefly estimates the
results which have followed our efforts to improve
and educate the masses. The past ana preseat
relations of native soldiers with their officers are
also briefly discussed, and the importance of union
among the English in India is strongly advocated ; ,
while in the closing chapters due prominence is
naturally given to a serious consideration or
Kussian movements in Central Asia and theu
effect in India. In all that the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. alleges,
whether on the question of Russian aggression,
so much agitated at the present moment,
or on our Eastern policy and resp maibilities
towards India, he is guided by an anxious de
sire to indicate the true state of affairs. b.e dia-
plavs the dark as well as the bright side of the
picture, and while giving our rulers iq India full
credit for much that may justly be deemed laud
able in their administrative system, he does no«
hesitate to point straight at the errors through
which the good effects of their policy have bean
too often checked. The volume is altogether of
a most unpretending character, but though osten
sibly occupied with a history of the unja , y
an attentive" perusal will sne* that ita pa as are
stored with many useful hints on t 0 P ,
present condition and future prospects of our great
Indian Empire.
Tfao pWi nb ami Norfch-Wesfc Jroati^ r/f laHv.
By aii Old Putjaubte. Lo ndon : 0. Kegaa Pciv. Ma Uj .
RUSSIA.
THE SPREAD OF NIHILISM.
FROM 0113, OWN CoERESPOJrDBNT.
ST. PETE US BURG, SEPr. 22.
Never before has the helplessness of Govern
ment in contending with secret political agitations
become so palpable as in its present endeavours for
tie suppression of Nihilism. More than a month
hss passed eince General Meseatzoff's murder
without any clue having been obtained as to tha
perpetrators and instigatora of this dreadful
crime. Tbe appeal of Government to the
nation for assistance in the fierca struggle with
the revolutionists has utterly failed in
effect because the people, purposely de
prived of all liberties, and always taught
to rely in emergencies on the Czar aud his
officials, are quite at a loss to know the maauer or
extent of the help demanded. When Govern
ment perceived the utter failure of its aidrass to
the citizens, instead of establishing a kind o:
constitutional freedom, it returned to its old prac
tices of eradicating the evil by fire and sword.
The Nihilists, however, were not in the least
daunted by the proclamation of a most ruthless
war against them, but took up the glove in de
fence of their pretended rights. The Imperial
Ukase respecting the institution of military courts
with jurisdiction over all political offences
called forth a manifesto bearing the motto
" Blood for blood," by which the polica
and other officials were threatened/in a style re
sembling that of Marat, with instant death in case
they molested or tried to bring to justice any of
the Nihilist fraternity. In Odessa and Kieff,
apparently the head-quarters of the conspirators,
placards were posted and bills distributed de
manding liberty for the-people, and making public
■"the decisions of the revolutionary party."
Announcements were simultaneously made of the
existence of properly constituted courts, deciding
on the life and death of all those inculpated in
the mipgovernment of the people and the cruel
proceedings against the Nihilists.
Demands for a constitutional government and
active participation of the people in the directioa
of State affairs are not only confined to the Revo
lutionists, but are heard also in moderate circles,
deepising any radical measures for the realisation
of their views. Foremost among thesa claims
stands an address from the nobles of Rjasan, im
ploring the Czar, who is reminded of the
great sacrifices willingly borne in the direst
hours of tbe last war, to grant a coaati-
tution to his subjects, who will then not
brook any destruction of the fundamentals of
government. The address, laying stress on the
brilliant example always given by the nobility of
Russia, emphasises their duty, loyally but firmly
to lead the way towards the political emancipation
cf the nation. His Majesty ia said to have bean
bitterly offended by this demand. He appa
rently is furtively forgetful of his having himself
intended during the dreadful suspense of the last
war to forestall the wishes of the enlightened part
of his subjects—a resolution abandoned, however,
on tbe surrender of Plevna, the turning-point ia
favour of the Russian flag. It is well remem
bered that Gortschakoff, alarmed at tha effects
which continued defeat might have on the miads of
his countrymen, had submitted, shortly before
Osman Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's capitulation to the Eoiperor Alex
ander a project for the promulgation of a constitu
tion, which, perhaps, not by unpremeditated ia^dis-
cretion, found its way into the press, which at
once studiously discussed ita value. Ralying for
the annihilation of the Nihilist propaganda on tha
force of arms, his Majesty has not hesitated to
sanction General Miljutine's plan for an increase
of the army to su ch an extent that it will in about
five years number two million combatants. I have
given you already in one of my late communi
cations a general outline of the projected re
organisation of the army, which ia now fully
corroborated. The battalions of infantry are to
be raised from 1,000 to 1,500 men, whilst to each
regiment of cavalry two new squadrons are to
be added. In the same way as the standing
army is to be reinforced, the reserve corps will
be strengthened by a permanent maintaaance of