Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎101v] (206/312)

should do better to conciliate. With any other
nation than Afghanistan, and with any other
Prince than 'Shero Ali, these might bs words of
wisdom and objections of weight; but not so
here. We hare tried fair means, fair words, and
gifts and promises too long already. We should
give the Ameer distinctly and clearly to under
stand that we come forward, not in a hostile
spirit, but with a determination to be recognised
as the paramount Power in insisting on a certain
line of action. To do this we must display force
in order that we may not have to employ it. For
this essential purpase we would not only occupy ;
the Koorum Valley, but we would reinforce largely
the outpost of Quettah, and we would increase
the escort of the envoy by a battery of mountain
artillery, a regiment of Goorkhas, and the wing
of a British regiment of infantry. The firing of ;
a single shot in anger should be the signal tor the
advance of three columns, one for the support of
the escort, another from Quettah on Kandahar, ,
and the third from the Koorum direct on Cabiu.
Then we might trust our mission to attain its end
and defeat Russian intrigue ; but not otherwise.
The same paper says: —" In advocatiuer a present
advance into the Koorum Valley we had forgotten
to mention that a considerable portion of it did
once in effect belong to British territory. Imme-
diately after the subjugation of the Puujaub, in the
days whfen Lord Dalhousie was Governor-General,
: when Edwardes was Commissioner of Peshawar,
and Coke Deputy-CommisHioner of Kohat,. the
i Tnris of Kooruui represented to the latter that
i they were tributaries of the Sikhs (not that
i they ever paid anything), and requested they
might be considered British subjects. They were
accordingly admitted to that privilege. But
the next year, when it came to the paying of their
assessment, no revenue was forthcoming, and a
diificulty arose which led to an expedition in the
Meeranzye country. Edwardes, vary much against 1
Coke's wishes and advice, decided that the Turis
of Koorum should not thereafter be considered
within British territory, but without specifying to
whom the country should belong. It conse
quently fell under the Cabul authority, which
raises the required tribute in a very summary
fashion each year by force. Edwardes, we believe,
afterwards admitted having made a mistake
in giving up that country, but Lord Dalhousie
decided that once done it could not be undone, so
the unhappy Turis have remained Afghan subjects
rossed for Shikarpoor and the Bholan P^es
Sukkur, Bukkur, and Roree are m
Scinde, and the
ever since.
^thkough beuter's agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .)
SIMLA, O ct . 4.
It is generally reported that a British force is
advancing from Peshawurin the direction Oi. Jam-
rood, with the view of making an attack on All
Musjid. .
The Ameer of Afarhanistan is massing troops at
Ali Musjid and Kandahar, and threatens Quettah.
Strong hostility exists between the Khybene
tribes and the Ameer.
War material is being collected at Kohat,
BOMBAY, O ct. 6.
Despatches published by the Indian newspapers
announce that the Khyberees have declared in
favour of the British.
j The report that it is intended to make a dash
^ upon Ali Musjid requires confirmation,
i The Momunds are marching to join the
{ Cabulees. ■, e
Great enthusiasm prevails in the ranks ot the
Indian army at the prospect of military opera
tions.
THE INDUS AND TRIBES OF
THE FRONTIER.
(FEOM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The Indus forms a part of that wonderful
boundary of Hindostan, a boundary which is so
remarkable for a series of physical features con
stituting on nearlv all sides an impassible barrier
, against invasion. " Within these boundaries is the
sacred land of Aryavarta, the old name of India
In the Institutes of Menu, a land so sacred
that the Hindoo still entertains the idea that he
loses caste if he leaves it. This is the reason that
he dreads to go to foreign countries, and
the prejudice which makes him avoid the Kala-
panee, or black water of the sea, also supposes
that crossing the Indus could only be done at the
risk of caste contamination. Brahmins are, per
haps, .more given than the lownr castes to being
particular on this matter, for there are a good
number of the Kshetrie caste to be found all over
Afghanistan. They are principally in the towns, |
and business is the attraction which leau - them ;
across the Indus.
The great interest of the moment is naturally |
centred on that part of the (x dua between Attock j
on the north-east and Sukkur, Bukkur, and Roree '
on the south-west. Attock being on the iiue or cow-
mumcations with Peahawur and the Khyber,
while Sukkur, Bukkur, and Roree is where the j
! three names represent different towns which are
only separated by the water of the river. Sukkur
is on the west, and Roree is on the east bank of
the Indus ; while Bukkur is an island in the
middle of the stream, with a town and fort upon
it. One of our forces is gathering at this point,
under General Stewart, while General Bid-
dulph is on ahead with the Quetta Division.
i Dera Ghazee Khan is on another line of commu-
i nication, and there also troops are being directed.
I This place is about 200 miles above Sukkur,
l Bukkur, and Roree. It is on the west, or right bank
: of theriver.and stands about two orthree miles away
: from the stream. TWe is no bridge of boats here,
I nor at any of the places except Attock, where it
has to be removed during the rainy season, when
the river rises. At Dera Ghazee Khan, where the
country is flat, the Indus spreads out during the
rains in a very uncertain way, and may be some
miles wide at times, a point of consideration when
communications have to be kept up with an army,
on account of the difficulty anytime it requires to
ferry over men and materials. The boats are
j large flat barges, and safe enough for taKing over
| troops, artillery, horses, or camels. The flood m
I the river begins about the end of June, and con
tinues till the close of September when it com
mences to fall. The town itself is some size,
and has a brick fort in it, with a garrison
of our troops. About 25 or 30 miles ^
. to the west the lower hills of the Snlieman range !
' begin—these are the Kala-roh, or Black hills, j
The Ligaries, Khosa, Ghoorchanies, and other I
tribes on these slopes, forming the western bank of
the Indus, are within our boundary, which is de
fined by the summit of the Sulieman range, and
are consequently subjects and friendly. Those
people of the British Isles, who, according to the
editor of an illustrated paper, must have
palm trees in all pictures of India, will
be happy when sketches of Dera Ghazee
Khan and places along this part of
the frontier make their appearance. The
tradition of the natives is that they owe the
palms to Alexander and his soldiers. The notion
is that they brought dates along with them as
part of their supplies, and finding grain on their
route, that dates and chupatties, or cakes of flour,
were their food; as they threw away the stones
of the dates, the trees grew up, and remain yet
as an evidence of the conquest of India by
Sikander. What is here said of Dera Ghazee
Khan may be also taken as a description of Dera
I Ismael Khan—as the first word in each ;
of these names means " tent" or " camp."
They were both originally camps, but as
ferries were established at them on lines of com
munication with Afghanistan, the camps grew
into permanent towns. As yet we have no news
of troops assembling at Dera Ismael Khan, but we,
may assume that there will also be a concentra
tion at that point, as it leads by a pass in the
Sulieman range along the Gomal River, threaten
ing Ghuzni and cutting off nearly the whole of
Southern Afghanistan. This position on a line
going straight to a vital point makes it, in a mili
tary sense, of more importance than Dera Ghazee
Khan.
j Dera Ismael Khan has also an importance as a
t commercial route. As the hot season in India
I draws to a close, kafillas, or caravans, of all the
tribes of Afghanistan, and even from places be
yond, begin to pour through the pass which leads
to this station. In one season over 60,000 camels
used to arrive, with merchandise from all parts of
Central Asia. Silks, furs, and woollen fabrics of
every kind ; the wares of Iran f or Persia; Turkish
aii Bokhara rugs, carpets, or tissues of every
texture which Samarkand or Khasghar mar pro- j
duce, here make their way into India. Grapes*
in dhubbies, or round wooden boxes, pomegranates,
and dried fruits of all descriptions are brought.
Chums, the produce of hemp, from which hashish
is manufactured, and which in a simpler
form is used in smoking, being one of the
articles of commerce passing along this line,
i where also may be found such celebrated
i articles as the wine of Shiraz, which poets have
celebrated, and Mohammedan poets too, Hafiz
being among the number. With the wine of
Shiraz poetic verse has associated the annar, or
pomegranate, of Kandahar, and the gul, or rose, of '
Samarkand, as things worthy to be classed!
together. Very little of this choice wine reaches I
the South now; but still a few small buttuks