EDUCATING THE AFGHANS.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 82, 7 April 1894, Page 4

EDUCATING THE A FG HA NS.

THEIR ADVANCE IN MECHANICAL MATTERS. Mr. Salter Pyne, the director of the Ameer of Afghanistan's workshops at Cabul, who is now in England, gave some interesting particulars of his work to a representative of Router's Agency recently. After desoribing how the Ameer's interest was first excited by seeing a portable engine with a dynamo and a flash light attached at Rawal Pindi. Mr. Pyne spoke of his first journey to Cabnl —in 1885, escorted by a squadron of Afghan cavalry — " My first night on Afghan soil was spent at Dacca, at the Afghan end of the Khyber Pass, and it was not one I Bhall readily foreet. The Shinwaris, who were not so subjugated as they are now, burst into the village after nightfall, and plundered it. Some fighting occurred in the dead of night, in which several men were killed and wonnded. As a measure of precaution I was placed by my escort in a small chamber built in the wall surrounding the town. Access to this was up a ladder and through a trap-door. Once in the room the ladder was removed, and I was a prisoner, with fighting going on all round. I resolved to turn back on the following morning. I was told, however, that that was impossible, as the Ameer's order was that I was to be taken to the capital. There was, therefore, nothing to do but to 'procoed. We resumed our journey and reaohed Basowalt. On waking next morning the first objeot that caught my eye was a religious fakir, bound hand and foot, lying in the court-yard. I inquired what he had been doing, and was calmly told that he had made an attempt to murder me during the night." After this pleasant experience Mr. Pyne proceeded on his way. He was well received at Jolalabad by the Ameer's aommander-in-chief, and eventually reachod the capital, a second attempt on his life at Bodicob failing. After a rest of ten days he was permitted to pay hia respects to the Ameer. " The occasion was a great publio durbar, and I was ushered into Abdur Rahman's presence with great solemnity. To my intense surprise His Highness held oat his band, and retained mine for some minutes. After expressing tho hope that I would look upon Afghanistan as my home, and would make myself happy there, he called for a chair, a rare article of furniture in Cabul in these days, and bade me seat myself. The interview lasted atont oight hours, and in that time the Ameer spoke on almost every conceivable topic He told me to Bee him on the following day. I had daily interviews with the Ameer for about a fortnight, when he told me, without Bpeoifying anything in particular, that he wanted me to establish workshops in Cabul tor the manufacture of what the countvy needed." Unlimited fuuds were placed at Mr. Pyne's disposal, and he soon got to work. At the ond of three months the Ameer vi ited the workshops, and after a careful inspection of what had been dono made the following romarknble speech :—"This is one of the happiest days of my life. I have to-day seen the foundation of whatia to be a great event for Afghanistan. Before these workshops can be finished there are three essentials required .—l. God'a help. 2. My money. 3. Your work. Your work and God's help without my money aro uselees. God's help and my money without your work, and your work and my money without God's help are equally valueless. I will find the money, you will do the work, and we must hope for God's help. When the buildings are finished come and see mo." Mr. Pyno then rolatod the difficulties which wore experienced in transporting the necessary machinery, but the results surprised and gratified both the people and their ruler. Next in order a mint was established ; then followed tho manufacture of cartridges, this latter industry proving a powerful faotor in allaying the suspicions of the Afghans, and led thorn to see that the English were their friends. A steam hammer ivud forgo were sot up, and gun barrels, and muzzle and breech-loading field guns were produced. Tho hearts of the Cabulis were then dolighted by the production of oandlca, soap, boots, and brandy. Mr. Pyno has so perfectod his work that almost everything reqnirod can now bo made in the capital. He goes on to say : " Tho Ameer was bo satisfied with the work accomplished at Cabul that he has given orders for the erection of workshops at Jolalabad, at the junction of tho Knnar- and Cabul rivers, where valuable timber comes down irom the forests of Asmar, which will be worked up and sent to India for sale. Thus we are about to commence an export trade. When the Ameer last visited the workshops, he was so overoome -with the magnitude of the work that his enthusiasm overcame his kingly dignity, and he Bet to work himself. To see Abdur Rahman filing metal and turning wood was a Bight not to be forgotten." In conclusion Mr. Pj ne, speaking of the effect of all this upon the future of Afghanistan, said :: — '* The effects of all this upon the future of Afghanistan cannot be overrated. The Ameer never hopes for—in faot he openly admits —he nover expeota any pecuniary profit from the=o works. His one object is to civilize and refine his fanatical masses. The Afghanistan of 13 years ago, when Abdur Rahman ascended the throne, is as totally different from the Afghanistan of to-day as the Afghanistan of to-day will be different to that of the Afghanistan ten years hence if the Ameer is spared to mle I over it."