THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5589, 23 January 1879, Page 5

THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN.

The population of Afghanistan proper is placed at 4,109,000 souls, 2.315,000 of theso being Afghans and Pathans.* Roundly speaking, agriculture and soldiering are their solo occupations. Aa a race they are handsome and athletic, often with fair complexions and flowing beards, generally brown or black. They have the hair shaved from the forehead to the top of the head, the remainder at the sides being allowed to fall in curls over the shoulders. The step is full of resolution, the bearing proud and apt to be rough. The women have handsome features of a Jewish cast—the chroniclers call their people Bani Israel (Children of Israel), and claim descent from Saul through a grandson called Afghana —and fair complexions, usually a pale sallow; they wear the hair braided and plaited behind in two long tresses, terminating in silken tassels. Inured to bloodshed from childhood the Afghans are audacious in attack, though easily discouraged by failure. They are apparently frank, but very crafty, turbulent, unsubmissive to law or discipline”, brutal, rank perjurers, treacherous, rain, greedy, and passionately vindictive. Among themselves they are quarrelsome and distrustful. If from habit and tradition an Afghan respects tho stranger within his gates, he has no scruple about attacking him so soon as he has quitted them, or instigating a neighbour to do so. As a rule they are sober and hardy, though the higher classes are too often stained with deep and degrading debauchery. Edwardes sums them up by saying : “ Nothing is finer than their physique or worse than their morals.” They are Mahometans of the Sunni, or orthodox body, very superstitious, and much given to the worship of local saints. They are passionately fond of field sports.