ALL THE WORLD OVER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3262, 20 October 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

ALL THE WORLD OVER.

AMONGST THE AFGHANS. The area of Afghanistan is about twice the size of Great Britain and Ireland. The Afghans are proud of their ancestor, and claim descent from no loss a personage than King Saul.

Everybody in Cabul is a nobleman. At least, every person of any account calls himself a “ Khan," which is the Afghan interpretation bf the word.

The medical profession ought to thrive in Afghanistan, for fevers are very prevalent, and tho people are also subject to a peculiar disease of the eye.

The oamei is a necessity with the Afghans, and nearly all the merchandise of the country has to be transported on the backs of these useful animals.

At Ghanzi, in Afghanistan, which is over 5000 feet above the sea level, the cold is intense, and it is nothing uncommon for the inhabitants to be snowed up in their houses for months at a stretch.

The Afghans kre not passionately fond of soap and water, though they wash their hands before-and ofter meals. They prefer using their fingers in place of knives and forks, and change their garments about once a month.

The origin of the empire of Afghanistan was due to the accident arising out of the sudden and unexpected acquisition of vast wealth. In its earlier days the internal resources of the country yielded little or nothing to the Imperial treasury, and the State coffers were replenished by plundering expeditions into India,

The Afghans are a fine race, of splendid phisique, but of corrupt morals. One candid writer sums them up as perfidious, avaricious, selfish, revengeful, merciless, treacherous, idle, proud, vain and cruel, and it must be admitted, in view of England’s experience with the country, that the writer’s' statement is pretty near the mark.

England has twice rescued Herat from the Persians by force of arms, and restored the place to the Afghans at a cost of several millions sterling and some thousands of lives. English cash •has also oh more than one occasion eased the financial difficulties of the Amir, and he has also had the benefit of English guns, ammunition and trained drill-in-' structors.

Whatever may be said of Abdallah Khan, it must be admitted he was a man of rare pluck and indomitable energy.

During his last illness a report was spread of his death, when, like Alexander of old, he mounted his horse and rode into the streets to show that he was very much alive. However, the exertion was too much for him, and he shortly after expired.

Cabul is notorious tor being the scene of the terrible disaster in 1842, when on January 6 h the British commenced their most disastrous retreat. The cold was intense, food was scarce, for the treacherous Afghans did not fulfil their promises, and they were frequently assailed by the enemy. By the thirteenth of the month 26,000 persons, including camp followers, women and children wne destroyed.

The Afghan cooks would do well to take in Home Uodkery. Their knowledge of the culinary art is very limited. Meat and skin and bones, with the addition of rice, are all boiled in the same pot and dished up together. The stew would be passable to a hungry man were it not for laving some oil, (more or less rancid) poured over the mixture, which is revolt ing to English taste, but which the Afghans devour with infinite relish.

Kandahar is inseparable from the name of Lord Roberts. When the Afghan war of 1873 broke out, he was chosen to command tho Kurram division of the army. For his brilliant services he was rewarded with a kdight oommandership bf the bath. After the brutal murder of Sir Louis Oavaganari and tho escort of British Mission, he was again appointed commander of the avenging forces. On August sth, “Our Bobs" set out with 10.000 troops, 8000 followers, and over 11.000 baggage animals on his memorable march through the heart of Afghanistan to the relief of Kandahar, whore he ar rived three weeks after. A battle with Ayub Khan followed immediately, in which the British troops were victorious, completely routing the enemy with heavy losses. A baronetcy awaited the gallant general on his arrival in England, and he .was afterwards appointed to the rank of .Commander-in-chief in India.