EXECUTION OF AFGHAN MARAUDERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 635, 25 February 1879, Page 2

EXECUTION OF AFGHAN MARAUDERS

A correspondent of the Times of India, under date December 30, furnishes the following account of the execution of Afghan marauders : — "The day before Christmas the Koorum Valley witnessed a tragical scene, and to-day, the day before New Year's Day, the Valley witnessed one still more tragical. Four i^tghans belonging to the tribe of the Jajis, who were capture on Thursday while cutting camp fel-j lowers to pieces in the Ducwaza Pass, were broughfinto camp under a strong escort. General Roberts, knowing the depredations the Afghan/ tribes had been committing, resolveu to mark a stern example of British authority and ordered the prisonera/to^ianged. Two others wbr^j broughjinto camp afterwards were ordered to be publicly lashed. The sane of the execution was close to the headquarters camp. A number of ricefields platforms slope down towardnthe branch of the Koorum river beyond which three low hill tower i ground. The day was warm and Nbrilliantly sunny, and groups of natives sat on the dry peadly bed of the. river, and the lowhillsl around, paeiently waiting the execution which' they apparently could not understand. Under an embankment facing the stream stood the gallows, a rough telegraph pole strewed across two upright poles, with four nooses dangling from the centre. At 11 o'clock the four prisoners were brought to the foot of the gallows, accompanied by a strong escort of nativesV infantry. The prisoners were without head-dresses, and their clothes were hanging in tatters, and vdtli their long black hair and keen sh»irp* face looked thoroughly unscrupulous ruffians. All Ayas soon oven and the bodies were cast into one grave beneath the gallows. Of the other prisoners one received the lasheß unconcernedlyi \he other shouted that he would avenge the death. oV those who had been hanged to morrkw. Thta e^ent^aW causing a profound senauon in the country around.