AMONG THE AFGHANS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12502, 1 April 1909, Page 4

AMONG THE AFGHANS.

-Perhaps the most dangerous and turbulent people in existence (says an exchange), are the Afghans. Dr Pennell, an intrepid -medical missionary, who sojourned for some time amongst them, gives some entertaining particulars of his experiences. Once when he was in a small village he relates, resting after the heat and toil of the day,' a party- of young bloods fresh from bloodshed and dangerously excited, came up to him and proposed amongst themselves to have a little "sport" with the white stranger. One of them presented a loaded revolver at the missionary's breast saying, "Now. we are going to shoot you!" "You will be great fools if you do," was the undaunted retort, "because, l am of more use to you than'td myself, and you would as likely as not poison yourselves with my drugs if. l were not there to tell you how to use them." This lively response had its effect; an apology was offered -and the young hopefuls withdrew. Dr Pennell heard a conversation % between a frontier official and tlu Headman- of one of the independent tribes, : the former asking: -jhe chief what his attitude wOuld be in ' the ovent of a contest between Russia and Britain, : and requesting him to give the "white word" — the true statement. The reply of the old greybeard" was diverting: "We would just sit upon yonder hill . top and watch you fight, until we saw one or the other of you' utterly defeated: then we should come down and loot the vanquished 'to the last mule. God is great. What a time we could have!^ Perhaps the most amusing story the doctor has to tell us is of a formidable looking Afghan who had brought his meeker half down- to the Mission hospital for treatment — the reason whereof was a cut off the nose, perpetrated by the tender spouse in a lit of jealousy. He, in a cooler moment, however, bethought him that as he had paid a good round sum for her^ he had not only injured his own property- but had destroyed his domestic happiness into thj bargain— hence his request that sh i should be restored to her pristine beauty. ' This, he was told, would entail a nose being obtained from England at' a cost of 30 rupees. Thirty rupees and the reflection that he could purchase a new wife .for 80 cost him some qualm's, but eventually the new nose was procured, and- the doctor found out later that the unfortunate wife, if not exactly restored to her former charms, yet had the compensation to find favour in ber lord's eyesj and that the pair lived very- amiably together after the happy event.