A JOURNEY IN AFGHANISTAN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1223, 7 August 1885, Page 3

A JOURNEY IN AFGHANISTAN.

Mr A. Condie Stephen, C, M.0., Second Secretory of the British Legation, T 'olie“ ran, who was attach -d to Sir peter Lumsdcn’s staff for the delimitation of the BussoAfghan frontier, arrived in London on 12th M ay. Ha was met on his arrival at Dover by a correspondent, to whom he cave an interesting narrative of his rapid journey, having travelled day and night to bring Home the despatches with which he had been entrusted by-Sir Peter Lnmsden. In answer to an enquiry as to the effect of the fighting at Ponj-deh, Mr Goodie Stephen said : “It was a complete mistake to say the Afghan defeat at Penj leh brought about the retirement, to Tirpul of the British portion of the Delimitation Comnvssion. We certainly did leave Outran after the battle of Penjdeh. but Sir Peter Lumsden had made arrangements a considerable time previously to move the ermpoftho British Oyminiseion'to Tirpul ha a very cold, Inisty ' morning, immediately after the Penj leh fight.- When we approached the Paropamisus Hills it commenced to snow. The wind rapidly rose and blew with great violence. When we got well into the Chesmenchz Pass, a tendide fall of snow took place. The snow lay very deep after a short time, and the wind blow with exceeding keenness, so that the Commission made but slow progress. Some of the camp followers were lost in the storm, as well as a considerable number of mules, the snow be ng so thick and deep that they could not get along ” In answer to a question as to whether any of the Afghans retio ' ting from Penj leh after the light passed or were passed by, the Commi-sion, Mr Stephen sai l:• “ The retiring Afghans went by another route, via M.vnchak and Bala Murghib.” Mr Stephen added : “The Penj leh Valley or Kuahk Va’ley, is a most fertile oasis, a lovely country covered with grass of good growth, excellent, I should think, for lha breeding and rearing of young horses ; just the country suita'doto the Turcomans, who a:a noted for their breed of boras. In spring the whole valley, which embraces a largo tract of country, is covered with flora, the ground being like the many-huol carpets of Persian manufacture. Dr Kitchener, who conducts the botanical secoion of the scientific por.iou of the Connnis-ion, is

delighted with tho country. Hahns male a very large and valuable collection of flora. Besides flowers, the valley abounds in game; pheasants are to be found in thousands between Maehakand Karaoul Kbana, and we killed over 1500 while in iho neighbourhood, bringing over 150 a day.

The iMurgliab abounds in water fowl, and the hills abound with gazelle, antelope, and a kind of wild sheep. Wild pigs gave us many a good day’s riding.

In the course of further conversation Mr Stephen said—“ The Afghans were always most kind and family towards us. They did their very utmost throughout to provide us win food and with comforts, and they had hard worn to do this, as the difficulties of supply were ve y great, the country being almost uninhabited. Here and there w to a few mud bull lings, inhabited, but rapidly falling into decay. Thera were not wan'iug signs that the country was once otherwise, for there '-ore ruins of ancient towns to be seen, mostly of mud, but a few brick ruins. I let, all tlm nrnubers of the Commisnon in excellent health and spirits. The military escort was also in good health, and the behaviour of the men throughout was most exemplary. I have read that Sir Peter Bum-id ai is to return at once to Engl a ;d, having seen it stated in the Russian papers. I have also gathared from the same source some slight knowledge of what has transpired since ray departure from -T shed, but to my knowledge is not sufficient on these points to give an opinion, ns my information is of a must fragmentary kind.”