TOPICS OF THE TIME.

Hastings Standard, Issue 10, 7 May 1896, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE TIME.

A riRCKXT cable mentions that the Ameer of Afghanistan lias concluded his war against Kafiristan, and that the conquered tribes are being treated leniently. Until comparatively recently Kafiristan was an unknown land to the rest of the world, a position which it was enabled to retain by the savage independence of its inhabitants, and the difficult nature of the country itself, consisting in great part of towering mountain ranges, cleft by deep narrow valleys. It is an interesting country, for its inhabitants have successfully resisted the invasion of outsiders, and have maintained their condition of primitive Aryan heathenism against the encroachments of Mohammedanism, a detestation of which-was the only bond of union between the otherwise hostile collection of tribes which made up the population.

It is a strong proof of the courage and resource of Dr. Robertson, the hero of Chitral, that some years ago he .spent several months exploring, entirely alone, this wild land. It has been for years past the desire of the Ameer that Kafiristan, which lies on his north-west boundary, should become an integral part of Afghanistan. He lias for a long time been endeavouring to consolidate his country and centralise his power, and in pursuit of this object he has successively subjugated the wild tribes on his frontiers, leaving to the last the conquest of Kafiristan to complete the tranquility and security of his dominions.

In speaking of this matter some months ago to Sir Baiter Pyne, his English agent, the Ameer said he wished to open trade routes through Kafiristan, which the inhabitants would not at that time allow. He wished, in case of complications arising from a source from which there was always a possibility of danger—meaning, no doubt, Russia—to be able to push his troops rapidly through Kafiristan instead of having to fight his way through. Then, while Afghanistan was a sterile country, the valleys of Kafiristan were fertile and well watered, but owing to the animosity existing for generations between the Afghans and the Kaffirs they yielded nothing. This was very detrimental to the Kaffirs, who were one of the poorest races in the East.

The Ameer further explained that valleys, hundreds of miles long and many miles wide, remain barren owing to those feuds. Sir Salter Pyne's own conclusions agreed Avith those of the Ameer. The Kaffirs, he said, could not remain at their present isolated position owing to changes in the Afghan frontier and in the Ameer's policy in the interests of Great Britain. From a political point of view, Kafiristan was a very weak spot owing to possible complications, and would stand very much in the way of the Ameer being able to help Great Britain if required to do so or in the event of Great Britain extending practical assistance to the Ameer. As we were told the other day that the Ameer intended to strongly fortify the Kafiristan frontier and garrison it with 12,000 Kafirs, it is evident he means to make good use of his new territory.

During Sir Salter Pynes' recent visit to England he gave an interviewer some interesting particulars of the progress of Afghanistan. He was engaged some two or thre years ago by the Ameer to superintend the inauguration of some modern industries in Cabul, and the results speak volumes for his energy and ability. Cabul is rapidly becoming quite a manufacturing centre. Prominent among the industries is the manufacture of small arms and ammunition, and the full capacity of the present cartridge machinery was reached last "year. " We turn out now," said Sir Salter, " 10,000 Martini cartridges and 10,000 Snider cartridges daily, two field guns

per week, with all equipments, and 15 rifles a day. Quick-firing guns are produced at the rate of two a week, and a plant for making time and percussion fuses is in full work. A gunpowder plant has been sanctioned, and I shall arrange for it during my brief stay in England." The torn-out of the mint has increased to 120,000 coins per day. We have lately added electroplating to the numerous industries. My workshops now cover an area of one-third of a mile long by 200 yards wide."

We also gather that these workshops employ some 3000 hand, about 7 per cent, of the population of the city being supported by this means. The wages have lately increased very considerably, and it is not surprising to hear that this fact alone has tendered greatly to impress the common people with the wisdom of the Ameer in thus adopting Western methods. One cannot yet become accustomed to the idea of the Afghan as drawn by Eudyard Kipling becoming a peaceful artisan drawing his weekly wages, and perhaps beginning already to dream of Unions and strikes, but there is no doubt that he is a good deal more usefully employed in that capacity than when he made a precarious livelihood by robbing trade caravans. And as his old, fierce love of battle is probably only dormant, there need be no fear that when occasion arises he will prove any worse a soldier for knowing how to make a gun as well as to use it.