Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, OCT. 18. 1894. Afghanistan.

Manawatu Herald, 18 October 1894, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, OCT. 18. 1894. Afghanistan.

" Owing to the illness of the Ameer the Viceroy oi India will summon a special meeting of the Ciuncil at iStmla to consider the situation," so runs the last cablegram. By agreement with the Ameer, Afghanistan has no foreign relations with other Powers except the Government of India. In all other respects Afghanistan is independent, and the rule of the Ameer despotic. Lord Roberts is of the opinion there will be serious trouble in the event of the Ameer's death, as he alone checked the fanatics in thtir hatred of fo reigners. The country lies on the north-west frontier of India, and is bounded on the west and south by Persia and Baluchistan, aud on the north by the Russian provinces and df-penden deDcies in Central Asia. Politically the country is divided into five pro- | vinces, Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, ! Turkestan, and Badakshan with Wakhan. The country is generally rugged and mountainous. The popui lation is estimated to number four or five millions aud the large majority are Sunni Mahomedans. There is only one good road in the country, from Peshawar to Kabul, and that ; was made by the English. The I capital is Kabul. I The difficulty alluded to lies in the

• u'ti tua& i-lie population is divided into a number of tribes over which the Amaer has boon struggling for control and has only lately reduced tlieiti to subordination. The Ameer gone. \vill his successor bo able to niiui»igp the |ieople '? The Amoer has jive sons, the vl'Astt of \vliom is hamed Sardar Habibulla Khan. In all matters the Secretary of State for India, as the iv-p i-O3enfcnt-ive of Her Majesty's OavrnimertU can l> impose his. oraC-i'S on the Govyrri- -, menfc of India. Subject to this con--2 troi, thp Supreme E.XHCimve AlUugl--i rity in India is trie Governor General 3j in Council. The Executive Council consists of seven ini-'inbr-rs, includ ing the Commander-in-Chief. All acts of the Supreme Government in India- run in the name of " The Governor-General in Council " but the Governor G. neral himself has f the power of over rnliny the opinions of the majority of the Council. The present Viceroy and Go\ernor General is the Mrtiqnis of LansdoWne; } ths Commander in Chief is General Sir George S. White, V.C : and the members of tlie, Council aro Sir A. K. Miller, Lt.lGeaera! fl. Bracken^ bury, Mr C. i). IVitchard. Sir A. P. MacDonnel!; and J WesUand.