UGLY HUMORS FROM THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER OF INDIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 127, 31 May 1877, Page 4

UGLY HUMORS FROM THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER OF INDIA.

The Bombay Gazette admits that many wild rumors no doubt reach us about the Ameer's intentions and intrigues, but these rumors have a substratum of truth in the sullen dislike to the English cherished by the Ameer. That ha will turn a deaf ear to friendly counsels is almost certain; and tbsn stronger measures must be tried. In present circumstances, communication with the Ameer c,n only be carried on by correspondence, and the Government of India could not venture to put in peril so valuable a life as Sir Lewis Pelly's by sending him beyond the frontier without a strong escort, and a force ready at band to support him in case the Afghans treat his representations with the contempt which they have been encouraged during eo many years to feel for Anglc-Indiaa officers. One thing is certain: that Lord Lytton means to insist upon a thorough change in the relations of the Indian Government with the ruler of Afghanistan; and from thia policy, once he had begun to put it action, he cannot withdraw his hand let the consequences be what they may. Judging only from what we know of the state of things on the frontier, and disregarding official statements, we cannot resist the conclusion that the troops at Rawal Findi are not so far out in their speculations after all. Whatever may be the upshot of their negotiations at Constantinople, the Government of India must get the mastery over the Border tribes, unless it is prepared to let them get the mastery over India, and this is a work not to be accomplished without hard fighting. The Overland Athenaeum declares that the border tribes are generally just now in an excited and disturbed, state; that the Ameer of Cabul is playing the usual Afghan game of duplicity and treachery; and that Russia; is making extensive and deliberate preparations for an advance upon Merve are all 'undeniable facts to which it is needless for us to try and shut our eyesr It is true that for years to come Russia cannot possibly be our border neighbor, but the sooner ahe is the better it will be for the interests of civilization, peace, and commerce, aad the less will be our actual danger here in India. For that danger is primarily internal and not external, and the presence of Russia as a friendly neighboring Power would be an actual source of strength to us. Our danger lies in the evil effects of false and exaggerated rumors of her rapid and hoatile approach, and of the certainty of her over-running and annexing British India to the rest of her Asiatic conquests. The Indian Daily News remarks that the Government of India continues to preeerve what we can scarcely help denouncing as a stolid silence in (he face of the prevalent rumors regarding some approaching disturbance on the north' western frontier. Meanwhile troops are being massed upon that frontier, and the wildest coojecIfares are made of the uaes to which they are to be applied. Hostilities of a sort may indeed be said to have commenoed already ic the iucrea&iug raids made upon our outposts by Afridi bande, who must in some way or other be repressed, and in pursuing whom our troops will in all probability work their way round to Ktielat, and finally teke root there. Most thoughtful men in India believe that it would be a mistake on the part of the Government to plant a British force in Quetta; for a good frontier has been marked out by nature for India, and transgressions beyond it will only expose the country to indefinable risks. These risks, bud enough in themselves, are increased by the influence which the military occupation of Kbelat must have on the Aoeer of Afghanistan, whose feelings the Foreign Office is eatd to have resolved on outraging by some insane project of maintaining or rather attempting to maintain, a resident in Cabul. As the unfortunate official who may be sent is sure to be murdered ia a fortnight, it may be hoped that no one muy be eelected for the doubtful honor who would be of any use in the war that would. inevitably follow.