The Amir of Afghanistan.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7071, 17 February 1893, Page 3

The Amir of Afghanistan.

SirLepel Griffin says in tbe Fortnightly s—- *• My own impression of the Amir’s character formed after the interviews at Zimma, at which the negotiations for the assumption of theAmirship were finally arrangad (1881) vat an exceeding favourable one* Abdur Rahman, though then only forty years of age, appeared nearly fifty. Exile, sedentary life, and the hardships at his early manhood had prematurely aged him. At the same time be was of most courtly mansen, great vivacity and energy, a strong sense of humour, and a clever and logical speaker. It was impossible to doubt that ha was both a powerful and an intelligent man, with enormous self-confidence and an infinity of re source. I thought him then, and 1 still bold him to be, one of the most remarkable of Asiatic statesmen The difficulties of the administration-' of Afghanistan are not known or appreciated in England; and although the Amir has made many mistakes, and his self confidence and headstrong conceit have often led him astray, yet, take him as he stands to day, he is indisputably a ruler of men, and infinitely superior to. the crowd of candidates for tbe throne of Afghanistan who were pushed aside when be appeared on the scene.” The Amir, says Sir Lepel, has no Bussian proclivities j his chief desire is to prevent Bussian interference with his country. Nor does he deeire tbe direct interference of the English, while he knows they do not want to take Afghanistan.