The "Ethnological Frontier" of Afghanistan.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 103, 23 May 1885, Page 6

The " Ethnological Frontier" of Afghanistan.

Ax article in "Nature" published in January labt, long before the AngloRussian trouble over tho Afghan frontier arose, throws considerable light on the pointb in dispute, and especially on the Russian claim to an ethnological frontier lino. The subject treated was " Tho North Afghan Border Tribes," and the writer, who wrote with the view of guiding the Frontier Commission in its labours, said that if tho importance of ethnological studies were understood by British statesmen, it Mould be needleis to insist upon an accurate knowledge of tho tribal relations in this borderland before determining the future lino ot demarcation between the coterminous Anglo-Indian and llussian empire?. It is clearly bhown in the course of the article that Afghanistan is not the home of ono but of many peoples, differing widely in race, language, customs, in some cases even in religion and political institutions. In the very heart of the country, on tho direct line between Herat and Kabul, dwell several tribes who are completely independent of Afghan rale ; between KohistAn and tho Swati district i 3 located a Caucasian people with whom the Afghans have never coino hi contact ; and north of Kabul, on the south -western slopes of the Hindoo Koosh, live a tribe of Persian origin known as Hillinen, who own but a grudging and partial allegi mcc to the Ameer. The northern districts are inhabited by Mongolian people ; in iact, as Mr Kean observes, " the Afghans proper nowhere occupy any territory along their northern frontier, but except at Herat have everywhere been driven into the interior of the plateau by intruding Central Asiatic races." Read in the light of recent events, the following passage, which occurs near the close of the article, has a prophetic ring :—: — " With the fall of Merv, all the hitherto independent Turkoman tribes passed under the sceptre of tho ' White C/ar,' except theSarikHandSalors Soonafter that event, tho iSariks of tho Merv oases gave in thoir submission to tho number of about 10,000 families. When that district was invaded In' 1860 by the Tokkos the Salors, its original masters, withdrew higher up the Murghab Valley, where they are still found within and about the Afghan frontier on the route between the Merv and Herat. They do not recognise the authority of the Ameer of Kabul, and should the Czar, who is about to assume the title of Emperor of Central Asia, claim the allegiance of this outlying Central Asiatic tribe, here will be a fruitful source of future complications. Their submission would at once advance the Russian frontier far into Afghan territory and up the Murghab Valley to within easy distance of Herat from the north." When the geographical are added to the ethnological considerations, it must bo conceded that Russia makes out a dangerously strong case for the frontier claimed by her ; and no doubt, in the course of the future negotiations, the Russian representatives will quote Mr Kean among other English authorities favourable to their contention. England has, however, nothing to fear from a just settlement of I the question in dispute, just as ! she can have nothing to gain by endeavouring to maintain an arbitrary, if not purely imaginary, boundary line. The safety of India will best bo s-ecured by strengthening and consolidating the Afghan kingdom, not by weakening it by forcing unwilling allegiance from tribes whose interests and inclinations lie in an opposite direction.

Amongst the interesting features of the "Inventories" at South Kensington this season will be a collection of all the various " processes " now in use in connection with the illustration of books and newspapers. It will surprise many to learn that of these " processes," which have, in one form or another, done so much to injure wood engraving as a trade, there are no lobs than thirty.