THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8144, 19 May 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1906.

Writing on Afghanistan of to-day in the Daily Mail Mr William Maxwell reminds us that that country is still a land of mystery into which Europeans may not go. The suspicion which Abdur Rahman taught his subjects, the suspicion of "the lion and the terrible bear who are staring at the poor goat and are ready to [swallow it at the first opportunity" is still strong. But an important change seems to have come over the country. A quarter of a century ago when Abdur Rahman was fighting' his way to the throne every priest and every petty chief was king in his own right. When the King of the Afghans

strayed a few miles from his capital another king was apt to uaarp his throne. Tyranny and cruelty were rampant. "For a few rupees you might slay your enemy or amuse yourself by outting'off a neighbour's head to see how high it jumped on a xed-hot iron. Assassination was a legitimate business and robbery an honoured profession." Bnt to-day, thank* to the heavy hand of Abdur Rahman his successor is touring the country and there is no rebellion. The gossip of the frontier bazaars says that the Afghans have forsuken the ancient and honourable customs of assassination and robbery and are turning their energies to commerce and industry. Though the Ameer's advisers oppose-, the introduction of railways and telegraphs, it ia sigaifloanfc that the Ameßr is reputed to be in favour of these evidences of civilisation. The telephone is. said to be spreading throughout the land. Mr Mawxell says that' the state of the frontier confirms, to some extent, the rumours that the Afghau is getting more peacable. Now and then an isolated post is attacked, and the men killed for their rifles, or a disappointed Pathan calls attention to his by killing a native, and leaving his body on the road, but such things are now comparatively rare. The tribes who lived by plunder regret the good old times. "I met a man the other day who complaiaed bitterly of these decadent days. A tall and stately ruffian in baggy breeches and ample white robes, wih a turban over his long black . looks—the lace of a Hebrew prophet, and bold dark eyes 'that flash like a sword. He remembers the time when all that he need do to be rich and respectable was to set light to a village and kill a few neighbours. Now we are women, and must tend the sheep and goats, and may not look over the fence."