Page:History of India Vol 8.djvu/245

THE CLOSURE OF AFGHANISTAN 205 now founded the dynasty of the Amirs, who, for nearly one hundred and fifty years, have been the chiefs of a group of tribes firmly planted in the mountains and valleys of Afghanistan. This rugged highland country MOUNTAIN TRIBES OF THE AFGHAN BORDER. blocks all the roads from the Oxus and Northeastern Persia into India; it is a country of free and martial races, strong enough to make a great civilized state think twice before attacking them, too weak and poor