Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/718

 596 AFGHANISTAN

rections and interferences by Great Britain, in the summer of 1880, when Kabul and Kandahar were held by British troops, the British Government offered the Amirship of Kabul to Abdur Rahman, who accepted it and the British force withdrew. Abdur Rahman agreed to leave the control of his foreign relations to the British Government, who, on their j^art, undertook not to interfere in the internal government of Afghanistan, and, in case of unprovoked foreign aggression on Afghan dominions, to aid the Amir in such manner as to them might seem necessary, provided he unreservedly followed their advice in regard to his external relations. In 1893 this position was con- firmed, and in a formal treaty signed at Kabul dated March 21, 1905, Amir Habibulla Khan accepted unreservedly the engagements which his father had entered into with the British Government. In the Anglo-Russian agreement of August 31, 1907, Great Britain undertakes neither to annex nor occupy any portion of Afghanistan nor to interfere in the internal administration of the country, provided the Amir fulfils his engagements towards the British Government. The Russian Government declare that Afghanistan is outside the sphere of Russian influence, and engage that their political relations with Afghanistan shall be conducted through tlie British Government. The principle of equality of commercial opportunity will be observed.

The government of Afghanistan is monarchical under one hereditary prince, whose power- varies with his own character and fortune. The domi- nions are politically divided into the four provinces of Kabul, Turkistan, Herat, and Kandahar, Badakhshan being now under Turkistan. Each province is under a hdkini or governor (called Naib-ul-Hukuma), under whom nobles dispense justice after a feudal fashion. Spoliation, exaction, and embezzle- ment are almost universal.

Area, Population, Defence.

The extreme breadth of Afghanistan from north to south is about 500 miles ; its length from the Herat frontier to the Khaibar Pass, about 600 miles ; the area is about 250,000 square miles. The surrounding countries are, on the north, the Central Asian States, under the influence of Russia ; on the west, Persia ; on the south, the British Political Agency of Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province ; and on the east, the mountain tribes scattered along the north-western frontier of India, and included within the sphere of British influence.

Population about 5,900,000, the dominant race being the Durranis, and the most numerous the Ghilzais, who amount to about 1,625,000 souls ; then follow the Tajiks, Hazaras, and Aimaks, Uzbaks.

•Justice in ordinary^ cases is supposed to be administered by a kdzi, or chief magistrate, assisted by muftis, or mohiasihs (the latter a species of detective officers), and regulated by laws which, if rightlj'^ acted on, would be tolerably equitable.

The revenue of Afghanistan is subject to considerable fluctuations. The Government share of the produce recoverable is said to vary from one-third to one-tenth, according to the advantages of irrigation. The Amir receives a subsidy from the Indian Government, of Rs. 1,850,000 a year. His total revenue is estimated at between 12 and 13 million rupees, but this estimate is probably too low.

In addition to his regular army the Amir's military forces are largely supplemented by local levies of horse and foot. The mounted levies are simply. the retainers of great chiefs, or of the latter's wealthier vassals. The foot levies are now permanently embodied, and as irrsgulars forms a