Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 5.djvu/176

AFGHAN GROUP. Russians against India, induced Lord Auckland, the Governor-General, to dispatch Lieut. Alex. Bunies to Dost Mahomed, the existing ruler of the country, in order to secure his sendees in case of a Russian invasion. Had the Government of India sent handsome presents, made liberal proposals, and subsidized the Dost, there can be little doubt that he would have accepted the position sought to be established; but the embassy was "starved;" Burnes returned, unable to effect anything, and with his mind filled with exaggerated ideas of Russian progress and predominance.

Shah Shoojah, the former ruler, had been driven out of Afghanistan, some years previously, by Dost Mahomed, the head of the rival family, or clan, of Barukzyes, who had seized the throne. Shah Shoojah had twice attempted to regain his position, but had failed. He had become a pensioner of the British Government, and the Government of India now proposed to re-establish him. The result is detailed in every history of the period, as well as its miserable ending: in the destruction of the retreating forces, which perished almost to a man. Since then no interference has taken place in the affairs of Afghanistan, but they are carefully watched. The Ameer Shere Ali, son of Dost Mahomed, now rules over the Dooranee kingdom. He visited Lord Mayo, Governor-General of India, in 1869, and was cordially and magnificently entertained at Umballa, and an allowance or subsidy of £120,000 a year settled upon him. Recent family disputes have caused serious local troubles, but these have now ceased, and there is some prospect of the maintenance of tranquillity. Such is the history of the Afghan nation. The Suddoozye family at Kabool has probably ceased to exist. Its rival, the Barukzyes, enjoys regal power; but the people have in no wise changed, and pursue their intrigues, revenge, and lawless conduct, much after the same fashion as they did 800 years ago, and before then. The plate gives a good idea of ordinary Afghans; strong, spare, sturdy men, handsome, yet with a peculiarly restless and wild expression of countenance. They are industrious cultivators, brave and fearless soldiers, and, as merchants, bold and enterprising; but their national character is untrustworthy and forbidding. Afghans rarely go unarmed, and their favourite weapon is the sword, or sabre. The ordinary costume is a simple cotton tunic, and loose baggy trousers of cotton cloth, with a turban, generally of a blue colour. In winter, the chogah, or sheepskin pelisse, is almost universal. Many of the Afghans are as fair as Englishmen, with ruddy complexions, and blue or grey eyes, and their women are undoubtedly very handsome. A finer race indeed, physically speaking, does not exist; nor, for the most part, a finer climate than that in which they dwell.