every opportunity of disseminating their views, the Government of the day, no matter what party may be in power, will be pro tanto encouraged, by the formation of a clear, decided, and well-informed public opinion, to pursue a definite and resolute policy both in Afghanistan and India.

It remains for me to express my grateful thanks to the friends who have by advice and information helped me in the preparation of this book.

S. S. THORBURN.

BOURNEMOUTH, October 15, 1894.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCING THE BONE OF CONTENTION.

The Amir on the political situation: the parable of the Swan,

the Wolves, and the Tigress-Its application-Russia's goals in

Central Asia-Disposal of the space still intervening between

Russia and India-Questions for consideration-Statement of

subjects and order of notice

PAGE

CHAPTER II.

-

INDIA RESTIVE UNDER MACHINE RULE.

India strong if sympathetically governed - Discontent on the

increase Machine rule-The reign of law and the masses-

- Simpler law wanted for agriculturists - All men not

equal - Unsympathetic legislators - Gradations of man

Peasant expropriation-Native feeling on indebtedness ---- A

no-rent combination-Village Hampdens-Bureaucratic rule

-Personnel of Secretariats-A strong Secretariat-Western

nostrums—“Young India" and his demands-Real India a

corpus vile
Sahibs and natives - Over-government - The

growth of law and lawyers - The ryot restive under many

masters-A case in court-System of civil justice-Degrada-

tion of the peasantry

7

Russia: Nihilists; Pan-Slavists-Russo-Turkish war, 1876-78-

Autocracy weakens Russia-Return to despotism-Alexander

II. murdered-Russia under quasi-martial law-Misery of the

people-Church and Government brutalise the people-The

peasantry are Pagans-Numbers of dissenters-The muzhik-

Fortunate position of the natives of India-Russia cannot use

her strength-Lessons of the Russo-Turkish wars of 1853-56

and 1876-78

75

CHAPTER VI.

THE AFGHANS AND THEIR COUNTRY.

Boundaries of Afghanistan-Mountains and rivers—The Hindu

Kush the dominating feature-The people and their master-

Expansion of the Afghans or Pathans - Their language-

Ghilzai conquest of Persia-Afghanistan becomes an indepen-

dent kingdom-Its Oxus boundary-The 1885-87 demarcation

--Tension between Amir and Viceroy-Success of Durand

Mission Succession to the Amirship-The four divisions of

Afghanistan: Pamirs with Badakhshan, Kafiristan, and Gilgit

Agency Afghan Turkestan and Herat: Northern and

Southern Afghanistan.

93

CHAPTER VII.

FOUR DIVISIONS OF AFGHANISTAN.

I. The Pamirs: Claims of Russia-Anglo-Russian agreement of

1873-Value of the Pamirs-Badakhshan-Kafiristan-Gilgit

Agency and its work-Security of India on the Pamir side.

II. Afghan Turkestan: Political history-The 1885-87 Bound-

ary Commission-How held by Afghanistan-Ripe for annexa-

tion by Russia-If annexed, would England fight?-Herat-

Russia dominant in Northern Persia. III. Northern Afghan-

istan: Its small size-Its peoples-The Ghilzais-Eventualities

with Russia in possession of Afghan Turkestan. IV. Southern

Afghanistan General description-The Durrani tribe-The

Helmand Seistan swamp-Its reclamation - Girishk the

future battle-field between Russia and England in India

108