EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

peoples. Docile and cringing, the Tajiks play but a
small part in the history of their country, and only
occasionally rise to the level of their enemies, the Hazaras
and the Turkis, to be united against a common invader.

It seemed now that for the first time in a hundred
years of Durrani rulers, there might be peace among
the tribes. The nomad Afghans, comprising the greater
part of the population, travelled peacefully to pastures
they considered to be the best. Untroubled by the
former burden of taxation, they drove their cattle across
the now darkening plains, hitched their ploughs, mere
rough trivets of sticks with an iron tip, to the carrying-
yoke for easier transport, gave the 16-inch sickle to sons
to carry, and set off confidently for the lower pastures.

He has no home, this wanderer. He lives in precisely
the same manner as his forefathers of two thousand
years ago. He understands not, nor wants, the per-
manent boon of canals and costly irrigation schemes.
He is prepared to struggle with the unyielding earth
for as long as he has strength. He wants no modern
methods. He pits his strength against an old enemy.
And, if the season be too hard for him to bear, if the
rains fail him and the crops wither under his desperate
care ; if the torrents from the mountains sweep away
his possessions in the spring-time, or the cruel neighbour
pounce on him when he is unprepared for unwelcome
visitors ; if these misfortunes crowd upon his undeserv-
ing head, he is still content.

" Insh' Allah," he whispers, and takes cattle, farm
implements, bed, bedding, wives, children, and his own
prejudices to another and fairer valley. At any rate,
under the new rule of Nadir Khan, he could not blame
the Government. For the Government had left him
strictly alone.

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