Kafiristan

KAFIRISTAN, a province of Afghanistan. Very little of this country was with accuracy and nothing at first hand until Lockhart headed a mission to examine the passes of the Hindu Kush range in 1885-1886. He penetrated into the upper Bashgal valley, but after a few days was compelled to return. In 1889 Robertson was sent to Kafiristan. He only remained a few days, but a year later he revisited the country, staying amongst the Kafirs for nearly a year, and was able to study the people. His observations are the most trustworthy foundations of our knowledge.

Kafiristan is the name given to the tract between Chitral and Afghan territory. Its pagan mountaineers maintained independ ence until 1895, when they were finally subdued by Abdur Rah man, the amir of Kabul, who also compelled them to accept the religion of Islam. The territory is included between 3o' and 36° N., and from about 7o° to 71° 3o' E. Its greatest extent is from east to west at 35° 1o' N. ; its greatest breadth is probably about 71° E. The total area approximates to 5,000 sq.m. Along the north the boundary is the province of Badakshan, on the north east the Lutkho valley of Chitral. Chitral and lower Chitral en close it to the east, and the Kunar valley on the south-east. Af ghanistan proper supplies the south limit. The ranges above the Nijrao and Pansher valleys of Afghanistan wall it in upon the west. The northern frontier is split by the narrow Minjan valley of Badakshan, which seems to rise in the very heart of Kafiristan.

The mountain ranges of metamorphic rock, which separate the main drainage valleys, are all high, rugged and difficult. During the winter Kafiristan becomes a number of isolated communities, with few means of intercommunication. In the whole land there is probably nothing in the shape of a plain. Every variety of mountain scenery can be found: silent peaks, mighty pine forests, wooded slopes and grazing grounds ; or wild vine and pomegranate thickets bordering sparkling streams. The lower hill-sides are covered with the wild olive and evergreen oaks. Many kinds of fruit trees—walnuts, mulberries, apricots and apples—grow near the villages or by the wayside, as well as splendid horse-chestnuts and other shade trees. Higher in elevation, and from 4,000 to 8,000 ft., are the dense pine and cedar forests. Above this altitude the slopes become dreary, the juniper, cedar and wild rhubarb gradu ally giving place to scanty willow patches, tamarisk and stunted birches. Over 13,000 ft. there are merely mosses and rough grass.

Familiar wildflowers blossom at different heights. The rivers teem with fish. Immense numbers of red-legged partridges live in the lower valleys, as well as pigeons and doves. Gorgeously plumaged pheasants are plentiful. Of wild animals the chief are the markhor (a goat) and the oorial (a sheep). In the winter the former are recklessly slaughtered by hunters, being either brought to bay by trained hounds, or trapped in pits, or caught floundering in the snow-drifts; but in the summer immense herds move on the higher slopes. The ibex is very rare. Bears and leopards are fairly common, as well as the smaller hill creatures.

History.

Yule thought the present Kafiristan was part of that pagan country stretching between Kashmir and Kabul which mediaeval Asiatics referred to vaguely as Bilaur, a name to be found in Marco Polo as Bolor. The first distinct mention of the Kafirs as a separate people appears in the history of Timur. On his march to the invasion of India the people at Andarab ap pealed to Timur for help against the Kator and the Siah-Posh Kafirs, to which he endeavoured to respond. He caused an in scription to be carved in the defiles of Kator to commemor ate his invasion and to explain its route. Inside the Kafir country on the Najil or Alishang river there is a fort still called Timur's castle, and in the Kalam fort there is said to be a stone engraved to report that as the farthest point of his advance. In the Memoirs of Baber there is mention of the Kafirs raiding into Panjhir and of their taste for drinking, every man having a leathern wine-bottle slung round his neck. The Ain-i Akbari makes occasional mention of the Kafirs, probably on the authority of the famous Memoirs.

After Robertson's sojourn in the country and the visit of several Kafirs to India with him in 1892 an increasing intimacy continued, especially with the people of the eastern valleys, until 1895, when by the terms of an agreement entered into between the government of India and the ruler of Afghanistan the whole of the Kafir territory was recognized so far as Great Britain was concerned as within the Afghan sphere. The amir Abdur Rahman at once set about enforcing his authority, and the conversion of the popu lation to Islam, amid scenes of cruel and fierce fighting. Since then the converted Kafirs have been a common sight in Kabul while in the high valley the old people have bitterly cherished their lost religion.

See Sir G. S. Robertson, Kafirs of the Hindu-Kush (1896).