KAFIRISTAN, fZ-ris-tan' ( Persian, eland of the infidel0), a region of central Asia northeast of Afghanistan, on the south slope of the Hindu Kush, and having as its southern boundary the Kabul River. Formerly the name was vaguely given to a much greater territory; it is now restricted to a country with an area of about 5,000 square miles, nominally under the government of the Amir of Afghanistan, but virtually belonging to an independent people. In the northern portion, which is mountainous, the surface is rugged and broken; in the south the land is mostly level or moderately undu lating. Much of the soil has a high degree of fertility and is adapted, especially in the val leys, to the cultivation of fruits and cereals of various kinds. Grapes are largely produced, from which is made an excellent wine. They are said to be skilful workers in wood and metals, but their main pursuits are agriculture and stock-raising. In features and complexion, as well as in beliefs, manners and customs, they differ much from neighboring tribes. They
appear to be of Aryan extraction and claim descent from soldiers of Alexander the Great. They are not without dissensions in the various tribal divisions in which they exist, but their isolation in a region of natural strength has enabled them to maintain a kind of political unity despite internal discords, as well as to preserve their independence against the invas ions of other tribes. They have no literature, and in their language appear mingled traits of the Indo-Iranian dialects in their Iranian and Indian divisions. In religion they withstood Mohammedan influences until in 1895 they be came subjects of Afghanistan, when Moham medanism was imposed upon them outwardly; but they cling with fondness to their old super stitious beliefs. Consult Biddulph, 'Tribes of the Hindu Kush' (1880) ; Leitner, (1881); McNair, Visit to Kafiristan' (Proc. Royal Geog. Soc. 1884); Robertson, (Kafirs of the Hindu Kush' (1896).