578 Hon. G. N. Curzon [May 10, 



to Asiatic cities or countries, I would add that unless one know& 

 pretty well beforehand what to ask for and to inspect, one is liable 

 to see nothing at all. No one at Kandahar appeared to know any- 

 thing about his native city, and I honestly believe that during my 

 stay I imparted much more reliable topographical information to the 

 Kandaharis than I received from them. 



From Kandahar I rode in two days to the British frontier at 

 Chaman, in Beluchistan, a distance of 65 miles, where I said good-bye 

 to my Afghan escort and my friendly hosts, and when I again saw 

 British uniforms, heard British voices, and enjoyed the dubious con- 

 solations of a railway train. 



If I be asked what is the prevailing attitude of the Afghan 

 people towards the British, I should be far from drawing, from 

 the friendly and even cordial nature of my own reception, the ille- 

 gitimate inference that the Afghans are devotedly attached to the 

 English, or that they have wholly abandoned the suspicions or 

 dislike of an earlier time. The Afghans are not merely, for 

 the most part, Sunni Mohammedans of a somewhat pronounced 

 and prejudiced type, liable to waves of fanaticism and imbued 

 with a natural abhorrence of unbelievers, but they are also a singu- 

 larly turbulent people, who accept any control, even that of their own 

 ruler, with impatience, who are split up amongst themselves by 

 racial and tribal differences which only a man of blood and iron can 

 temporarily reconcile; addicted, moreover, to violence and blood- 

 shedding, and affording, therefore, about as unfavourable a field for 

 European arts and influences as can anywhere be found. Add to 

 this that their chief historical knowledge of England is derived from 

 two campaigns in which we have invaded their country, have killed 

 many thousands of their people, and have partially destroyed their 

 principal cities, and it will be readily understood that it is as yet early 

 in the day to expect any very extravagant or boisterous evidence of 

 affection. On the other hand, I have not a doubt that Englishmen 

 and English officers are personally liked and respected by the Afghans 

 — because we have courage, which all Orientals respect ; because they 

 have learnt from experience to rely on English justice and good faith ; 

 and because they find that Englishmen are apt to speak the truth, 

 which they themselves are not. Above all, they realise fully, from 

 the sequel of more than one campaign, and, from the entire events of 

 the past fifteen years, that we entertain no hostile designs upon their 

 country, of which we do not want to possess ourselves of one single 

 yard ; but, on the contrary, that it is to England that they must look 

 for protection and defence against exterior encroachments, to which 

 they would otherwise be exposed. The Amir was constantly saying 

 to me that England and Afghanistan are members of one house, and 

 that conviction, though it may only have originated in the brain of a 

 ruler who is, in many respects, generations ahead of his own people 

 and age, will in time percolate through the various strata of Afghan 

 society. That it will be very much encouraged by the visit of an 



