68 A Sportswoman in India 



reigns. The British Government presented him with 

 ten lakhs of rupees, twenty thousand breech-loading 

 rifles, a heavy battery of four guns and two howitzers, 

 a mountain battery, and a liberal supply of ammunition. 



What is wanted on the Indian frontier are roads 

 and railways pioneers of civilisation which would 

 bring the Afghans and the hill tribesmen into direct 

 contact with the English. Hatred and misunder- 

 standings, which arise first and foremost from the 

 difference of race, can only be eradicated by mutual 

 knowledge. If trade between the nations were to 

 increase, the isolation of the Afghans, the Afridis, 

 and other tribes, and our bitter conflicts, would become 

 things of the past. As it is, if India were to-morrow 

 invaded by an army from the north, that army would 

 be joined by every one of the two hundred thousand 

 warlike tribesmen. 



Why were all the warnings about Merv unheeded, 

 and called by a distinguished politician of the day 

 " Merv-ousness " ? A little later and they were 

 verified. SkobelofFs victories over the Tekke mountains 

 gave Merv and Sarakka into the hands of the Russians, 

 and Turkestan was in direct communication with 

 St. Petersburg. This enabled the Russians practically 

 to dictate terms to the Boundary Commission which 

 the British Government sent to define the northern 

 limits of Afghanistan, and to turn out an Afghan 

 garrison from Punjdeh under the eyes of the British 

 officers. 



Why was it possible for the Amir to say that 



