318 Note* on Kufiristan. [No. 4. 



that they were Christians ; and he alludes to their name of Siah- 

 posh, when he gravely informs us, that they always go to church 

 dressed in black. The language of these people, of which our au- 

 thor has collected a few words, belongs evidently to the Indian fa- 

 mily. They are probably the fountain whence large streams of popu- 

 lation have poured on the country below.* The local situation of 

 this aboriginal tribe, and the independence they have so obstinately 

 maintained, tend alike to increase our interest in them, and our 

 wish that their secluded valleys, overhung with vineyards, were ex- 

 plored by some intelligent European traveller." 



Sir Alexander Burnes in his work entitled, " Kabul, in 1836, '37 

 and '38," has given a somewhat longer account of this people ; yet, 

 considering the excellent opportunities he must have had, it is far 

 short of what might have been expected. At page 207 he says, 

 " The account given by Mr. Elphinstone renders it unnecessary to 

 repeat many of the details which I have received and which corrobo- 

 rate his statements." 



It appears rather surprizing, that, during a residence of nearly 

 three years at Kabul, within four or five days journey of the Kafir 

 frontier — and on one occasion when still nearer, on visiting the Koh- 

 i- Daman and Kohistan ; and when he despatched Messrs. Lord and 

 Leech to explore the passes of Hindu Kush, — he did not send some 

 officer into Kafiristan. He entered Kabul from India on the 20th 

 September, 1836 ; and it was only on the 15th November, 1837, 

 after fourteen months had passed away, that Messrs. Wood and 

 Lord were sent to Kundiiz and Badakhshau. 



Situated as he was at the time I speak of, with several intelli- 

 gent officers at his disposal ; and not knowing how soon he might 

 have to leave Afghanistan, or how quickly the British Indian Govern- 

 ment might have to come into hostile contact with the Afghans and 

 other tribes inhabiting the countries in the vicinity of Kabul, every 

 effort should have been made to gain all possible information con- 

 cerning them, without awakening the suspicion of Dost Muhammad 

 and his Amirs, by over eagerness. He should have deputed one of 

 the officers associated with him, into the Kafir country, at that time 

 a matter of no danger. 



* They are the aboriginals of the country below probably ; but the Afghans 

 came from the far west, and are a wholly different race. 



