EVERY-DAY LIFE IN AFGHANISTAN 



109 



in the afternoon for those routed in the 

 opposite direction. The pass is absolutely 

 closed between sundown and sun-up. 



Camels leaving the country are usually 

 loaded with wool, skins, dried fruits and 

 vegetables, assorted gums, and spices. 

 Thousands of horses are also driven 

 along for sale in India as cavalry and 

 polo mounts. 



THE AMIR STUDIES MAIL-ORDER 

 CATALOGUES 



Supplying the wants of the Amir and 

 his court is an interesting undertaking 

 and is usually accomplished by his own 

 agents, who reside in the cities of India. 

 All goods consigned to him come in duty 

 free ; he buys anything that strikes his 

 fancy, and often amuses himself by 

 studying the pictures in mail-order cata- 

 logues. 



In his various palaces and government 

 offices the Amir has installed a few 

 American desks, typewriters, sewing- 

 machines, and clocks. 



The Yankee fountain pen and cheap 

 watch are popular in Kabul. Most im- 

 ports, however, come from India and 

 China. Of late much Japanese merchan- 

 dise is finding its way into the country. 

 Either directly or through reshipping, 

 India supplies Afghanistan with cotton 

 goods, hardware, sugar and tea, dye ma- 

 terials, and silver bars for the coining of 

 money. 



Gun running and the smuggling of 

 ammunition, which flourished for many 

 years, have recently been restricted by 

 British supervision of the Indian fron- 

 tiers. 



Though camels and pack-horses (ya- 

 bus) are mostly used for transport, it is 

 not at all uncommon to see elephants, 

 and even wheelbarrows, on the Afghan 

 trails. 



The main road between Kabul and 

 Peshawar has been improved by the 

 Amir, and a few American trucks be- 

 longing to him are used on this stretch 

 of road for hauling freight. These 

 trucks are operated by Hindu chauffeurs. 



Along all the caravan trails in the 

 country are good, solid caravansaries, 

 built of stone and clay, situated about a 

 day's march from each other. 



The most important caravan roads 



leading out of Afghanistan are: In the 

 west, from Herat to Meshed; in the 

 north, from Maimene and Aktcha to 

 Kerki ; in the east, from Kabul to Pesha- 

 war and in the south from Kandahar to 

 Quetta. 



Important cities like Kabul, Kandahar, 

 Herat, Maimene, and Mazar-i-Sharif are 

 connected by fairly good caravan roads, 

 which, over various long stretches, can 

 be used by motor cars. The Amir has 

 good motor roads built in and around 

 Kabul to link up his palaces. 



Owing to the aggressive pursuit and 

 harsh punishment meted out by the 

 Amir's troops, the once famous robbers 

 of the Afghan hills have almost disap- 

 peared, so that caravans, even in the 

 desert districts, can now travel in safety ; 

 but in some provinces near the borders 

 constant quarrels and raids are going on 

 among hostile tribes. 



AFRAID OF RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS 



Afghanistan maintains a postal service 

 with horsemen and couriers on foot, but 

 it is not yet linked up with the Inter- 

 national Postal Union. For fear of open- 

 ing his empire to foreigners, the Amir 

 has so far objected to the building of 

 railroads and telegraphs. 



Much remains to be done in the direc- 

 tion of developing the trades and arts. 

 Like the Persians, the Afghans have 

 abandoned many good old national home 

 industries and now buy mostly cheap 

 European goods. Apart from a few 

 xylographs, some crude adornments for 

 women, a little silk and felt, and a few 

 simple woven tissues, no products of 

 native skilled labor are on the market. 

 And even much of what is produced in 

 these few lines is merely an imitation of 

 Western and Eastern art. Small indus- 

 tries supply only the most urgent needs 

 of the lower classes. The rich people 

 buy their luxuries from abroad, and the 

 poor make shabby shift with the cheaper 

 fabrics. 



In Kandahar a small colony of native 

 artists supports itself by carving prayer 

 beads, many of which are sent by the 

 pilgrims for sale in Mecca. 



In military matters Turkish influence 

 is noticeable, and Turkish officers are 

 used as instructors. In all Asia no light- 

 ing force is more picturesque or presents 



