Afghanistan And The Central Asian Question PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 edition. Excerpt: ... afghanistan and the central asian question. chapter I. afghanistan--its natural features, Natural Boundaries--Approximate Extent of Afghanistan--Origin of Name--Independent Territory--What Afghan Dominions Include--Comparison of Afghanistan with Switzerland--Mountain-ranges--Hindu Kuril and its Prolongations--Safcd Koh--Suliman Mountains--Passes on the Indo-Afghin Frontier--Fort of Ali Musjid--Natural Divisions--Riven--Lakes--Provinces and Towns. afghanistan, or, as its name signifies, the land of the Afghans, may be roughly compared in area with Germany. The north-eastern part, called the Cabul valley, from the river of that name which waters it, is really the upper dominating section of the Indus basin; and there is some ground, therefore, for the statement which has been made that physically, at least, Eastern Afghanistan is part and parcel of India. And if all the nationalities of the earth were to strike for " natural boundaries," India might have as good a right to claim the Cabul valley as her own I ''. as Spain would have to include Portugal, or Germany to take Belgium and Holland. What was said just now as to the extent of Afghanistan must be regarded as a mere approximation to the truth, for the best maps can only keep pace with skilled explorers, and these have been few and far between in the countries between the Oxus and the Indus, so that accurate information is not yet to be had on many interesting points connected with their natural features. Enough, however, can be gathered for a rough conception of them from scattered notes of hasty travellers, who passed through the country keeping, so to speak, one eye on the scenery and the other on thei