The Afghans

The Afghan chroniclers call their people Bani-Israel, the Arab for children of Israel, and claim descent from King Saul, through a son whom they ascribe to him called Jeremiah, who again had a son called Afghana. The numerous stock of Afghana were carried captives with other Jews by Nebuchadnezzar. Only nine years after Mohammed announced his mission, they heard of the new prophet, and sent a deputy to Medina headed by a wise man called Kais. The deputies became converts, and from this time Jewish Afghans became followers of Mohammed. From Kais and his three sons the whole of the genuine Afghans claim descent.

Their Hebrew ancestry is credited by intelligent historians, and the prevailing type of feature is decidedly Jewish.

Afghanistan means the country of the Afghans, the name given to this race of people by the Persians. Afghanistan in Asia is about twice as large as the State of Texas. The mountains are covered by dense forests, the home of lions and tigers. The people are a strong, brave race, divided into tribes, which are often at war with each other.

In 1838 England declared war against Afghanistan, on the ground that they (the Afghans) had attacked one of her allies. The war continued until Jan. 1, 1842, when a capitulation was concluded, by which the English were to pay a large amount of money, evacuate the country, and surrender nearly all of their ammunition and artillery. The Afghan chiefs promised them a safe conduct out of the land: but, as they marched through the mountain passes, they were fired on by the Afghans; and it is said that only one of the English escaped to Jelalabad to tell the tale.