Address to our Readers. WE once more offer you our New Year's greeting. May the Lord of all, our Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Friend of man, be with and bless you through this year. The year opens in darkness; but God is the Lord; and whatever happens, "The Lord reigneth." We cannot tell what the year may bring for any of us. It may be fresh trial: if so, may the Lord give us strength to bear it. It may be fresh joy: if so, may the Lord make us thankful. It may be that God will not permit us to see the end of it in this life: then may He safely lead us to His fair and tearless home. It may be that we shall live through "this year also:" then God grant that it may find us better for all our trials, and for all our mercies, and not worse. We are glad to know that the changes made in this Periodical at the beginning of this year have been appreciated, and that many have found grains of wisdom in the "Notes and Queries." We shall continue them, and also the "Children's Corner," and "The Fireside." The young people will always find a few words for themselves in their own "corner;" and their fathers and mothers may still look for useful hints on various subjects in their own "nook." Will our readers help us to increase our influence? They may, and that with little cost. Show this number to those who do not know what the "Christian Pioneer" is; and speak a good word for it wherever the way opens. If no way opens, make one. We will now close our greeting with the Hebrew blessing and the Christian benediction: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God our Father, the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen." THE AFGHANS. THE AFGHANS. ALL the Afghans are Mahommedans of the Sunite rite. They hate the Persians because they belong to the other branch of the Mussulman religion. At Cabul, nevertheless, there is a colony of Kizil bachis-as those Persians who were transported to Afghanistan, in 1737, by Nader Chah, are called—and it is said that they enjoy considerable influence. It would be a wearisome task here to enumerate the other nationalities and their peculiarities. Sir Henry Rawlinson announces his belief that the sentiment of patriotism, as it is understood in Europe does not exist in Afghanistan, because the Afghans have no common country. Instead of this patriotism they manifest a great and restless love of liberty, revolt against all authority, and would find either Russian or English rule as disagreeable as that of the Persians or of their own aristocracy. He thinks that the population of Herat and Candahar have no community of sentiment with these of the north and east, who are specially opposed to English influence. But perhaps in case of invasion the whole country would unite against the invader. More than one cautious Englishman has lately admitted his fears that this might prove to be the case. Mir, and not Emir, some have said to be the proper title of him of Cabul, since Mir in Afghan signifies prince. It appears, however, that Emir is the proper title. The English call him Ameer, which is simply an English spelling out of the local pronunciation of Emir. This is the reason why Emir is the title : The noted adventurer of Khokand, who founded, a dozen years ago, the kingdom of Kachyar, and who died last year-I refer to Yacoub Beg-call himself Ataligh Ghazi, or chief of the confederation of the seven cities of Kachyar. A Sunite Mussulman, and ruling over a Sunite population, as soon as he had succeeded in getting recognized by Russia, he sent an ambassador to Constantinople, and received from the Sultan the title Emir-elMoumenein, or commander of the faithful. It was in the same manner and for similar reasons that Shere-Ali of Afghanistan called himself Emir. This Arabic title marks in a certain way the relation of the Afghans to the great Sunite family. ShereAli evidently does not feel inclined to bow down very much before the Sultan, for he frequently sends him advice in the most independent manner, as he did some time since when he counselled the successor of the Caliphs to "make it up" with Russia. The political regime of Afghanistan "is feudalism complicated by federal elements," says a recent writer. The country is nominally divided into six provinces, Cabulistan, Hezar, Khorassan, THE AFGHANS. Afghanese, Turkistan, and Seistan. These are not administrative divisions. The central authority has few attributes, and but little hold on the half-barbaric tribes and their local rulers. The Emir has an army, but it by no means represents forces drawn from all sections of the country, and forced to serve for the common defence. On the contrary it is recruited from his immediate domains, i.e. from Cabulistan and from the province of Candahar. This force, in 1868, numbered about 45,000 men; and, as things do not change rapidly in Central Asia, it may be supposed to be about the same now. The regular troops are paid regularly, and draw rations. The infantry is decently armed with good guns, some of which were furnished by the English themselves. English tactics have been copied to an amusing extent, and so have English words. One has but little difficulty in 'recognizing in Afghan d'jernuls, coronels, and midjirs-the generals, colonels, and majors of British service. The total forces of the whole country, militia and regulars, if it could be prevailed upon to collect together, would amount to 156,000 men, which is a solid force to oppose against the English. The mountains will probably prove very effective allies for the Afghans. The independent tribes of the frontier can, perhaps, muster a hundred thousand warriors, but they cannot be relied upon. At the beginning of this century Afghanistan was still governed by princes, who called themselves Shahs, and who were nearly always at war with their Persian neighbours, whose revolted vassals they were. French policy, which was in those days seeking enemies to the British power, sent a general into Persia, and as a counter-movement the English sent one to Cabul. England was desirous at that time of making of Afghanistan a barrier against Persia allied to France. A revolution overturned the dynasty of Afghan Shahs who favoured the English. Three brothers-Zemaun, Mahmoud, and Choud Jaoul-Morelk, fought for the supreme rule in the land. The second of this amiable trio had hardly succeeded in putting out the eyes of the first before he was dethroned and blinded by the brothers of a vizier whom he had killed in anger. The most energetic of these new aspirants was one Dost Mohammed, the father of the present Shere-Ali, and he reigned in the place which had been coveted by the three brethren, the only one of these surviving having fled into India and implored the protection of England. Dost Mohammed cultivated the Russians, and was visibly impressed by their influence, so that the English welcomed the fugitive and frowned on Dost Mohammed. Then came English and Russian missions to Cabul, each striving for the mastery, and finally the English expe SAGACITY OF ELEPHANTS. dition of 1839, destined to end in disaster for the Anglo-Indian Government. The revolt of December, 1841, and the fatal retreat of the English army are well known to readers of history. SAGACITY OF ELEPHANTS. Howe's circus was showing at Indianola when the storm of the Fourth came on, and because of injury to the railroads was compelled to remain there until the track was temporarily replaced. Then the circus started for their next place of exhibition. When about eight miles out one corner of a bridge gave way, and three cars containing animals ran off the track and turned over into the mud, very gently. The first car contained horses, the second an elk and camel, the other three the five elephants. The small animals were easily liberated, but the elephants were all in a heap. To remove them the car was cut away, exposing the tops of the unwieldy animal's backs. Then was exhibited the intelligence which marks these half-human brutes. They obeyed every command of the keeper, crawling on their knees, turning on their sides, squirming like eels, and assuming more wonderful and novel positions than were described on the show-bills. When released from their perilous position there was not a scratch upon them, and no school-boy ever gave more emphatic expressions of relief from confinement than did those elephants. They trumpeted, swayed back and forth, and did everything but talk. The remaining distance to the city was made overland, and a happier crew never started on a march than were those animals. The cool, breezy atmosphere and the bright moonlight were all-inspiring. As the bridges were gone, at each stream the elephants took fresh enjoyment of their liberty. At no time were they obstinate or disobedient, but seemed to fully realize the situation. On arriving at Des Moines railway cars had to be procured, which was not easily done, as ordinary cars are too low. Some were finally found, which were about one inch higher than the tallest elephant's back. They were brought alongside and the platform properly placed, when Jack noticed that it was a strange car, seized the door-frame with his trunk, gave it a vigorous shake, and then tried the floor. Satisfied that it was strong, he marched slowly into the car, placed himself lengthwise, gave a rocking motion, and humped his back. A bolt overhead hit his back, and he marched straight out of the car. "It's no use," said the keeper, "he won't go back there again." The ribs which support the roof were removed, the elephants closely watching the operation. When POETRY. this was done Jack went in, swayed himself, rocked the car, humped his back, found everything all right, trumpeted his satisfaction, and went to eating. Poetry. NOTHING GOOD IS LOST. They blossom richly round our way; But fade before the close of day. Beyond the realms of time and space? What e'er the form may chance to be. Nay, life and beauty never die, So calm and still their forms may rest, Awake the silent, pulseless breast. In fairer robes of living green. Send forth their sweetness evermore, J. W. BARKER. |