Afghanistan

2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Afghanistan. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

an inland country of Asia, bounded on the W. by Persia, on the S. by British Baluchistan, on the E. by territory under British influence (determined 1893-1895), and on the N. by Russian Central Asia. Its area is about 250,000 square miles, or about twice the size of Great Britain and Ireland. The country, called Urlayat by its inhabitants, consists of elevated table-lands, diversified by mountains, and there is a great variety of climate. At Ghazni the winter is extremely rigorous; the climate of Seistan, in the S. W., is hot and trying; while, in other parts, it is temperate. The country may be divided into the five provinces of Kabul (Cabul), Herat, Ghazni, Seistan, and Kandahar. To the N. lie the still disputed regions of Turkestan and Badachshan, with their dependencies. Each province is ruled by a governor, under whom the nobles and kazis (magistrates), assisted by muftis, administer justice after a feudal fashion. The monarch of the whole country is styled the Ameer. The population of Afghanistan is composed of a variety of nationalities, and is estimated at about 6,380,000. The Afghans proper, or Pathans, number about 3,000,000, and are divided into tribes, or clans-Duránis, Ghilzánis, Yúsufzáis, and others. In religion, they are Sunni-Mohammedans. In character, they are proud, vain, cruel, perfidious, extremely avaricious, revengeful, selfish, merciless, and idle. "Nothing is finer than their physique or worse than their morale." The Afghans do not, as a rule, inhabit towns, except in the case of those attached to the court and heads of tribes. The townsmen are mostly Hindkis and other non-Afghan races, who practice various trades and handicrafts considered derogatory by men of rank. The principal towns are Kabul (pop. about 150,- 000), the seat of government, and center of a fertile district; Ghazni, a strong fortress; Kandahar, the chief city of southern Afghanistan, with about 30,000 inhabitants; and Herat, formerly considered the key of India. Among the natural productions of Afghanistan is the plant yielding the asafœtida. The castor oil plant is everywhere common, and good tobacco is grown in the district of Kandahar. The cultivated area round Herat produces magnificent crops of wheat, barley, cotton, grapes, melons, and the mulberry tree. In special localities are forests of pistachio. The industrial products are silk, chiefly for domestic use, and carpets, those of Herat being of admirable quality. The manufacture of postins, or sheepskins, is one of the most important occupations. History. The history of Afghanistan, as an independent state, only dates from the middle of the 18th century. For two centuries before, Herat and Kandahar had been in the possession of Persia; while Kabul was included in the mogul empire of Delhi. Upon the death of Nadir Shah, in 1747, Ahmed Shah Duráni subjugated the different provinces, and, when he died in 1773, left an empire to his son, Timur Shah. The chief events in the history of Afghanistan are the expedition, in 1839, which established Shah Soojah on the throne; the rebellion of 1841, in which the Residents, Burnes and Macnaghten, were killed and the Anglo-Indian troops perished in the retreat; the punitive expedition, in 1842; the defeat of Dost Mohammed, in 1849; the war with Shere Ali, in 1878-1879, and installment of Yakub Khan; the rising 4 Bon E Bida ALGIERS Bougie D BU TUNI from B Greenwich 10 Str.of Gibraltar Gibraltar Gibraltar 30° Longitude A 20° West tar (Br.) Oran Ma Ceuta Constantine Tangier usa Mostaganem Mokain MALTA Kairwan (Br.) emcen Rabat Biskra MADEIRA, Casablanca Shott el MOROCCO Meherpu Gulf of Cabes Shott cl SS Geraghuat MADEIRA Funchal Mazagano Mekinez Matrir Slott fra Geryville Gabes Ver Safi (Port) Turgurt Lebda U Gardaia Mogador Wargla Ghurian Nalut Abuam Misda Agadir-n-Ighir El Golea TRIPOLITANIA CANARY LANZAROTE Ifni THE SOUTH Ghadames A Agadir Bondjem PALMA TENERIFE Ft. MacMahon Inifel El Harib FUERTEVENTURA Kerzaz GOMEHAD min Timimun ♡ El Hassi FERRO GRAN CANARIA Timaseinin Mayara ISLANDS TADEMAIT Sebha Tamentit Tenduf (Spanish) Cojador uf Insalal Ederi Lo TUAT El Guedea Ghodua Kedda TABILY FEZZ GIDI Akabli R RIO Grona 2 DES Djedid Murzuk hat Aingid Marabuti TROPIC OF CANCER Seminur HOGAR Rio de Oro • Gatrun DE D El Eglab Ideles Tedjeri olnzize M Dumus G lesseles C. Barbas ORO HETA Tadent Tagenurt 7 Auadi Ahalassa Timmo Katelet Taudeni DRAP AH S C.Blanco Wadano E A D A El Chingueti TIBE Timiaouine Azawa Djebado Yat Mt. Tousile Bir Ikhref C.Mirik Abig Tao Taghazi Harich Tiscuat In Gessam In Auker M Kaouaro Marsab Mabruk Tiagane TAGANET Arawano Tintelloust Bilma S.VICENTE ADERAR AGAN Agram Dergel Walata Kelijit Tobaiti Dibbela A Bamba odor Akar Timbuktu EL HODH CAPE VERDE Agades o ST. LOUIS Agadem FRENCH WE Salde AFRICA ISLANDS Betete 3 Bedouaram Birfo Bassikunu Quarkhor mo Rufisq Nioro (Porto) Sarafere o Tadalaka ENT C:Verde S.THIAGO Tiggart Bakel SENEGAL UPPER Sokol Medine DAMERGHU Dakar AND KANEM Bir Alall NIGER Sabankafi Bandiagura Sindera Ngiugmi GAMB Bafulabe Sansar Filingui BATHURST Budi Jenne o Wahiguya Dori Sedhiouma R Badoum Tehad koto Wurno Badon Segu-Sikoro Say Carabane Katsina Ngouri UWage Magadugi Kita ndo Geba O Kano, Gummel---- Bírni Bírni Kuka 。 Bamako PORT.GUINEA Kade ५० Koutiala TO Reno BORNU BISSAC Fadan Gourma Boromo Gomba Sikasso BISSAGOS IS. Sigouri Gujba GUINEA Bougouni Zaria FRENCH BAGIRMII Boba Victoria H Gombe Bussa Kouroussn Tengr GOLD Timb loulasso Boffa 10 Yakoba Zungeru Sansane Mang Marua Nikki Dubreka Farana Xendi NIGERIA Garun KONAKRY alabal Odienne Arenburgo Kong Bouna Niger gga o Muri Yoja Bida Keffi Salaga Lame SIERRA L Beyla T FREETOWN Balima Siguiporase Toubs Seguela Lafia Volta O badan Horin R Loko Nssakpeo To Gr.Brit ام Lokoja Binue Wukari Sierra Leone LEONE VORYD Kete ABERI Boudoukou Kraty 。 SHERBRO 1. Kuadiokoft TRASHANTICO Bopuru Banyo Kunde Nuanto 20° uhassi Misalbone Robertsport Benin Asaba gluin Toumodi AMERUN Mahino Lekka Kotonga PORTO NOVO LAGOS MONROVIA Gr. Popo 6° OAS Mandate of Grand Bassa Add Abo Sekondi AKKRA Gaza ATLANTIC Gula Gr.Bassamy Sinu BINGERVILLE Rio ATLANTIC Assini Gr.Lahu 4 eru Mis France I Nanna Kru Castle Axim Bight of San Pedro Sassandra Calabar Bania C. Three Points Cape Const Harper ST. HELENA I. Akassa Bonn DUALA Benin -8- C.Palmas Jaunde Nola (Br.)-16- 16 ASCENSION I. lea Ebolwea Lomie) (Br.) WEERNANDO PO Gr.Batanga OCEAN (ds) OCEAN Bight of Biafra SPANISH 0 10° Long. 14°West Long. 6° West Ngoko Bato PRINCIPE 1.9 NORTH WEST RHODESIA R. MASHONA MU AFRICA (Port) LIBREVILLE Wesso L 20% A 10 N A Linjanti Victoria Zambezi ATLAN LAND Mazoe Malede KALOMO Likonda ST. THOMAS I. Mpaschi QUE Kazungula Gubun R. Njole Kunene Booue SALISBURY Okana ena Libebe (Port) Mandate of SOUTHERN ilimane OVG_AJB\U_N EQUATOR Nazareth B. Etosha Hartleyo Umtali Falls Bong C.Lopez Lambarene esfontein Pan Chinde. Wankie Lastoursville Union of South Africa Gwelo Enkeldoorn Zambezi R. Leketi Iguela Robo Franceville MATABELE LAND 0 Otawio Grootfontein Seira ANNOBON 1. -20 Buluwayo Victoria Melseter (Sp.) 20 Fransfontein Outjo Otjosondjupa Bolbbo Sette Cama Sofala RHODESIA L. Ngami DAMARA Nyanga Berghe St. Marie Makabana Save R. Ghanse SOUTH fiet Mayumba Oliimbingue Okahandja fonteino KAL Tall Brazzaville macopo Mostanley GASALD.BAZARUTO 1. KALAHARI Tuli Limpop CS.Sebastiao LAND Palapye Bas Kouilou Swakopmund BECHUANALANDO WINDHOEK Loango Zoutpans WALFISCH BAY WEST TROPIC OF CAPRICORN Shoshongo Masihi Tumba (Port) KABINDA (Gr. Br.) PORT Kabinda Rehoboth 5 DESERT TIC Sheppmansdori Pietersburg fatadi Inhambane Banana BOMA San Molopololi Matsa Hoachanas Nauchas Nylstroom C. Corrientes PROTECTORATE TRANSVAAL NAMA 0 Chaichai AmbrisettepKONGO Gibeon Barberton Mokopon R. Bembe FRICA PRETORIA B ☑a LOURENÇO MARQUEZ Ambriz Encoje Mafeking LAND Berseba Molopo Delagoa Bay Bethany 0 Potchefstroom J Johannesburg Luderitz Bay Angra Kubub Keetmanshoop Vryburg Klerksdorp Kroonstad Wakkerstrooin TONGA LD. LOANDA Warmbad Upington Kimberle Taal ORANGE Pequena Kurumano Dondoo ZULU Wewcastle R FREE STATES Ladysmith LA St Lucia L. Harris OANDA 10- 0 NDIAN 0 Cambamb A R O Orange BLOEMFONTEING BASUTO Novo Redondo Port Nollothaman & Kenhart Hopetown Ledy Ladybrand CEAN PIETERMARITZBURG NAMA dresimi Wepener Ookiep Springbok Yo Bailunda Eqito 30 Bethulie LAND Durban 30 LAND Benguela De Aar Genisdal Colesbung Carnarvon Port Shepstone CAPE OF GOOD HOPE Port Grosvenor Cuiob Olifants R. Calvinia Beaufort Middleburg BENGUELA Port St.John O Cradock akonda Clanwilliam West (CAPE COLONY) Somerset King Williams Town St. Helena Bay Humpata ( PORTUGUESE Worcester Aberdeen East London Huilla Paarl Hossamedes 6 Uitenhage Grahamstown CAPE TOWN Shibemba eorge Port Elizabeth Porto Alexandre MOSSAMEDES Mossel Bay Cape of Good Hope 1 Humbe SED C-Agulhas Kunene R. Same scale as main map Olukonda from 30° 40° Greenwich 20° Longitude East C.Frio 10° E 10° D C B Zesfonteino A Copyright. L. L. Poates Eng. Co, 1921 J 50° H 40° 30° Greenwich G F from Longitude 20 ° East MESSOPOTAMIA Mossul A Homs 이 Euphrates ho Beirut Damascus Alexandria Rosette Kerbela Port Said Jerusalem Derna 400 500 600 Damietta 100 200 Tokra Mizratah Benghazi Dead 1000 30 800 Sea 400 600 200 Gulf of 0 Shaka Suez CYRENAICA Canal A Sidra Tanta Maan Djemeima Important towns are shown in heavy face type Bir Bissam Suez Garah CAIRO El Akaba Djarabubo Arabar Bir Bissam Canals Railways NEFUD DESERT o Soking t.Sinai Medinetel-Fajum Siwah Submarine Cables ipny Teima ய Baharijeh Sella Hailo 9 Minjeh o Fugha BAHREIN 1. Farafrah Siut I B Bereideho (Br.) EGYPT Koseir H Kheiber Bereideh 2 Keneh AN ΛNEl Kasr B El Hofu Deser Esne Taiserbo Ruseima El Chargeh E Medina THEBES • Wauzel-Keb OASIS OF RUFRA CANCER OF Riad TROPIC Assuan 0 Janba el Bahr Erbehna Kebabo B 1st Cataract Bir Bischra DESERT OF ER T S DL E ROBAVEL KHALY Korosko Wady Halfa 2nd Cataract Nubian S RT コ 20 Jiddah Selimeh Desert Mt. Erba STI NUB- (Great Arabian Des.) Bardai A El Agia Port Sudan Tabala 3rd Cataract A Abu-Hamed 4th Hannek Suakin ASEER Dongola Cataract Sinkato Handak Merowe 5th Cataract adyanga Zaghawa 人 Old Dongola Ambukol Berber El Ahkaf Desert BORKU Adarama Atbara FARSAN IS. m dadi Kichi Kichi Elag SHADRAMAT sapa Ras 3 Terim Shendi BODELE 0 6th Cataract artak Cherek DAHLAK IS. Gos. Rejeb Sana! Omdurman assala Ghasal Kosair Fahal KHARTUM Hodaida Ain Medob Mokalla 0 -El Fasheri L G A e Bahr W.Medani Kaja El Dueim Abeshr Haura Gedarefo Tomat R. Adowah Kabkabiyeh Kobeh El Fasher Nile FRENCH Obolande.OF ADEN KORDOFAN cha Sennar Gallabato Gendar Foga Akrub. Kolko ARFUR WADAI Sokota El Obeid SOKOTRA Aden Assa EN HA EGYPT N Bab-el-Mandeg L. Tana GU Las Khorai RIC Kadero Renk Guardaful Lamy TCHAD Dara El Towaisha. Samara SOMALL Rosaires hite Magdala AsTeilah Rat Banda Ras Hafun Shekka Tira Mandi Terkama Kalaka Schongul Bulhar BERBERA Rat N D A LTOALIAN SOMALアル TERR Bahrel Arab ORY SOMALILAND Bandar Bela PADIS ABEBA Ankober Fashodal Korbol Hargeisa Harar Tura Hofrat-en Nehas Sobat Bohodle NIA ABYSS Katuaka Baria Ft. Archambault Meshra-er-Rek Milmil Nasser Saka Baro bele Sheikh OGADES Demalberg BAHR Bonga AR Baran-Bakin Warandab Hussein Ghaba Shambeh Tur Ghattas Kaffa Goba Gerlogubi Ft Grampe Im Webbe Margherita Mt. Arenda Djema Faamungi Garap UBANGI SHARI GHA Bor Bari 4 Obbia Tambura Burdjio ERRITORY Lado Ft.de Possels Elhur Stefanic bomu R. Lemio angasso Carnot PFt. Berkeley Bangui Lake Baad ongo Mobaye Djabbir Doruma UGANDA Rudolf Dukana Ulgaras Lugh Vere Yakoma Ma Nimule Mokapo A aR Wadelai benge Nyangara El Uako Bard Ibémbo Itala Wankerekhovenville. P Nielle Upoto Warscheikh Mobeka Moganzulu L. Alber Foweira Magadoxo BOTECTORATE KENYΛ Kongo Yambuya R. Basoko Aruor m E Mt. Elgon Anvers Kakunguru Avakubi Brava Mt.Ruwenzor Lulanga Isangi d EQUATOR Coquilhatville Stanley Falls Stanley ville 18,000 Mt.Jambeni Entebbe Mengo 09 Tana R Golwen L. Albert Kituturi Port Florence Naivashi Mt.Kenya Equatorville Ponthierville? Kismayir Edward P Yolongo 18,000 Irebu Kirandu Vichumbe Lake Port Durnford Lukolela 9 Lirunga Vol Bukoba Victoria BELG I ANL Witu Makindu Lamu -Yabinga Bena Lyleandu L. Leopold II Lubirizi Sabaki 50° Kutu Ka88aί Muansa Mt. Kilimanjaro Shabunda Kamba RoMalindi Lukenie Uvira Usumbura Mariahilf 19,729 Moschi Voi Mombasa Lukunda R. 50° wathonth Baraka Buassa dville Podl COMORO GLORIOSO IS. Auilu C.Amber Ngangwe Kasongo TANGANYIKA TA Sankuru Lake Wanga Ikongo Lusambo IS. Suarez Kabambare Ujiji Wilhelmstal (Fr.) Luebo Tabora Kondoa-Irangio NOSSI BE 1L Pania REMBA.I. Remar Popokabaka Luluabu Mutombo Buli Albertville IQUE CHANNE Korogwe Pangani Heliville N RoKilimatinde Bagamoyo AN Kokoma ZANZIBAR Kabinda G Salvador KMuata Q Mpapuad Tanganyika DAR ES SALAAM Kumpant Me Munene Ankoro, Baudouin Karema ville Isambwas Mrogoro Ana Kassongo Kikondia Gula Moliro TERRITORY Mojanga Nevinu Bunza Kusama a MAFIA L Rinti ho Mohoro Bismarckburg Iringa C.St.Andre A Pueto @ba/DL. Moero Hussumba L. Rukwa Mahenge o anji Samba Kilwa MARIE I New Langenburg, Malange Kabango Kilwa Kalungwisi Liwale d Langenburg A&TA GA Kasshnje indi ve 10 0 Maintarano Bunkeya Lukafa Kasama Makindi edhaven amative IODESI Ankazob Kimbundu Ft. Roseberry Ssongea TER ajozorob C. Delgado ndevorante R Lake Katangao L. Hangweblo Rovuma Soahanina TANAN RIVO Nyakatoro Kabinga Bandawe RT. EAST AFRICA) Maroku Mtendo Mtanica Betafo Mosiko Kakenje Kampolombo Labanoro D Tbo QUE Morondav ANGO]»«A N Muyanga Mapira itambo Kotakota Nyassa a Belo Serenje Bilie Kangambe Maguire ananjara Ingulu NORTHEAST B The Fianarantsou Amb Katongo-Tongo Rundimina Jasindrano) FT.JAMISON Livingstonia Chepepo Memba B. C.St. Princeza Amelia N Moonda Ivabibe NORTHWEST Vincent WEST AFRICA) Kalomo BAROTSE Sitanda Posyohipend Manomby ZOMBA Lialui Kassinga umbo Farafangana Mozambique Tullea Namurola feur Betrokyo Sewisha Blantyre RIHODESIA Quando gambee切 AND N'Kala Kajue R. Moi Molomo N Moginquale Tete Mt. Manje Hadav LAND Manambondro MASHONA Gonye anantenina Mazoe Muhgari KALOMO Falis Seng SOUTHERN paschi Kazungula Fort Androka PRIMEIRA IS LAND SALISBURO Dauphin R Quilimane C.St.Mary Victoria RHODESIA SOUTHWEST AFRICA 40° H Same scale as main map 50° Falls Wankie Hartley Umtali Chinde BECHUANALAND Wankie 20 at Kabul and murder of Cavagnari, the English Resident; the punitive expedition under Roberts; the establishment, by British assistance, of Abd-ur-Rahman as Ameer, and the constantly recurring alarms as to encroachments on the part of Russia. The yearly pension granted the Ameer by the Indian Government was raised to 18 lacs of rupees. Moreover, the Indian Government yielded all its claims on Kafaristan. The result of this was that, in 1895, the Ameer's troops thoroughly devastated the land of these brave mountaineers. Abd-ur-Rahman, by means of his shrewd policy and decisive measures, succeeded in suppressing all insurrections and strengthening his power. In regard to the insurrection that broke out between the tribes of the Afridi and the Orakzai, on the Indian-Afghanistan frontier, he remained neutral. Abd-ur-Rahman died Oct. 1, 1901, and was succeeded by Habib-Ullah Khan. The treaty with Great Britain was renewed, and by a compact drawn up in 1907 the latter country acknowledged Afghanistan's independence. In 1910 it was agreed that all disputes between Afghanistan and the Indian Government should be left to a joint commission. Relations were not cordial, however, and in 1919, after Habib-Ullah had been assassinated while sleeping in his tent, war broke out between the Afghans and the British. It was, however, of short duration, although some of the fighting was severe, and resulted in a triumph for the British arms. A treaty of peace was signed Aug. 8, 1919, one of the provisions of which was that Afghanistan should have entire freedom in its foreign relations. This was taken advantage of shortly afterward by the Afghans, who sent an embassy to the Soviet Russian Government at Moscow, where it was received with great consideration and met with an offer of alliance. Despite the peace treaty with the British, two Afghan tribes, the Waziris and Mahsuds, continued outpost actions on the frontier and at the beginning of 1920 had not been entirely subdued. The present Ameer is Amanullah Khan, the third son of Habib-Ullah Khan, whom he succeeded in 1919.

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

af-gan-is-tan', the land of the Afghans, a lofty plateau of Central Asia. The area is placed at 250,000 square miles, about three times that of Minnesota. Afghanistan lies east of Persia, from which country it may be entered by means of tedious caravan routes, leading ankle deep through burning sands; or the traveler coming by way of India may spend weeks climbing upward through the stony defiles of the Himalayas. For nearly a century this country was a bone of contention between the British authorities on the south and Russian influence on the north. In 1907 Great Britain and Russia entered into an agreement whereby the former undertook "neither to annex nor occupy any portion of Afghanistan nor to interfere in the internal administration of the country," provided the Amir keeps his word with the British government. The Russians on their part declared that Afghanistan is without the sphere of Russian influence. They engaged to conduct their political negotiations with Afghanistan through British channels. The agreement contains a clause that both countries are to have the same commercial opportunity. The swarthy Afghans are a haughty, warlike, treacherous, bargaining race of hillsmen of white blood. They are akin to the Persians who also make up a considerable part of the 5,000,000 population. They hate the British by whom they have been drubbed unmercifully, but they deem it wise to accept money, guns, cannon, and ammunition, and to tolerate a sort of British protectorship. Save certain Tartar elements the religion of the people is Mohammedan. The government is rapacious, arbitrary, and cruel, but it fits in with local ideas of religion, and any change would be regarded with fanatic suspicion. The ruler is called the Amir. He resides at Kabul, a town of 70,000 people. Afghanistan is called a buffer state because it protects British India from Russia. Travelers give various pictures of the country. One describes bare mountains, sandy wastes, dried up mountain torrents, glaring sun, and sand storms. Another speaks of eternal snowcaps on the mountains, desolate gray landscapes, blizzards, and the reign of winter. Another speaks of fierce mountain tribesmen, assassinations, highway robbery, poverty, starvation, a lean and hungry land, and slaves toiling for hard masters. Others, again, speak of goats on the mountain slopes, waters guided along channels to irrigate fruitful meadows, gardens, orchards, and fields. The picturesque Arab-like Afghan who rides, fights, and trades; his caravan routes, trading towns, looms, shawls, and merchandise, attract the attention of others. No doubt the mountains are rich in minerals. Copper, iron, lead, and gold are obtained in small quantities. Lapis lazuli and other precious stones are found. Wheat, barley, and peas are sown in the fall and reaped in early summer. Rice, millet, and Indian corn are planted in the spring and gathered in the fall. Irrigated orchards produce apples, pears, almonds, peaches, quinces, plums, apricots, pomegranates, figs, and mulberries in abundance. Fresh, preserved, and dried fruits form a considerable part of the food of the people. American orchards and gardens are indebted to Afghanistan for choice species of fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. Fruits, silks, felts, rugs, carpets, musk, asafoetida, castor oil, madder, and indigo are for sale, as well as spices, wool, cattle, hides, tobacco, and tea. At present, merchandise is carried by means of horses and camels, but railroads are entering the country by way of Russia, Persia, and India. See Russia ; Asia