AFFAIRS IN AFGHANISTAN, Tus news that the Afghan Boundary Commissioners have come to an understanding is so far satisfactory that it closes a question in dispute between England and Russia. Places and events in that out of the way part of the world are so little known to the generality of people that when anything connected with them has ceased to have a special interest, they drop out of me-mary. And, beyond the broad fact had Russia had advanced with rapid strides towards India since the time, a few years ago, when Lord Salisbury scornfully told'a Deputation to buy a map of Asia and see how far the armies of the Czar were from our frontier, and a vague idea that Russia is constantly absorbing people and territory out there, the average Englishman knows and cares very little. But there was real danger to India when Russia, after oceupyin3 Merv and Sarakhs in1885, threw forward her forces with such rapidity towards Herat that, had the British Mission not been present, the key of India would doubtless have fallen into their hands, The seizure of Penjdeh March s5 created immediate and great excitement in England, and for some time it seemed as if war would not be averted. England supported the Ameerof Afghanistan whose territory had been invaded. The Delimitation Commission was formed later in that year and continued its labours until August 1886, when it was withdrawn, a deadlock having arisen with regard to the final section adjacent to the Oxus. Those parts of the Delimitation on which the Commissioners were in agreement are according to rumour highly distasteful to the Ameer, as they involve the surrender to Russia of valuable lands lying along the Murghab. His right to these has however been disputed, while Russia says that they belong to the countries which she has occupied, and are inhabited by peoples of the same race as those which have come already under her sway. The population of these districts is not more than one half Afghan, the remainder being Turcomans. It is probable therefore that the power of the Ameer was more nominal than real, and that, provided Herat is held, he will be as capable of resisting the Russians as he was before. The evident intention of Russia to seize Herat by a coup de main two years ago, and the incontrovertible report of the British Mission as to their action at Penjdeh, showed our Indian statesmen the danger of leaving Herat unfortified, and Jed to the construction of the fortifications and railway on the borders of India and Afghanistan which are. still in progress. It is said that Herat is to be fortified so as to be capable of sustaining a siege of six months, and in that time India could be made safe. According to military authorities, if Russia held Herat she would be able to concentrate in the fertile district all the forces she would require for an invasion of India, and would be able to foment from thence an outbreak in our Empire there.
Rwnours—as the Indian press call them—from Afhanistan should always be taken with much reserve. They may pass through innumerable hands before they are published, so that even if they possessed at first a considerable basis of truth, that might be greatly distorted before the intelligence saw the light. A great part of it probably never had any foundation in truth, but when Afghanistan occupies much of the attention of the Indian press it may be taken for gra ranted that disturbances have broken out somewhere in that country. The rumours from Afghanistan have lately been contradictory. It was affirmed that the Indian Government was hurrying troops towards the frontier, but this was afterwards denied with some appearance of authority. It seems however that the completion of the railway has been pushed forward; it is now stopped at Kiela Abdulla and Gulistan, the respective entrances of two passes in the Khoja Amran range. When it has been settled which pass shall be used the railway will be continued. At present it is not open to public traffic beyond Quetta, nor, says the Calcutta correspondent of the Times writing on the 12th June, is the main line by Hur The line is said to be a grand engineering work, vastly surpassing, except in the single point of length of tunnel, anything of the kind in Europe, the highest point being 7,000 feet above the sea. It is satisfactory to know, the same writer continues, that we can place by rail, should occasion arise, every item of supply down to fuel and forage, for 100,000 men at points within 100 miles from Candahar. The Ameer seems to have lost all popularity and prestige in Afghanistan, and the Times correspondent says that unless we interfere in his behalf he must soon fall, while our doing so would set all the country against us. On the whole, the Correspondent, founding his opinion on "accounts received from all quarters," thinks that his speedy downfall instead of being a matter of regret would be the best thing that could happen. This is Russia's opportunity and accordingly we find that "more or less probable rumours regarding the Russian movements and intrigues continue to pour in. It is stated that the Russian commander at Kolab has applied to purchase the entire share of the Afghan Government in the year's grain crop of Badakshan, and that the Governor of Badakshan has forwarded the request to Ishak Khan, Governor of Afghan Turkestan. Another rumour is that large numbers of Russian subjects are on the way to India in disguise, and that some have already crossed the frontier. The Pioneer newspaper hears that two or three Europeans describing themselves as Frenchmen arrived in Chitral a few weeks ago, having crossed the Hindoo Koosh from the north. Whatever value may be attached to these Tumours, there can be no doubt that there is a general feeling in Afghanistan and India that Russia is preparing to advance on Herat and Badakshan, and that her occupation of Kerki is a step in that direction. he apathy with which the home Government seems to regard that step causes much wonder in Calcutta."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.