From Dehra Dun Lord Curzon went on into the new Frontier Province, and at the Peshawar Durbar, where representatives of the Frontier Tribes were gathered he made one of the most interesting of his many interesting speeches. It will be remembered that some years ago Lord Curzon, much against the advice of the British Government, visited the Frontier Tribes and trave elled about in Afghanistan. His study of the Pathan character and temperament has stood him in good stead, and his manner of addressing the tribes showed at once that so "he knew his sheep." He told them they need have no fears that Gorernment would touch their independence. His own policy was, he said, to ensure peace, but be prepared for war. Nor would Government interfere with their religion, unless it led to warfare or disturbance, and then the rising would be punished' severely. The idea of separating the Frontier Province from the Punjab and maling it into a separate province was so as to enable the Viceroy to cope more effectually with the many intricate problems the Frontier presents, and s9 that the tribes should be directly under the eyes of Government, 50 as t+ enable it to recognise their wants and requirements. Lord Curzon wished to treat them as friends as long as_ they were lawful and peaceful, and he referred to the splendid soldiers many of them were, serving in the Tribal Militia under British officers.
The Pathan's Blood Feuds.
The Pathan is a man who is keenly sensitive on keeping his personal honour unstained, and he nurses with undying hatred the blood fends which have so often before led to serious risings amongst them, and he called on the chiefs to use their influence in quelling these and to keep a control generally on the passions and blood-spilling of their tribes, and then, he might have said the British Lion will camp with the Pathan Adder in the Kyber while the wistful Bear will watch them from a safe distance." It is very important for us to have at this Present moment, when so many of our troops from India are engaged in South Africa, a Viceroy who has such a thorough knowledge of the tribes who people our Indian Frontier, for this would be for us most inopportune moment to have any trouble in that locality. The Viceroy has now joined Lady Curzon at Sins, where the Season is in full swing, The Health of India generally has been good, and plague is, ay is usual at this time, showing signs of a steady decrease, hut we date not hope this is permanent until we see what effect the rains will have on the plague casualties, for that is a time when the plague bacilli seem to increase most.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.